Pretty Paper Blog

My little Izabelle…Eight years old today!  Man, that makes me feel old (I know, I know, this post is not supposed to be about me).  To think this little cutie started out a mere 2 pounds, 6 ounces - Crazy!

I have mentioned that Izabelle is having a ‘Halloween’ themed birthday party.  Hence the creepy spider crawling on her presents (she said it was “cute”).

In this next photo Izabelle is ripping open her ‘one gift before school’ while her Birthday Pancakes lay abandoned and soggy.  By the look she gave me this morning, I have been judged a ‘mean mom’ because I am making her wait until after school to open her remaining presents.  I am mean.  Oh so mean.  Can you believe she has to wait until after school?  What kind of mother am I?

Here’s a little Birthday Banner I made for Izabelle.  It is not my design, I actually bought it as a kit from Candice Carpenter at Peacoats and Party Hats.  It’s so cute!  Candice Carpenter’s blog is totally worth a glance if you’re up to it!  Just click the “Canice Carpenter” link above.

I’m off to go deliver treats to Izabelle’s class!

Have a wonderful Monday!

Parker and Izabelle have been more than enthusiastic about decorating the house for Halloween.  The spookier the better…

Do you see that scary black tree?  I’m going to make some fun Halloween ornaments to hang from it.

Izabelle hung this guy (literally).

I filled my apothecary jars with Halloween candy & black licorice.

This skull is actually a candle holder and the boney hand is a Halloween Goblet.

These potion bottles belong to my daughter.  She has 10 of them, she also took the following photo:

My Mom bought the kids grow creatures and sent them in the mail.  They look creepy inside a big apothecary jar!  Last year we put a grow skull in this one…it grew to the size of the jar.  Now that was creepy.

Here’s the little Vintage Witch’s Shoe I bought the other day.  I’m in love with this little shoe, I’m sure it will show up in more photos!

This is the tail end of a Halloween Garland {Shout out to Deb: Love your designs!} . Can you see the skeleton hands that Parker placed on top of the squash?  Yes, we play a lot of “I Spy” at our house.

Oh, and there are flying bats handing from the chandelier.  Fun stuff, I tell ya.

Laura and I have been friends for many, many, many years….Since first grade to be exact!  We wore the same dress for first grade photos, we were Girl Scouts together, played with Barbies, Liked New Kids on the Block” and made up dance routines to their songs.  We struggled through Jr. High, High School, Boyfriends and schoolwork, side by side.  We’ve laughed, sang, danced, roller-skated, cried, cooked and played together.  Laura and I traveled through Europe together, and were there for each others weddings and for the births of our children.  Laura is more than a friend, she is my soul-sister.

Laura is the mother of two beautiful daughters who look just like her.

Laura is a true, dear friend, an incredible mother and teacher, is amazingly organized and has a beautiful heart!  I love Laura.

Keith and I (not the greatest photo) have been friends since 7th grade.  We would pass notes back and forth.  We actually had a little Jr. High romance for about a second then decided we were better as friends.  Keith and I have never stopped being there for each other.

Keith treats me like a sister…this means he is constantly trying to gross me out or get me to watch scary movies so he can watch me squirm.  He convinces me to take silly videos of myself (or him) with the video camera, we play them back and laugh until it’s painful.

Keith is an amazingly talented musician and Keith was the person who introduced me to my husband (they were in a band together).  My kids call him “Uncle Keith” (my daughter wants to be a rocker like him) and my dog, Mr. Marley is completely in love with him and will not leave him alone for a second.  I love Keith.

Carrie and I met after High School, through a mutual friend.  Carrie was at the hospital the day my son was born and there to help out when my daughter came along (premature) three and a half years later.

Carrie helped me through the toughest years of my life.  She was there for me when I found out my son, Parker had Autism.  Carrie had a cousin with Autism (about 10 years older than Parker) and had a lot of experience not only managing the behavior of a child with Autism but children in general.  Carrie was at my house every day (before she met her husband) and she was ALWAYS welcome.  At that time Carrie did not have any children of her own but through her example, she taught me how to be a better mother.

Both of my children were in her wedding (ring bearer and flower girl).  She has always made my children feel very special.  Carrie talks to them like she’s their mother and my kids listen to her like she is.  I have watched Carrie become a mother to two beautiful boys of her own.

Carrie is the friend that I call to confess when I’ve eaten an entire pint of Ben & Jerry’s or when I’m feeling like an awful mother…Carrie helps me keep things in perspective.  Carrie is beautiful, totally hilarious and just plain wonderful.  I love Carrie.

Then there’s this guy.  This amazing, talented, wonderful, sexy, awesome guy.  He’s the father of my children, he’s the keeper of my heart, he’s the reason I wake up and smile.  He is my very best friend.  My rock.  He is my husband, Dan.

I am so blessed to have Dan in my life.  I not only love this man, I want to be near him all the time.  Not only does he shower me with compliments every. Single. Day.  He writes me poetry and plays me love songs on the guitar.  He is completely mellow and puts up with all of my high-strung crapola.  I love Dan

Today is Friday!  Candid Carrie’s Friday Foto Finish Fiesta (Fx4)!  Check out what her and other’s have submitted HERE!

I’ve been experimenting with the new October Afternoon Paper.  Each line has Journaling Cards that look like this:

I thought the little Journaling Cards would make a cute Mini Book.  I decided to make a book for my daughter, Izabelle - she just started 3rd grade. I want to record some of her unique interests.  She will be 8 years old this month, it will be fun to have her help by recording some of her favorites in her own handwriting.  I want Izabelle to be able to look back in the years to come…this way she can remember what her 8-year-old self loved…she loves to read books (especially the books about dogs) and noodles are her favorite food, Doctor Who is her favorite TV show.  Izabelle loves to draw and paint pictures, she loves to get letters in the mail and keeps her room very clean…

You get the picture, right?

Using the Journaling Cards, I made this little book:

Tiffany (who is pretty, smart, generous and funny) is hosting an amazing contest on her blog:

“The R Family Diaries”.

I’ve been reading Tiffany’s blog for awhile now (every since she started SITS with Heather - who’s blog I also frequent).  Tiffany is so much fun and I know you will enjoy her blog.

Seriously, you have to check it out!  Click the following link:

“Pay it Forward” Contest!

You could win this:

…Sorry, it’s been awhile since my last post.  They seem to be fewer these days.  Not because I don’t want to be posting wonderful tales or projects from my life.  I’ve just been on a personal journey…taking some time for me.  I’ve been catching up a bit around the house and visiting with friends and family.

I’ve been thinking about my younger years a lot the past few days.  When I was young, I never felt very creative, sometimes I struggle, even now to feel creative.  I have an amazingly creative Mother and two wonderfully creative Grandmothers.  I have always been in awe of what they create…everything they make is art, everything a masterpiece.  Maybe it just seemed that way because I love them so much or maybe they have all found their “niche” and they’re just SO good at what they do.  My mother can draw, paint, sew, cook.  My Grandma Crabtree takes gorgeous photographs and is an incredible family historian, not to mention this woman can cook and bake better than the best of them!  And my Grandma Wolfe, while she was with us, could sew and quilt…and her pie crusts…still the best I’ve ever tasted.

I used to wonder what I would do…what would set me apart?  How could I measure up to the talented women who have come before me?

I found scrapbooking.  Now, I’ve never claimed to be great scrapbooker…or even good one for that matter.  There is so much talent that surrounds the world of scrapbooking.  On a daily basis I am blessed to be near wonderful, talented woman who love to scrapbook, like myself.

Scrapbooking has always jut “clicked” for me.  I feel creative when I scrapbook.  When I am creating a layout or book for my family,  I can’t help but feel grateful.  Someday, some relative of mine will appreciate that I’ve taken the time to create a form of art that includes my family’s precious memories.

For me, Scrapbooking has never been about being the “best” or the “most creative”…It’s about the creative process, the freedom I feel to preserve my families heritage in a unique and special way.  My way.

After all this time, I finally feel like I have earned my place among the wonderful women who have come before me.  And a place among the beautiful, talented women who surround me every day.

When Dan and I went shopping for his new i-phone, our daughter Izabelle was “bored” and asked if she and her brother could wait in the car.  Approximately 5 minutes later this is what we found:

New phone in hand, Dan took this photo of Izabelle passed out in the drivers seat asleep.  We could actually hear her snoring…Sweet little sleepy head!

Play along with Candid Carrie: CLICK HERE

When did my 7-year old start drinking beer?  And when did she grow a beard?  Hmmm…

When did my 11-year old get so tall?  Is that a gun he’s waving around?  Izabelle, when did your hair turn red?  What a big chest you have!  Is that a garter belt?  I know that your Mother is large-chested and has red hair but she does not run around in a green dress with a garter showing.  What kind of children am I raising?  Please, don’t grow up sot fast.  Stop. Right. Now.

Play along with Candid Carrie!  Click HERE.

My cutest (and only) niece, Kayla celebrated her 2nd birthday today.

These photos are her with my brother (her daddy) Adam.  You have to admit, she’s so darn cute!

Here is a photo of my brother’s sweet little family.  My sister-in-law, Vanessa is expecting again!  So exciting!

My cousin, Alyssa (she’s my kids second cousin) came to play too!  She fit’s right in with her blonde hair…she could be one of mine.

And this little cutie was just one of many adorable children at the party…

This was the big party attraction…fun how the little things entertain children.  When did I stop playing on a see-saw?  I think someone needs to invent a giant see-saw for adults.

Kayla didn’t quite know what to think about her chocolate cake in flames.

She got over it, real fast.

See, I told you.  World’s cutest 2-year-old!

Parker,
You cried today because Marley ruined your watermelon plant.  You cried because you had to say goodbye to it.  You cried like you did when we had to take the snails back to Grandma’s house because Dad thought that they should be in their original environment. 
You don’t like goodbyes.  You have a connection to life that is so unique and beautiful.  Your thoughtfulness and insight astounds me.  I long to see things the way you do, through your eyes.  You are so special to me, dear to my heart the way no other is.  You are my boy and I love you like crazy. 
I know that sometimes I get frustrated when you get so emotional; like I did when Mr. Ted E. Bones lost a few ribs and his femur.  You cried and asked if you could at least keep his skull to remember him by.  Of course you can, don’t you see that you’ve melted my heart?  You’ve turned me into goo?  Even though I’ve promised you a new Mr. Ted E. Bones you still love your old one.  You still feel connected to him, to everything around you.
It’s not just the watermelon plant and the snail or even Mr. Ted E. Bones, you have a connection to LIFE.  You remind me on a daily basis to love life, just by being you.
Thank you for being you son.  I love you.
Love, Mom 

Finally!  Ladies and Gentlemen, our ONE and ONLY Sunflower has bloomed! 

My sweet children planted at least 24 sprouts in the backyard.  We ended up with one, uno!  One solo little (getting bigger) sunflower.  But. Let. Me. Tell. You.  My kids are so excited about this ONE sunflower!  It’s amazing the sense of accomplishment they feel.  This beautiful flower started from a lowly seed.  A seed that they planted. They watched it grow and they are amazed.

Now for my Sunflower:

Izabelle is my flower!  I love her hair.  I know.  It’s probably ridiculous to take a photo of a simple braid but it is beautiful to me.  The fact that she let  me braid her hair is even more beautiful. 

Have a SUNNY day!

-Christie