digital scrapbooking / home / out and about

a new day

amazon rainforest

I’m not sure how it got to be Thursday already. Between a trip to the aquarium and fighting colds all around, the days have seemed to tumble by. People say that February is a tough month, but this March, with all its gray skies and cold rains sure sucks the energy out of me.

aquarium

Now, how’s that for a depressing start to a blog post? Yikes.

But today, I’m feeling the clouds lift and things are finally making the move back to normal. I set one goal for myself today: to get the dining room table cleaned off. It may sound like a small task, but if you saw the piles of books and spilled markers and “stuff” brought in from a car clean out, and mail and fabric and….you’d be impressed.

Emma and Mary went riding all morning, which was a much needed gift. Elizabeth toddled around half naked and happy, making messes in other rooms, while I focused on getting the dining room done.

Isn’t it funny how having a mess like that can not only clutter up your house, but also clutter up your mind (and attitude) as well? I’m feeling much better, tons better now that the job is done.

Sunday Naps

I’ve been finding it really relaxing in the evenings, once the house is quiet, to continue dipping my toes in the world of digital scrapbooking. Or at least my take on digital scrapbooking. Though they are mostly paper scrappers, I’ve been finding a lot of inspiration digging around on the blogs of Molly Irwin and Ali Edwards

There is something really intriguing about it for me–it satisfies some of my creative longings, it keeps with my love of capturing and taking note of every day life, and I can easily work something from start to finish in a (fairly) short period of time.

I am also really intrigued by the idea of using it as a tool for projects and journaling with the girls, where they are doing the designing and creating and storytelling.

emma's pretzel cookie

So these are the last two projects I’ve been working on. The first is a page with my pictures from Sunday’s naps–because I just loved them too much to only have them on my blog.

The second is a recipe that Emma created, that I’ve been wanting to share with all of you. It’s really good. So pass it on to your children and let them whip you up a batch.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Sunday Naps: details here

In The Kitchen:

Background : Andrea Victoria Pina Kit

Frames : Katie Pertiet Basic Bare Frames

Recipe Card : Katie Pertiet File Cards No. 2

“Mom’s Notes” : Lynn Grieveson Journaling Spots and Strips

Doilie: Jesse Edwards Doilie Paper Pack

Button: Katie Pertiet Alandia Meadow Kit

Font: Report School

Mom’s Note text: “She’s starting to dream up recipes, sneaking into the kitchen to try new things. This experiment is actually pretty tasty. She came up with it one Saturday afternoon while I was away. She gave it to Dan as a snack. He loved it. She was proud of herself. She’s been copying the recipe, giving it to friends, encouraging them to try it. And she makes it a few times a week. What’s a little peanut butter and butterscotch in exchange for creativity and independence? “

amazon rainforest

I’m not sure how it got to be Thursday already. Between a trip to the aquarium and fighting colds all around, the days have seemed to tumble by. People say that February is a tough month, but this March, with all its gray skies and cold rains sure sucks the energy out of me.

aquarium

Now, how’s that for a depressing start to a blog post? Yikes.

But today, I’m feeling the clouds lift and things are finally making the move back to normal. I set one goal for myself today: to get the dining room table cleaned off. It may sound like a small task, but if you saw the piles of books and spilled markers and “stuff” brought in from a car clean out, and mail and fabric and….you’d be impressed.

Emma and Mary went riding all morning, which was a much needed gift. Elizabeth toddled around half naked and happy, making messes in other rooms, while I focused on getting the dining room done.

Isn’t it funny how having a mess like that can not only clutter up your house, but also clutter up your mind (and attitude) as well? I’m feeling much better, tons better now that the job is done.

Sunday Naps

I’ve been finding it really relaxing in the evenings, once the house is quiet, to continue dipping my toes in the world of digital scrapbooking. Or at least my take on digital scrapbooking. Though they are mostly paper scrappers, I’ve been finding a lot of inspiration digging around on the blogs of Molly Irwin and Ali Edwards

There is something really intriguing about it for me–it satisfies some of my creative longings, it keeps with my love of capturing and taking note of every day life, and I can easily work something from start to finish in a (fairly) short period of time.

I am also really intrigued by the idea of using it as a tool for projects and journaling with the girls, where they are doing the designing and creating and storytelling.

emma's pretzel cookie

So these are the last two projects I’ve been working on. The first is a page with my pictures from Sunday’s naps–because I just loved them too much to only have them on my blog.

The second is a recipe that Emma created, that I’ve been wanting to share with all of you. It’s really good. So pass it on to your children and let them whip you up a batch.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Sunday Naps: details here

In The Kitchen:

Background : Andrea Victoria Pina Kit

Frames : Katie Pertiet Basic Bare Frames

Recipe Card : Katie Pertiet File Cards No. 2

“Mom’s Notes” : Lynn Grieveson Journaling Spots and Strips

Doilie: Jesse Edwards Doilie Paper Pack

Button: Katie Pertiet Alandia Meadow Kit

Font: Report School

Mom’s Note text: “She’s starting to dream up recipes, sneaking into the kitchen to try new things. This experiment is actually pretty tasty. She came up with it one Saturday afternoon while I was away. She gave it to Dan as a snack. He loved it. She was proud of herself. She’s been copying the recipe, giving it to friends, encouraging them to try it. And she makes it a few times a week. What’s a little peanut butter and butterscotch in exchange for creativity and independence? “

animal kingdom / DAILY FARM LIFE / out and about

pie tester

sunday naps

This morning I'm wondering if homeschooled children get a sick day when the teacher is sick? Actually, it's nothing that bad, I'm just beginning to feel the achy cold that my children suffered through all last week.

cat naps

Sunday was rainy and gray here, a good day for naps. I found myself tucked in the flannel sheets of my bed with a little girl and a loudly purring cat, who looks to me like she was quite happy to have slipped inside from the rain.

my grandfather's farm

Saturday we all went over to my Grandpa Sayre's farm with my cousin Katie to take pictures of the new calves.

pie tester, if you know what I mean

And while none of them were very cooperative with my camera, (we'll have to wait until Katie shares her pictures), I did get a few shots of the resident "pie-tester". Who felt it her duty to stick a shoe in each one, if you know what I mean…..

Alright, on to the good stuff.

Roz Streeten, the designer and illustrator of the Rosie Flo books
, sent me an email over the weekend. She shared this neat video of her girls (for whom the Rosie Flo name came from) working on the books. She also told me about the gallery for the books, and anyone who submits a colored illustration is included. There is some great inspiration in the gallery.

Now for the winners. Please send me an email with your mailing info, so I can pass it on to Chronicle. Thanks!

Rosie Flo book:

Such cute books for budding artists! Thanks.

The Duck!Rabbit! book:

Oh wow, either of those giveaways would be awesome. please add my name. thank you.

sunday naps

This morning I'm wondering if homeschooled children get a sick day when the teacher is sick? Actually, it's nothing that bad, I'm just beginning to feel the achy cold that my children suffered through all last week.

cat naps

Sunday was rainy and gray here, a good day for naps. I found myself tucked in the flannel sheets of my bed with a little girl and a loudly purring cat, who looks to me like she was quite happy to have slipped inside from the rain.

my grandfather's farm

Saturday we all went over to my Grandpa Sayre's farm with my cousin Katie to take pictures of the new calves.

pie tester, if you know what I mean

And while none of them were very cooperative with my camera, (we'll have to wait until Katie shares her pictures), I did get a few shots of the resident "pie-tester". Who felt it her duty to stick a shoe in each one, if you know what I mean…..

Alright, on to the good stuff.

Roz Streeten, the designer and illustrator of the Rosie Flo books
, sent me an email over the weekend. She shared this neat video of her girls (for whom the Rosie Flo name came from) working on the books. She also told me about the gallery for the books, and anyone who submits a colored illustration is included. There is some great inspiration in the gallery.

Now for the winners. Please send me an email with your mailing info, so I can pass it on to Chronicle. Thanks!

Rosie Flo book:

Such cute books for budding artists! Thanks.

The Duck!Rabbit! book:

Oh wow, either of those giveaways would be awesome. please add my name. thank you.

book reviews / Show & Tell

Show & Tell: Good books for kids

Showandtell_updated

This new book Duck! Rabbit!
by Chronicle Books has my kids cracking up and begging for another reading. Maybe it's because I'm a stellar storyteller, or maybe it's because Amy Krouse Rosenthal, who wrote two of our favorites (Little Pea
and Little Hoot
) has done it again with her great sense of humor. The classic optical illusion (drawn by Tom Lichtenheld), and banter between the two "characters" in the story is classic and my kids loved it. But we'll leave the answer up to you–is it a duck or is it a rabbit?

You can get a sneak peek for yourself here:

The other new books that have been making the rounds at our kitchen table are these amazing Rosie Flo coloring books. I honestly don't know who has more fun with these, the girls or me. The outfits and illustrations in this book are amazing, and children (or their parents) only need to add the missing "body parts" and color the clothing and accessories. There are three versions of this book…

the original

Original

the garden coloring book

Garden

and the Animals Coloring Book

Animals

Here are a few peeks into the original, and one that Emma worked on today:

rosie flo coloring book     rosie flo coloring book    

rosie flo coloring book     rosie flo coloring book

rosie flo coloring book

rosie flo coloring book

rosie flo | emma

And I'm excited that Chronicle Books has given me one copy of the original Rosie Flo coloring book, and one copy of Duck!Rabbit! to give away…two winners!! You know the drill, leave a comment. I'll announce two random winners Monday afternoon.

Happy weekend, friends!!

Showandtell_updated

This new book Duck! Rabbit!
by Chronicle Books has my kids cracking up and begging for another reading. Maybe it's because I'm a stellar storyteller, or maybe it's because Amy Krouse Rosenthal, who wrote two of our favorites (Little Pea
and Little Hoot
) has done it again with her great sense of humor. The classic optical illusion (drawn by Tom Lichtenheld), and banter between the two "characters" in the story is classic and my kids loved it. But we'll leave the answer up to you–is it a duck or is it a rabbit?

You can get a sneak peek for yourself here:

The other new books that have been making the rounds at our kitchen table are these amazing Rosie Flo coloring books. I honestly don't know who has more fun with these, the girls or me. The outfits and illustrations in this book are amazing, and children (or their parents) only need to add the missing "body parts" and color the clothing and accessories. There are three versions of this book…

the original

Original

the garden coloring book

Garden

and the Animals Coloring Book

Animals

Here are a few peeks into the original, and one that Emma worked on today:

rosie flo coloring book     rosie flo coloring book    

rosie flo coloring book     rosie flo coloring book

rosie flo coloring book

rosie flo coloring book

rosie flo | emma

And I'm excited that Chronicle Books has given me one copy of the original Rosie Flo coloring book, and one copy of Duck!Rabbit! to give away…two winners!! You know the drill, leave a comment. I'll announce two random winners Monday afternoon.

Happy weekend, friends!!