family Bonding

For the last 2 years I have been buying gingerbread house kits that we can put together as a family.
It really takes team effort to put it together. I (mom) supervise the kids and take photos. I keep them from eating the supplies and fighting.
The kid’s job is to put the house together.
Daddy’s job is to help the kids when the house inevitably starts crumbling from overweight.
The dog’s job is to eat whatever falls on the floor.

Impressions Of Family Night By Studiogirls
http://shop.scrapbookgraphics.com/Impressions-of-Family-Night.html
Clustered 1-4 by the Lab
http://shop.scrapbookgraphics.com/Clustered-1-4.html
(Note: This is a single template that I flipped to make the 2-pager. )

family Bonding

Kay's Ltr. to Santa

 {Take 2} Country Christmas By Lisa
CU Texture Brush Set 3 *ABR File ONLY* By Amanda Rockwell
Santa from FarFarHill
KidsFirstPrint, Monika font  15422

Kay's Ltr. to Santa

Catch Up...Pictures

A Picture with Santa

Liam's alone time with Santa where Liam tells him what he wants. 

Kaylie "alone time with Santa" where she tells him what kind of makeup case she wants. In case you are wondering, she wants a makeup case just like the one that Hannah Montana has in her movie. 

Doesn't he look dashing? Liam on stage getting ready for the concert.

Liam and Mom. Photo courtesy of Kaylie.

Liam at concert.

They look so cute together!

Kaylie and Mom. Photo courtesy of Liam.

Catch Up...Pictures

Magical Reindeer Food/Tangie Baxter

 

I did these pages for a designer blog play day at Scrapbookgraphics.  The featured designer is Tangie Baxter.

Her store is full of quirky designs, as well as traditional.  I especially love her series of FIELD NOTES kit, of which this is the 3rd. The kit has a ton of papers and fabulous elements.  The kit is chuck full of real elements such as flower, strings, foliage, cones...
I made these 2 pages and I didn't even touch the surface!

I've been thinking a lot about how time seems to pass me by so quickly.  As I look back at my photos from 2007 and see how little the kids seem to look, I feel old.  I miss their sense of wonder and innocence.  Now that they are getting much older they are starting to loose the precious part of childhood where they still believe that everyone is good, that Santa is real and that miracles can come true.  I am betting that by next year, Liam will finally outgrow his belief in Santa. Sigh...

Anyway, I did these 2 pages about the kids putting out "magical" reindeer food for Santa's friends. 

Credits: Field Notes III {Winter} By Tangie Baxter
http://shop.scrapbookgraphics.com/Field-Notes-III-Winter.html
Clustered 1-4 By The Lab
http://shop.scrapbookgraphics.com/Clustered-1-4.html
Lot No. 91 {Chipper Chatter Christmas} By Tangie
http://shop.scrapbookgraphics.com/Lot-No.-91-Chipper-Chatter-Christmas.html
Small Typewriting and Pea Jessi 
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Magical Reindeer Food/Tangie Baxter

Dear Santa...This is Liam...

(Happy Holly Days with Amanda Rockwell by Flergs)
Kids First Print (font) and Century Gothic
Holiday Harmony Collan. with True Blue by Studio Gyppsy (lisa)
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Dear Santa...This is Liam...

Christmas Card 2 (Sleigh)

Christmas is a special time to celebrate  family, friends, love,  happiness and joy...

PreFab Christmas Card Template Pack By Dutchie/The Lab
Kit Used: Natali's Winter Dream
SP Love Life (font)  11568

Christmas Card 2 (Sleigh)

christmas Card 1

PreFab Christmas Card Template Pack By Dutchie/The Lab
--Font-Myriad Pro
--Little Christmas Treasures by KChen and Baersgarten (retired)
Santa, blue doodled christmas ornament, stockings, angel, dot/patterned pprs

Merry and Bright Overlays (wordart)
Star cluster, cream colored pprs and tied ribbon by Natali Designs
Merry And Bright BUNDLE With Free GIFT By Natali   11567

christmas Card 1

Freebie Alert: Santa Brings Goodies Blog Train Starts Today

Every day until Christmas, the Scrapbookgraphics’ Designers and Crew are hosting some special goodies on the Santa Brings Goodies blog train. Be sure to check back each day for your free download(s). The blog train starts on Studio Flergs’ Flergalicious blog, so head on over now, grab your first freebie and enjoy the ride!  11529

Freebie Alert: Santa Brings Goodies Blog Train Starts Today

Christmas 2008, Page 2

I couldn't resist decorating the room and the tree!

Holly and Ivy by Rebecca McMeen
-Doll from Prairie Gal Collection kit by Lorie Davison
-Red, blue and green boxes from Jungleland kit by Em-ka Designs
-Brown gift box by Jofia Designs; Red and green gift boxes s from Xmas Set by friendly Scraps
-Century Gothic Font

Christmas 2008, Page 2

Christmas 2008, Page 1

Holly & Ivy By Rebecca Mcmeen
Basic Buds Vol3 By Buttercup
Font: Century Gothic
[note: Modifications were made to the bg. ppr. and to the angel.]  11511

Christmas 2008, Page 1

Christmas Decor

Christmas Decorations...
One of Kaylie’s favorite things about Christmas is putting up the decorations.
While I am busy decorating the tree, she is busy decorating herself!
She likes the twinkling lights and holly leaves trim, which she quickly fashions into headbands.
The ornaments become fashion accessories such as dangling earrings , bracelets and necklaces.
She then walks around the room as if she were a model on a fashion runway.
12-12-2007

Holiday Harmony Collab With True Blue By Lisa/Studio Gypsy

Christmas Decor

Winter Photos Part 3/Christmas

Kaylie decorated a ceramic tile in class. It is super glittery and sparkly.

On Christmas Day, I made the traditional Puerto Rican Yellow Rice with Pigeon Beans, my favorite.

I also made a "pernil," a/k/a pork roast.

Christmas morning. Liam searching for goodie.

Kaylie was pleased with the doll's accessories case she got for Lily.

A present for Lily! Oh, how exciting.

Kay and Liam opening gifts.

She is delighted to see that she got a makeup case.

Thank you note from Santa.

Liam's note to Santa alerting him to the treats and milk. Kaylie wrote him a thank you note, too.

It was 10:00 p.m. and the kids hadn't gone to bed yet. Liam wanted to make sure that Santa got fresh cookies and milk. He insisted on pouring it himself.

Kaylie helping me to mix the cookie batter.

Liam checking on the status of Santa Claus. The Norad site is great because it shows the places that Santa has traveled to and even tells you where he is headed next. I like that it has videos that give you tidbits of information about the countries he has visited.

Liam and Kaylie in front of the oven watching the cupcakes rise.

Liam's look of satisfaction upon learning that he was on Santa's "NICE" list. Santa sent him a video message from the Northpole. Liam got a chance to see Santa open his book and saw a picture of himself there.

Santa even has a picture of me!

When we first checked in, Santa was in Egypt.

Last chocolate from Kaylie's Advent Calendar...boy, did they look forward to eating the tiny chocolates each morning. :)

Kaylie loves peppermint candy canes. She placed them on the tree to resemble a heart. She's a clever one I tell you!

The little house Sparrow has returned.

Cupcakes that Kaylie decorated for her Christmas party.

Kaylie's Christmas party at school. Craft time...

Snowball fight: Aim, Fire!

Mom, here it comes!

I've fallen! Hurry! Take a picture, Mom! Well, she really didn't say those words, but she could have, had she been able to talk.

Mine is bigger than yours!
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Winter Photos Part 3/Christmas

Freebies/Inspiration/Tutorials/News/Photography Round up

News:
Did you know that Lie Fhung, a/k/a Ztampf, is now at Scrapbookgraphics? She is super talented and very artistic. Want to see what she has uploaded so far at the store? CLICK ME.

Inspiration:
I just saw the cutest mittens mini album over at Each Moment, Only Once - it looks like something we can do with the kids!

Favorite Kits of 2009
The crew @ Scrapbookgraphics has a post dedicated exclusively to their 2009 most favorite kits...go check them out, you might find some that you like and can add to your stash. Stay tuned for part 2 of this post, which is coming soon.

Freebies

• Angelica has a lovely sampler on her blog...gorgeous color scheme and graphics. Thank you!
• Cafe J has a cute butterfly tag book.
• Christine Smith has an Eclectic Christmas mini
• Kaye Winiecki has a cute freebie on her blog.
• Nini has a template...if you like the minimalist look, this is the template for you.
• Irene Alexeeva has a cute card.
• Funky Playground
  
• SussieM (from Scrapbookgraphics) has a wonderful sampler from her latest kit, SO THIS IS CHRISTMAS, in her blog.

12 days of Christmas Freebies:

• Did you know that the DigiChick is doing the 12 days of Christmas freebies? The freebie link is in the newsletter, so you have to sign up for it. Want it? Sign up here.
• Weeds and Wildflowers is also doing the 12 days of Christmas - check it out HERE.
• Designs by Sarah
• Lindsay Jane
• Sweet Shoppe Designs
• Eva Kippler
• CatScraps (you might have to register to the sites to be able to access the forums/links.

Photography
Photographing Christmas

Photoshop
Misty Cato Designs - Recoloring Elements Using PSE
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Freebies/Inspiration/Tutorials/News/Photography Round up

Christmas Gifts

Flowers and vase my brother got for me. It is adorned with hand-painted Lilacs and has 2 hummingbirds.

Easel from Uncle Tito.

Uncle Tito with the kids.

Check out Liam's new camouflage outfit...courtesy of Uncle Tito, who knows how much Liam loves the military/camo look!

Hannah Montana Rock Star Guitar game. They plug it to the TV and play notes, chords and even go on concerts!

Uncle Tito was a big hit with his presents. He got Liam this remote control car

Grandmother gave Liam this truck. It plays music and backs up by itself. Grandmother also gave Liam a football, which he returned to her and told her to give it to someone else because he already had one at the house. Isn't he something? Grrrr. He blurts out whatever he thinks and has no regards for how others might feel. I really don't know why he is like this. It amazes me that 2 kids being raised in the same household in the same environment can be 100 percent different.

Liam wanted a telescope. Daddy assembled it for him, but because it was done during the daytime, there aren't any stars in the sky to be seen. Liam was really disappointed. He made an off-hand remark like "This piece of junk doesn't work." I said to him, "Excuse me, what did you say?" He turned red and started to babble trying to take it back and make it better. He really made me angry not only because of the remark, but because of his sense of entitlement. He obviously doesn't realize where the money comes from and how lucky he is to have parents that want to make him happy and try their best to make his wishes come true.

Doesn't Liam look like an English school lad? :)

Ok, this is not a good photo of me, or Liam, but it is the only one I have of the two of us. The wind was really doing a number on both of our hairs. Kaylie was the photographer so she is still learning about timing. I can't recall what I was telling Liam to get him to smile nor why my face is horribly contorted.

I love this blouse. I'd like to think that this is my Christmas present all wrapped up in my girls' sweet hugs and kisses.

Kaylie really, really wanted a Baby Alive. It urinates and defecates, just as she wanted. Obviously, this doll has not charmed me as I had the real thing and it wasn't as fun as it was purported to be. :)

This doll repeats phrases such as "Hi Mommy." "I'm hungry." "Excuse me!" "I'm Sleepy." Mommy, I am hungry. "I'm thirsty." "Let's play!" "Can I have a hug?" Can we play? "I made a stinky." All done! Hugs, please! "I love you, Mommy." "OOps, I had an accident." "Change me, please!" It burps, sucks, giggles, pants, sings and yawns.

Snuggly Baby that her grandmother gifted to her. It cries and cries until Kaylie picks her up. The magical necklace tells the doll that this is her mommy picking her up so it quiets her down.

Liam loves video games. He is now the proud owner of 2 Nintendo DS games: Ben 10 Alienforce and Avatar.

Kaylie got pajamas, 2 dresses, bubblegum and uno cards.

I am happy that this holiday is over so I can return to my normal routine. The kids have been home since 12/23 and won't go back to school until Jan. 5th.

Now, I have to plan Kaylie's 8th birthday party, which will take place on Saturday, Jan. 3rd.

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Christmas Gifts