vol.25

Road Trippin- Scrapbook Style

This is going to be a quick post, because I still have some things I need to finish up before we leave... but I wanted to share some photos of what I'm taking for my road trip journal:

I realized after I took this photo that I forgot to include these:

I'm taking a little more then normal, but I'm inspired and thought why not? :) The girls each have their own book. Trin has already done her cover as well:

and I whipped up a really simple "scrapbook" for journey by using a kraft notepad I bought at Craft Warehouse for a 1.00:

I figure she will be doing some serious coloring/drawing in this book and I'm so excited that they can share in the memory making/recording this time around.

The outside of my book:

and here is a peek at the inside of my book...

and I also have a stack of cut paper in various sizes:

I hope to have the paper available in my shop as a printable when I get back! I also am bringing along this Polaroid Grey Label Printer that Jaydon bought me for Christmas:

The quality of the image isnt the greatest but it is one of those "gadgets" that is just fun to use. It is inkless, so that contributes to the slight pixelated look of the image. The paper isnt exactly budget friendly either, but I'm sure they figure if they cant get you in the cost of ink... then the paper has to make up for it.... ;)

At any rate I'm looking forward to really using it. It just collects dust in a drawer at home, because why use it when I have access to other much better printers? I know the kids will have fun taking a pic or two with my cell phone and using it in their scrapbooks. I'm also bringing along two other instant cameras, which is somewhat embarassing to admit. In total that means I'm packing along 2 dslrs (my sony a55 and my old a300 for backup at the wedding) plus our video camera, 2 instants, and this polaroid printer along with a pocket sized smaller digital camera I keep in my purse at all times, and then of course there is the cell phone camera. Pretty ridiculous, I know. With all these cameras, I'm going to have to make a constant effort to not miss out on all the memories being made, by trying to capture EVERY second. Finding that happy balance, keeps everyone happy. :) Lets HOPE that the girls get along and don't get too burn out on the whole road trip thing. :) I do have some posts scheduled while I'm away, and I'll also try to post a time or two while I'm away. :)

Happy May Day!

Special delivery for grandma!! :) Happy May Day! Did you have any unexpected knocks on your door today? :)

A quote for your week #93

Over the weekend we were able to collect some special moments. The girls played outside in the sandbox while I got in some much needed time gardening.

When I took this picture Trin said "this is a nice volcanoe because it doesnt interrupt." I started giggling, but she couldnt understand why I was laughing. I first thought it was funny that she thought ppl who interrupted wasnt nice, but then when I realized she meant that it didnt ERUPT it became even funnier. :)

Can I just say I am LOVING instagram? So glad it became available for android. I have been extra excited about making a blurb book with all the photos. :)

My favorite filter is RISE, bt I do wish it had a border or frame. :) What about you, what filter do you find yourself using the most?

Little Artists + vacation plans

This little girl wants to be an artist like her big sister. They've been doing quite a bit of drawing around here lately. Journeys scribbles have improved TREMENDOUSLY. :) Her favorite subjects are: unicorns, people, cats, horses, and dogs... and the occasional house. :)

In the picture below she is drawing "herself in a rainbow dress" I should have taken a pic of the drawing when she was finished, the headband looking thing ended up having a feather added and it turned out so cute! :)

Some of Trinitys recent drawings have actually inspired me! I'll share a  bit more on that subject when I have a tangible finishedproduct on my part to show! :)

Today I was looking at the calendar and realized that we have just about 2 weeks left until we take a road trip out to Oklahoma for my sister in laws wedding! I'll be closing down my etsy shop for a few weeks at that time. We're selling the mustang and just bought a new (to us) car. Really looking forward to a road trip! The last road trip we took out to OK was when I was 5 months pregnant with Journey. I had to dig to find that post... and wow, it was so long ago that it was on my old blog! I'm NOT looking forward to driving back there during tornado season. Especially after this last storm. I'm a scaredy cat when it comes to tornadoes. Living in the northwest has really spoiled me. We do have a nuclear plant not too far from here, and I do occasionally worry about that... but not nearly as much as a tornado. :)

Anyhow I'll quit dwelling on that now! :) We flew out twice last year, but plane ticket prices have sky rocketed SO much it was going to cost us over 2,000 to fly out this time... so we decided driving would be the way to go. Anyone else planning a road trip this year? I'm also photographing this wedding and I'm ALWAYS nervous about doing so!

A quote for your week #91 + Easter

Hello!! How was your weekend? The weather was beautiful here! Actually felt like Spring FINALLY. :) We had my niece over to spend the night on Friday and Saturday I took them over to my moms to color eggs and meet up with my sister.

I think it is safe to say the glitter eggs were a big hit!

Of course on Sunday they had a blast hunting eggs. :)

I really have a bunch of pictures I need to edit... family pictures and pics from the last couple of weeks! I'm about 2 weeks behind on project life! Gotta get back in there before I feel to overwhelmed. Been SO glad I've kept up with it as far I have!!

Also- I need an official post shouting from the rooftops my excitement for instagram finally coming to android... but how cute is this pic I took with instagram?

I also managed to get in a self portrait! ;) So... yeah I'm loving instagram.

oh- and before I forget, today is the last day to grab the vintage camera overlay set at 50% off. Use code OHSNAP.

Hope you have a spectactular Monday! :)

the tooth fairy

 

Trin finally lost her first tooth a couple of weeks ago. :) (Picture above was taken after her new tooth was already coming in) She came running in the door from school so excited to tell us about her "loose tooth" she "begged" Jaydon to pull it because she was anxious to see just what the tooth fairy would bring her. I didnt remember really ever discussing the tooth fairy with her, but apparently she was well informed... and it was making her very anxious to get the painful process of pulling her tooth started... and I'm all for making it easier on her. But I do wonder if encouraging the tooth fairy is the right thing to do? I think next time we may tell her, but still give her the reward.

So anyhow she was very brave and let Jaydon pull her tooth. That night she wrote a letter to the tooth fairy, and it was soo cute. I should post it, but I'm too lazy to grab it out of my scrapbook (I've been keeping up on project life!!!) but in her letter she said she had enough money (I'm thinking REALLY?) and that maybe a present would be better. This girl is smart... and naturally this tooth fairy didnt have a present lying around. :) So Jaydon and I googled tooth fairy letterhead and found some super cute notecards that said "from the desk of the toothfairy" and left her a note back from the toothfairy apologizing that she had only brought money and that she would have to come back the next night with her present. I had Jaydon write it because I knew she would recognize my handwriting. She ended up getting an electric hello kitty toothbrush, and a cheapo hello kitty wii game. Spoiled much? Yes just a little. :) I'm a bit more concerned about the standards of the next visit from the toothfairy...

In other news, our Journey girl is taking up the Ukele-

The songs she comes up with while playing are sweeter then the music at the moment. ;)

A quote for your week #87

Believing in yourself is half the battle... but once you manage to get that down, I think everything else comes a little easier. ;)

We had company over yesterday.... and the girls played dress up... and I managed to snap this picture and it makes me giggle EVERY time I look at it!

She looks just like a bug. But  a very cute fancy dressed bug. ;) We've also had spring like weather on saturday which allowed us to go outside and play! Which is good... because my project life album needed some variety!

I was going to snap this picture of the two of them sitting side bys side. Trin saw me ready to take the picture and leaned into Journey like this... she is such a sweetie. :)

How was your weekend!?

p.s. I'm a little behind on my e-mails, but I'll get them tackled today! :)

Snow and lazy days go together like PB and jelly...

Or maybe more like Chocolate and Peanut Butter... that is a combination I can appreciate more. ;) We got quite a bit of snow Wednesday night,  school was cancelled, and Jaydon got to stay home from work too! This meant a lazy morning was in order...

 

What would we do without technology? Jaydon is using his laptop and Journey is sitting next to him playing her leapster explorer. :) I'm also pretty much done with my taxes! Well, the part I do anyhow. I'm just waiting on a couple of 1099 forms, and then I'll be able to hand them over to our accountant. :) Will be SO glad to finally be able to do that...

I'm really ready for the snow to go away now. 2 days is plently long enough for me. I can handle having it around longer BEFORE Christmas... but after Christmas it isnt nearly as welcome in my opinion! ;) What do you think? Do you appreciate snow after Christmas?

p.s. I'm designing new goodies for the digital shop!

Road trippin-

We hopped in the car last Saturday and traveled to Springfield OR to visit my cousin. My brother and his wife are in CA doing a job for her uncle, so it felt weird without them around... but we still managed to really enjoy ourselves. ;) It is about a 5 hour drive one way, and NO naps were involved. Fortunately the girls did just fine. The addition of electronic devices (leapsters, dvd players) may have helped in that department... oh and can't forget bubble gum.. however there was none for the gum swallowing little miss Journey. Jaydon taught Trinity how to blow her VERY first bubble... and she was quite proud of herself. That may even be the understatement of the century. ;)

When we left home the weather was GORGEOUS... chilly but sunny and blue skies! Shortly after crossing the bridge into Oregon (surprise are you ready for this?) it started raining... POURING was more like it.

I felt bad for the guy in the little Ford Ranger, in the bottom right photo. I think the matress may have been a way of protecting the furniture underneath... but then again, maybe they were trying the diy approach to a waterbed. ;)

My cousin and I stayed up way too late munching on yummy cheese dip (what was that stuff called again Shannon?) with club crackers, surfing the internet, cracking up over this video, and being WAY too giggly. I think our male companions were a bit frightened by our giggleness. It was just one of those nights where EVERYTHING was 10 times funnier. :) It is good to have nights like that every now and then! The next day we all met up for lunch/dinner with friends and had a good time... before heading home for the night.

Today Jaydon is home from work, it is SUPER windy outside, and trying to land trusses in the wind is a very bad, stupid thing to do... so it feels a little like Saturday with him here today. :)

new computer + new valentines cards released!

So my new computer came in WEEKS early. I've been setting everything up- and gee is it time consuming. Trying to locate programs, and installation CD's, transferring files, etc. etc. It has been a bit overwhelming, so I've put off opening up my etsy shop a bit longer. I definitely didnt plan to keep it closed for so long, and I'm so sorry if this has inconvenienced anyone. I'm planning to have it open the first of next week. Hopefully by then I will also have my taxes just about done. I'll feel so much better when that is finally off my to do list. 

On the brightside, this computer is awesome, almost beast like. :)

Using photoshop is a breeze, no more waiting for things to process, or histograms to be built etc. :) I was even able to add in a blu-ray burner, and that is going to come in handy this summer when I finally get the hang of doing a video!! :) The computer is liquid cooled, and has 5 fans inside!! But it is actually pretty quiet, and it has 32 GB of ram, so I shouldn't need a new computer for a very very long time. Did I mention it was HUGE? I think it may be considered a workstation, because it is much bigger then my older computer.

That was the set-up I was using yesterday morning when I took these pictures... and shortly after my new monitor came in, so I was able to give Trin back the 15" monitor from her room. I'm still somewhat needing to use the touchsmart, so I have the new monitor right in front of the touchsmart. It has a 24" widescreen LED screen so it is just a little bigger then the touchsmart.

SO- about those cards... I finally finished the graphics for the homepage and listed them this morning. I have a new set for 2012 available, as well as 2010's set! :)

2012:

2010:

Each set is 5.00 a piece... I hope you guys love them. I always have SO much fun designing these. This year I re-designed some of the Valentines from the original set released in 2009. You may recognize them! :)

Happy Friday! I hope you all have a good weekend.