home again

Well, I'm home! I got back from Houston at 1:30am on Sunday morning and after a full day of travel I was sooooo happy to go to sleep in my own bed! I had such a fun week with my sisters and their kiddies. I was sure I was just going to be so happy to be on my own with no children, but of course, I totally missed my girls. I kept wishing that I had brought them with me, but then I would just remind myself of the hassle of taking little kids on trips...the flying, the strollers, sippy's, bottles, naptimes, bedtimes, and just all of their STUFF...whew! I'm tired thinking about it.


So anyways, it was a very fun week. Niki was a good sport and took Karly and I shopping almost everyday. We had to hit those stores that us canadians don't have...Target, Pottery Barn Kids, Bath & Body Works, etc, etc, etc. We even went to this store and it was sooooo amazing! Of course I forgot my camera that day which is a total bummer 'cause this was the most beautiful scrapbook store I have ever been in. All pink, black and white with high ceilings and crown molding and just gorgeous, ornate frames that they displayed everything in. It was awesome. And the store owner came and chatted with me...she was in the "Year to Remember" class last year, too, so that was cool to talk with her. So much fun.




And I totally harassed my big sisters to take some pictures...they always complain about it and then afterwards they're both like, "Ooohh, make sure you email me all the pictures!" Haha!! Love these girls. We had some good laughs, let me tell ya. Poor Niki is still recovering from her C-section and Karly had us laughing pretty hard one night...fun moments to remember.







And me with Baby Harry...he is such a sweetie. And we referred to him as "Baby Harry" all week...that's just what everyone calls him! I just can't believe how tiny and sweet he is, there is nothing like holding a brand new baby. His little cries, movements and baby sounds were so precious...sigh. I got my baby fix for a week!!





And Baby Harry's big sister, Molly. This girl cracks me up...holy cow. This was the best pic I could get of her, she is constantly wiggling and on the move! She had us laughing all week, too...from getting stuck under her bed in the morning, then getting tangled up under her night table, running away from Mommy in the mall, wanting cold water poured on her face in the bath, her "time-out's"...there was never a dull moment!

Thanks for letting us crash your house for a week, Nik! Love you!




So now I am home and, once again, just trying to get back in the swing of things! I could barely function yesterday I was so tired. I'm looking forward to taking it easy this week. Actually this is a nice month...nothing major going on.



Hope everyone has a good week and I'll be back soon...lots to blog about!




And there's a new challenge up at the Goodie Box...our 1 year anniversary!



Tal:)

texas, here i come.

Okay, I know it is like, the most cliche thing ever to always say this, but it's true...time is just FLYING by lately! What the freak. How is it almost April? Every week I have all of these things on my to-do list, all these things I want to accomplish and then, surprise...it never happens. That is just the reality with husbands, children, families, church, pets and LIFE in general, right? (please tell me I am not the only one who feels like I never get anything done!!)



Anyways...despite time flying by at record speed, things really have been good. To be honest, I am still coming down from "Girl's Night Out"...there was just such a build-up to it and Kim and I spent so much time planning and preparing that I truly crashed once that weekend was over. We are trying to get in the groove again around here and I'm trying to get back into some actual scrapbooking for ME. It's been awhile since I've just been able to sit and play with no assignment and deadline in mind. So, with that in mind, here is my take on Janet's project that she taught at GNO. Pretty much like hers, but I changed a few things here and there for fun...I used different paper to cover the shadowbox, and added some paint and more bling. I really do love this project...It just looks so darn cute, I've had it sitting on my mantle for the past week...I can't take it down!










And then a simple page of Payton using some new Love, Elsie stuff. (really not in love with this layout, but like I said, I'm trying to get back in the "creating" mode...it's hard when you've taken a break!)





And speaking of Payton, I registered her for playschool starting in September. I was really back and forth with it, I couldn't decide if I wanted to put her in or not...mainly because as a stay-at-home mom with 2 little kids and no schedule, it felt like a big step for us. For whatever reason I was just really feeling like, "Do I want to commit? Will it be worth it? Why should we drive around and be on a schedule if we don't HAVE to?" So I went with my mom on Monday and checked the little playschool out and I decided to just go for it. I know the lady who will be her teacher and she's just awesome. Payton was so excited to see the room with all the kids and the gym where they'll play games and really, it's a whole 6 months till it even starts...by then she will be soooo ready. And you know what? It will get my butt out of the house twice a week...Gabby and I will run errands on those mornings...it will be good. I think the hardest thing has been accepting that my baby is growing up!



So now I'm just getting ready for my little trip...I'm heading to Houston on Sunday to visit my sister and her 2 kiddies for a week. I can't wait!! It's been 3 years since I've been to Niki's house and I just can't wait to cuddle my new little nephew. I'm going without my own kids, so it'll be a nice little break and I'm sure they will be very content to be with Daddy for a few days! (I'll miss them, though!)



So....Texas, here I come!
(anyone else know that Backyardigans song? heehee!)



Be back on the 5th.



T:)

happy easter!

This has been a busy day! The easter bunny came this morning, so the day has been full with all things "easter"...hunting for eggs, getting easter baskets, easter bunny shaped pancakes, decorating easter eggs, and decorating easter cookies....whew!! Here are some pictures of our morning:














(decorating cookies is very serious business...Gabby was very into it!)




It was so nice to have a morning with our little family...love them soooo much!! After church tomorrow we're heading to Red Deer to spend some time with Graham's family...Payton hasn't stopped talking about it for the past couple days. She loves seeing Grandma, Grandpa and her cousins!


I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend, and Happy Birthday, Kimmy!!!



xoTal

Girl's Night Out

Well, to say I am exhausted is a complete understatement! Girl's Night Out was on Saturday and it was totally fabulous. Honestly, it was such a great weekend...I have (almost) no complaints! (hehe) It's just those little things that you can't control, like the weather, that I would have changed if I could've. Poor Janet...we tried to convince her that the weather really does get nice here, but I'm not sure if she believed us!


And speaking of Janet, she is just plain awesome. Kim and I picked her up from the airport on Friday morning (it started snowing as soon as she stepped outside!) and the 3 of us just talked and talked and talked all day! I think we managed to get some eating, shopping and even pedicures in there somewhere, but we were typical women...you couldn't shut us up! It was so much fun.




I would share more if I could, but I'm about to fall asleep at the computer right now! Head on over to the GNO blog for a full review of the night, and let me know what you thought of it!!


Later,
Tal:)


And P.S...Kim, I love you!!! It was so much fun to do this with you, thank you for EVERYTHING. You're the best!!

bulletin board

I had to share my latest favorite thing...I have way too many other things to be doing right now, but I just love my new bulletin board so much! I've been eyeing this frame (yup, it's a frame!) at Ikea for quite a while now but just couldn't decide what I wanted to do with it. Kim has one in her scrapbook room, and Heidi even used them to display her new papers at CHA. Like I said, loved the frame, but didn't know what to do with it. I was at Ikea the other night and walked passed it and thought, what the heck...I love it, I'll figure something out. As I was driving home it hit me to make it into a bulletin board (one of the things my room has been missing), so I quickly stopped and got a roll of cork at Staples and got to work as soon as I got home!








I even made some custom push pins by just glue-gunning some large rhinestones and chipboard hearts to the pins...so easy. To add the cork to frame, I first removed the glass from the frame (be careful...don't cut yourself!). Then, I layed the glass directly onto the cork and traced it with a pen. I decided to do 2 layers of cork to make it a bit thicker and sturdier. Once the ovals were traced, I cut them out with scissors. Then, using the cardboard that comes on the back of the frame as a base, I adhered the first layer of cork to the cardboard using a strong, double-sided tape, then I adhered the second layer of cork over the first layer. The reason you'll want to adhere the layers together is to prevent the cork from bubbling. Then I just put the frame back together the way you normally would if you were inserting a picture and you're done!




Did I mention how much I love it? Now I have an place to display pictures, projects and whatever else I want. So pretty. And by using a frame as the base for your bulletin board, think of the possibilities! My mind has been spinning with ideas. Kim made her custom bulletin board from an old frame and it is amazing. So many things you could do!




And before I go, a few pics of the girls.


(this is Gabby's "smile" for the camera. So hillairious. Gotta love that my 1 year old knows what to do when I pull the camera out!)




I could eat her, she's so cute. I seriously could.



And doesn't this one look so OLD?



All dressed and ready to go for her play-date at Ava's this afternoon. So sweet.




Okay, I'll be back next week with pictures and stuff from Girl's Night Out. I can't believe it is on Saturday!!! Any of you coming? I am sooooo excited!! Stressed, excited, nervous...you name it, I'm feeling it. Wish me luck!!



T:)

i'm here...

I am exhausted! I cannot believe that is Thursday night already...this week is flying. I'm pretty much consumed with Girl's Night Out stuff right now...Kim and I have been putting in some late nights putting kits together and getting everything ready. I'm so excited, but like I said...exhausted! It's all of this last minute stuff that is the fun part...I can't wait to see it all come together. I know it'll be worth it! And have I mentioned how excited I am for Janet to come? She has an awesome project that she's teaching for us that she designed especially for Girl's Night Out. So, so fun. For those of you coming, I'm looking forward to seeing some of you again and to meeting some of you for the first time. Yay!


Anyways, this is just typically what the girls and I have been up to...hangin' out. I am sooooo ready for good weather. Oh, to go on a walk...that will be nice. We usually end up in the (messy) basement where the girls can play while I "work". It really is a good set up down here for us. My scrapbook room is attached to the play room, so we can all be together doing what we want to do...whether it's reading, scrapping, eating, playing or just plain old watching TV. This is my everyday.






Just wanted to check in. Anyone watching American Idol? David Archuleta is my fave. Amanda Overmeyer is my least fave.




T:)

cards, cards, cards!

I had to share one of my favorite things I've been playing with this past week...this card kit by Heidi Swapp. I ordered it from QVC a few weeks ago on a whim and I just love it! See, I love cards. But for whatever reason I have a hard time getting supplies out to make one little card at a time, which results in total lame-o, last minute cards whenever a birthday or something comes up! This kit is soooo awesome...it has enough supplies to make 60 cards and everything coordinates and of course, it's all just stinkin' cute. I've had everything spread out on my table for the past week or so and it's been so fun to just sit down and quickly whip up a few cards at a time, here and there. And they are soooo easy! I love this kind of scrapping...no thinking, just plain fun. Here are some of the ones I've done so far...











I love all the tapes and the little journaling spots...so fun! I even added a few things here and there from my own stash, but honestly, you don't need anything extra to add...there's so much stuff in the kit. And I love all the elements on the insides of the cards. I usually jsut embellish the front of my cards and the leave the inside blank...I love the extras when you open the cards up!



And I know you're probably all thinking, "How in the heck did she find the time to make this many cards???" And honestly...I don't have time! These were made in a few minutes at a time, not in one sitting. That's what I love about this kit. So do-able. (and Niki and Karly...this is what I got for us to do in Texas when we come!!!)





(just a note...I am soooooo sorry! But I just checked the QVC website and these kits are sold out! Maybe they'll be back sometime...if I hear anything I will let you know!)



I *heart* scrapbooking. And Happy Leap Year!



T:)

he's home!

Yesterday was a happy day in our little family...after being gone for 9 days, Graham got home safe and sound from his trip to Vegas and Phoenix. And he came with gifts! I was quite surprised by my late Valentine's Day present. It was totally not necessary at all, but kinda cool to get that cool little turquoise box. Thanks, babes! I guess if you come back with presents like this all the time, then you can go away as much as you want. Haha!!! (totally joking)



The girls were so excited to see daddy (as was I) and I'm looking forward to things just being normal around here for the next little while...as normal as they can be, I guess! I'll be busy with Girl's night Out stuff, but so much more doable with my husband around. And we had another little surprise yesterday, too....my sister had her baby! She was scheduled for her C-section on Wednesday, so little Harry came a  bit early, but I'm sure mama was very happy about that. He was 7lbs, 10 oz and I can't wait to see him! Congrats!!





Okay...just a quick post today 'cause I wanted to share my happiness that my hubby is home. Time for lunch!!




T:)