I hate stress!

I don't deal with stress well at all! We leave for Seattle on the 17th and I'm freaking out! The gifts I've made for our family turned out wonderful! We are so pleased and think everyone will like it...now to get them packaged...ha! what a joke! We are having to ship some stuff ahead since we're driving home from Seattle and the boxes I picked up for these gifts are a lot bigger than I thought. So they require more room that our box to be shipped doesn't have...which means another box...which means more money. And now I just want to get them wrapped but I have NO tissue paper in this house! AGH! tis the season for migraines!

Hailee's craft turned out so cute. I'm so proud of her. I made 12 of my things and she did 16! What a trooper...there were days I didn't think she'd ever get done but she did. Now it's up to me and Darren to get them finalized so she can put them in a bag and into the box.

I feel like there's so much to do and not enough time to do it. We want to have everything shipped ahead by early next week to allow for delays. All this stuff has to get there before us, especially the playpen or Braden won't have a place to sleep! So that is making me feel like I need to hurry and Darren just keeps saying "oh there's PLENTY of time". Who's he kidding?

{{{{{{{{{{change of topic...lighten things up}}}}}}}}}}}

Braden's shot's are taking over. Poor guy. He's trying so hard to be his normal, happy self but this fever and the welts in his legs are sure making it difficult. He's really doing pretty good considering all that is bothering him right now.

Hailee woke up on the wrong side of the bed! what a day! but she's asleep and tomorrow is a new day.

By Thursday we should have 3" of snow! YAY!!! "It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas" I know snow removal is not fun for Darren but I love winter and snow and cold and I'm looking forward to it! Plus I don't drive in it so I'll get a break from the school run! ha!

well, my carpal tunnel is taking over so I'm gonna go finish up some gift card holders and then head to bed!

Merry Christmas :)

RESTED!!!

last night we had a breakthrough. Braden has had lots of trouble sleeping. At 2 months he'd sleep 3 or 4 hours at a time, then it slowly got worse. Tired of waking up to hear him yell every hour and a half finally got me mad. We put the play pen in the office last night to see what would happen. WOW! I put him down at 8pm and he woke at midnight to eat. For some reason he woke at 1:30am. I checked on him, burped him, and put him back to bed. Normally he'd lay in his crib and yell, not cry, yell. not last night. he went back to sleep until 4am when he woke to eat. I then put him back after feeding him and we heard him talk at 7:30, but he went back to sleep until 9am!!!!!! We think there's 2 reasons this worked so well. 1) he's not in our room, hearing us cough, toss & turn, whatever. 2) the office is warmer and he's not next to a window. He's opposite of Hailee, he likes to be warm when he sleeps so this was good for him. We're going to keep letting him sleep in the office until that stops working. Hopefully we'll get some projects done around the house this winter and will be able to do our conversion/remodel fall next year. Crossing our fingers on that.

and of course here's a picture! He's eating a graham cracker!

New pictures!

I'm sure it's because I'm their MOM, but man alive do I have gorgeous kids or what!?! Darren has been reading and researching how to take better photos so it's challenging me as well. One tip is to "get in there". Really get close to your subject to avoid "noise" in the background. Well, THAT WORKED!!! I just love these pictures. I really want to scrap them, but am intimidated. Funny huh?

let's catch up...

okay, let's see...Hailee is enjoying Fall. Her and her friend, Allison, love playing in the leaves in our front yard. They put them in a pile in the driveway and I had to convince them to move the pile to the grass so they wouldn't get hurt. Thankfully they listened.

Braden can just about sit up. Finally! The good thing, or scary thing, is that his legs have become pretty strong and he can stand so as soon as he gets the strength in his back he'll be able to stand on his own. Then he's mobile. WATCH OUT! BIG BOY COMING THROUGH!!! lol We're actually ready for him to be mobile, it will hopefully mean he'll need to be held less. hopefully.

I've been busy trying to get my Christmas gifts finished. I only have 3 left. I can do it. I am pretty sure. Now I have to help Hailee with her gifts/project. We'll get her started after school today. Let's hope I don't stress out watching a 4 year old with paint! lol

Here I am worrying about Christmas and Thanksgiving is next week! AAAAHHH!! I don't even have my menu planned yet! It's just us for TG and I'm glad. We'll be so busy when we're in Seattle for Christmas that I think the quiet turkey day will be wonderful! Watch movies and eat...yep, sounds like a great day!

Happy Holidays everyone!

The playground is looking for a few digi scrappers to join in the fun!

Are you a digital scrapper? Do you love challenges? Do you dare enter the Digital Conquest? Do you have what it takes to be the best? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then Scrapbook Playground is the place for you. I am constantly amazed at some of the digital layouts posted in our idea gallery. Because of the rising numbers of digital scrappers, I thought it was only fair that we offer another "Showdown at the Playground" contest, but aimed at digital scrappers !

The Digital Conquest is a contest for all digital scrappers up for a good challenge! Here is how it will work. Entries will be accepted through December 31st. From these entries, the judges will choose 15- 20 digital designers to enter the competition. The competition will officially begin on January 7th with the first challenge. Each week for seven weeks, a new challenge will be issued and each week the contestants will be narrowed down until there are only 3 left. These three will compete for the title of Digital Champion and the winner will be invited to defend the title in next year's Digital Conquest as well as take home a nice prize package from our sponsors.

Judging will be done by the Scrapbook Playground design team only. In addition, each week, we will ask the public to vote for their favorite creation and one participant will be awarded the "Public Choice" award.

You are invited to be a part of this exciting contest! To enter your creation, please upload one completely digital layout to the Digital Conquest gallery by December 31st. Those being selected to participate will be contacted no later than January 4th.

www.scrapbookplayground.com

Needing a new member!!!!

Ready-Set-Create online magazine is looking for a new Creative Team Member. If you are interested in an application, please email Jen@readysetcreate.com.