Project Life 2016 {Weeks 15-19}

Maybe I should just turn this blog into a scrapbooking blog, since that seems to be all I have the time to post---or rather find the time to post.

We did just get back from Branson, so I plan on uploading those photos and events. It was a really great time. We went with grandma Rachel and Tom. I think trip memories the kids make with their gps are worth more than gold to all of us--possible more to the GPs than the kids. So stay tuned for that.

Last I wrote was how our lives had come to a stand still until I got caught up on my pages. I don't know why I say dumb stuff like that--as if I could ever truly be caught up. I did get "caught up" about 1 day after I posted the last entry--but can you believe this---LIFE kept going on?! Whoa. How rude!{said in my best Stephanie Tanner voice} ;) 

So I just keep plugging along...

Here is the latest pages for our album.

Have I said how much I love how I am doing it this year yet?! Because I am and it is working for me.

I do this because "Stories have to be told or they die, and when they die, we can't remember who we are or why we're here." SUE MONK KIDD

Project Life 2016 {Weeks9-14}

At this point the world has come to a stop until I get Project Life 2016 caught up. Lord help my family. We are still eating, and clothed but past that it's a little rough around here. HA! The one thing I love to hate about this project is that I always think "well I am caught up enough" and then bam! A month goes by and I am far from on track. Also, if you don't stay within a month of this project {at least for me} I will just end up quitting and then my first born perfectionist nature will kick in and I will be so disappointed in myself yada yada yada...

So here we are weeks 9-14! In Real Life we are on week 19--so I am within reach of my goal. MUST STAY FOCUSED. Only 7 more pages to go by the end of this week...

My process is to scrap all the insta photos/random weekly photos on to one page and then if a major "event/moment/milestone/etc" happens that gets it's own page. I am loving this process as it keeps me caught up and not all over the place, but it is time consuming. One day I really hope my kids appreciate this. HA! But I wouldn't do it if I didn't find complete enjoyment out of creating these pages.

So without further ado...
















This is one of my favorite pages I have ever done...I just think it turned out so cute.



Also digging how I made that little snowman into a snow bunny by adding ears...I just thought I was so clever. HA!


Week 14


And while I haven't even had time to blog about it Lo's 3rd Gym Meet in Wamego.


Well that's all I have for now...back to Week 15!

Project Life {Weeks 5-8}

Hello.
I promise to post more than just my project life pages, such as Lo 7.0, Easter, MWs first soccer "game" and just general catch-up things. However, my focus is trying to catch-up on my scrapbooking. I have said this 100x but this is just one of my main priorities to stay on top of, so a lot of other things get put on the back burner, while I am on project scrapbook catch-up.

So without further ado PL2016



First gymnastics meet.











Someone turned 7 this week.


I have always wanted to make videos on how I scrapbook and how I get it accomplished quickly, stay on task etc...hopefully I can get that going sometime soon. I know I find myself watching lots of different youtube videos learning tons of great ideas from organization to just daily living.

I am really loving my process this year and after nearly 7 years of digital scrapbooking I feel like I finally found the perfect system and flow. Insert praise hands.

Coming soon scrapbooking videos.

Project Life 2016 {week 1-4}

Project Life 2016 edition has commenced.

This past Christmas I spent weeks making a book called Kids Say the Darnedest Things. It was a dream of my to compile of the funny, crazy, witty things my kids had said over the years into one easy to read place. It was a feature on my blog once upon a time when I blogged routinely. Once I finished that little project to give as gifts to the GPs I found my old project life scrapbook that I had never taken the time to print. Persnickety Prints was running a promo for their little 5x5 books and so I decided to go ahead and print the PL2013 book as a 5x5. I fell in love with it and it inspired me to do PL once again. {Which I will show you sometime in the future}.

And after 7 years of scrapbooking I think I may have come up with the perfect system. PL PLUS detailed and focused pages. Now with Instagram I have so many fun memory photos but they just get lost...now they go in my PL spread and if a more focused event occurs during that week that gets its own spread. I am hoping this new system will keep me caught up and make for a more well-rounded scrapbook of our story...of course it is week 10 and I am way back on week 5.


Here are the pages thus far:

Week 1 and 2




Week 3












Week 4


I am hoping by posting these it will keep me motivated to finish the year strong.

Anyone else love doing PL? What is your system?

Family Photos!! {insert all the praise hands}

Happy Birthday to me. 

Finally got my birthday gift from last year. Family photos.

Last weekend I had my sister come over to take our photos. She and I are in the process of trying to launch our own photography and design business. I love the editing and creating side of things and she loves film and photography. We are a perfect pair. 

We planned on Saturday morning and praise Jesus it was overcast which helps with lighting issues, but it was a tad brisk and momma was in short sleeves. Brrr. Hello Fall--again. Anyway, after I spent an hour scouting out locations in a nearby town on Friday, we stumble upon this area that ended up being perfect. 

I got several photo poses off pinterest to re-create. Those photos had these perfect angel children in them...I knew my kids wouldn't quite pull off that look, but I wouldn't want them too.

Photos should reflect your family dynamics and personalities. Photos tell stories. That is why I love them so much and spend countless hours scrapbooking and documenting. I want our family to shine through. And I think we do a great job of capturing just that.

Micah is a stinker and very hard to photograph. He can't sit still, or be normal and all the photos that the rest of us looked top notch in he has in some way "messed" it up. However, I just started looking at the photos as who we were and that is Micah. This is the stage he is in then fine--go with it. Honestly, when I am old and gray I will look back and laugh at his little personality and just miss it.

This photo captures my kids brilliantly and it is the first time I can see that they actually swam in the same gene pool. HA! They love each other fiercely. Sometimes a bit too fiercely, but at the end of the day they are still BFFs.

Oh this photo. I have re-created going on 4 years now, and I plan on doing one until they are 18! {or longer if they will let me...} Just something about watching them grow. While this one has always been my absolutely favorite 

MW 14m Lo 3

this one just may bump it from the top spot...

These two have such a special bond. It is the epitome of a father/ daughter relationship that most strive toward. I pray it is always that way.

I love this photo. It turned out better than I expected. I want to make a canvas print of it and hang it in our entry way. As a beautiful reminder of what our purpose is on Earth. That we would strive to go deeper than we would on our own.

Gosh I think she is so cute.

This girl. She loves me, but not the way she loves her daddy. She teaches me so much and I love the way she thinks and her creativity. We have that in common. Really we are the same person which is probably why she and I don't blend as well together and why she is so drawn to her daddy; and him to her--he is her calm in her chaos; it is why I love daddy.

And then there is these two crazies. Two clowns trapped in the same pod. They both just think they are hilarious and always up to something.

My boy. He is just my little buddy and we do everything together. He brings laughter into my world when I can't seem to find anything to laugh about. He loves me so much. I never wanted a boy, but man I am so glad I have one. My world would be a little less bright without him.

Trying so hard to smile "normal" bless his heart he is Chandler Bing. {Friends reference}

Now to print and hang...a task for another day. Thank you for stopping by and checking out our photos. 

Oh, Back To School--Back to School {2015-2016}

Another year is upon us.
Today we thanked God for a fresh start each day and for this new year.
It is rough sending her off. She and MW have been inseperable these last few days. She is just such a joy to have around, so it feels like something is missing this morning.

I cried this morning after I dropped her off, just because of the change. I love watching her grow up, but it doesn't make it easy.  Next year I probably will be a hot mess as MW will head off to school. I am not going to think about that at all.

Here she is our big FIRST GRADER. I pray she is a light for Jesus and a friend to everyone.

Meet the Teacher Night

When we went school shopping we knew she needed a new backpack; however they were all $30 and seemed cheap and poor quality. If I am going to spend $$ on backpack it better last the year +. So I showed her all the Pottery Barn backpacks, she liked them, but then daddy found this pink North Face one and there was no turning back. This backpack will last her until 5th grade at least. HA!

It's nice knowing daddy is right down the hall if she needs something or to keep an eye on her, you know whatever. :) It's comforting. They have quite the special bond because of it.

Her Teacher. She seems so great already. I think Lo is going to love being in her class! Can't be worse than last year with 3 different teachers! Whoa. That was crazy. I am happy as long as she has one teacher that is committed to them.

Unloading our book sack.

TODAY: August 13, 2015 FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL
I feel the same way little buddy!

Our annual Back to School photos...crazy how things have changed over the years.

HOME ALONE!!!!

Last year I promised to be on top of things and not get the glossy print...well, screwed that up again. Oh, well. It's the thought that counts.

Taking her lunch to school! Whoa. That is going to be weird to only make lunch for one kid. HA!

Is she 6 or 16?! Stop being so pretty already. :)

BYE Daddy!!!

Good-Bye Buddy I will miss you. These two. 

My Heart.