Okay- Let's Try a Slideshow!!

I love sharing my scrapbooking layouts on my blog, but for some reason, unless I make my pics REALLY small, 2 page layout pics don't fit. So, I think I have found a solution. I am going to try a slideshow from photbucket.com.

Well here goes:


Sure, it looks little now, but if you click on it, you should be moved to where you can see the slideshow.

This layout contains a ton of pictures from Bryn's 5th birthday. I can't believe he turned 5 already! People said it would go fast, but this is ridiculous!!

Here is sweet picture of little Bryn almost 5 years ago:



Cute, huh?

We took the kids on a ride on Santa's Train near Orangeville. They loved it! And they were very-well behaved to boot! I managed to get some really cute shots of them while they enjoyed sugar cookies (made by Mrs. Claus, of course!) and some hot chocolate. Then Santa paid us a personal visit at our seats. Very exciting! (Click on the little pic!)


I used my new embossing button punch on this layout. I LOVE IT!

The Santa Claus Parade - what a cold day, but great memories for the kids!



Bryn and Afton couldn't wait to put our tree up this year. So, our artificial Douglas fir came out of the box on November 23rd, right after the Santa Claus parade. After enjoying it for 6 weeks, I think the tree is coming down tomorrow. As sad as that will be, it will mean one less thing for Camden to get into!! (Click on the little pic!)

Journal Your Christmas - Days 11 - 15

Day 11 invited us to take pictures of our Christmas tree and journal about how we decorate it. Does it wear homemade ornaments? Is it matchy-matchy and decorated carefully only by the grown-ups?? The pocket holds pics of my 2 trees and some favourite ornaments.



Day 12 - Christmas Past - Journal about a favourite memory of Christmas Past. The picture here is of my father and I, circa 1977. I am about 18 months old.



Day 13 - Journal about Christmas music - What are your favourites? What can't you stand? Does the music start in December, or earlier??



Day 14 - Journal about the procedure on Christmas morning. What order are presents unwrapped in? Do you take turns? Who hands out the presents??



Day 15 - Visitors: Who is coming to visit this holiday? Family? Friends? Where are we visiting? Are there long journeys ahead?



Thanks for looking!!

New Toys!!

Being a kindergarten teacher, and the teacher of 2 classes (40 kids in all!), I receive A LOT of Christmas presents. This year was no exception! Two very smart parents bought me Michaels gift cards - and I couldn't wait to spend them!! I can't believe I have held those cards for 4 whole days before making it to Mississauga to spend them. Amongst other things, these are my new, most favourite-est toys:



Three lovely punches from Martha Stewart. I really like her stuff, but I always find it too expensive. So, when someone is giving me the $$$ to spend - I spend it freely!!

I want to highlight the button punch. It is SO COOL! I had seen it on another blog
http://scrappyfairy.blogspot.com/ (A very cool blog by the way!) and knew I had to have it too!

When you squeeze this punch, it cuts the disc shape, punches the four holes and embosses the raised cirlce around the edge. In the words of my oldest son - "Way Awesome!"

Journal Your Christmas Days 7- 10

Day 7 - Write a "To Do " list and a reminder to yourself about not letting the stress of Christmas interfere with enjoying it!! My list and note are contained in the pocket:



Day 8- Do you see what I see? Take pictures of things that remind you of Christmas around your home. My pictures are in the mini envelope.



Day 9 -What traditions have you kept from your childhood? What new ones have you created with your family? My traditions ae written in the mini-book attached to the page:




Day 10 - How do you feel about wrapping? Do you wrap every parcel perfectly? Or is pretty paper a waste when you know it is just going to be demolished by your family? I put my journaling inside the folded page, written on the cardboard from a package of sticky present labels:

Wanted to share....

Now that my Christmas holidays have begun, I have a bit more time to share some of my latest projects and some fun things my family has done recently.

First of all, we took the 2 older kids to see "The Sound of Music." We all LOVED it I am so glad we caught it before it closes in Toronto in a few weeks. Maria was played by Janna (the second place finisher from the "Maria" show on CBC.) She was great. I could have listened to her for hours ( and I am picky about singers!!)




Camden has had some funky hair lately. These pictures were taken about 3 weeks ago on one of his particularly crazy-haired days. So of course, I turned them into a scrapbook page. I am particularly fond of the title: (by the way - since then, Cam has had his first haircut. A Layout to follow, of course!!)



We had ouir Christmas portraits done mid-November. I Finally had time to scrap one. I love how the kids LOOK like siblings, all dressed in Christmas green:

Journal Your Christmas Days 4-6

Day 4 - Journal about what makes a perfect Christmas (and is it really worth all of the stress??!!)




Day 5 -Advent - What childhood memories did I have of this? What do I do now to countdown with my children? The picture is of the Advent Box that my kids use now. Each little drawer contains a chocolate kiss for each child.



Day 6 - Think of Christmas - what good memories do you have? Are there any Christmases you'd like to forget?? I wrote about the rules and routines of Christmas morning when I was a child. I also took time to write about a dear friend who recently learned she will probably lose her mother to cancer sometime early in the New year.

Journal Your Christmas- Days 1-3

Our first assignment- tell why this journal is important to you and why you must take the time to write something in it everyday in celebratioon of Christmas.



On day 2, we journaled about winter weather. I like snow during the month of December only. Once Christmas is over, the snow can go!



Day 3's prompt asked us about Christmas cards. Will we send them? Will we make them? Are they a waste of time? I am sending homemade cards with a picture of my munchkins in them.
The envelope contains my journaling as well as pictures of my homemade cards.





Thanks for looking!