So the past couple of weeks I've been feeling quite overwhelmed. It just felt like there was so much to do & so I kinda froze & didn't get anything done. Between the layoffs at Target, tons of stuff needing done for Primary & just general kid stuff it was becoming too much. Today I woke up & made a llloooonnnnggg list of all that I needed to do today. I just looked & only crossed off 3 items. My house is still a mess, but I finally figured out a simpler birthday gift for Primary. The original plan had been overwhelming & I needed to simplify. I'm feeling much better tonight even though my list is still long. After getting an e-mail from Jodi of what her kids liked last year (a candy bar from the Bishop) I asked J & B which they preferred. My time-consuming (overwhelming) idea or a candy bar. I'm sure it's no surprise what the answer was & so I decided that even if parents complained (which they seem to do a lot) that was going to be my plan. The primary has a ton of candy left over from some previous activities so I decided rather than a full candy bar they could get a treat bag w/ multiple mini candy bars from the Bishop. Today I made the treat toppers & the certificates to hand out to the kids & immediately I feel better, even though the laundry isn't done & the bathroom still needs cleaned.





These are the treat toppers: These are the certificates.

This is a layout I did of all Ben's school pictures through elementary school - I'm just going to use the same layout but put in John's pictures for his layout. Easy - peasy - that's what I love about digital.

Lest anyone think I spent the entire day on the birthday stuff - I did take the boys sledding for a couple of hours. We had a heat wave today - I'm not sure how warm, but I didn't wear a coat when running errands.

Just a quick update...

it's been a long day. I got to work a little late & could sense right away something was different. While I had apparently been going along in my own little lala land - layoffs came to Target. While, thankfully, I wasn't affected there were 11 members of the technical team that I work with that were let go. Needless to say, it was not a pleasant day.

The digi scrapping race continues. I've already received some fun prizes for participating. It's been quite fun. I'm also participating in some challenges at another site I enjoy.

I was given a specific kit for this challenge & had to use every item. I did a little recoloring (love Photoshop) & think it turned out ok.

This was a layout I made where I had to scrap an "addiction"

This layout was for the race, but had some pretty simple requirements - I had to "scraplift" a layout from someones' gallery that I admire

This layout was merely for fun - trying to catch up on personal layouts. I've noticed I've done alot of layouts for Ben. I always thought the first child had more pictures, but apparently in our house Ben likes to pose for the camera :)

This was a fun layout - it was part of a "Speed Scrap". Every 10 minutes you get additional instructions for an hour & then you have a short amount of time to complete. It was the first one I had done & as simple & quick as this was I really like it.

Latest layouts

I thought I'd share my latest layouts ...

This layout was done for a challenge that required a quote or phrase that was uplifting or changed our live somehow & journaling about that - in addition it had to have at least 3 "artsy" parts to it. I'm not artsy, but I liked the end layout - different for me.


This challenge required us to use at least 3 different frames & no pictures. Journaling was optional. Since I love fonts - I went for that angle. I love the colors on this one.



This one is just plain fun! I loved this picture of Paige on Jen's blog so I stole it. This challenge was a 'road block'. Similar to the race it was a challenge only 1 team member had to complete. I did it - the challenge was to take a layout that our team member had done. It then had to be rotated horizontally or vertically & then rotate it 45 degrees. When I start a layout I'm never sure how it's going to go - I'm not a planner, but I love the colors. Of course, the picture is the star...

Other news, we've had a very busy January. It's actually been busier than December. Last night I took Ben to the middle school for the instrument trial. Kids who are interested in Band or Orchestra can come & try the different instruments to see what they like. Ben was initially interested in a trumpet, but after trying everything he ended up with choosing the trombone. It really seemed to be easier for him & he is beyond EXCITED! First thing he said to me this morning was he couldn't wait until 6th grade. I wonder if he'll be as excited when he has to practice every night :)

John registered for 8th grade & he is super excited for his chosen electives. He chose French, Astronomy (school has an observatory & telescope - very cool!), Energy & Power Tech Ed & Study Hall. I convinced him Study Hall would be good to ease the pressure of homework. Plus to make things scary - he will get high school credit for the French class. Ben in middle school - John working on high school credit! Where has my life & the time gone?

Stick Figure Self Portrait

Craziness... I was challenged to draw a stick figure self portrait. Since I am not an artist it is a pretty pathetic attempt ... but here are my 2 options.

So ... anyone else want to give it a shot? I'd love to see the results.

Bumper Sticker

I saw this tonight as I was driving home. It made me laugh - probably cuz it's true!

"Giving the government money & power is like giving whiskey & car keys to a teenage boy"

Challenge 2

This challenge was different in that both partners had to work on 1 layout. Now, initially I panicked. How on earth were we going to do this? Amazingly, it was done & posted before I even had a chance to think about it. I had these pictures of John & Ben (which I had to bribe them to let me use!). I added the paper & journaling - sent it off to my partner. She added the title & elements & it was done. I've been sitting here not feeling like I'm in a race since we got done so quickly. I was pleased with how it turned out.


Since I've been waiting for the next challenge I finally decided to just go do a layout on my own. I've challenged myself to complete 200 layouts this year & must keep moving. I did this layout & while it's simple I loved how it turned out.

In other happenings, John is now in a Lego Robotics class after school - it's a pretty cool opportunity. Ben has started on a Destination Imagination team after school & that will be fun for him. They both have the competitions in March & I should probably make sure they're not on the same date. That might turn out to be a stressful day, since I can't imagine the schools they are at would be close to each other.

Bragging on Stacey

So, if you haven't been to Stacey's blog - make sure you check out her new creative outlet. She's done a super job & is having a blast with digi scrapping

http://www.staceontaggart.blogspot.com/

Way to go Stacey -

ADSR4

The question has been raised - what is this race? Well... we know I've gotten a tad bit consumed with digi scrapping & this is a race for digital scrappers that is based on the real Amazing Race. There are 230 (can you imagine?) teams of 2 & each week we have 2 challenges to complete. One challenge is issued on Sunday & the 2nd on Tuesday & both challenges have to be completed by the following Sunday. If both challenges are correctly completed by both team members you receive a prize :) and move on to the next challenge. What I like is that the layouts are not 'judged' per se, you just have to meet the requirements given. The challenges are given by different online digi scrapping stores or designers. So far we've had 2 challenges. The first one was to 'tear' a photo into 3 or more pieces & include journaling. That layout is below. The next challenge is for both my partner & I to collaborate & make a single layout. I have done the journaling, papers & pictures & have sent it to her to work on the remaining requirements. It's also a fun way to meet new people - after all my partner is Annette in Nebraska who I happened upon on a message board.

Other news - sometimes I'm amazed & tonight was one of those nights. Generally John walks around pretty uninterested in life, liberty & the pursuit of happiness. Ok - just life & school, but yesterday when I called him after he got home he was quite excited. Here was the conversation

John: Mom - the scientist roundtable is tomorrow night & I really want to go.
Mom: Ok -
John: It's the director of the Fusion Technological Institute
Mom: The what?
John: The DIRECTOR of the FUSION TECHNOLOGICAL INSTITUTE
Mom: (thinking to herself - this must be important & it's refreshing for him to be so excited & btw, what's a fusion technological institute?) Ok, I think we can work it out & go. (still thinking - what happened to this kid?)

Fast forward to Tuesday afternoon & my daily conversation with John when he gets home from school
Mom: So did you still want to go tonight?
John: Go where?
Mom: That scientist roundtable thing
John: What?
Mom: You know that thing you were all excited about yesterday.
John (thinking)...: Oh yeah that... Yes, I really want to go.

Driving to the Scientist Roundtable (Topic of the night - Where will we find energy for the 21st century?)
John: Do you know the difference between fusion & fission?
Mom: Huh?
John: (looking at his mom like how on earth did she make it to adulthood with so little knowledge) Fusion & Fission?
Mom: No - what is the difference?
John: Starts to explain the whole difference in additional to going into great detail about why one is better than the other one & we really need Helium3 & did you know that the best place to get Helium3 is on the moon?
Mom: Uh, no! Where do you learn this stuff?
John: Uh, the Science Channel!

At the Scientist Roundtable
Director of Fusion Technological Institute: starts talking about Protons, neutrons, helium 3 & helium 4 & radioactivity & the moon & basically lots that John had explained to us.
Mom (looking at Ben) : I think this is the stuff John was explaining to us.
We both smiled & quietly pretended we knew what was going on.

After the Scientist Roundtable
John: That was so great & extremely interesting
Mom: Yes, I'm glad you enjoyed it.
John: You know I learned all about De.???? I didn't know about those before.
Mom (just nodding like she is as smart as her son)

Actually I was quite proud of John. After the lecture they had a Roundtable conversation for just the kids where they could ask questions. I love that John has no fear of asking all the questions he has & even went up & talked to the 'Director' after. He was so in his element. I asked him how many questions he asked - "I asked the most of anyone. I mean some other people had really good questions too, but I did ask the most."

While most kids went for the extra credit science points and that will be helpful - it didn't even matter to John.

And so the race begins...

Here's my layout for Challenge #1 - we had to 'tear' a photo. At first I was a bit intimidated by having to learn a new technique, but I'm pleased with the final result.



In other news, it was the first Sunday of the new year. New Sunbeams, new Primary classes. It probably wasn't the smoothest Sunday, but it went ok. The new Sunbeams were beyond excited to join the big kids and while I pride myself on knowing every kid & something about them, I have been a tad bit apprehensive about the Wharton twins who are now in Sunbeams. They are identical twin girls & while I've been told there are differences I'm just going to have to have someone tell me when they are both right in front of me. It will all work out. Off to check on boys & homework...

Just a few of my latest layouts before the Amazing Digi Scrapping Race begins. I've started to scan in some of our older pictures, prior to having a digital camera & try to get them all organized.