Here are two more pages I did last night...
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Next up is Melita's first birthday pages.
Have a wonderful Wednesday!
Alison
Scrapbooking 2012
I've been working on scrapbook pages for our 2012 Family scrapbook. Here are my January and February collages that I did today while Melita was taking her nap...
I'm really in love with this form of scrapbooking right now. I've been printing my collages (friday photo dump, etc.) out in 12X12 pages at Costco and they are beautiful and fast!!! So excited to add these two to the book.
It's already midweek... hope your enjoying yours! Alison
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It's already midweek... hope your enjoying yours! Alison
friday photo dump 11/9/12
1.One vote 2.Randy's Buck 3.Lita loves to help put away the silverware ;) 4.Love this sight, even if it isn't correct posture. 5.trying out a new tomatoey juice combination 6.sunset 7.meat processing with help 8. "Do one thing every day that makes you happy." 9.pretty leaf hanging by Maya from school 10.love these sleepy scenes-precious! 11.ready to make some juice! 11.meat packaging with more help12. washing sleeping bags at the launderymat 13.new pictures on the wall...finally 14.family evening at Famous Daves
Happy weekend to all,
A.
Hello! and Oh Yeah!
Here is a little glimpse of Melita these days. Grandma, she likes to talk to you on the phone. Thought you would enjoy! Notice her summer hat and her winter boots-two of her very prized possessions. Oh, and calculators make great cell phones too.
Some other things she loves right now...
-copying everything we say! We all get such a kick out of this, especially when she tries to say those big words and complete sentences.
-putting lotion on her hands and rubbing it around ;)
-running up to us and saying "C'MON, C'MON!" Then she grabs our finger and pulls us off to see something or to get something down for her to play with.
-walking down the stairs using the handrail and jumping off the last step.
-begs to go "side, side, side (outside)".
-(I'll try to think of some more...)
Hope all are having a super week!
Alison and family
friday photo dump 11/2
Here's another instaweek...
1.dollar bin stickers are a great paper craft find 2.Lita cleaning out her own pumpkin 3.tea and cookies on a Saturday afternoon 4.Colter and Daddy taking care of the burn pile 5.quiet morning 6.Maya's mask-Happy Halloween! 7.Jackolanterns 8.hunting in the snow 9.beautiful 10.snowgirl 11.more sewing 12.carving pumpkins with our buddy Lance 13.pumpkin glazed cookies by Kyla-yum! 14.their creations ;) 15.tea time with Anna and kiddos-Thanks!
friday photo dump 10/26/12
1.a visit to the pumpkin patch with friends 2.ahhh...it's been to long 3.sighting in and hunting day for Daddy, Kyla and Colter 4.now that Lita got her own room, the toys dissapeared from this corner in the living room-lovin' it 5.first snow 6.rolling a giant snow ball with big brother! 7.hunting day fall colors 8.Lita looking out the window in her new room 9.Maya cleaning and organizing her new room 10.BBQing as the first snow is beginning to fall 11.with our new friends from Iowa! 12.sewing 13.saying goodbye and hoping to see each other again someday ;) 14.playing pictionary with Grandpa and Grandma 15.Sunday dishes
Have a Super Weekend!
Skimming off the Cream
Lake McDonald in October-taken by Randy
I feel a post welling up within me today. That doesn't happen very much anymore. I attribute that mostly to my little toddler who, on occasions, runs around the house with a spilling box of baking soda or an open permanent marker. I do a lot of chasing. She regularly climbs up and teeters on the edge of the tables and chairs. I do alot of sprinting. She continues to be a handful in every way so I stay pretty active. She fills my heart with joy untold. I do a lot of laughing, and playing and loving. So while Melita is down for her nap today, I will write... *smile*
***
A conversation with myself: Skimming off the cream.
Myself: "Don't you think that this "friday photo dump" routine is kind of just hitting on the high points of the week? You know, like kinda sugar-coating your life?"
Me: "Sugar-coating something suggests that you are making it better and sweeter than it really is. My goal in my friday posts is to just skim the cream off the top of our week. Each week brings us the ups and downs of raising children and the piles of dirty laundry, bills, and decisions that seem to big for us to make. There are days when we just want to hide away at home, and days when we just want to get out of town. The vicissitudes of life...they happen to us all. So thankful for so much "wonderful" in life, and someday, on the shores of eternity, I am pretty sure I will not want to remember the bad and the ugly of our little life. Only the good, yes, only the cream on top."
Myself: "Carry on then, carry on..."
Me: "Speaking of... I better go and take some pictures for my post! See you on Friday."
friday photo dump 10/19/12
1.gathering eggs 2.maybe the beginnings of another home improvement project 3.planting bulbs 4.a new kind of pancake from elanaspantry.com 5.looking out my kitchen window in October 6.mariokart 7.first time home-made tomato sauce 8.baking in the kitchen with Shawna! 9.sketchers 10.apple sauce in the making 11.pickin' out punkins! 12.spending her birthday money at Petco 13.mornin' coffee? 14.fun with Carolyn 15.listening to the second presidential debate-a piece of history...
Have a wonderful weekend!
Alison and Family
friday photo dump 10/12/12
October Birthdays!
It has been Maya's desire for a long time now, to celebrate her 8th Birthday in Glacier Park because both Kyla and Colter celebrated their 8th birthdays in Glacier Park. We always told her that maybe it would work but since her birthday is in October, we weren't sure it would happen. So a few weeks ago, we decided to go ahead and make a little over night camping trip out of it since the campground was open until October 8th. We left after school last friday and Grandma and Grandpa joined us for the camping and Auntie MaryAnn joined us the next day, Saturday, for the party! It was cold. The falling leaves and snow added to the cold, but fun, autumn camping experience.
Of course we also celebrated Randy's birthday since they are only a day apart. She doesn't mind sharing her birthday party with her Dad at all!
Maya helped me decorate her cake and Kyla helped me decorate Randy's cake. We decided to go with the owl theme since we were camping in the woods for their birthdays. The rolled and colored fondant made the job pretty easy. And I just couldn't pass up the colorful lollipops for such a special occasion either!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY MAYA AND RANDY!
WE LOVE YOU!
Family Reunion At Glacier Park-August 2012
friday photo dump 10/5/12
Here's our instaweek...
1.a new instrument to practice for Kyla 2.one pumpkin 3.she always wants her "toof bwush" like big sister! 4. i only remeber to burn candles in the fall and love it 5.saturday morning 6.rising 7.happy birthday Grandma and Grandpa! 8.maybe the last bike ride to school for the year? 9.um mum 10.climber 11.maybe 2 year molars? still loving my slings (thanks Jeannie and Melinda) 12.my second favorite fruit in all the world 13.Maya's scribble art 14.lollipop lollipop oooo lolli lollipop 15.a cut for Colter
Happy October to All!
friday photo dump 9/28/12
1.brothers 2.4-H Hayride and Bonfire night 3.Hunters Safety Field Day 4.Frog (or Toad?) who lives under our cement pad 5.scribble art 6.lets go shopping Mom! 7.arms full 8.& 9.hayride 10.Morgan and Kyla being silly 11.Saying goodbye to Grandpa 12.Logan 13.making a fort with Lane 14.dead duck! 15.she really loves having her car cart at the grocery store ;)
Saying "Good(why do they call it good?)Bye"
1
I snapped these pictures this morning as the kids and I were dashing out the door for school and Grandpa was getting ready to head over the mountains toward home. It'll be a long drive for him (500 and some miles) but he assured us he'd stop along the way for rests and walks. The doctor was very pleased with his condition yesterday and told him he could skip his appointment in another 2-4 weeks. Sorta sad for us who thought he MIGHT be coming back... but, happy too, that his back surgery has been such a success! The Nurse told him he would be able to be "buckin' bales" in the next few weeks (if he had any bales to buck! ha!) We do see some "fall farm work" in his immediate future though...
We are very sad to think of Grandpa not being here anymore. I know the kids are really going to miss him. Grandpa's room was a very strong magnet for them these last 2 weeks and I think he enjoyed their company, coming and going, throughout the day. I know Randy and I will miss his calm and peaceful ways as he just "fit in" with this busy, sometimes crazy life we live...
Speaking of crazy... this is the way my son chose to wave goodbye to Grandpa as he drove out of the driveway. Is this just a built-in reaction for a ten year old boy when emotions are running high? Or did he just want to make sure Grandpa saw him as he drove away? Maybe we will never really know...
Goodbyes are never easy. But we all reminded each other this morning that we'll likely be seeing each other at Thanksgiving and that's coming up...like... really soon!
Best of Days Grandpa! Here's to a new back-pain-free future! Hope you can make it okay without your little helpers :)
"Good"bye! from us.
P.S. Speaking of special people... It's my Mom's Birthday today. Be sure to tell her "Happy Birthday" if you see her today. HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!
P.S.S. I forgot to get the pictures off of Randy's phone last night so I don't have a Friday Photo Dump ready for today. I'll have to wait till I get his because he has some of this weeks "significant" picures on there. Maybe I can post later tonight or tommorrow.
friday photo dump 9/21/12
1.changing seasons 2.sliding with Grandpa-NO, Grandpa did NOT go down the slide!!! ;) 3.after nights and nights of freezing! 4.a day home from school because of a cough 5."cackers" 6.peanut-curry something-or-other Fall = Food! 7.in the van headed home from gospel meeting 8.summer days are passing 9.instagrammin' 10.the "family movie" maker is at work 11.first zucchinni bread of the season 12.sunset 13.this is a hit for practicing spelling words! 14.some of this came home with me 15.same tree, two days later
Some of you have asked about Dad, and how he is doing after his back surgery. We are happy to report that he is doing well and feeling better and better every day! He isn't allowed to sit to long or go out much, yet. We are sure enjoying our Dad/Grandpa time!!! Not every day that one of your favorite people comes to stay with you for a couple weeks. We are feeling very lucky!
Happy Weekend to All!
Hugsfromus+Grandpa
One of the Best (and Worst) Ten Hours of my Life...
I had a lot of fun making this video so I hope you enjoy it. I started by putting our entire "Family Reunion at Glacier Week" into one movie but soon realized it was just too much, so I split out this hike and made a movie all it's own.
I won't mention how long it took me to create it. I will, however, justify my time by convincing myself that it's my form of scrapbooking, my hobby, my calm in the midst of the busyness, if you will. You get the picture. Right? Good!
Moving right along...
A big thanks to Keith and Melinda for planning this time together. I can't tell you how SPECIAL it was to have almost 10 hours of uninterupted "sister time". That hasn't happened it, well... forever! It pretty much brings tears to my eyes when I think about it...
And moving along again...
About the storm. Yes! It was scary. To be on an open face of a mountain, miles of open space, with the thunder, lightning, hail, rain and wind beating on you. All the cameras were hidden away during the worst part so we didn't get any pictures of that. And we couldn't stop much anyway, for fear of hypothermia or getting struck by lightning. Seriously! We really were lucky to make it out alive. And, Grandpa and Grandma, who had all our children, were lucky too, I'd say.
By the way...
Thanks Grandpa and Grandma, for watching all our seven children for 10 hours!
And...
Thanks to my husband, who was right by my side (or behind me) through the entire storm.
The End
P.S. Okay, I might be exaggerating a little tiny bit... But not entirely. Not much at all! Really...
friday photo dump 9/14
Another week of "little things"...
1. I have the perfect place for these! 2.so hard to wake up from a Sunday afternoon nap 3.almond-milk vanilla pudding-
out of this world! 4.Granpa's here 5.a little coffee with my cream 6.a visit to Grandma/Grandpa C's & Great-Grandpa/Grandma B's graves
7.we (heart) pink 8.the little one who gets all the attention 9.a perfect evening for some pictures
10.the view from Grandpa's hospital window 11.mocha by Kyla 12.an evening walk with Grandpa
13.no sleepin', just playin' today 14.cheery smile from NoDak 15.sunrise
I am seriosly enjoying these snapshots of each week. It is so much easier to take pictures of the
"little things" with our phone and pad using instagram, instead of always running and getting the big camera.
Here is a little parting thought...
Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things.
~Robert Brault
out of this world! 4.Granpa's here 5.a little coffee with my cream 6.a visit to Grandma/Grandpa C's & Great-Grandpa/Grandma B's graves
7.we (heart) pink 8.the little one who gets all the attention 9.a perfect evening for some pictures
10.the view from Grandpa's hospital window 11.mocha by Kyla 12.an evening walk with Grandpa
13.no sleepin', just playin' today 14.cheery smile from NoDak 15.sunrise
I am seriosly enjoying these snapshots of each week. It is so much easier to take pictures of the
"little things" with our phone and pad using instagram, instead of always running and getting the big camera.
Here is a little parting thought...
Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things.
~Robert Brault
18 Months Old!
A couple things you should know about it... Melita's style is to plow her way along these days, often face first. I got tired of waiting for a perfect time to take her pictures, when she wouldn't have scrapes and bruises on her face. Oh, and she didn't take a nap on the day we decided to take pictures. So, here you have it, her very "true to life" self! You may notice Maya stuffing bunny-grahams in her mouth to keep her happy. :)
Oh, and this will officially be the last time that Kyla will match her sisters. She's not so enthusiastic about it these days but very kindly humored her mother...again. Thanks Kyla! I won't ask you to do it any more. :(
I am so happy to get my camera back! Got it back before our family reunion at glacier (slideshow coming!) and I was happy to get it while Melita was still 18 months so we could do some pictures to share with you and, well, 18 months just seemed like a good time to do it. I think I'll still continue my "Friday Photo Dump" for the fun of it.
Just this,
Alison
friday photo dump 9/7
1.painting the dog house 2.the moment Lita looks forward to all day 3.bunny salad 4.first curls! 5.four-wheeler ride through the farm fields 6.just lovin' these 7.shouldn't you be doing your homework? 8.Vern and Des stop by for Rzr rides! 9.I didn't intent to go here today, but when I got the idea in my mind I couldn't get it out. 10.painting the trim 11.star flare 12.sweetness in the rearview mirror 13.our bobcat girl 14.splish-splashy day 15.comfort food
Keep encouraged in ALL that's good and right!
Love, Alison
THIS IS FOR YOU MELINDA...
A very, very HAPPY BIRTHDAY
to my dear sister!
Thank you for talking me into going on this hike.
The first 6 miles were "a walk in the park".
The next 6 mile, going in the other direction... eeewww!
I couldn't help but think, when I looked at this picture,
we had NO IDEA what we were going to face later that day.
But we made it through...
and I can't wait to go again!
Sometimes life's experiences are
no little walks in the rain.
Sometimes they are more like dark
and angry storms that rage
around us and beat at us.
Its always nice to have someone
at your side.
Someone to go through it with together.
I'm so glad we have each other!
Hope you had a wonderful day,
Love ya, Me ♥♥♥
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