Party of 5. and a half.

Here is a throwback photo (wow, belly. Just. wow.) on a recent layout. 

While I was prego I just kept thinking how strange it was that we were about to be a family of 6. SIX! Yeah. We take up so much space at restaurants, ya'll. It's bananas. I still get totally weirded out when we load up the car to go somewhere or are walking around as a family. There are just SO many of us! haha, I'm a weirdo. Maybe one day I will get used to being a party of six.

On another note, I ran a really rad 5k this morning with my sister in law. It was so much fun and I have pictures to share so I'll do that soon. Sadly my little niece came down with croup overnight and they are with her in the hospital now (she's doing ok. just scary. and needing breathing treatments and observation.) so we have a house full of kiddos and only two adults..... lets hope they don't realize we are outnumbered. needless to say we have our hands full. ... and I can't stop worrying about poor Cambry.... isn't it the worst when the little ones are sick?

Black and White

I've been majorly crushing on black and white photos lately. Don't get me wrong, I love lots of bright, bold colors in my life. (You can often find me wearing blue or red or sometimes even bright green pants.. I am all in on that trend, even if I have no business wearing skinny jeans.) But when it comes to photos sometimes nothing compares to having the image stripped down....

I find black and white photos to be timeless. and sort of... I don't know how to explain it... quiet, maybe? They seem more still. more contained. softer. I really have no idea why they makes me feel those things but they do. In the past I've kept a bit of a lid on my editing for these images, it just seemed like overkill. Now I'm thinking I'll just go for it... I mean, I take so many photos anyway, might as well have some in my new favorite. 

Especially since they are inspiring some different kinds of layouts...

Originally I thought about doing this layout all in kraft. Or all in black and white. Then some gold and sparkles weasled their way in. What do you think? Have black and white been rocking your world lately?

Happy Oscars

It's the night of the Academy Awards and usually I get very excited to tune in and see all of the stunning gowns and red carpet fodder. The pageantry. The host (Seth Macfarlane is going to be a fantastic fit--- people will be shocked at how good he is... mark my words). The frazzled and eloquent acceptance speeches. But tonight I just pushed the record button on my DVR so I could take it all in at some later time, when I have time (so, next moth, probably. or never.). Also I'm spoiled by that thing and love to fast forward through award shows like nobodys business. (and also, Hottie could not be less into watching things like this so I spare him. I'm such a good wife.)

Anyway. File this under things you don't really care or need to know about. haha. Really the only reason I even brought up the Oscars is because I dressed my boy up in a bow tie. It seemed like fitting attire for such a black tie affair....... 

that, and he's already grown out of it so it was time to snap some pics.

Playing Favorites

Every once in a great while I get a serious surge of scrapbook mojo and I create a string of three or four layouts that I could not be more proud of. Sometimes they are out of the box for me. Sometimes they just sit right in the sweet spot. If I knew what caused this perfect storm of creativity I would most certainly bottle it up to take a swig daily. Alas, it only happens from time to time so I have to treasure those layouts when I can.

 This is my very favorite. By far.....

I cut strips out of all of my favorite Crate Paper, papers, and arranged them randomly around the page and things just sorta fell into place after that. Next I overlapped them randomly and then dusted off the sewing machine (what a difference making the time to sew on pages makes. they look so much more finished to me.). Next I threw on some of my favorite embellishments. Couldn't be happier with the results....

Things I learned in Virginia

Ok. So. A couple of weeks back we made the 6-ish hour trek to where Hottie's family lives in Virginia. We wanted to surprise his parents who were visiting there. It was fantastic. We were there for less than 48 hours, sadly. But still made the most of our trip and I'm so glad we went despite the snowy conditions on the roads.

Here's what I learned in Virginia....

I really miss these faces.

 I mean, I knew I missed them before the visit. But. This made my heart ache a little. We are so used to having them close by. It's bittersweet when we see them. It tugged at my heart a little when Evareaux's Grandma leaned into the car to hug her goodbye, tearing up. I hate goodbyes, they are the worst.

This is the cutest. sweetest. most laid back dog. ever. He'll always be the real Bolt in my mind. AND. I may or may not be actively making plans to steal him the next time I see him. If coveting dogs is wrong, I don't want to be right.

I LOVE running while it's snowing. I had no idea where I was going but I knew I needed to log 5 miles that day so.... I just went. And I swear I earned new wrinkles from smiling my fool head off for an hour straight.

Then I learned that Virginians apparently don't like sidewalks. Like, they have something against them, I guess. My options for safe running were fairly limited. So, Shel Silverstein, I have found it... Viriginia is where the sidewalk ends.

We are a crazy bunch of breeders. These are not even all of the cousins from Hottie's side of the family. We were missing four. These kids are just from two families worth..... (finally, after years, a cousin pic)

Happy Valentine's Day

Happy Vday ya'll. This layout has been living in my brain for quite some time. (does that ever happen to you? or am I a crazy person? --don't answer that!) What better time then the day of luuuuuuuuuv to share?

Three cheers for Crate Paper Paper Heart for inspiration and breaking out the sewing machine. Woot! Those kids can put themselves back to sleep!

and I leave you with the sweetest Valentine image you've seen all day...

who needs chocolates and flowers when you have this guy?

Must Love Dogs

It's love layout time. So this one's for my girl and a dog that we all wish was ours (Tater is THE cutest! and THE sweetest!) Truth be told, all of my kids could not love dogs more and I just know that it's really only a matter of time before we get one of our own. (ssssshhhhhh! don't tell them that! i'm not quite ready!)

*****Removed for Publication*****

I still want to add stitching on top of the tape to help frame the photo with my sewing machine. Does anyone else have a hard time sewing on their layouts? I have a stack of pages waiting to be sewn. Maybe it's because the only time I really get to scrap is while the littles are sawing logs..... why can't they make silent machines? or do they? am i missing the boat on something? or did i just come up with a great idea? hmmm. Well, I give you permission to steal this idea, manufacture it, and sell it to me.