Project Life 2012: Weeks 45, 46, and 47

WEEK 45

Election week. Birthday parties, soccer games, gym time…and the week I discovered kids yoga workouts On Demand. The boys LOVED. And I swooned while watching…a new staple activity in our house.

I actually ran out of photos for this week, shocking, I know. Luckily, I keep a little box of goodies nearby and was able to include a letter from one of the subscription boxes I received. Don’t throw those things away, they help tell a story…

WEEK 46

A super busy week where I struggled to find any semblance of balance. Parent/teacher conferences meant a full-time work week for me, without full-time kid care. The boys and I were exhausted by the end of the week. Add in cold, rainy weather…one of those tough weeks all around. The “Happy Mail” helped for sure, but it was hard to see it sitting on the dining room table and not having the time or energy to open them up…

A double nap Friday afternoon, meant some much needed crafty play time for Mama: I LOVED the “Mason Jar Soap” kit from Amazepack. So much fun. Also love that I was able to squeeze in an impromptu girls night out and hair cut Saturday night…little things:

Right side without insert:

WEEK 47

Thanksgiving Break week…much needed downtime for all of us.

We started the week off with our salt dough ornament making…while they dried, we danced, played, and walked the Rez. Once ready for paint, I put on the Christmas music, made myself a cup of coffee, and the boys went to town painting away:

Love the concentration, the tongue, and his love of helping me in the kitchen. The boys did nearly every step on their own this year:

Our finished product, makes me smile. I love how it reflects how much they’ve grown since last year and incorporates some of their new likes (Star Wars):

And then we did something we’ve NEVER done, a spontaneous, last-minute decision…to drive down to Anaheim and surprise the boys with a day at Disneyland. On the weekend after Thanksgiving. All kinds of crazy. But then we saw those smiles and Disney done up in all it’s holiday glory:

Despite the crowds, we managed to ride just about everything on our list…

A way to keepsake/journal our favorite rides:

I have had these pages FOREVER and have never used them, I kind of love them. A lot. They fit the 4 x 4 Instagrams perfectly and were the perfect sized insert for our Disney fun:

The right side of actual layout:

THE DEETS:

Had to share in case you’ve never heard or tried: for long road trips, especially those at night, running headlamp for the kiddos!! Genius tip from a friend. The boys could read or play their games and the light allowed the other one to sleep if need be…

I am not a Disney hater, but thought the boys weren’t ready yet. I didn’t think they’d handle the wait times and long lines. Wasn’t sure if Jake was tall enough. I assumed we would wait a couple more years…I am so glad we decided to take the chance and go. The boys surprised me and did so well in the lines. Jake was able to ride everything. By far, the most special moments of the trip are those spent alone, one on one, with Ty. We left the two tired boys at the hotel and headed back just the two of us…and stayed until midnight. The holiday decorations, the absolute MAGIC of Disney was extraordinary. Many happy memories were made…and I am an admitted reformed Disney fan.

Project Life: Weeks 41, 42, 43, and 44

I am determined to finish this bad boy. Staged another massive come back this week…FOUR weeks completed.

WEEK 41

I wish I had thought of it earlier, included a note to Jake this week. I will definitely be doing this more often…

Had fun with Halloween washi and reliving Tyson’s FIRST soccer goal. Total game changer for him and so fun to watch:

WEEK 42

Two additional inserts this week:

Love the new landscape 8 x 10 page. Included two soccer team photos: one regular-ish and one silly. My kid is the one with his hands on his head. Of course. On the back is the silly photo with a little label listing the kids’ names:

Snapped this photo of Jake during our day date to the pumpkin patch. Happy boy…

WEEK 43

Included a lot of fun, memorable non-photo items this week…

A surprise visit by Papa G was definitely a highlight for all three of my boys. Tyson has been leaving me little “notes” (pictures). He stuffs them in my purse, in the car…I love finding his little treasures. I included one in this week’s layout:

Happened to be my birthday…loved one of the cards I got in the mail so I included it. Ty made me a “Birthday Book” and I included that as well:

I have been doubling up the Instagram photos to really tell a complete story. I have been dying to check out Anthropologie and snuck over after work. Splurged on a little dress, so different from anything I have, just need somewhere to wear it…

WEEK 44

Halloween week. Super busy but so much fun with the boys this year…

Got one of our first subscription boxes this week…LOVED it. Also discovered KIDS YOGA. So cute watching the boys:

Love this story…love capturing the super big meaningful moments:

Thanks for visiting…

Linking up with The Mom Creative:

Project Life: Week 40

Keeping it short and sweet this week as we are still recovering from a very last minute but extraordinarily magical trip to this place:

Week 40:

LOOOOOOVING the Design F pages:

I was actually short on 4 x 6 photos this week, so I included a funny story that I was going to journal instead:

Linking up with the Mom Creative…

Project Life 2012: Week 39

Only one week to update so far. I am about half way through week 40…chugging along. And still LOVING Project Life.

LEFT SIDE: trying to keep it simple, as always. A piece of artwork Jake brought home this week happened to match the layout so I cut a piece off and used it. Love the little pieces of the boys as I flip through the already completed pages…

Much of this week is based of the Clementine core kit blue, orange, yellow color combination…

RIGHT SIDE: I just ordered more Design F pages. I take so many pictures on my phone that this design/layout works so well for me. I love how you can tell a story across multiple journal slots…and include lots of pictures without an additional insert. I am also hopeless when it comes to spraying the Studio Calico Mistables so I covered with washi tape and love:

Jake was NOT hearing his basketball class, not even a little. He sat on the chair, lips pouted out, and did not budge. An otherwise frustrating moment but totally project life-able!! Heh. Luckily, he couldn’t commit to his pledge not to have fun and joined in the fun…eventually.

An example of story telling across journal slots…so much fun!! Tyson got a Dino Hatch Egg from his book order and both boys were completely enthralled by it…

Thanks for visiting!!

Will be linking up with The Mom Creative…

Project Life 2012: Weeks 35, 36, 37 and 38

Attempting to stage a massive comeback this week!! Four weeks completed. World record status.

WEEK 35

LEFT SIDE: had fun including a funny story on the title card. It NEVER occurred to me that I would have to teach Tyson how to use a urinal or that there would be urinals in the boys bathroom. I still laugh thinking about how funny that morning was. Jake saw Ty’s drawing in last week’s layout, so he wanted to make one for this week.

RIGHT SIDE (W/INSERT): the picture of Jake’s first day makes me swoon. Those cheeks. I’ll be so sad when he loses them and I LOOOOOOVE that he wants to be a “Daddy” when he grows up. Heh.

Back of insert:

This was a BIG week for us. I was running around trying to put together a new work wardrobe after five years off, Jake was adjusting back to school, and I was learning to juggle FOUR completely different schedules:

Needless to say, the gym time decreased a lot…and pool time? Not so much.

WEEK 36

Keeping it simple: picture + small embellie = done.

I wanted to highlight the soccer team huddle. There is something so adorable about the itty bitty kindergarteners all huddled up…

One of my favorite pictures recently: Jake sitting outside the door of Ty’s kindergarten classroom. He desperately wanted to run inside and join his brother. So sweet:

WEEK 37

Not sure why it took me so long, but finally took one of the boys out on the trail with me. Jake rode his bike while I ran. He was TOUGH.  “HURRRRRRY UP, MOM!!” I got a good three miles in. Definitely something that will become a regular weekend endeavor around these parts:

I am trying to incorporate photos of things that are often overlooked. This week: a picture of our playroom. The heart of our house. We spend countless hours together in this room…

WEEK 38

Used Clementine core pieces this week. LOVE. I forgot how much I love the color combos and EASE of the journal cards.

Even though I am super far behind, about five or six weeks, I actually LOVE reliving events through Project Life. I really enjoyed journaling and looking at the photos from the triathlon. It is still one of the bigger accomplishments for which I am very proud.

The Deets:

Obsessed. Orzo everything…had to include:

Love my boy’s love of the library. And love the Clementine card…

Thanks for stopping by!!

Linking up with The Mom Creative:

Project Life 2012: Weeks 33 and 34

WEEK 33:

I am really excited about this one. It is one of my most favorite weeks to date. Partly the color combination, partly the pictures and stories, MOSTLY the title card:

TITLE CARD:

Tyson wanted to draw me a picture card. I handed him the card and a marker, and he handed me back this swoon worthy picture with a story that he immediately shared…

LEFT SIDE:

RIGHT SIDE:

I wasn’t sure what to think of this new page layout from the PL variety kit, but am really loving it. I rely on my phone to take a lot of pictures, thank goodness for Instagram, this layout is very IG friendly:

WEEK 34:

From one of my favorite layouts to one that is bothering me. I stepped way out of my comfort zone but was determined to use my Smash book stash of goodies…

RIGHT SIDE W/INSERT:

BACK OF INSERT:

This picture kills me. The first day of kindergarten seemed lifetimes away five years ago, yet it snuck up on me. The image of Ty walking down the front walkway is one that will likely repeat itself many times over…first day of kindergarten. First day of junior high. First day of high school. First date. First prom. First…

While the color combination throws me, the guided journaling made this week especially fun. I included things I likely wouldn’t have otherwise…

WEEK 35:

I thought I would include a week in progress and explain a little bit of my process. I have gone through and labeled each week with a simple notecard. I try to stay as current as possible with pictures. I upload weekly and print to Costco about every other week. I then cut out and place photos in each pocket, journaling and embellishing when I get some spare time.

I don’t really have a “theme” per week. I often just fill in the pockets with pictures as they fit. For this week’s layout, I am using some of the new journal cards from Target’s We R Memory Keepers: Albums Made Easy line. Love the colors and ease:

Have I told you how much I LOOOOVE the new Ali Edward journal cards…I LOOOOOOOOOVE them:

Project Life 2012: Weeks 30, 31, and 32

Despite the lack of PL blogging, I have in fact been Project Life-ing. Chugging along. I managed a massive, valiant catch-up effort over the last couple weeks. I split the blog update into two posts…

WEEK 30

LEFT SIDE:

One of the things I love the most about Project Life is how it reminds me to keep the little pieces of life that would otherwise be thrown away or put aside. Things such as a snippet of Ty’s five-year checkup, better late than never, right??!! or a piece of the Ty’s first Lego success…

RIGHT SIDE:

The boys have been drawing and crafting at the end of the dining table while I Project Life. Tyson desperately wanted to draw me a picture for my “scrapbook”…how could I say no. I love the little piece of him included in this week’s layout. It makes me smile every time I look at it. While I thought the colors of the Lego box would throw my Type A matchy matchy self out of whack, I enjoy how it adds another form of personalization to the layout:

DEETS:

LOOOOOOOOOOVING the Technique Tuesday Ali Edward cards. Like really really LOVING them. So simple, so cute, so easy…

WEEK 31

No matter how hard I try, I am drawn the blue, brown, kraft, yellow combination…

LEFT SIDE:

Really happy PL came out with 4 x 6 blank grid cards…they are a mainstay for me:

RIGHT SIDE:

DEETS:

The ability to tell a complete story across multiple card pockets thrills me to no end. I love how you don’t have to stick to one type of format each week, you can do whatever you need to do to get your weekly story told:

And loving the ability to “highlight” especially meaningful weekly events in the bigger 4 x 6 pockets:

WEEK 32:

LEFT SIDE:

Decided to mix in some Cobalt Kit action this week. LOVE the reds and blues:

RIGHT SIDE:

DEETS:

She STAMPS, gasp. I tried…

Used some leftovers from my turquoise kit:

Project Life 2012: Weeks 27, 28, and 29

WEEK 27

Experimented with photo size. Printed out one of my favorite photos of the week as an 8 x 10 and trimmed to fit the three pockets. Fun way to highlight favorite photos and moments:

WEEK 28

Snuck our score card from mini golf and movie ticket stubs into the layout:

Wanted to try something different for the title card. No official “title card” but rather a card added to the layout with the date:

Library book card added in place of plain grid card. I wanted to capture the evolution of our bookshelf. Gone are most of the board books, replaced by big boy chapter books…and a photo of Jake braving the slip and slide. Only weeks before, he wouldn’t go anywhere near the water for fear it would drop on his head or face.

Big photos will likely become a trend in the upcoming months…

WEEK 29

My first attempt at a non-A page layout. LOVING the ability to use all Instagram photos and like how you can still maintain a large 4 x 6 card look by using two pockets…

I am absolutely in LOVE with the new Ali Edwards Technique Tuesday cards…LOOOOOOOVE them:

Slowly but surely catching up…

Linking up with The Mom Creative. Thanks for stopping by!!

Project Life: Week 26

The last week in the first binder…slowly but surely catching up. Loving the light blue, beige/tan, white and yellow color combo. Left side:

Title card:

Right side:

Included a piece of a bag from a super cute vintage clothing store we found while out shopping as well as movie ticket stubs from our girls night out:

Full spread. Definitely need the continuity of a color scheme, the mis-matched layouts bug me. It is all I can do to not go back and redo them…still enjoying the process. Loved being able to look back at the last six months. I am even enjoying reliving some of our summer adventures while I go back and finish the journaling…

Linking up with The Mom Creative…

Project Life: Week 25

Left side: trying to keep it super simple. Light blue, yellow, tan color streak…

I have been struggling to find ways to use the little metal smash clips, finally found a way to make them work. I stared at this journal card for a long time thinking it didn’t look “finished” but I like the overall simple look of it…

Right side. I seem to feel better about the weekly layouts that have a color scheme or overall theme. Not super matchy matchy but the weeks where there is no continuity never look finished to me…