Beverly's Take

Here is Beverly's Take:

AJ: They are bad guys: they are guys & they are bad –
they are bad guys.
Sean: Yes, quite right!
AJ: Can I play?
Sean: Well not really.
AJ: Oh Please …
Sean: – it’s not plugged in.
AJ: Am I beating the bad guys?
Sean: Yes you are
AJ: What’s that one doing?
Sean: he’s running away
AJ: Oh. I coughed.
Sean: Did you? Oh dear
AJ: Are you a Ninja?
Sean: No
AJ: Who is?
Sean: no one
AJ: Oh. What you doing now?
Sean: I’m beating the bad guys.
AJ: Did you win?
Sean: Not yet.
AJ: What’s that?
Sean: It’s a map.
AJ: What’s it for?
Sean: It shows you where you’re going
AJ: What’s it look like?
Sean: The map.
AJ: What does it do?
Sean: It shows you where you’re going
AJ: What’s it look like?
Sean: A map.
AJ: Oh. Did you win.
Sean: Not yet …

Jamie's Take

Here is Jamie's take:

Lucky in love

Journaling:

Observations:
At the end of a random phone call...

He said, "Hey"
She said, "yeah?"
He said, "I love you"
"I love you too," she said.
He said, "Damn, I'm a lucky man."
She said, "Yep, you are!"

Tracy's Take

Here is Tracy's Take:



Title: Pray to the Flag

Journaling: Tonight you came downstairs after you put Daddy to sleep and said "If I'm afraid, I need to pray to the flag." The rest of our conversation went something like this:

To the flag?

"Yeah. Teacher said I pray to the flag."

"Well, honey...you don't pray to the flag. You pray to God."

"Teacher said the flag will protect us."

"Your teacher is right in a way. There are men and women who work for the flag that protect us and hunt down bad guys. When we pray, we pray to God to protect us."

"Yeah. God is under my bed so if I'm afraid I have to pray and God won't let the monsters get me."

"Joey, there aren't any monsters under your bed."

"No, but if I'm in my bed and I yell for you, you hurry and come in there and pray with me so they won't get me."

"If you need me to, I'll pray with you whenever you want."

"Ok. We'll pray that God will protect us."

"That's right. God lets Mommy and Daddy protect you too."

"I know. Did you lock the door?"

May 18, 2004.

Nicole's take

Here is Nicole's take:


Every year I like to interview Dominique and get a list of her favorites. It s fun to see how she changes from year to year.
Colour: pink and purple
Animal: pigs because they re pink!
Song: Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star
TV Show: Winx Club
Disney Princess: Ariel
Best Friend: Emily
Movie: Mulan
Toy: Brown Barbie
Holiday: Valentine s Day
Snack: Chips (just like Mom!)
Book: Polly Pocket Pet Palace
Vegtable: Pickles!
Fruit: Strawberries
Best part of school: reading

Challenge # 9

Scrap A Conversation

Like a fly on the wall, I sat across the room from Lisa and Tori as they worked their way through a set of instructions for assembling a Christmas tree in a box. Between clicks of my digital camera I jotted down bits and pieces of their conversation during the assembly process. Now, when I sit down to scrap those photos I have some 'ready made' journaling ... using their own words.

It can be a chat that you initiate with your child after school, or the exchange between two children playing pretend, or something funny your sister said, or better yet ... a 'discussion' between you and your husband. Whether you use one you have overheard or one you participate in, your challenge is to scrap a conversation.

On this layout I have what Tori said, what Lisa said, and also included some hidden journaling that provides some background . . . setting the scene, if you will . . . from my perspective.

Journaling:

Tori said . . . "Don't move it." "No, Mom, it goes like this!" "Nissa is so smart to bring this to people who go places for Christmas and don't have a Christmas tree." "I don't want any help." No, Mom, if you look at the instructions . . . oh, sorry." "What is the next step?" "Everyone would think this was nonsense." "This is going pretty fast."

Lisa said . . . "Girls read directions. That's why we know how to put things together." "How many sizes are there?" "Don't get mad at me. I'm only trying to help." "Good job!" "Who would think that a tree could come in a box?"

I said . . .Each year before Christmas Santa sends his elf, Nissa, to visit tori to help her countdown to the big day. Being in Hawaii before Christmas didn't matter. Nissa still showed up, much to Tori's surprise and delight. She was thrilled to be able to share all her Hawaii adventures with Nissa. And, having Nissa there made it seem more like Christmas, even though we weren't home in Arizona.

As we expected, Nissa often got into mischief at night when we were all asleep and still left little trinkets and gifts for Tori to discover each morning. One morning, Tori woke to find a Christmas tree in a box. It was interesting to watch Tori and her mom read the directions and work through the process of assembling the brightly colored tree, complete with glittery ornaments. This is how little girls learn how to do things themselves, how things go together, how to become independent big girls . . . taking joy in the process and pride in the results. But, more importantly, share the moment . . . daughter and mom . . . while Nissa watched.

Entries for Quote Challenge

Here are the fantastic reader entries from Megan, Stefanie and Deanne:

Quote reads: You know when you are in love when you can't fall asleep because reality is better than your dreams.

The journaling reads as follows:

"Music washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life."is the quote by Bertrand Auerbach.

I love this song by Amy Grant, it really does remove the dust from my soul,it reminds me to see the good in others and to make my life count. Justbeing a stay-at-home Mom and being taken for granted( x 3) can bediscouraging and disheartening.

My Father's Eyes by Amy Grant.

I pray:When people look inside my life, I want to hear them say,She’s got her fathers eyes,Her fathers eyes;Eyes that find the good in things,When good is not around;Eyes that find the source of help,When help just cant be found;Eyes full of compassion,Seeing every pain;Knowing what you’re going throughAnd feeling it the same.Just like my Fathers eyes,My fathers eyes,

Quote reads: "happiness is not in our circumstatnces, but in ourselves. It is not something to see, like a rainbow, or to feel like the heat of a fire. Happiness is somethine we are. --Harry Wohl

Journaling reads: I am happy with who I am. I am a good wife, mom, sister, daughter, teacher and friend.

Stella's Take

Ok, my computer that my scanner is on is being worked on by my DH, so I had to take a pic. Here is my take...

Journaling reads:

""To the world you may be one person, but to one person you may be the world."" Author: Unknown

I know that it sounds a little cheesy, but my husband is my hero. He takes care of all of the things that I can't seem to wrap my head around or findthe energy to do. He handles all of our bills and manages all of our money.He is never the type of guy to say something is "woman's work". He is afantastic father! He cooks, he cleans, he takes care of our daughter, hetakes out the trash, he walks the dog, he changes the cat box, does the dishes,he does the yard work. All of this and he works 45+ hours a week! He is amazing.

He brings me flowers when I have had a bad day, he reads to my daughter,he lets me scrap, and he saves the universe on a daily basis. I like to tease him a little about playing his computer games, but to me he really is an every day hero. He is my knight in shining armor. I have no ideawhat I would do without him.

Beverly's Take

Here is Beverly's Take:

The quote reads:

Here's to the crazy ones, the misfits, the rebels, the troublemakers, theround pegs in the square holes... the ones who see things differently -- they're not fond of rules... You can quote them, disagree with them, glorifyor vilify them, but the only thing you can't do is ignore them because theychange things... they push the human race forward, and while some may seethem as the crazy ones, we see genius, because the ones who are crazy enoughto think that they can change the world, are the ones who do." Steve Jobs -Cofounder and CEO of Apple

my journaling:KNOW THIS: However you live your life; whatever you do with your time - itis always you that is ultimately responsible for what happens to you. Whenyou take the wrong path, don't be afraid to change direction. You make yourown choices.

Tracy's Take

Here is Tracy's Take:

Okay...I didn't pick a "famous" quote, but a quote from my son that I just love! I used his own second grand handwriting by saving one of his spelling sheets. :-) The sentence he wrote was "I am so lucky and happy." The rest of the journaling reads:

This is quite possibly my favorite quote ever! I found this on one of Joey’s 2nd grade spelling sentence sheets. It made me smile right away. I’m sure he was just trying to come up with a way to use “lucky” in a sentence, but I think that it also says something about who he is.

He is lucky. Lucky to live in a country that allows him the freedom to go to school and to church and that lets him choose to be whoever he wants to be. He lucky to have parents that adore him and love him deeply. He is lucky because he has a comfortable home and lots of toys. He is lucky because he has two cats that aren’t always afraid of him. He is lucky that his Dad loves video games as much as he does. He is lucky to have a large support family of friends and relatives. He is lucky to have a beautiful mop of curly hair and a stunning smile.

He is happy. I hope that he is always happy. Sometimes life is a series of not so lucky and not so happy events. I hope that even in those times he can find happiness. Perhaps he’ll look back at these years and remember the joy of youth and smile. Perhaps he’ll even remember how lucky he is.

Tonya's Take

Here is Tonya's take:

Journaling reads:

quote: Photography is my canvas and you are my art.

journaling: If it taks a million photos to show you how unique you are, then a million I will take. (Indy at 8 10/12)

Janine's Take

Here is Janine's take:

Journaling reads:

dance
quote: "oh the places you'll go"- dr seuss
journalling: my beautiful little beach dancer, frolicking along the sand, chasing the waves..enjoying the freedom of life. i can only imagine what the future holds for you but i hope you always remember the fun of being a butterfly as you dance along the sand.

Challenge # 8

This challenge is brought to you by the fabulous Nicole Drewniak. The challenge is to use a quote to inspire your journaling. Here is the inspiration page:




Journaling reads:

“That man is richest whose pleasures are cheapest.”
~ Henry David Thoreau

The best things in life really are free, if we are ready to open our eyes and see them for their true value. Think about it: a hug from your child or loved one, the smell of your favorite dish as it cooks, an unexpected compliment, a long soak in the bath, a morning spent sleeping in instead of running around doing errands. All of the small things that give us so much pleasure are the same things that we readily take for granted because we are always on the run. Always preoccupied. Driving ourselves insane. Making ourselves sick.

Today I am going to stop comparing myself to everyone else. Today I am going to quit being jealous of what others have. Today I am going to open my eyes and SEE.

I will see that I am blessed and that I am rich.

And it won’t cost me a thing.

~ January 5th, 2008

Submissions for the Numbers challenge

I am totally loving this submission from Deanne Burton.

Thankful for...
the Little Things
1 alarm clock
2 cell phone
3 coffee mug
4 purse
5 photo albums
6 camera
7 house key
8 bottled water
9 cheque book
10 pens and pencils

Check out this page by our own Nicole Drewniak! I am so loving this. WOW! You gals amaze me with your creativity and talent!!!

ACK!!!

Ok, I just realized that I did not post this fabulous submission from Stephanie Semple from the last challenge. I am so sorry and this is so awesome!!!!

Janine, Jamie, Stella and Audrey's Takes

Here is Janine's LO:

journaling says:
man you 2 are growing up so quickly. its only been a few months since i have seen you and it still shocks me. 2 crazy loud boys with so much spirit and spunk. love you both so much.

Here is Jamie's LO:

Crazy Eights

"There's something about the number 8...You were born in my 38th hour of labor, at 7:08pm, weighing 8 pounds on the 8th day of March, 1998. And now as you turn ten in the 8th year of the new millennium I celebrate you my sweet! Even your easy going personality reminds me of the smooth shape of this number...I'm crazy about 8!!"

Here is Stella's LO:

Journaling reads:

1 Dad

1 Mom

1 Child

1130 mile drive

48 hours plus in a car

4 Theme Parks in 4 days

1 Dinner at Cinderella's Castle

1 Breakfast with Lilo and Stitch

1 Hotel with a Fabulous View=

1 Little Girl's Dream Come True

Here is Audrey's LO:

Journaling reads:

Counting My Blessings

1 Amazing Husband

1 Wonderful Son

2 Beautiful Daughters

This makes up my family of 5

Tracy and Beverly's Take

Sorry about no post yesterday. Blogger would not let me upload a picture. It was acting strange.

Here is Tracy's take:

THREE
by Tracy King


3 birthdays in 2 differenc months
three extra value meals
3 toothbrushes
3 top scores on video games
3 ways to see the world
three sets of tennis shoes
three stockings at Christmas
3 Bibles on Sunday
3 kinds of pizza
3 to sing with the radio
3 smiles
married September 30th
3 tickets at the theater
3 hearts
3 different sodas
3 seatbelts
3 makes a family

Here is Beverly's take:

10 Things About Our Family (In No Particular Order).

1. We all have strong personalities, which means we don't always get on. Ourhouse can be a volatile place to live.

2. I do not love you all the same - You are not the same. I don't love anyone of you more or less than the others - just differently.

3. When it really counts, I know you will always be there for each other.This gives me peace of mind.

4. I am proud of our family and who we are.

5. You are all individuals with different strengths and weaknesses. Youshould celebrate those differences.

6. Sometimes I feel completely and totally overwhelmed by you all. Such isthe life of a mother of boys.

7. When I am apart from any of you for longer than a day or so I miss youterribly.

8. In your own ways you are all thoughtful, caring and kind.

9. I cherish the time we spend together - more so on the rare occasions whenit is all of us.

10. Mostly I am grateful to have you all in my life.

Colette's Take

Here is Colette's take:

Journaling reads:

23 pieces of luggage
6 digital cameras
3 visiting elves
2 islands
1000's of dollars
17 days
2908 miles Phoenix to Honolulu

When twelve people fly to Hawaii for Christmas you have to expect a lot of airport hassle ... luggage, rental cars, security, lines, waiting ... the worst part of our trip. Christmas, '07.

Challenge #7

OK, ladies. The next challenge is a little late. Sorry :( I was extemely busy with my family.

The challenge is to use numbers as the inspiration for your journaling. Here is the inspiration page from Elizabeth van der Wier from 2 peas. I saw this in the gallery and asked her if we could use it. Thank you so much Elizabeth!!!

Journaling reads:

1. # of televisions in my home - 1

2. # of phone numbers I can be reached at - 1

3. # of cereal boxes in my cupboard - at least 6

4. # of hours per week that I scrapbook - 10

5. # of board games in my house - 26

6. # of handbags I own - 2

7. # of pounds I wish I weighed - 160

8. # of hours per week I spend on the phone - 1

9. # of shoes in my closet - 9

10. amout of money I need to retire today - way too much!

Deanne's Submission

Here is the fabulous entry by Deanne Burton!!!

Colette's Take

Here is Colette's Take:

Journaling reads: We didn't have fancy backyard pools and slides ... we had sprinklers, irrigation ditches, and yellow sheets of plastic that hooked up to a hose and got slippery when wet. We even had balloons and plastic pails filled with water from the hose. You see, the size of your pool isn't important. It's about being wet and happy with your friends on a hot summer day.

Tori and Lisa on the pool slide ... Waipouli, Kauai, Hawaii. 12-26-07

Stella's Take

Here is my take. Sorry for the wonky picture, I could not get this to scan right and this is the best pic that I could get. Needless to say, the LO looks better in person. LOL

Journaling reads:

I can't believe its been 20 years since Dirty Dancing came out! I was 11 years old and my friends and I watched the movie over and over again. We had posters of Patrick Swayze on our walls and we all thought that he was the hottest man ever! I had the soundtracks to the movie and listen to them over and over again.

How could you not love that movie? All of the great music and dancing, Patrick Swayze (so hot!!), and the drama of forbidden love. I so wanted to dance like that and to be "Baby" and have Patrick Swayze sweep me off my feet. **sigh** I will never forget that movie and how much my friends and I loved it!

Tonya's Take

Here is Tonya's take:

Journaling reads:

circa 1981 - current time

I love me some Bonne Bell Lip Smackers. No chocolate flavors please, but pop and fruity - Oh yeah! Dr. Pepper, 7-Up, Barq's Rootbeer, Cherry anything. Mmmm! Such memories tied into those smells.

Tracy's Take

Here is Tracy's take on the challenge:

The REAL Family Photo

The journaling block reads: Although most of the pics from this family photo shoot turned out great, this one captured the "real" us.

The journaling block along the ribbon gives the basics. It says: *Engler Park* Farmington, MO* Windy day!* Photographer Phyllis* Lots of laughing* Happy day!*

Although there's not a lot of journaling on this page, the photo says a lot! *smiling*

Janine's take

Here is Janine's take:

the journaling reads:
looking back..i can still remember finding out you were a girl-it was aound 13 weeks..kirsty did the ultrasound and you were very co-operative. I was totally stunned..i expected a boy since deanne had boys..i don't know my reasoning since i am one of 2 girls!?. I can vividly remember telling your dad..the big grin on his face. I remember holding you in my arms and drinking you in., my precious baby girl. So for now its all about pink and girly stuff and i must admit i kinda like it! -January 2008

Nicole's Take

Here is Nicole's take on Challenge # 6:

The journaling:

When I was a kid, trips to the beach were far and few inbetween. I tried to make my own with a sprinkler for a lake and roasting on a beach towel on the lawn. I got many a sunburn. Now I live 5 mins. from Devonshire and would love to retire on beachfront property. Nothing beats hot sun, sand, and cool water. I think my kids would agree.

Challenge #6

This one is inspired by the fabulously talented Debbi Tehrani from 2 peas. The challenge is to journal and do a page based on a random memory. Here is the inspiration page!!!!

Submissions for the List Challenge

Here is Stefanie Semple's fantastic entry:

Journaling reads:

All I do.
drive
tidy
cook
shop
stress out
instruct, moan, nag
care
create
breathe
worship & pray
dwell on things in the past
tidy
collect
forget
love
work
plan & schedule
complain
hurry and?or wait
sleep
regret and feel sorry for myself
correspond & keep in touch
take photos
try to “be there” for everyone

All I need to do.
Chill/ relax/ simplify
pray and worship
unconditionally love and accept
encourage others
breathe
exercise
love
reflect on all my blessings
scrapbook and journal
get enough sleep
Remember my list and choose differently.

Here is Dea Burton's Fabulous entry:

Stella's Take

Here is my take:

Journaling Reads:

Changes:
1. Victoria started kindergarten
2. Stella had sinus surgery.
3. Christian got a new car (a Solstice)

Books I have read:
1. The entire Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon
2. The History of Love by Nicole Krause
3. The Memory Keeper's Daughter by Kim Edwards

Fave TV shows:
1. Big Brother
2. Top Chef
3. Dancing with the Stars

Fun things we have done:
1. Went to Disney World
2. Joined Girl Scouts
3. Had the family to our house for Thanksgiving

Fave Songs right now...
1. Love Man by Otis Redding
2. My Love by Justin Timberlake
3. Little Wonders by Rob Thomas

Most memorable Scandals of 2007
1. Britney Spears loses panties, hair, kids and presumably her mind.
2. Paris Hilton spends 23 days in jail.
3. Lindsay Lohan goes to rehab three times, gets busted for DUI twice, denies ownership of coke found in her pants.

Fave Movies
1. Ratatouille
2. Enchanted
3. 3oo

Funniest things Victoria said:
1. My snug a bug (her crocheted blanked) has purple pimples!
2. Don't messy with my bunny, Daddy...she knows karate.
3. The turkey goes...eehhh (making a funny face when her Daddy was teasing her about chasing a turkey for Thanksgiving and she was trying to say that the turkey is dead).

Nicole and Beverly's takes

Here is Nicoles Lo:

The journaling reads as follows:

Random stuff that makes me happy: 1. A new box of pencil crayons 2. The beach 3. Poutine 4. Timmy's 5. Art 6. Johnny Depp movies 7. Cookbooks 8. Photography 9. Scrap supplies

Here is Beverly's Take:

Journaling Reads:

It's All Good
Dad visited in March & October - so good to see him
Jane was here in February & December
Auryn's school concert - his first - I cried! LOL
Auryn's Nativity - he's changed so much this year
Friendship: This has been such a tough year. I didn't appreciate how many good friends I had until the flowers and messages of support came flooding in to help me thru.

This Was Bad
Fire at the store
3 break-ins at the store
Moved to new premises twice
Dean went away
Websites crashed & the back-ups were faulty
Audrey died unexpectedly

Yes, You Did That
- Blogrolled at Decopatch USA
- Mastered the Zencart software
- Became a top 50 blogger
- Learnt to use PowerPoint & made my first presentation
- DT place at Journaling Junkie
- DT place at My Creative Classroom
- Sister of the Week at Sisterhood of Scrap
- Blogrolled at QKD bloggers club

Work
- Closed store Dec. 22nd
- Rebuilt online store
- Got my DT in place: June
- Went to trade show: Feb.
- Rusty Pickle event: April
- Did our first show: Sept.

What Next?
Start submitting my work to magazines again - I enjoyed that!
Keep searching for that elusive manufacturer DT place - I know it's out there.
Spend more time creating & less on planning/admin.
Build up my classes. Bigger numbers = I can carry on.
Build my Etsy shop. It's been empty too long!

On A Personal Note
Get the house in shape
Finances under control
Lose weight
More family time
Truce with Adam
Have more fun!!

These Things Will Change My Life ...
- I'm a FLY-baby
- Letting my brothers go
- Build bridges with A's family