GROW

I haven't shared a layout in sooo long! I took these pictures of the kids while they played outside in the tree last August. When I saw the colorful tree paper from Little Yellow Bicycle in September, I knew exactly what I was going to do. Sadly, the paper and the photos sat on my desk until just yesterday.

I added some other papers, fringed the green to make it look like grass with my Martha Stewart scissors, and a Dear Lizzy glittered chipboard "grow." The little embellies next to the pictures are from Fancy Pants.

I always say how fast the kiddos are growing up. I want them to grow, but just a little s l o w e r. I miss the days where they just want to cuddle on a lap and read a book. Now, they play soccer together in the mud and have to strip down in the garage before even thinking of coming in the house. Anna reads to Elan and Mac is loosing all his teeth. Elan makes himself a snack without wanting any help and they all go on "path hiking" adventures together. I sit home and wait for someone that needs a hug or kiss... and I'm not ashamed to say that I bribe them with treats so they will sit and talk to me.

Grow on little buddies...

Oh Joy!

Like I promised... our Christmas card for 2011. I send out over a hundred cards every year- they can't ALL be handmade! So, I order some photo cards and the handmade ones get the same photo inserted.

I love the most recent comment from someone that received our card, "I love how you don't match your kids in holiday outfits and don't make them pose!" Not sure if I should be offended or not! :) I like to send out photos that express who my children are- not what they are pretending to be, with cheesy smiles and stiff poses, cringing at an outfit that I made them wear for 10 minutes and will never wear again! And actually, they do match! And this is who they are... darling, toothless, playful and full of Christmas JOY!

Holiday Festivities!

Merry Christmas, friends! This week has started off pretty good... the kids are out of school, all the stationery and holiday card orders have been placed, signed, sealed and delivered! I always try to keep the week before Christmas for myself. I love to bake and fix delicious cookie boxes for friends, neighbors and family. I try to stop and enjoy the week before Christmas with my kiddos, try to absorb their excitement and anticipation!

Last week, we had Mac's Christmas program at school. He got to play the bongo during one of the songs and he was so into it! He sang his little heart out!

Anna also had her Angel Program at school. She got to sign a solo part and she was very proud! She looked like an absolute angel, despite the fact that she had a stomach virus. It lasted a long 6 days!

I'll be back with our holiday card for 2011! Enjoy the night!

A Sketchy Thursday Layout on Monday!

It's been a while since I've played along with Sketchy Thursdays! When I saw this weeks sketch, I immediately knew what pictures I wanted to scrap. I liked the sketch, but flipped it clockwise once to work with my photos and title.

Here's the layout:

This is Mac at the Crossover Ceremony for Cub Scouts. They walk across a wood 2x4 and "crossover" from a cub to a bear. He was so proud to be in the next level of scouting... A Bear!

Here's the sketch: 

I hope you get to play along... you have until 10 p.m. on Wednesday to get your scrap on!
Have a good night!

8 is Great!

Mac turned 8 this past February and I just now did his birthday layout! Eight has been a great year for Mac, he has grown up so much and has become so independent! He started playing tackle football a few weeks ago and loves it, and he is active in scouts. He {I think} is finally excited, getting ready to start third grade next week!

Now, on with the layout... 

Lots of odds and ends going on here, but they all seem to work together. Old and new supplies... I love when that happens!

We finally have a break in humidity today, so I'm getting the kids outside! Hope you have a great day!

Finally Toothless!

I love this layout... mainly because it features my oldest, Mac, who is 8, and his first lost tooth! He was the only kid in the entire second grade that hadn't lost a tooth- that's 75 kids with a mouth full of adult teeth and Mac still had all his baby teeth! He waited, and waited, wiggled and yanked and finally, his first tooth came out!He was so proud, and now smiles with his mouth open! Since his tooth fell out and this layout was made, he has lost another tooth! I believe they will be dropping out quickly now, but the first one, we will always remember!

PolkaDot Door Blog Hop!

Hello and welcome! Today, I am participating in the first Polkadot Door Designs blog hop! It lasts through the week with tons of fun, inspiration and prizes! I hope you will join us and browse from one creative blog to the next!
For the first blog hop, Polkadot Door decided on an inspiration challenge to base a layout, card or project on. I love this picture of colorful goodness, inspiration is all over it:
At first glance, I was drawn in by the colors. So fresh, bright and springy! So, I based my layout on color inspiration:

Then, I really was digging those pinwheels. So, I made another project... lots of the same colors, but with a handmade embellie!
My two boys sharing a birthday party- this layout goes in my oldests book! ;)

A close up of the pinwheel:
Now it's your turn! All of the blog hop details can be found HERE. The blog hop list is below, and I encourage you to start at the beginning if you found yourself here first! After you cruise the hop and get loads of inspiring ideas, link up your creation at the Polkadot Door Designs site!

Kim {begin here}

Natasha

Geri

Amanda {you are here!}

Valerie

Jean

Diana

Nicole

Yvonne

Amy

Polkadot Door Designs

Have fun hopping, and if you create something, please leave me a link so I can check it out! A special thanks to Sarah and Rebecca for all their hard work putting together a fantastic blog hop!

A Boy Layout With *gulp* LACE!

Boy layouts are kind of hard when you have to "dress them up." For example: Mac's First Communion. I wanted it to be sweet, white, add some softness, maybe a flower... but for a boy, it's tough. So, I was glad to see the Etsy Inspired Challenge for the week. The Etsy shop is Creating Is Fun and there are lots of great, vintage looking things in the shop. These are the two things that inspired me:


And here is my layout: I am happy to say that it's still very much all boy, but has a flower, lace, a button, rhinestone and laser cut paper. It's sweet and peaceful- exactly what I was going for!
Thanks for the inspiration! ;)

Rollin' with it!

Another school themed layout! I thought I would keep the ball rolling since I have done one of each child! Here is Mac on his first day of second grade: I really love how the colorful strips add just the right amount of "pop" to the layout. I thought the text style paper was perfect since he learned cursive this year! I used a sketch for this layout while I was on my scrappin' trip, but have no idea what the sketch was or where it came from! Anyway, enjoy! And, speaking of Mac, he lost his second tooth tonight at dinner. It all started with biting into a juicy piece of corn on the cob!

A Quiet Place...

...that's exactly where I wish I was! It's the first day of Spring Break here, and the kids were occupied with a long play date. With seven kids, all under 8, it was busy, wild, and chaotic, but fun! We do have a busy week planned, so hopefully we will have some nice weather! Here is my most current layout: I love how it turned out! I finally decided to use the fabric tree from Trinkets,NH that I got on Etsy- it seemed perfect for this page! I also pryed that button I made out of my Kung-Fu grip and used it. The grass was made with green scrap paper and Martha Stewart fringe scissors- love them. Here's a close up: The background story to this layout is kinda funny... Elan was bugging the tar out of Mac, following him everywhere and talking his ear off. Finally, when Elan turned his back, Mac climbed the tree and finally had a quiet place to draw and write. It actually took Elan a while to find him! ;) *Challenge: Paper Issues: "Show Us Your Grass!"

New Specs...

Mac just got glasses last week. We didn't know he couldn't see until he started squinting... poor little fella is near sighted. He was awesome getting his eyes checked and he even took his time choosing his glasses. Thankfully, I had my camera at the optical store! With my wicked printer, I cranked out this layout in no time flat!

I used lots of Studio Calico odds and ends and random paper: Pink Paisley, Jenni Bowlin, and Sassafrass. The Sketchy Thursdays sketch is what I used as my template:
Lovin' the way it turned out... it's hanging in my studio!

Cub Scouts

Here's a layout I finished up last week, but never posted. I really like the way it turned out. It started from an old Sketchy Thursdays sketch, but I veered off a little and ended up doing my own thing! So glad I did too! This is from a Cub Scout event that Mac participated in. He was presented with a "Light of Christ" medal at the Cathedral by the Archbishop. It was a pretty big deal and we were very proud of him and his accomplishment.

It's been raining here... a lot. So, stay dry!

8 Years Ago...

There was an ice storm. It was so cold, snow on the ground and under the snow, several inches of ice. I was 8 months pregnant and up the night before with what I thought were braxton hicks. I sent Stephen off to his usual Monday night of bowling and when he returned, he went off to bed while I was up... on the couch... in misery. Finally, at 6:30 am, it was time to wake him up and get to the hospital, I couldn't handle much more.
Once we were at the hospital, it was almost 7:00 am. We left the bags in the car because I was sure the doctor would send me home. On the contrary, the baby was breech and I was 6-7 cm dilated. I was being rushed in for an emergency c-section.
At 7:35 am, Stephen McDonald "Mac" Profumo was born exactly 4 weeks early. He was so perfect, weighing in at 6 pounds and 10 ounces, with a head kissed with blond curls. My first born baby, a boy, so sweet and precious... a day I will never forget.

Mac has grown so much in the past year. He's still into sports, soccer and basketball being his favorites. He enjoys building with his Lego's, Cub Scouts, and started taking guitar lessons. He is a star student in second grade and loves to read. We are so very proud of him and all of his outstanding accomplishments!

Here are some of my favorite layouts of Mac:

His first trip to Kings Island riding a big roller coaster...

Mac has been a wonderful big brother to Elan since the day he was born...
Soccer stud...

Playing one of the "play" guitars- you have every intention of being a rock star, or possibly a singer/songwriter...

This layout sums up exactly who you are on the inside...

Some recent photos of Mac:

At his birthday party, getting a great gift from my brother and his family...
Group shot... we celebrated with family for both Elan (2/2) and Mac's (2/18) birthday (don't you love Anna's sweater?!)...

Mac's first day of second grade...

We used this photo for our holiday card...

Mac with his best friend, Noah, and the Archbishop after he received his Light of Christ medal for Cub Scouts. This was a proud day for him... Working on a layout now of that day!

I look so forward to finding out what the next year has in store for Mac. He is such a kindhearted boy, who's smart, a good friend, brother and son. Mac is a joy and has been since the day he was born. Happy birthday, big boy! I love you!

To many, many more wonderful days filled with fun!

Two for One!

It's Wednesday, and that means I bust my hump to get my Sketchy Thursdays project uploaded in time! Well, I have a treat for you... the sketch was quick, easy and wonderful, and I made a layout and a card!
So, presenting the sketchy sketch...

My Card... a Halloween one, because it's coming up and it's my fave holiday! ;) My Layout... brace yourself, this is a funny one...

The mustaches are not photo-shopped in... they are those stick on ones. Stephen and I laughed ourselves silly when Mac and Anna put them on! So funny...

Sorry I have been MIA the past several days. Elan has been sick with fever and barfs over the weekend, and today he woke up cursed with the Ohio Valley allergies. Stay tuned... I have pre-scheduled posts lined up for the next few days! Wa-hoo! Have a great night!

Lucy's Love...

My niece, Lucy, has always been in love with Mac. She always follows him around and gives him hugs and kisses when she can! My sweet Mac, simply puts up with it and lets her think that he, too, is in love with her. Last summer, while we were in Hilton Head, I captured these adorable pictures of Mac and Lucy together. This particular night, Lucy was wanting to dance with Mac, on top of all her doting efforts... Mac just grinned and bared it!

A close up of all the yummies!
And, before I forget... I got a little off the subject! This is a sketch from, who else, Sketchy Thursdays! Here's the sketch, you have until 10 p.m. today to enter if you want to play along! I turned the sketch once, clockwise to go off of!
Have a great day!

First Day of School!

Mac and Anna started school today! I'm not so sure who was more excited... me or them?!

Kindergarten... it's a big deal, and Anna went off beautifully, full of excitement! She was up and ready by 6:45 a.m. and looked so precious in that uniform it made my insides tingle.

Stop it... I LOVE this picture of Anna! She picked out her own backpack, and of course picked out the flashiest one!
Mac entered the second grade... I can't believe how fast time has gown and how grown up he looks in these pictures!Off to school and Elan gets left home with me. He didn't mind- he played with all their toys all day and didn't get fussed at once!
They had a great day! Here's to another day of fun (for everyone) tomorrow! ;)

Inside Weather

Rain, rain, go away! The past several days have been so rainy and dreary. The kids, thankfully, have not been bored, but playing and pretending with each other. It's been a nice change of pace!
Here is a layout I did with some pictures of Mac and Anna that I have been holding on to for a while. I especially love the last pic on the right- look at Anna's face! So sweet...

All of these pictures were taken in 2007, but they still love to dress up and pretend together! Now, Elan is old enough to play too and the outfits fit him perfectly, where they are way too small for Mac!

Here's a close up of all the goodies on the page... lots of Studio Calico papers!

I had to make it a little "girly" because Anna wanted it for her book. I love how all three of them ask who gets the most recent layout! ;) Makes me feel good...

Have a good day!

Saturday Sports

Typically, on Saturday, we attend a sporting event. The last two years, Mac has played soccer and last year he picked up golf and flag football. He loves to be part of a team and works hard at practice and does his best in the scheduled games.

These layouts were made from the kit that I got at a fundraiser crop. All paper and embellies are American Crafts.

Golf lessons...

We will be off to a soccer game in a couple of hours. It looks like it's going to be a gorgeous day, so if you plan to head down to The Great Lawn for Thunder, have fun and don't forget your sunscreen! Hope you have a great Saturday!