...FIRST GIFT HUGS...

The kit was themed for Valentine's Day and well, we don't really do anything huge for that day. I made a tradition of decorating sugar cookies with the kids years ago and the husband and I will go out for dinner, usually, but other than that it's just kind of another day. So, I don't really have a lot of lovey-dovey-type pictures to go with Valentine's Day-themed kits.

I did some thinking and I kept thinking back to Christmas. Not even entirely sure why, but Christmas came to mind.

Back when child #5 was only 2 years old, her dad unintentionally started a tradition with her. Before she gets her first Christmas present, she has to give her Daddy a hug. As a little girl, she did this willingly and eagerly. This year I went to bed on Christmas Eve wondering if this would still happen as she's getting older and a bit moodier, but to my surprise, she cooperated for a hug - even if it was only half-heartedly. I was glad I got a photo of it.

I decided to use this kit to document this tradition. As I did so, I got angry with myself for not catching this moment every single year. I wish I had, but I can make it a goal going forward to catch this moment as long as this child cooperates with it.

SUPPLY LIST

TEMPLATE: Movember by Gingerbread Ladies (Tinci Designs)

COLLECTION: With Love by Aimee Harrison

FONT: Hugs & Kisses

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...ALL ABOUT THE BASS...

Music is pretty big in my life, though it wasn't always that way. I remember being elementary school-aged and wondering how and why my brother, who was only 1 1/2 years older than me, was always listening to it.

As I got a little bit older, I discovered a love for piano and singing and eventually I was also listening to music almost any chance I could. It's still prominent in my life and I get frustrated with myself quite often that I didn't stick to the piano.

As our kids have entered Jr. High, all 5 that have reached that age, have joined band or orchestra. The oldest started with clarinet and stuck with that for all six years. Child #2 started with the clarinet, then went to the flute. In High School, she tried guitar and drums but didn't learn either one with any real fluency. She had taken piano lessons for a number of years, however, so percussion instruments came easily. Child #3 also did clarinet (because it's what we had) and didn't continue after Jr. High as he had other things he wanted to pursue. That brings us to child #4. For the past two years, he's also done clarinet, but at the start of this school year, he decides he wants to be a part of the Jazz Band and wants to play bass guitar.

Well, crap. None of us has any experience when it comes to a bass guitar. How was he going to do this? He was super serious about it though, so we bought him a bass guitar and crossed our fingers. He picked up a bit on his own through YouTube videos, but thanks to another student, he's really actually picked it up quite well and it's fun to listen to him play.

When I saw the guitar element in the kit, That Boy, I was sold. I didn't even care what it cost and I bought the kit for one element only. Hahaha. Then I get working on the layout and I cannot find the element I wanted. After some investigation, I discovered I had completely missed a download file. After getting that downloaded we were ready for action.

SUPPLY LIST

TEMPLATE: Ready, Set, Blend 4 by Miss Fish
COLLECTION: That Boy by Blue Heart Scraps & Chere Kaye Designs
FONTS: Guitar Acoustic (Title) and Music for Empty Apartments (Journaling & Date)
ALPHA: Tattered Not Torn (Retired) by Connie Prince

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...BREAKING THE ICE...

After spending the majority of the past month or two on scrapbook projects for gifts and to meet deadlines, I was finally able to carve out some time to scrap for myself.

I saw the kit, At The Rink advertised and I knew I had to have the kit and I knew exactly what I was going to do with it. I love moments when this happens and I wish it happened a lot more often.

In November/December of 2021, I was asked to work in a position in our church with girls in the age range of 12-18. It was something I had always dreamed about but had never been asked to do until this point. I was excited and nervous all at once. The most exciting part for me, however, was that I'd be with my baby girl and get to spend a little more time with her. I think she was less excited.

One of the first activities we both attended was ice skating. I hadn't been since my teenage years, and even then I had only gone once or twice, so I was sure I'd break some sort of something. Ailey had never been in her life and wasn't exactly excited about the entire thing, but she at least tried and went around once. Of course, I had to take a selfie to remember the day and you can just see Ailey's excitement.

And yes, I sometimes enjoy a play on words - so that's why I titled this layout in the way I did. We both had to break the ice with people we didn't exactly know so well and we were also on the ice, doing something new.

SUPPLY LIST

TEMPLATE: Cut Outs Volume 4 by Connie Prince

COLLECTION: At the Rink by Heather Z. Scraps

FONT: Ice Cube

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...THROUGH THE LENS...

If there's one thing I hope to really accomplish in my children's eyes, it's that I let them explore whatever outlet they were truly interested in and I didn't get in their way. I know that sometimes my face hasn't said the same thing my heart has said and I feel bad about those times, but overall, I think I do a pretty good job. 

Child #5, my baby girl, really has a creative eye. She's the one who will tell me some outlandish idea she has and I'll try to see how she's going to accomplish the feat she's set for herself, yet she always accomplishes it and I'm left somewhat astonished. 

This child has an interest in photography and I love that. One day she came and asked to borrow my phone to take 'aesthetic photos'. I didn't really know what she meant by aesthetic, but I knew it would get her out of the house and help cultivate her interest. I gave her my phone and off she went. 

After some time, she came back inside to charge my phone a bit. During this period my little guys also decided they wanted some photos taken. Ailey chose the outfit for both of them and then they all headed outside. I don't know what I expected the photos to turn out like, but it definitely wasn't what she came back with. She definitely has an eye for this sort of thing and figured out a way to get her brothers to cooperate as well. 

SUPPLY LIST

TEMPLATE: Just Be Inspired 7 by Tinci Designs
COLLECTION: Through the Lens by Aimee Harrison
FONT: KB Camera Shy

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...FIRST CHRISTMAS...

When I was an early teen my mom got into Geneology big time. Like she threw herself into it any extra moment she had, which probably wasn't a ton of time as she was still raising a few little ones. But still...I learned then the value of keeping some sort of history going.

My mother-in-law also got bit by the Geneology bug, but it was a few years after my mom. However, my mother-in-law had a bit more time and resources and really also dived in.

Most recently, my mother-in-law has been working on compiling life histories for her parents and grandmother as well as her and her husband. She writes the stories in the My Memories program and adds pictures and embellishments where she feels they are necessary. She then orders photo books for anyone who wants the history.

All that to say, I understand the importance of writing your own personal history. And yet, I'm one of those people who are at a loss at how to even get started. It's something I've also heard from various people throughout the years.

Well, one of the many, many designers in the scrapbook world has started a series to kind of help you along with telling your own story. She's written a blog post to get you started and has also created a collection to get started: My Story.

And here's a little looksie at the page I created for the start of this series:

SUPPLY LIST

COLLECTION: My Story: Birth to Age 5 by Karen Schulz
FONTS: Christmas Tree (Title) and Stay Happy (Journaling)

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...FLOWER GIRL...

Gingerscraps January 2023 Monthly Mix gave me a chance to get out of the overabundance of snow-themed layouts I had been creating. Working with Glitz & Glam, I got the opportunity to enjoy the sunshine, at least on screen. 

The reds and pinks in this collection reminded me of my daughter's wedding last summer. I then decided my cute niece (the Flower Girl) needed a page all about her. My little sister has the most gorgeous girls, and it's always fun to scrap their cute faces, when I can.

SUPPLY LIST 

TEMPLATE: Glitz & Glam by Gingerbread Ladies
COLLECTION: Glitz & Glam by Gingerbread Ladies
FONT: Paper Flowers

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