New Coulmn!

Thanks for all the great comments on my article from last week. I really appreciated each and every one of them! Here's the link to this weeks article. Please let me know what you think!

San Bruno Patch

Here's a bonus pic for you. My little guy looking oh so cool at the Mother's Club picnic last weekend!

Thought this was cute and funny!

The EVOLUTION of A SCRAPBOOKER
1. "Cut a picture? You've got to be kidding!"

2. "Well those sure are cute pages. I'm not that creative."

3. "You have IDEA BOOKS? Let me see."

4. "I guess I'll need an album, some adhesives, and paper."

5. "Oh, and I'll also need some templates, stickers, die cuts, & one of those trimmer things."

6. "I can't get my page to look exactly like the one in the book!"

7. "You mean I have to write in my album I will need some pens. What should I write?"

8. "I finished my first page. Do you like it?"

9. "You know I have a ton of zoo pictures, and Jr. needs his school pages done; I need another album & some more paper."

10. "You have printed paper? And precut paper? I'll take one of each!"

11. "NEW STICKERS? I'll take some!"

12. "NEW DIECUTS? I'll need those!"

13. "A NEW TOOL! I NEED THAT!"

14. "A NEW IDEA BOOK? GIVE ME THAT NOW!"

15. "Wow- even bags and binders to get my supplies organized? I definitely need those!"

16. "Sorry honey, you'll have to make dinner- I'm off to a crop!"

17. "Clean socks are in the dryer!"

18. "HOLD IT! I HAVE to get a picture of that for the scrapbook."

19. "Would you please wear this shirt? I have the cutest paper to use in my layout and that will match perfectly!"

20. "YES, I came up with the idea myself."

21. "YES, that is my own handwriting."

22. "YES, I make time to scrapbook."

23. "Honey, we need to add a room to the house for my Scrapping room."

24. "Life is crazy. I just need to crop!"

25. Tax time: "Yes, scrapbooking is a medical deduction--it's my THERAPY."

Carter's 4th Birthday!

Today we celebrated Carter's birthday with his friends. We had 10 kids and their parents over for a party. It was a loud, yet fun party! Here are a few pics!

Carter's extremely cool cake made by my friend Tatiana. Carter told me exactly 24hours after his last birthday party that he wanted a "Woody" party. He never changed his mind the whole year through, so we did indeed have a Woody party! He already tells me next year is a Fireman party! LOL

The kids had a great time in the bouncy house!

They didn't have a Woody only one, so he had to settle for Toy Story theme in general!

More bouncing!

Lunch was pizza, grapes and snacks. They weren't too interested in the food however...so...

...back for more bouncing!

Carter and his "girlfriend" Brooke...still going strong for over a year! ;)

Then we had a pinata! Again, no Woody ones...so we had Bullseye - Woody's horse!

The candy grab!

and after the pinata...they went back into the bouncy!

The kids were much more into the cake over the pizza...so they came in for a bit. Here is Carter during the "Happy Birthday" singing.

Blowing the candles...

Chowing down...

A few of the kids had to leave, and things got quieter, so we opened a few gifts from the kids who were still there...

Sean was realllly excited to help Carter open his gift!

Reese looked super cute in her cowboy hat!

The birthday boy was TIRED! He actually got up about 6am this morning (after having an asthma attack around 11 last night and being up for an hour). I thought for sure he'd go back to sleep. In general, he sleeps until at least 8. Nope...I heard him yell "TODAY IS MY BIRTHDAY PARTY!" and that was it! He was awake! So, after all the party hype, he was getting a bit cranky around the end. Once everyone said goodbye, he had a giant crying spree (not over everyone leaving...just in general). Tucked him in bed - although he insisted he wasn't tired. He was totally asleep within 2 minutes! He's been out for about 90minutes now! LOL

Overall, a successful party! Tonight we're having a SECOND party - mostly adults (Carter's psuedo family in SF!). Hopefully the rest will be enough to revive him for more fun (and more bouncing!)

Busy Week!

It's been a busy busy week. I've been prepping for this little guys bday party tomorrow.

He is so so sooo excited!

In other news, please check out the new San Bruno Patch! I'll be writing a new weekly column for the site. My first one went live this week. I'd to hear what you think! Please leave me a comment!

Sneaky-sneak!

A little sneak of what's to come in the September Wescrap Kit! It's awesome...and PACKED full of goodies.

Swimsuit Model!

Isn't he just the cutest??!

Exciting News!

Happy Birthday!

A chic little card I made for a friend who had a birthday this week. I used supplies from American Craft!

Playing Soccer

We signed up Carter for soccer this fall, and he is pumped for it to start! Last week we headed out to get him all the soccer gear. Actually, he just needed shin-guards. However, he ended up with new cleats, kneesocks, and a brand new ball as well as the shinguards. He was excited to try it out. So, this afternoon we headed to Grundy Park to play a little soccer!

Oh yeah... and what's a mommy to do, but top off the outfit with a super cute new shirt! LOL

Happy Hollow!

On Friday, Carter and I decided to head to Happy Hollow in San Jose. We went with Carter's two really good friends Joey and Brooke. The kids had a blast. Happy Hollow is a mix of a playground, a mini zoo, and an amusement park. It was really fun and a super hot sunny day! Here are a few pics!

Carter and Joey at the playground

Carter petting a leopard gecko

Brooke and Carter feeding the goats

Jade and Hunter's first real outing!

Carter on one of the rides - these weird bike things.

Carter and Brooke on another ride.

Crop!

There's a crop going on over at A Page in Time this weekend to round out their 6th birthday celebrations! Be sure to check in and participate for the chance to win some prizes! This layout of the Black Sand Beach in Maui is my contribution to the crop!

Another Layout!

Here's another layout I designed for A Page in Time. Don't forget there is lots going on there this week - challenges, inspiration and an online crop coming up this weekend!

Carter-isms

Just had to jot this down before I forgot it...

Carter has been really interested in death and God lately. He's just trying to figure out how it all works. So, we talk about it openly (on a 4 year old level) when he asks.

A few weeks ago, we were at the Park - which happens to be across the street from a big Catholic Church with a bell tower. Carter LOVES to hear the bells. He turned and asked "Is that where God lives?". We told him yes. All of a sudden he says "Okay, lets go visit Nonnie" (Nonnie, is his name for our last cat Norit, who died about 2 years ago). Not immediately getting the connection, Steve and I were momentarily lost for words. Well, Norit lives with God, so therefore, Norit had to be in the church! LOL

Next discussion...He asked one day when my mom would die. So innocently...just out of the blue. I told him not to worry, she would be around for a long long time. Carter didn't lose a second, and said "But she's OLD!" (Sorry, mom...it was funny!)

Then over the weekend...again, out of the blue - Carter just walked up to me and says "Mom, you're 35...when you're old, you go to God". That's it, that's all...guess he thinks I'm old! LOL

He is also farly fascinated with how God became to be. Who is God's dad? Everyone has a dad! He started posing these questions at preschool towards the end of the school year. He goes to a Christian preschool, so the teacher asked me if he'd like to speak to the pastor. We said yes. Apparently he shot so many questions at her, she ended up telling him "God was the first"...and had to take a phone call! haha!

A Page in Time Birthday Celebration!

This week celebrates A Page in Time Scrapbook Kits 6th Anniversary! I've been so happy to design for this great kit club for over a year now. Every month they have a great selection of 3 kits FULL of patterned paper!

The design team is helping celebrate with a week long selection of challenges, inspiration and even an online crop! There are lots of great prizes to be had - so be sure to stop in!

Today's challenge is brought to you by yours truly - a sketch challenge! Head on over to the forum to join in! Here's the layout I designed to go with my sketch!

Another layout using the Pack your Bags kit from this month!

Follow along on the forum, the official APIT blog, and on Facebook!

Layout Share!

I am really happy to have the opportunity to design with supplies from Crop Chocolate! Crop Chocolate is a really cool scrapbook "deal a day" site. They actually have more than one deal a day, but it's always one specific supply at a time, and they sell it until it's sold out...and it's at a GREAT price! If you haven't already checked it out, be sure to stop in and take a looksie!

Here are some of the layouts I designed using their supplies -

This one is with the Echo Park Sweet Summertime kit

and another with the same kit

Echo Park: A Walk in the Park kit

and one more with that kit

and finally one designed with Making Memories new travel line - LOVE the embellies!

Carter's new Bed!

Carter got a new bed this weekend! His room is pretty small overall, and he didn't have much room to play in it. So Daddy and Mommy decided that when he turned 4, we'd get him a big boy bed - a loft bed! He will be 4 in a few weeks, and last week we had a trial run of how sleeping up high would go. He slept in the top bunk camping, and loved it. So, we ordered this one, and it took a few hours to put it together yesterday. Then we went shopping and Carter got to pick out new sheets for his bed (the old bed - although still big enough for him, was a toddler bed). He took about 10 seconds to peruse his choices and chose "Toy Story" sheets! What a suprise! So, here he is with his new room design and the new bed!

These last two photos were actually taken this morning! He was still in his pjs and once we got the new sheets on he decided he HAD to take a nap (aka, lie down for 10seconds and giggle) for a photo. I will probably try to take another photo tonight when he's wearing his Toy Story pjs!

He slept in the bed last night (on old sheets, since the new ones weren't washed yet). Had a great night with no problems - the rail in the front is pretty high, so he really can't fall out. This morning I had the rude awakening call to "MOMMY MOMMY - SCARY MAN!!" about 8:30am. Daddy was already out on a bike ride, so I scrambled out of bed. The culprit? He sat up and was eye to eye (level) with his hooded monkey towel. I guess the face was a little scary to wake up to! LOL

One other silly sidenote: Carter says prayers before he sleeps. The traditional "Now I lay me down to sleep...". Last night he insisted he had to say "Now I lay me UP to sleep" since the bed was so high! Silly guy!!

**To all my bay area friends, Carter's old bed - the Little Tykes Roadster Racecar Toddler bed is now no longer in use. We're selling it $60obo. It comes with the wooden board base (which is usually sold separate). If you need the mattress, it's included, and I have some fitted sheets as well. He still fits in it just fine - we just wanted the extra room. Please let me know if you'd like it!**

New Layout!

Here's a new layout I designed for A Page in Time Scrapbooks . I love this paper line by My Little Yellow Bicycle. :)

This week the site is hosting their 6th Anniversary - so be sure to check often for challenges, inspiration, and lots of fun at the online crop next weekend! I'll be showcasing several new projects with their kits!

Welcome to the WeScrap Blog Hop!

Welcome to the WeScrap "One Mini, Two Mini, Red Mini, Blue Mini" Blog Hop!!!!

We're so happy that you could join us today! If you have joined us here on my blog, you may want to start at the beginning here on Sarah Nolan's blog.

Here is our participant list today just in case:

Sarah Nolan

Victoria Lau (you are here!)

Tara Thynne

Holly Morris

Michelle Galloway

Angie Blom (Guest Designer)
Allison Cope

WeScrap

We have a wide variety of prizes to giveaway. To be eligible for a prize you must leave a comment on all the design team blogs along the way. Good luck!

Now let's get on with the show!!!

Here's my Mini to share! I created this from an 8X8 Karen Foster "layer by layer" minibook. All the papers and embellishments are from the Oliver line by Basic Gray. The letters are by October Afternoon. I added ribbons by American Craft to set off the spine. The photos are from a few weeks ago when we took my son, Carter, to go see "A Day Out With Thomas the Train".

We had such a super fun day! I loved creating this album to share with you! I hope it inspires you to head off and make your own mini album! :)

Your next stop in the WeScrap "One Mini, Two Mini, Red Mini, Blue Mini" Blog Hop today is....... The verrry talented Tara Thynne! Enjoy!

(and don't forget to leave me a comment - you'll have a chance to win a prize...plus, hey...I LOVE comments!)