Workspace Wednesday// All Boxed Up// Sort Of

Joining Marcy Penner for another week of Workspace Wednesday! Her space, as always, is totally inspiring today. It makes me want to start our December album right this second... 

But that will have to wait. Admittedly, this week my photo is far from pretty or inspiring... but I promise, tucked away in all those boxes are loads of lovely scrapbooking supplies, and in just a few days they'll find their way to our new home...

Conversation overheard between my husband and the neighbors:

Neighbor, "Looks like you must be just about finished packing!"

Danny, "Well... we've almost finished, um, with the craft room."

Me, sitting inside listening, looking at the living room where the other half of the craft room has spilled over... yet to be packed. It is what it is. 

 I can't wait to get to our new home, and start organizing my new craft space! Looking forward to sharing the progress with all of you!

L

Around Here// Croup

Sweet little Max... He is such a cheerful soul, even when he doesn't feel well. He still has a rather sensitive tummy, and we are hoping that improves soon. Last night he started having a difficult time breathing and a high fever... so off to the after hours clinic we went. The diagnosis: Croup. 

That moment when your sick baby finally falls asleep, and his daddy does too. Magic.

L

Project Life// Featured

I was so excited to have one of my Project Life spreads featured over on Rebecca Cooper's blog Simple As That for her Saturday link-up party. Thanks again Rebecca!

We've been busy packing everything up and getting ready for a move to our new home next week. (We got a home!!!) Most of my craft supplies are all boxed up, but I just haven't been able to put away my Project Life essentials--album, core kits, typewriter. I think I'll be hand-carrying it all straight into my new craftroom... You just can't risk misplacing items of such importance.

L

Scrapbooking// Hello Adventure

Oh, the beautiful adventures our little family has shared so far, and the wonderful ones yet to come... So grateful for my handsome boys and my sweet Dolly puppy. Love this photo of us down on the farm, in our sunny yellow VW bus, by the talented Heather Bybee.

Thanks for looking!

L

Life Through the Lens// So in Love

Those eyes. That hairline. Those cheeks. SO. IN. LOVE.

Home Decor// Halloween Door Hanging

For a very easy decor idea, simply pick up an inexpensive white frame and switch out the print inside for the current season or holiday. 

For added interest, I spray painted a thrifted frame and layered it with the framed print. You can easily combine the two frames with a bit of festive ribbon. Simple. 

L

Growing Up// Max at Six Months

How did this happen? How could six months really have come and gone already? I heard an interesting quote the other day by Gretchen Rubin, "The days are long, but the years are short." I'm finding this to be so true. We have many long, tiring days, but somehow those long days turn into weeks and months really quickly. My tiny four pound baby is turning into a big strong boy right before my eyes.

Max at Six Months:
Working on sitting up on his own.
Still trying to get his little tummy happy. Starting to have more good days, thankfully!
Seems to do best on gluten and dairy free formula. Looks like he takes after me.
Wants to crawl. Working on it with all his might.
Rolls over onto his tummy the moment he lays down.
Still wearing 3 month clothes. He was a month behind already, and because of the sickness he has been fighting, he hasn't gained any weight since his four month appointment. Even with his health challenges, he's still very strong and determined! He's a bit behind physically but otherwise on track developmentally.
Obsessed with Dolly. He just looks at her and smiles all day long. Starting to reach for her and tug on her fur... I play interference. Luckily, she continues to be extremely tolerant and soft with him. They love each other, and that makes me really happy.
Loves to be upside down and lifted in the air. He giggles and laughs every time.
Loves to swing in the bucket swing in Nana and Papa's backyard.
Loves sucking on his thumbs, fists, and toes.
Has such a fun, sweet, and cheerful personality.
Sings softly in the morning and in the car. He has the sweetest little melodic coos I've ever heard.
Makes me laugh and smile all the time.
Whispers "hi" over and over when I pick him up in the morning and after naps. I know, I know, it's early... but he has consistently done it all month long. It's pretty much the cutest thing ever.
Loves to stand. He has from the get-go. No sitting on the job for him. He wants to stand up and look around like a big boy.
He loves books. He cries when he can't hold them tight enough. We've learned the beauty of soft baby books.
Loves when Daddy comes home from work and lifts him up in the air-- probably his biggest smile of the day.
He continues to be a little fighter. Determined, strong, cheerful and patient. He is an inspiration.

We love our little Max bear so much. He is such a beautiful miracle and we couldn't be more grateful he's ours. I fall more and more in love with him every single day.

L

Life Through the Lens// Hello Dolly

I just had to share a couple of cute photos of my pretty Dolly girl enjoying a sunny autumn afternoon. I think Fall is her favorite season. She seems especially happy crunching the leaves beneath her paws as she runs. Oh, I love her so much! I'm so grateful for her love and companionship. 

L 

Life From the Passenger Seat// VW Makeover// Project Life

One Saturday morning in August, Danny and I were daydreaming about the carefree adventures we wanted to take as a family.... Somewhere in the conversation the idea of buying and restoring an old VW bus came up...  Before I knew it, we were test driving a few old Transports around town. Within a few weeks, our little daydream was a reality. 

 Danny has been working on our sunny little bus in his spare time ever since, and hopefully 2014 will allow us a chance to set out on the road for an adventure. We've got some pretty fun plans for this baby. 

My Danny brings out the adventurous side of me, and I like that. 

L

Project Life// Sept 7-13, Quite a Week.

Just popping in to share another week in our lives and piece of our story... this spread is about the week Max started struggling with his health in September. It was quite a week. One I think I'll never forget. It started out so happy... with little M rolling over for the first time Tuesday morning. Then he didn't seem to have the energy to roll over the next day, and some scary symptoms started to appear. Things got pretty frightening from there on out. I am just so unbelievably grateful he made it through everything and is starting to make some improvements. He is so strong.   

Thanks for looking.

L

Life Through the Lens// Fall Afternoon

Yesterday was the first day in weeks that my sweet boy seemed to be feeling better. I am sure hoping he continues to improve. We spent a little time over at Nana and Papa's and it was just a perfect fall afternoon. He and Papa played on the swings while I played with Dolly, and of course, snapped some photos. Oh, how I love these darling photos of my sweet boy and his Papa.

Thanks for looking and have a happy weekend!

L

Project Life// Why I love Project Life// Short Video.

Becky Higgins, the creator of Project Life asked for 15 second video entries about "why I love Project Life." I had a beautiful vision in mind, but only a few short minutes to put something together while Max was napping. My favorite part of the clip, when he was waking up in the background just as I was finishing. Of course, I could have done a few more takes, and spent a little longer getting the lighting just right, but quickly responding to his sweet cries was much more important! We had the best day together. He really started to show signs of improvement and seems to be feeling better. It's been six weeks and counting since he has truly seemed so happy. Every day is an adventure... and I don't want to miss it.

L

Project Life// A Look at our Story

As promised, I've got a whole lot of Project life photos that I've been needing to catch up on posting... and there are more coming. I'm not gonna lie, with a high risk pregnancy I couldn't bend down to arrange my photos and photograph them properly. And obviously, after my sweet little Max came, he required all of my time and energy. I still need to finish his birth story spreads, but other than that, I've actually managed to keep up to date! Thank you Project Life...

Honestly, the last several months have not been easy with Max's health challenges, and the fact that I've been able to keep on top of documenting our story is amazing. I'm in love with Project Life. It just works for me! The accessibility of core kits at local scrapbooking stores could not have been timed any better, as I (nerdy here) anxiously awaited both the arrival of our little Max and PL at Hobby Lobby. I love that I can dress the pages up if I have a little more time, but I can also just slip the photos and cards in the page protectors while the little man is napping and it still looks beautiful!

I've got a lot more pages coming and a system figured out to streamline the process of sharing Project Life posts weekly here...

Thanks for looking!

L

Around Here// I Found My Brave

The last month... goodness. It hasn't been easy. I've lived out some of my biggest fears, and yet, gratefully, have experienced such beautiful miracles all at the same time. The other day I called my mom, needing her encouragement and listening ear. In a moment of complete exhaustion I told her, "I am all out of brave." I really didn't feel like I could handle one more moment that would require my strength-- physical or emotional. Of course the next morning, when Max wasn't doing well, I found an added measure of brave was there inside of me. We went to yet another doctor appointment and we are preparing for lab results and further appointments this coming week.

It was a good reminder. When you feel like you have given all you've got, the Lord restores your energy and strength to carry on. I am praying that this week we will be led to the right doctor who will provide us with what we need to help Max overcome the bacterial infection and gastrointestinal problems that have been causing him such pain and discomfort.

L

Workspace Wednesday// Pretty Jars of Goodness

Joining Marcy Penner for another week of Workspace Wednesday! Once again, her work area is just lovely! 

And here's a look at a little corner of my space. I love a jar full of pretty embellishments...

My favorite button jar, the one on the top far left... full of buttons from our travels to Mexico and El Salvador. You can find the best buttons in the central market! I love adding them to my work, especially on pages with photos from our trips...

Thanks for looking!

L

Life Through the Lens// Stylish Little Tot

Let's be honest... I totally love dressing up my little mister and taking pictures. It's kind of my favorite thing to do. He's a good sport about it, for now. I'm pretty sure when he can run away it will be a different story... 

But seriously, that tiny straw fedora and chambray onesie, how could I not take pictures? Oh, I love him so!

L

Scrapbooking// A Day at the Fair

It's no secret... we love the fair! We were so sad that the weekend we had planned on taking Max to his first State Fair was spent in the pediatric unit instead. It was anything but fun and games. I kind of can't wait to take him next year...

Here's a peek at my layout of last year's Utah State Fair featured in this month's Creating Keepsakes digital Magazine.

 left side

right side

This layout features the design trend "ombre" in the faded title, embellishing, and background paper design. To create the custom ombre title, I simply dyed white thickers with Studio Calico Mister Huey's spray mist and a bit of white craft paint. Easy peasy.

L

Project Life// Family Photos

Our friend and photographer Heather Bybee did such a beautiful job on our family photos! I couldn't wait to scrapbook them! I never order every single print from a shoot, but with these photos, I just couldn't resist! Needless to say, when little Max naps, I steal away any moment I can to work on getting all those beautiful prints documented... Here's the first installment.

An oversized 8x12 print is always a great way to make a statement! I love the simplicity in design and focus on the story the photo tells.

We certainly didn't realize the adventure ahead of us (just shortly after these photos were taken) would include such a frightening health scare for little Max. His bacterial infection has not cleared up yet, and his intestinal issues are still causing him a lot of discomfort. We're hoping this second round of antibiotics will work and that his lab work will show improvement this week.

We sure are looking forward to sunnier adventures ahead!

L

Workspace Wednesday// Take a Peek

Every week Marcy Penner shows a little peek into her craft room workspace. Today she has a video tour of her space up on Studio Calico. Um, hello... so beautiful and inspiring!

and here's a peek into a little corner of my space...

Just a few supplies I've been using on some project life spreads. I'll be sharing them tomorrow so be sure to check back!  Thanks for taking a look!

and yes... that is Studio Calico Mister Hueys white spray mist all over my typewriter;)

L