Make a scrapbook!

Oh what a day! Or should I say weekend.

Jason had been on a dog kick for a few months. Lots of online hours. After MUCH research we found a cockapoo (cross between a cockerspaniel and poodle) would better suit our family, wants and needs for a dog.

I didn’t want a big dog, too high maintenance, and it had to be good with other animals and of course KIDS. Also easy to train. That equals a cockapoo. We did meet other breeds of dogs as well, but the meeting confirmed our wish.

So I told you how Saturday we spent the day at the puppy place looking for dogs. I didn’t really care, till I met this one. Its so true what they say “The dog picks YOU.”

 I fell in LOVE with this one, I named Daisy, while on our visit.

NOT A GOOD THING TO NAME A DOG IF YOU AREN’T SURE YOU CAN HAVE IT.

From the second I saw her she was adorable, but more so, SWEET. She instantly sat in my lap, and nuzzled my neck. She got on her back for me to rub her belly. Im mean seriously turned me into a mushy gushy moron I was in love.

Then, to only to have Jason say ‘No, I don’t know if I want a dog”. After 2 1/2 hours of debating-we left without her. I thought I would cry.

What he REALLY meant was he didn’t want to spend $1,000 for a dog.

I was so upset we left without her. I thought I’d get over it, but totally could not. I was really upset. Even more so when we made several appointments today to see some other dogs (same breed), but a little cheaper. He said IF I didn’t like the others, he would consider calling to get “Daisy”.

I was already worried, as another couple was considering her while we were there. PLUS I didn’t want to settle. What is the point?

I had my heart set, and mind made up. Why even look at another dog, if this was the ONE I needed?

So, while on the phone with my mom, she told me she would help me get the dog How could Jason say No right?

I was over the moon happy! Jason was also happy cause he could actually get me the dog without really stressing. (Which WHY look at an expensive breed if you don’t plan on BUYING it?)

MEN!

So I called the breeder, and there was a family there looking at her. She asked if I would DEFINITELY be buying her, and if so I had to come within 45 min. Good thing they are 10 min. away.

Now imagine if I waited? That other family MIGHT have bought MY dog!

So thank you so much MOM! You are the best! Also, thanks Jay for finally caving. Next time don’t bring a family to meet dogs, if you aren’t ready to pay up! SERIOUSLY!!

So I would love you all to see my Christmas gift! I decided to get her instead of a fancy camera, photo editing software, and a graphic program. Well worth it I think

I named her Daisy-cause she is so sweet,  soft,  gentle, and loving.

Jason wanted to name her COSTALOT-get it “cost a lot”. I did laugh  at that one!!

For the record, Noah tried his best to sway daddy by saying “Daddy I think you need to buy mommy that doggie. She is really sad. She might cry. I think you are being mean”

For Amber to say “Mommy daddy can’t buy you the dog. Its thousands of dollars. Do you have thousands of dollars. No one has thousands of dollars, so you can’t have it”

And she is THREE. A girl after her dad’s heart! LOL!

Thanks for reading my non-stamping related post. Also for the support.

Now I hope to get some eye candy done for ya!

Make a slide show, scrapbook, or ecard

Ok I know I promised a Smilebox of my kids at Thanksgiving. So here are the photos, and the pictures they drew for what they are Thankful for!

You REALLY have to view Alexa’s drawing of each of us! Its too cute! She even made us in our favorite colors. That the kind of stuff you save FOREVER!! I cried when I read her whole book. Especially when she said she was most thankful for Mrs. Darling! That is her teacher aid. HELLO ! Alexa what about MOMMY?!

Amber had a laminated place mat-on the back were photos of the family , and what she is thankful for. Like pocketbooks, and Dora stuff! LOL!

Noah’s class didn’t do anything except color Turkey’s! Um, unsure WHY! No Harvest Feast-nothing! Good thing is sent in cupcakes anyway

He said he loves and and XBOX! SHOCKER!!!

Thanks for looking

I cannot believe my baby is 5 today!

Where did the time go? Anyone know? Seems like just yesterday I was in labor with him.

He has grown so much. You would never know he is only 5. He is a whole head taller than Alexa who is 3 years older than he. He is also the “caretaker” for the girls. He protects them, bosses them around, repremands them, and watches over them like a BIG brother would. He is my OCD child-which means not only is he a fabulous cleaner (*wink*) he knows where it all goes. Yes I am proud of that! Some woamn will LOVE him someday. Plus he loves ART! So should he marry a stamper-she will be in heaven.

He is also very sensitive and caring towards others. The teacher says he’s a joy to have in class and very likable amongst his peers. He is especially friendly/patient of other kids with behavior/other issue’s. THAT is what really makes me proud. Especially having a child with Special needs. As THAT parent you always hope for the kind and sweet caring child to befriend yours. I do expect that Noah should inhert that, having a sister like Alexa. When they are out of your home though, you just never know.

So I’m happy Noah is “that” person for his peers. It’s people like that, that make this world a good place.

I am including 2 Smileboxes for today. At Noah’s request. He LOVES seeing himself on the computer. He did professional modeling for a while at Model Inc in Boston Ma till he was about 18 months. He then began to NOT like it, so we stopped. He definitely “works” the camera!

The first one, is a postcard style, easily send-able, with a photo of him every year since birth.

I LOVE doing those. It shows a quick view of how much he has grown and changed. I still see my “baby” in there though.

Hope you like it.

Make a slide show, scrapbook or ecard

This next Smilebox is a re-cap of Noah’s party at the space center.

We had 11 kids, and they all seemed to have a blast.

They were able to play in a huge tunnel/slide playhouse, then got tokens to play all the games.

It was a great day for high energy kids. Noah felt so special and had so much fun with his friends. He didn’t want to leave :C

We had pizza, cake and ice cream. Best part, I only had to show up with the kids! They provided decorations, paper goods, cake and everything! Given our family issue’s that week (sick kids, ER visits and tooth pulling) it was a saviour to me.

Make a slide show, scrapbook or ecard

Thanks for looking!

I haven’t done a Smilebox in FOREVER it seems.

This one is a reflection of time.

I wanted to do something, to show each childs growth over the years. What better way to do that than with Christmas photos!

So, I did a quick Smilebox, only 5 pages. I was excited to find I had simalr first Christmas photos of Alexa and Amber!

It shows each child from their very first Christmas to present. It was a fast way to show how much they each have changed, and grown in this short time.

Makes me all sad and sappy, thinking someday, they will be grown, and I will be looking at their children.

Time has flown past. I cannot believe that I have 3 children who just yesterday seemed to be babies, but are these little “people”. Each one very different from the other, yet amazing.

Tomorrow comes so fast, and we never know what will be year to year.

Hope you enjoy watching.

Make a slide show, scrapbook or ecard

I made this Smilebox to share our photos from our Christmas photo shoot. What a cool thing to send to the family! Do you know that not only is it EASY, but PRINTABLE?? Now that is cool. NO POSTAGE! I like that idea too. Now I need to compile a family list of email addresses.

Those of you stressed for time may consider this option

You can choose the number of photos, music, and background color! Even the style of snowflakes that fall! LOL!

 So here are all our photos. Its hard to get 3 kids happy at the same time, looking in the same direction!

We chose 2 photo collage’s that we felt captured our favorite’s.

Hope you like it.

Make your own slide shows and scrapbooks

I wrote in an earlier post that I was determined to get my Christmas cards DONE by November. That meant an early Christmas photo shoot-and I actually followed through!

 Well, Im happy to say Im well on my way!!!

I have 25 postcards completed.

No need to rush. Im only needing 50ish more. My problem is, do I make more postcard style cards like this one?

 Meader Christmas postcard 2007

I loved the group shot, with the individual photos at the bottom. It already say’s Christmas 2007. I considered for a brief second-just sending the photo. But the stamper in me said Um, NO!

I used the NEW! Snowflake Serenade from Paper Trey Ink.

What do you think? Are they OK? Im thinking of making a “stepped-up” version to share. Afterall, I DO have PLENTY of time. RIGHT?

I could put another layer of white behind the main red layer-but, I wanted these to be SIMPLE-easily mass produced. Not too much going on. I definitely achieved that here. Maybe a bow at the top?????? HMMMMM.

I just put the 3 snowflakes on my block-strategically placed. Inked with white craft, then stamped twice on the red layer.

I attached my Christmas photo, then stamped the “With Love” sentiment, then the “Joy” in the corner-for balance. Our “With Love” is a personalized stamp by Stampin Up! that I had put all our names on, and use every year for our Christmas cards! Its fast, and easy, and is way nicer than my handwriting. I LOVE that idea!

This measures 3 1/2 X 5 1/5. Very simple to make.

Next I did an ornament of sorts-which I think would be a really nice and different thing to send in the mail instead of a card!

What do you think of this?

 Meader Family 2007 ornament

This was EASY! EASY! EASY! Nothing fancy here.

I just used my NEW! Spellbinder’s Nestabilities rectangle die!

On the back I stamped the largest snowflake from the set, in white craft ink-added a red adhesive rhinestone, and then our “With Love” sentiment. The ric rac adds to the scalloped appeal from the nestablility.

Decisions!!!

Thanks for looking-Id love your opinions, and to know what you plan on doing this year.

Is a Smilebox in your future? Or have you even thought about your Christmas cards? I REFUSE to do the mad dash this year! REFUSE!!

So let’s hear it!

This post will be stuck to the top for the month of October in honor of breast cancer awareness! Please scroll down to see new uploads for the month.

Slide shows, scrapbooks, photo ecards, and more

Do YOU have a blog? Did you go pink? (I didnt cause I couldnt figure it out with my type, but thats another story about my computer challenged nature!)

Have you been touched by cancer in any way, or believe in spreading the word?

I challenge all my blog Girls out there near and far-to go to Smilebox, and post this one to their blog! OR send it to a friend!

EDITING TO ADD: It doesnt have to be THIS one with MY face! LOL! I already got alot of emails asking about that! Just THIS DESIGN or there is ONE more you can do! Those are the special ones for the cause

If you do let me know-by posting a link here! It only takes a few minutes, REALLY EASY, and FUN, and all procedes from the download of this go to Breast Cancer Awareness!! Smilebox teamed up with Lifetime Network to raise money for the cause!

Thanks for looking. And supporting research!

Id also love to hear if you know someone who has been diagnoised with cancer.

Everyone who downloads this smilebox style for breast cancer and shares the link here will be entered in a drawing for a surprise pack of ALL PINK goodies!

If you want to contribute to the box of pink goodies-let me know! The bigger the better!

Have faith-its a super box! Im not showing what you will get till a winner is randomly selected. Because when you have Cancer you have to have FAITH! I will pick on Oct. 31st-the last day of October.

You comments about cancer count as a entry as well as a Smilebox link-thats another entry!

Thanks everyone

We never know if this will affect us personally!

Click to play | Make your own Smilebox

Well here it is! The much anticipated Smilebox of the Princess party! I couldnt get the video portion to work-but when I can you KNOW I will fill you all in!

I love how I was able to capture the moments of her party with this Smilebox.

The party went so perfect! I think they all had a great time. You could hear a pin drop during the craft time! And each girl gave Alexa her gift themself.

Most special to me was to see how accepted Alexa was, and her social interaction with the girls! I tell you these girls parents did an excellent job raising such lovely princesses!

To see Alexa as happy as she was was all I could ask for!

The girls made crowns, necklaces, and decorated jewelry boxes!

We used Alexa’s set and polyshrink, and the center charm for the necklaces, and for the top center of their boxes! It was really cool. Whatever wasnt done got sent home with them.

I’m so thankful for my mom who came to help me set up, and Jason did an amazing job too! He is in charge of the decorations-Im in charge of ordering him round! LOL! If it weren’t for them it never would have gone so smoothly.

He’s use to my stress over these things after all these years and takes it quite well

The best part was when it was all over Alexa came out to me and gave me a huge hug and kiss and said “Thank you mommy for my party. It was so fun. It was the best ever.” Then another squeeze and kiss!

That melted my heart!

All I wanted was for her dream party to go well, and it went better than I could have hoped for!

Thanks for following our journey I cannot believe my baby is EIGHT!

Well here is the much promised Smilebox of Amber singing the Apple Poem she learned in Pre-school! After we went apple picking she sang it the whole ride home in the car. I knew I had to find a way to share it with everyone.

Truly a MOM moment.

Im not afraid to be one of those parents who GUSH over their kids! Dont we ALL think our kids are the cutest on the planet? So here I am saying it-she is adorable and would make the cutest commercial EVER! LOL!

Hope you like it. I know this is one of those moment that will be so precious when she is all grown up. You have to love the little kid voices they have.

If she stays this cute Im in BIG trouble.

Click to play | Make your own Smilebox

Thanks for lookin!

Well since you all LOVED the “movie” of Alexa and Amber I did a movie/photo clip of Alexa getting her Surprise Princess Party Dress! You all have followed Alexa’s story and agonizing journey I thought you may enjoy this.

Wait till her party! Now that will be a great video. All the details leading to this video can be read below. Not a reader-no problem-watch the video!

BTW-I hate my valley girl voice, and I am originally from Massachusetts hence the probable accent.

Here it is!

Click to play | Make your own Smilebox

Her actual birthday is the 29th! I got ONE RSVP to her party today, and am anxiously awaiting more! Alexa is so excited for her Princess Costume Party-its insane!

I bought her a really pretty purple Princess Costume dress. In NO WAY CHINCY. You could easily wear it as clothing. She loved it,  but when she put it on said “Oh but its not a Cinderella Dress.”

I was quick to ask her if she wanted Cinderella instead of the purple and she basically spared my feelings by saying “Well this one is pretty too! Its OK Ill wear this one to my party” I thought OH GREAT! She’s secretly disappointed. Now THAT is the type of thing you NEVER forget. I can see it now-20 years from now…………………………..

” Mom, remember my cool princess party. Its was really great. I really wanted that Cinderella dress. That would have been perfect. Remember X (insert girls name) She came in the dress that I wanted. She got to be Cinderella for my party.”

Well you know I couldn’t let that happen! The girl wanted a Cinderella dress ,well then she was gonna get a Cinderella dress. You only turn 8 once ya know!

So my online hunt began! For a mere $60-$80 I could get one online! GULP! Explain that to a DAD! Guys do NOT understand nor do they care about the NEEDS of an 8 year old girl, who NEEDS a Cinderella dress! Let alone one at the cost of $80 then shipping!

My dear, sweet, very pregnant-like due literally today-PSF friend Tracey said Hey Im going to go to the Disney store and try to find a dress for you! She knew there was not one close to me, and the kids have been sick! So she and her very preggers self, along with cutie pie daughter Shannon not only went there to find the PERFECT Cinderella dress but they found the matching GLASS LIGHT UP SLIPPERS! HELLO!!!

The dress was on SALE! $25! Unless she lied to me and in that case I would NOT be happy! And its beautiful!

Thank you so much girls for helping me find the perfect dress for Alexa’s party! I wish Shannon could go!

Paulette-if you are reading this I would love for Ally to come but was unsure if it was “too young” for her. If not, let me know. She is just at that ‘age” when you arent sure what is too young for her KWIM??

So anyway-that is the whole dress story! Imagine when the girls get married! Good Grief!

I did get an amazing compliment about the invite and party festivities! Cant Wait!

Well I better TRY to go stamp something! Havent done that at all today.

Tomorrow I’ll share my Blogger’s Challenge! (Oh yeah now I really need to get inking), and a Smilebox of our Apple Picking adventure. Wait till you see Amber sing a song! OMG! WAY cute!

Well Im so happy you all like seeing my Smilebox creations! They are so fun! And they even inspire some card ideas too! Maybe even a scrapbook page-OK maybe not-I think I’ll stick with the cute, interactive, and fast version instead! LOL!

The reaction to the video of Alexa and Amber was so heartwarming! I will definitely have a video one of Alex’a birthday! I just bought her Princess dress today, after going to the dentist for my first cleaning after 10 years!

OMG! I should have done a Smilebox video for that! LOL! Too funny. I had a death grip on the chair!

For those who have NOT gone to the dentist in a while I can tell you it wasn that bad! They numbed my gums before the cleaning-that was NEW! So its wasnt totally awful! I have another step 2 cleaning in 2 weeks where they will fill one big cavity! YIKES!

They do some water thing instead of scrapping-they did scrap after alittle but it wasn that bad.

OK here is a Smilebox of Amber making cupcakes for her class! Speaking of cavities, and dentists!!!

She made these for her Pre-School class! They turned out super yummy!

She did it ALL by herself! Even the frosting! I just measured everything out-then put it on the counter.

 I admit it was hard to give up control! LOL! But she was so proud and did so good.

I chose black and white cause it matched the bkgd better! LOL! Plus my lighting was not too fabulous!

PAY NOT ATTENTION TO THE HAPPY BIRTHDAY!  I will talk to Smilebox about having some things so showcase kids and cooking without a specific sentiment!

I really hope you try one! If you do send it to me-Id love to see it! Or if you have suggestions for some you dont see but would like to in the future!

Thats part of the fun of what I get to do! Test products, and give my input on future stuff. Its  really cool!

Click to play | Make your own Smilebox