Our comings and goings . . .

Harry Potter Birthday party prepartions

or the time I lived my life in lists and running around like a chicken with my head cut off. 

or the time I lost my mind (what was I thinking?!)

whatever the case, this party is a little out of control right now and I'm not sure who is more excited about it:  Wesley, me, or my little sis. 

Here is a small idea of what I've been working on.

The invitations:

Inside is a version of the Hogwarts acceptance letter.  In case you were wondering I've already changed this idea once . . .  here is what I originally had planned.

but they will not go to waste as I'm including them in the goody bag take home stuff.

The wands:

15 wands just waiting for their masters.  Can you guess which one the birthday boy is already claiming?

The Spell book:

Well enough sharing for now.  I'm off to print out potion labels, class signs, and the crocheting of some scarves.  After all what would a Harry Potter birthday be without all the little details?

 

Little man

and he really is my little man. 

In just ten more days he'll be 9 months old and he is still in some 3-6 month clothes. 

He is just barely over 16 pounds.

He can sit and roll over but refuses to move besides that.

He is content as long as mommy is around and better yet if I'm holding him.  Which means nothing gets done at all until nap time. 

I say it all the time, "it's a good thing he is so stinkin' adorable!"

Also wanted to pop in and post that the new revamped Citrus Tree Studio site is up.  My first post is up along with a layout. 

I'm out, Thomas is down for a nap and I need to hurry and get going. 

 

Update

Life got in the way of late. 

Here is what has been going on around here:

I've been working on the yearbook like a mad woman the past month - deadline is Monday (ahhhhhh!). 

No scrapping or being crafty besides a little crocheting.

Thomas:  keeping me very busy during the day. Hoping now that the ear infections and teething have passed things will get a little easier.  Besides all the no sleeping and crying he is growing like a weed and has a grin that can bring the sunshine to the cloudiest day.   

Wesley:  this kid is just amazing!  He is doing well in school and is such a joy to have.  He helps all the time with Thomas and does everything I ask of him and more. 

A much needed date night with Brandon.  We went to see The Hunger Games and we both really enjoyed the movie and our time together. 

April Fool's Day parties are even better when they are with friends. 

Conference!  Need I say more.  It's so important for the spirit to be uplifted and edified.

CTS - sad to see the message board gone, but I've been helping a little with some of the behind the scenes.  Really glad I get to stay around.   

It's spring break right now and I love it!  It's making me wish for summer for sure. 

Before I head out a photo to share.  Wes happened to be there when the photographer came in and this is the first picture of them together.

and to compare . . . he is getting so big!

  

 

 

What a way to start the week.

So, lesson learned:  Do not take a five month old to a movie.  Now that would probably be a given, but we thought heck he is a really good baby and we could really use an afternoon out so why not? . . . I spent half the movie either out in the lobby or just inside the entrance of the theater just in case.  Needless to say we will not be taking him to a movie for another three years or so. 

After coming home it was a low key night at home and I got crafty finishing up some of the challenges from the New Years crop at CTS.  Super fun and I really love the two layouts I was able to put together.

This is a time capsule of things from 2011.  Movie tickets, mini golf score card, lots of my hospital bracelets, a few pictures and other random treasures.

and a quick share of my challenges for the crop. 

ATC Goal/Inspiration:  On the back I detailed what my goal is and how I'm going to achieve it.

Numbers Card Challenge:  Had to use numbers as a decorative element on a card and include a sentiment on the inside.

More scrappy goodness will be up in a coupld of days for the January kit reveal.  I enjoyed this kit so much.  Which is rather bizarre for me since it was full of lots and lots of pink. ;)

Happily embracing 2012

I'm not going to lie and say that 2011 was awesome.  It was hard.  Really hard.  I'm actually really glad it came to a close.  There was a few high points, but overall . . . it sucked.  I'm sure it has something to do with the 6 trips to the ER and 2 major surgeries in 2 months.

As a family I hope we can just continue moving forward and enjoy this new adventure as a foursome.  A year and a half ago it's something I would have never thought possible and that my friends was the high point of last year.

As for my December Daily, I kept up with it.  I have a few finishing photos I would like to add to it, but for the most part it's all done.  Really loved this project.  I think it was the year I could actually enjoy it and just go with the flow.  I'll share the rest of it as soon as I can get a photo of Wes and his book report taken.  His teacher enjoyed it and wanted a picture and he has yet to bring it home. 

Happy New Year!

 

Merry Christmas

Right about now we are probably opening gifts and soaking in the glee of a nine year old and all the Harry Potterness this Christmas brought him. :)

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from our family to yours.

December Daily: 9, 10, 11, and 12

Day 9

Kept these pages simple.  I added a few digital elements as well as journaling to the first picture before printing.

Day 10

First picture is a compilation of a picture of Wes and Thomas.  Wanted to include both so I made it work with a little description of our night next to the pictures.

Next page is a pocket made from a transparency.  I used staples along the sides and then put a ribbon around the top to secure it shut with a straight pin.

The pocket contains our Elf Scavenger Hunt from Gardner Village.  If you fill it all out and take it to the candy store you get a free candy stick.  It was a great way to spend our Saturday night.  The opposite page is pictures of some of the elves.  Since it was dark and I didn't get many great shots I snagged these pictures from the Gardner Village website. 

Day 11

 

Our Sunday to eat with my grandparents.  Sadly I didn't take my camera and get any shots from the night, but I briefly wrote down a few things we did.

Day 12

Grandpa and Grandma took Wes Christmas shopping last night.  He picked gifts out for the family and was so excited to come home and wrap them.  Since he wasn't wrapping my gift I grabbed a few shots of him wrapping gifts for Thomas and Daddy.  I love that he is starting to really get some joy in the giving part of Christmas.

Presents for Thomas and Dad under the tree.

CTS December sketch

The layout has the first pictures taken of Thomas after he was born and in the NICU.  They are what the nurses took of him and handed to me so I could see what he looked like since I couldn't get up and go see him and they couldn't bring him in to me.   

He has changed so much in just four months!

December Daily: 6,7, and 8

Day 6

Spent the afternoon working on ornaments for nieces and nephews.  I'm contemplating on making this a tradition so each year they get a new ornament . . . really enjoying making this year a handmade Christmas.

Day 7

I found this gem is Wesley's bookbag today.

Day 8

Family night at Wes' school.  I took a picture of him working on his snowman sock craft and the bottom is our first (how sad is that!) family picture.  Thomas wouldn't even look at the camera and he's sucking his thumb.  Opposite page is the activity sheet they gave at the school that I cut to size and punched holes into.

The list of activites that night and what room they were being done in.  We walked home from the school that night and walked through the Roy City Christmas lights.  Took this picture of the lights with the moon. 

I'm staying caught up for the most part just need to get pictures I took printed and put together.  Loving this!

December Daily: Day 5

Day fives picture was actually taken on the 3rd.  I'm cool with that especially since we had two big family get togethers that day.  One in the morning and one at night.

I loved this picture of my boys with Santa and decided to make it the main focus for todays spread.  I included a lot of bits and pieces from my stash.    
 

(Something about being able to use two monograms that makes me smile.  I'm a dork like that)

Here I included Wesley's Christmas list for this year.  He insisted on filling every single one of those lines . . . what he wants more than anything though is Harry Potter Lego sets. 

I know I'm going to love this little list in his handwriting years from now.