{New Years Eve Top 10}

A look back at some of my favorite layouts from two-oh-one-oh.

#1: First Snow

Love the colors on this, and the sweet pic of Gracie's first time in the snow.

#2: nineteen74

My hubby, before he grew up to be the man I love and adore.

#3: Number 1 Star Wars Fan

Tucker knows anything and everything there is to know about Star Wars. I love that I have this documented to remember this time in his life.

#4: Church Pictures

Now that my Dad is gone, I am so glad he was a saver. He kept everything, including the cover and our picture from an old church directory. I love that I have it to add to my scrapbook.

#5: Two of a Kind

You two really are two of a kind. I love that I have pics to prove it.

#6: I Miss This

So much emotion when I look at this layout. It seems like just yesterday the boys were so little. Three and five years old turned into 21 and 23 years old over night.

#7: Your Butterfly Tattoo

One of the funniest moments of 2010 when I got yelled for having a baby with a tattoo. Come on, seriously. Who would do that. Another layout I'm glad I have, although I'll probably never forget that day anyway.

#8: First Day of 5th Grade

Another layout that I love, but really wish he was still in kindergarten ; )

#9: My Little Firefighter

The pictures I found this year from way back in 1990, that I had never scrapbooked. Oh the memories of taking Andrew to the fire station to see the big firetrucks.

#10: My Beautiful Girl

After having 3 boys, it's still hard to believe I have a little girl. I love being able to dress her in pink, all the way down to her little glittery pink shoes. And an extra bonus, I get to scrap the pictures of her dressed in pink, all the way down to her little glittery pink shoes.

I hope you take the time to look back at what you've created this year.

See you in 2011.

{a picture is worth 1000 words}

One of my favorite pics from Christmas morning.

Yes, it is out of focus and lighting is off, but I love it. Years from now I will look back on this picture and remember waking up to the sound of giggles coming from the family room, where the two littlest had snuck out to see what surprises Santa had left for them. Remember the note Tucker left under the tree for Santa, and even though he doesn't believe, he wanted to leave a note "just in case". Remember that we put up this tiny tree with all unbreakable ornaments so Gracie wouldn't be too tempted by our usual floor to ceiling tree. Remember Tucker wanting his Yoda tree topper on this tree instead of the tree in his room. Remember how my snowman collection and our Christmas movies had to be on just the top shelves of the bookcase, again so little missy wouldn't be tempted to touch. How we found special Dora wrapping paper for Gracie, because Dora is her favorite right now. Remember getting a text message from Austin saying Merry Christmas Mom, since he had to work at Disneyland that day, and thinking about  how we wouldn't all  be here to celebrate that morning.  Remember the Christmas of 2010, and how we were so very blessed.

{Christmas Eve}

    waiting for his arrival

{Monday}

I've been having fun at this site making my own snowflakes. (Since that's about the only snowflakes we will see here in So Cali)  Give it a try, and let it snow!

{Happy Birthday Austin}

Yep, another birthday!
Today it's Austin's birthday...the big 21.
And, if you've been counting, yes 3 of my kids have had a birthday in the past month.

                (Tucker 10, Austin 21 today! and Gracie 2)
The crazy thing is, my hubby's birthday was in there too, along with our anniversary. Then Christmas is this week, and 2 days later is my birthday. We just keep celebrating from November right into December.
Love this time of year!

{Thursday}

I know most everyone is thinking about red and green right now, since there are only 9 days until Christmas, but have you seen what Pantone's color of the year for 2011 is??

Pantone Color Institute, the world-renowned authority on color, makes the announcement every year and literally sets the tone for the year's design color schemes from wall paint to bridesmaid dresses to scrapbooking supplies. 

 Oh be still my heart! 

I can't wait!!

{Monday}

Pictures in our December Daily album that I posted about here, will be this for today.

Melted snowman cookies!
So easy to make with homemade sugar cookies, frosting and marshmallows.
Not much explanation is needed, but be sure to put your marshmallows (on a plate) in the microwave for 20 seconds, just until they start to puff up. Put a bit of shortening on your fingers so the melty marshmallows don't stick.
Also, you don't need perfectly round cookies for this one! You want it to look like a puddle, so wavy uneven edges work perfectly.

{December Daily}

So this is finally the year for a December Daily album! Ever since Ali Edwards started the craze a few years back, I have wanted to make one. Everything is put together so I just add my photo and journaling each day.

                         Here's the front cover

        

Here's a few of the days for you to see...

day 1

day 2

day 5

day 6

Here's a few of the days to come

December 13 & 14

December 17 & 18

December 23 & 24

I used a variety of page size and shapes throughout the album, and a variety of different papers and embellishments, but stuck to a red, pink, green and turquoise color scheme.  I also decided to do the whole month of December (I know many of you are only going up to day 25) but since my birthday is the 27th, and then New Year's Eve is on the 31st, I thought I would do the whole month.

It's been fun looking around the internet to see all the December Daily albums that so many scrapbookers are doing this year. I love seeing all the amazing creations! It will so be cool to look back at the end of December to see all the fun things we did this month!

{and then he was 10}

Tucker turned 10 today, and as I always seem to say on all my kids birthday's, I can't believe another year has passed.

Tucker is such a great kid, and is having the time of his life right now.
Last week he played a sax solo in his school band concert and did an awesome job, and this week he is receiving an award for being on Honor Roll.
We celebrated his special day on Saturday with a trip to Legoland with Grandpa and Grandma, and tonight we took him to Outback for his favorite meal, their macaroni and cheese.  We followed up with a birthday cake from Coldstone Creamery. This was the first year I haven't baked his cake, and Tucker was quite surprised when he realized I remembered a comment he made way back in the Summer about "someday I want a cake from here."  It was a perfect day according to him : )
Happy birthday sweet boy, you are so loved!