For Today...

Outside my window...the sun is setting and I hear the faint sound of vehicles driving somewhere in the city...our neighbourhood seems very still at this hour of 10pm

I am thinking...that my contacts are irritating my eyes...that I have laundry to put away spread out all over the couch downstairs before the kids wake up in the morning and wreck my organized piles of clean clothes...about how Aidan likes to procrastinate when he is supposed to be going to bed - he was just sitting and slowly examining every single page in our family Project Life book

I am thankful for...my husband taking the day off of work today and hanging out with us - we went swimming to the pool, he cut the grass and Mama Gies had an afternoon nap, Wes and Aidan played "Ticket to Ride" game with me this evening (and pretended to be having fun) and he is now tucking our oldest boy into bed as Aidan sucks him into his bed-time procrastination asking him questions of all sorts...my husband rocks!

From the kitchen...I want to try a new strawberry rhubarb muffin recipe I printed from the internet...need more rhubarb recipes as it is growing huge in the yard - LOVE it!

I am wearing...jeans, black tank top, flip flops, Stella & Dot earrings, and new necklace my mom bought for me at the Farmers Market for my birthday coming up...

I am creating...working on my Project Life but a bit discouraged at the moment as my computer won't let me open Photoshop Elements so I am not able to use my "brushes" for my Ali Edwards dates to place on the photos...still can print photos without it, just haven't uploaded the photos to Costco online yet

I am going...to hang out with a dear friend tomorrow morning and her 2 boys, praying our time together is full of God's peace and love - our last visit was full of children who weren't able to get a long well and needed super lots of attention which took away from our "girl time" to chat...tomorrow will be better!!  Shop for 2 little girl birthday presents tomorrow and trust that Aidan can help me pick out something his sisters will loooove...be an assistant photographer for Loni on Saturday at a wedding she is shooting...to tuck my husband into bed before I go and eat a bowl of cereal (he has been up since 5am as he went out for breakfast with the guys today)

I am reading... my bible, Gospel-Powered Parenting

I am hoping...my husband's day goes smoothly tomorrow and that he is able to enjoy the golf tournament and have fun

I am hearing...that Wes just turned the TV on in our room and I picture him crawling into bed - he can fall asleep with the TV on, I can't..."No Sweeter Name" song in my head - oh how I looove that song!!

Around the house...put laundry away, definitely clean bathrooms tomorrow (been putting them off for a couple days now), and do some baking...

One of my favorite things....the smell of the Tim Hortons coffee grounds when I open up the can for the first time - it smells up the whole kitchen for a few minutes...

A few plans for the rest of the week...visit with Jen on Friday, Ginette on Sunday, celebrate Dad G's birthday, go to Myah's birthday party, shoot wedding, see my parents because my dad is home from working in Fort Mac, church, Life Group, birthday present shop....busy busy busy


A photo for today...

Yesterday Addison came running into the house telling us he can ride a 2-wheeler...him and his friend were riding bikes in the front and we assumed he was riding his bike with his training wheels.  Wes had tried in the Spring to encourage him to ride his bike without training wheels but he always refused, he did try a couple times to please dad by doing it but always ended up in a lot of tears.  As parents we had a talk about expectations/pressures we can place on our kids to do certain things on our schedules/in our time,  and we both decided that we wouldn't bring up the issue of the training wheels any more.  (Asher is still riding a tricycle around the block...)  So as his "Hot Wheels" bike sat in the garage from last year without training wheels attached this is now the chosen bike over the past 2 days.  Addison and his friend Cooper from down the road are cruising up and down the close going up and down neighbours drive-ways.  Only 1 crash into the back of dad's truck yesterday and one little crash-up and scrape today but he is doing so well!!  You are awesome Addison - way to go!!  It is so cool to see what our kids come up with when we take a step back...lovin' it!!

Proud Mama Moment...

 Here is our biggest boy Aidan with his other mom Suzanne.  On June 18 both of them shaved their hair off for Women's Cancer.  Sue has raised money for this event before, and this is Aidan's first year with joining in with her to raise money to find a cure.  Aidan raised a total of $640 which contributed to the Shoppers Drug Mart (where Sue works) team total donation to over $4000 for this event alone.  Awesome!

 Aidan's dad Ben had the honors of shaving the dome...he knows something about it if you get a good look at his hairstyle ;)  

 Aidan's hair all over the stage floor.  Sue donated her hair to the Locks of Love foundation which is an awesome cause...so many good organizations out there willing to help...I love it!  I love the people too that are selflessly contributing to such places...way to go guys and gals!!

 I love this photo as Sue and Aidan see each other for the first time hairless, both of them feeling for what used to be there...what a great bonding opportunity for the two of them!  

Because just a "quick shave" was done at the event in Olds, Aidan asked to have his head "cleaned up" once we got home.  So here is dad Wes getting a close shave in.  I am so proud of our biggest boy for wanting to raise money for a disease that has touched people in his family. 

 I love the way that Aidan went around the neighbourhood telling people what he was going to do and why....I love that he made a commitment and stayed with it right to the end...I love that Sue and Aidan were able to do this together....I love my boys heart - wonderful job Aidan!  You are sooo loved!

Lovin' Project Life

Hi friends!  Wow am I behind with my postings...life is busy with a family of 6 but I am lovin' it!  I am really lovin' this project that I started in January developed by Becky Higgins called Project Life.  I am indeed a little behind (only 7 weeks) but not nearly as behind as I am with each one of the kids scrapbooks!

 I think what I love the most is I get to use photos that I may not do a whole scrapbook page for...this project represents our life on a very real scale.  When I look back to how our family operated 5 years from now I imagine that I will be able to remember what this was like.  You see, I have the worst memory and easily forget lots of details of our wonderful life....things I don't want to forget can now be remembered...and it is EASY!  My love of taking photos is allowing me to capture life as we know it...in this stage of life...right where we are at :)

 I have been experimenting with enlarging photos to 8x12" and then cutting 2 inches off of the sides to fit into the 6x12" page protectors I bought from American Crafts.

 I am also experimenting with putting one theme in a 3 slot - 6x12 page protector....and loving this.  For the one above I put specific photos from our trip to Build-a-Bear.

 I am also loving using brushes in Photoshop to label my photos before I print them...love Ali Edwards design style.

TADA!!  I hope you will join me for the 2012 year in completing one for your family!  I will definitely keep you posted when the new kits come on sale in Oct/November :)