A Flood of Pixel Proportions!!!

A few different things have been fixed on my computer. It isn't completely up to snuff, but we will keep fixing things as we go. Before it went on a hiatus I had several layouts to share of different events:


::::::::::::::Our New Niece, Holly::::::::










:::::::::::::::::::Noah's Baptism Album::::::::









::::::::::::::::::::Rachel's College for Kids:::::::


::::::::::::::::::::Christmas Layout from 2007:::::::::





::::::::::::::::::Book Review::::::::::::



Something else I did on the computer hiatus was read New Moon. I enjoyed this book more than the first one. The Romeo and Juliet theme ran through this as an updated work using vampires, humans and werewolves. Classic themes work anywhere. I thought the ideas of what it is to be human are explored and the concept of choosing to have your humanity taken by choice and another thrust upon you was intriguing. Bella's newly discovered abilities that mean very little as a human, but would make her a rather formidable vampire were very cool aspects to her character. It gives her more of a caterpillar wanting to become a butterfly kind of metaphor. Maybe in book 3 with the werewolves running in their pack and the Cullens back in town it will be West Side Story set in Forks? I look forward to finding out!


Later gators! :)

A Bit of This and That

:::::::::::::::Home School Article::::::::

Here is an excellent blog article by Bob Barr, here in Georgia. He attempts to rally parents to encourage state legislators and other leaders to speak out against the debacle created by the California court rulings that nullified the parents' rights and, effectively made each child a ward of the state.

:::::::::::::::Freshly Squeezed:::::::::::



My daughter and her cousin, Isabell having a great big hug!
<sub>Credits: Luisa Leandro: Buttons
'Buttons' Kit by Luisa Leandro (aka Dawn Inskip) available at www.sophiasarducci.com from 7 April
Dawn Inskip: Embossed Alpha (set 2)
Fresh Kit
flowers from Guest C.t. kit
NDISB
http://www.ndisb.com/store/index.php?main_page=index&manufacturers_id=58&zenid=6f749e8e3eef36755bd930bff3df535c
TTS
http://digistore.treasurestoscrap.com/index.php?main_page=index&manufacturers_id=20
SSS
http://shop.scrapscandistyle.com/index.php?main_page=index&manufacturers_id=43

Catrine: Explore Solids

Darcy Baldwin: DJB Messie Amanda at The Digichick
http://www.thedigichick.com/shop/product.php?productid=17789&cat=273&page=2</sub>

::::::::::::::Anna Benjamin:::::::::
is interning as a designer at Scrapbookgraphics and she was so kind as to send some of her new designs for me to create some layouts. Here are a few:








::::::::::::::::::Pride and Prescience:::::::


This book appealed to me to me in two ways when I saw it on the library table. One, it is written about two of my favorite characters, Elizabeth Bennett and Mr. Darcy, and second, it is a mystery. I have been reading it off and on for a couple of days and I'm enjoying, so far. I'll give you a review when I'm done.

:::::::::::::::::::An Oldie, But A Goodie:::::::

Rachel was in her room giggling and she got up to show me what was so funny. She had grabbed one of my old books off the shelf and was enjoying it, thoroughly.
This photo is not from the book she was reading, but it was the only one I saw that worked on google. I picked this paperback up at a place that allowed you to trade in your old books and buy others. The last copyright date listed is 1973. Rachel loved reading about the antics of Hi and Lois' family. I think it is such a great thing to share a sense of humor with my kids...twisted as it may be!


Smiles!

Catching Some Shut-Eye...

not me! It's just the name of the layout I did for our reunion.

::::::::::::A Layout From the Family Reunion::::

My nephew, Elliott, with his Aunty Teashy.



_{Darcy Baldwin: DJB For ANNIE/ DJB MICHAEL / DJB KARENscript at The Digichick
Jenna Desai: Whimsical heart doodles
Gina Miller: Canvas Of Colors
Lisa Whitney: Chalked Full of Color
Kate Hadfield: Newspaper Doodles
Catrine: Chalked Alpha
Holly McCaig: Doodle Frame
Emily Merritt: Bubble Wrap Brush
Natalie Braxton: Cardboard Cut-Out
Christina Renee: Punch label alpha}
My recent downloads from Spiral Frog :

India Aire: Video
The Little things

Billie Holiday: As Time Goes By
Embraceable You
On The Sunny Side of The Street
I'll Be Seeing You
I've Got a Man Crazy Bout Me (He's Funny That Way)

Spike Jones: Entire Christmas Album

Blues Traveler But Anyway

Cher: Gypsys, Tramps and Thieves

Ringo Star: Octopus' Garden


::::::::::::::::::::::Emotions Revealed:::::



This book was a fascinating read! The use of memorable news photos, study photos and personal accounts made this a very approachable work of psychology. Dr. Ekman was able to explain the many emotions that we experience in a practical, as well as, a clinical way. He also used words from other languages since some emotions didn't have a descriptive enough English word. He explained how surprise is the briefiest of all emotions and that startle is different from surprise. He showed how the eyes really help you determine a genuinely happy smile from one only done with the mouth. There is so much amazing information in this book! Two thumbs up!

My next book is by Paul Ekman, as well. Why Kids Lie

::::::::::::::::Aurora County All-Stars:::::::


We just finished this book on Thursday night. The kids were a bit luke warm on this one. I think that our kids don't get into sports stories, so there is a bit of a bias about the story. The thread binding the story was part of the poem "Leaves of Grass" by Walt Whitman. The author never loses the thread and the story is tied up nicely at the end. The concept of how we are all connected and valuable is such a wonderful message. I recommend the book even if you have non-sports fans like my kids.


::::::::::::::::School Reading::::::::

Aaron has chosen for his next reading assignment for school to read The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien. We read it as a family a couple of years ago, so I wonder what new insight he will glean this time around.

::::::::::::::::Spelunking::::::::::::

Michael, Aaron and a couple of friends from Church have gone caving today. They are planning to get back to the waterfall in the back of the cave. Since Aaron has no body fat Michael made sure Aaron had plenty of synthetic clothes to keep him from soaking up the cold water. He was joking that he looked like Mickey Mouse because his leggings were black, his long sleeve shirt was white and his shorts over the top were red. We all laughed about that one.

::::::::::::::::Indexing:::::::::::::::

I worked on marriage certificates from Barbour and Jackson counties in West Virginia, then I was sent a 1900 Census. I am having a bit of trouble with certain letters. Argh! The census I'm working on is from Merrimack, New Hampshire. The information is really interesting. This is a great program if you are interested in being altruistic with your down time. :)

Smile!

Another Day, Another Couple of Layouts!

:::::::::::::::Aaron and Elliott::::::

from our family reunion:


:::::::::::The Empire State Building




::::::::::::Eve's Check-up::::::

She passed the hearing and vision test. She even passed the blood pressure test, which means we could go on to the Bonus Round. In the Bonus Round they checked her ears (she complained of pain, but there was no indication of an infection or inflammation) and checked her abdomin. She checked out fine. I asked him about what to do about her seed warts. They are smooth...not your classic bumpy kind. He prescribed Retin-A cream, which will cause her skin to exfoliate more quickly and help remove the wart called mollusca.
No shots were needed and that made her happy. She ended up being in the 25 percentile for height and 33 percentile for weight...or visa versa. Anyway, she is proportional.

:::::::::::::Curriculum Night::::

We were able to hear from Rachel's focus teacher for reading and her classroom teacher. Both teachers seemed excited to be teaching and very qualified for the task. Their personalities seemed to meld well with Rachel's so I hope it will be an exciting and fun learning experience for her this year. She had a sketch and poem about herself waiting for us on her desk. I will scan it and put it up later.

Smiles!

Saturday is a Special Day...

...it's the day we get ready for Sunday!

Just wanted to throw in some primary lyrics.




My nephews and BIL. The little boys were both wearing onesies that said "Monkey Business" and they are such cute little guys.

Monkey Boys:


_{Chalk Full of Fun by Lisa Whitney
Rubberbands, Stitched Alpha, Doodle Alpha, Pirate Doodles, Animal Doodles by Kate Hadfield
Piled Higher by Christina Renee,
Torn Edge template by Jen Caputo
Font: DJB MICHAEL by Darcy Baldwin at The Digichick
Felt flower from TLP's Summer Collab kit (Natalie Braxton's piece)}

::::::::::::::Just When You Thought It Was Safe:::::

Niagara Falls, Layout 1~


_{Cluster Frames by Nancy Comelab
Font: Stickybet / DJB MICHAEL by Darcy Baldwin at The Digichick
Travel brush stamp by Sande Krieger at Twopeasinabucket}


:::::::::::::::::::::::Devil's Advocate? ::::::::::::

While reading The Lucifer Effect: Understanding How Good People Turn Evil by Philip Zimbardo the author made this observation:

"We had also experienced 'groupthink.' Once I, as leader, believed the rumor to be valid, everyone else accepted it as true. No one played devil's advocate, a figure that every group needs to avoid follish or even disastrous decisions like this." (p. 99)

My husband, Michael, plays devil's advocate in conversations. It often unnerves people because they think he is trying to start an argument. In actuality, he really enjoyed debate club as a teenager and likes to take the opposite position so that what ever topic is being discussed is seen by all possible angles. He doesn't necessarily subscribe to the point of view from which he is speaking. His point is to make the person espousing some particular view point to really understand why they believe what they are saying and be able to back it up. Even with the kids he will preface his responses with "I'm not trying to argue...but why do you think that. Or, what made you come to that conclusion?" He enjoys discussing politics, religion, astronomy, ecology, geology and sewing. He really likes to know what people think and he likes these conversations because it helps him better define what he thinks.

I thought this Calvin and Hobbes cartoon apropos:


:::::::::::::::Movie Today?::::

We are going to try and see the new Harry Potter film today, if possible.

Smiles!

Wednesday, the First

Oh, no applause! I know the title is clever!

Here is a layout of my little nephew, Elliott. That is my arm holding him. I'm no hand model, but my arm does have a distinctive kind of charm and safe kind of look to it...don'tcha think?


_{Solid Paper from Simply Irresistable kit by Gina Cabrera
Patterened Paper from Midnight in the Garden by Kay Miller
Frayed Fabric Edges by Fhung Lie
Crayon Doodles by Ida
Taped Journal Doodles by Kate Hadfield
Doodle Alpha and Reverie freebie by Weeds and Wildflowers
Baby hang tag by Shabby Miss Jenn (found at DDE)
All Dressed Ribbons by Jennifer Barrette at OAKS
Font: DJB WENDYPscript by Darcy Baldwin at The Digichick}


::::::::::::::::::Check Up::::::::

I'm taking Noah to the doctor's for his annual physical. He wondered if he was going to the teeth doctor (dentist) or the body doctor. I told him it was the body kind. It won't be our primary care physican because our vacation interfered with that appointment, so I rescheduled and got Dr. Washington. I hope this doctor is as great as our regular doctor, Dr. Pugel. I don't know if he is supposed to get shots today, but I do have to ask about his facial ticks...which, by the way, he denies he has. He was blinking mid-denial last night. What a goober!

::::::::::::::::::Layout Makin' Time:::

I'm off to create a new layout with a new kickin' font by Darcy Baldwin at The Digichick. The new font debuts tomorrow.

Smiles!

Back to the Future:

<sub>Simply Irresistable Kit by Gina Cabrera, Font: Jayne Print


Background paper from an Ad Challenge Freebie by Katie Pertiet, A Day at the Zoo Monogram (Modified) by The Shabby Princess, Vintage Frame by Katie Pertiet, Leather rose trim from Gypsy Rose Elements by Michelle Coleman, Font: Jane Austen/ DB Michael, Cardboard element by Linda Gil Bildal, Staple from Softly Softly by KSharonK</sub>

:::::::::::::::Excerpts of things:::::
that struck me as HILARIOUS in my reading, so far:

The Phantom Tollbooth
pp. 104 & 105

"Well," said the boy, "in my family everyone is born in the air, with his head at exactly the height it's going to be when he's an adult, and then we all grow toward the ground. When we're fully grown up or, as you can see, grown down, our feet finally touch. Of course, there are a few of us whose feet never reach the ground no matter how old we get, but I suppose it's the same in every family."
He hopped a few steps in the air, skipped back to where he started, and then began again.
"You certainly must be very old to have reached the ground already."
"Oh no," said Milo seriously. "In my family we all start on the ground and grow up, and we never know how far until we actually get there."
"What a silly system." The boy laughed. "Then your head keeps changing height and you always see things in a different way? Why, when you're fifteen things won't look al all the way they did when you were ten, and at twenty everything will change again."


:::::::::::::::::Back to the Future:::::::::
The kids watched the all three Back to the Future movies. Michael and I would interject with the fads we participated in during the 80's. They also thought it was cool that Michael J. Fox was the voice of Stuart Little in the movies and that Christopher Lloyd was the voice of Hacker from Noah's favorite educational cartoon, Cyberchase.

Welcome, Elliott!

Text: Aaron, Rachel, Noah and Eve were excited to welcome their newest cousin, Elliott. Aaron was especially good holding him. Elliott's mom, Melissa, looked great after her Cesearean section, but was experiencing a lot of itchiness due to her pain medication. Matthew, Elliot's dad, was suffering from a bad back and allergies. Elliott fussed only slightly and after a few good burps settled right down and fell asleep. Welcome Baby Elliott!

_{Mo Jackson's Boxer Thirteen,
Gina Cabrera's Simply Irresistable Mega kit,
Baby chipboard on ribbon by Shabby Miss Jenn,
Don't Be Negative by Gina Miller,
Hand Stamped Alpha by Michelle Coleman,
Fonts: Jayne Print, House Sitter's Club}

Noah took the visit to see baby Elliott as an opportunity to quiz Matthew on, pretty much, everything. Well as Monty Pythoners say: "Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition!" Noah wanted to no what part Matthew took in helping bring Elliott into the world. Matthew told him he had helped by giving support to his wife and various other things. Noah told him that wasn't good enough. Yep, this is Noah in his normal form. He also was certain about the directions for getting out of the hospital, which was opposite of the posted signs. To Noah those signs were wrong and he was right. What a troll, sometimes, but cute.

Here is a layout of my niece Haley:

Haley enjoyed hunting the Easter eggs at Granny Alice McClure's house. Aunt Katherine made and dyed a dozen hard-boiled eggs for the kids to hunt, but the kids refused to eat any of them! Uncle Michael liked hiding the eggs in the trees.



Spring Basics Plain Paper by Cindy Irvine at Elemental Scraps
Sketchy Brushes Painted Flowers by Cindy Irvine at Elemental Scraps
Doodle Border by Kate Hadfield,
Template freebie from Janet Phillips,
Bunny and Cracked Easter Egg by Mary Fran,
Fonts: DB Michael at blueflombingo, Jodishand


::::::::::::::Still Reading:::::::
The Phantom Tollbooth. I will post some of the quotes from the book because they are so profound, but I have to finish the taxes and do some cleaning.

Smiles!

Mei Lan:

The kids enjoyed seeing Mei Lan curled up in a little ball as she took one of her many naps. They also liked the Panda hand stamps.
_{Background paper and ribbon from Genuine Spirit by Michelle Coleman,
Hand Stamped Alpha by Michelle Coleman,
Don't Be Negative strip by Gina Miller,
Cloud 9 brush, staple and tack from Cloud 9 by Fhunglie,
Flip Cardboard Overlay, Star paper, Prong, by Linda Gil Bildal (Star Bazar kit),
Cluster Frame (modified) by Nancy Comelab,
paper flower from Timeless Beauty by Angie Miner,
Brush from Extraordinary Everyday by Jen Wilson,
Font: Wonton}


::::::::::::::::::Rachel's Country Kitchen:::
Opened this morning. Rachel took pre-orders last night. She asked me to wake her up at 6:30am, so she could cook for everyone. I patted her head and told her it was time to start, about 5 minutes later she came down. She had a great time pouring and flipping pancakes. She also made me a fried egg. Rachel made sure everyone had the drink they ordered and she finally sat down to eat her own breakfast.
Now that Aaron and Rachel are becoming more proficient cooks we are going to have to open up our own Kitchen Stadium and have some chef battles!

:::::::::::::::::Elliott Glenn::::::::
arrives today! Elliott is our newest nephew. He is being delivered by scheduled Cesarean and I hope all goes well. He joins four beautiful sisters. His parents are good picture takers, so I'm hoping for pictures soon!

::::::::::::::::Spring is Here::::::
I can tell because of my sinus headache. The flowers are gorgeous and the weather is nice, so I suppose I'll just take some pain-reliever and enjoy the day!