Project Life-Week 46

Week 46

Some weeks are always going to be more FULL than others right?

This week actually contains 8 front and back inserts!

Week 46 was a roller coaster but the ups definitely outweighed the downs and I am so glad I have it all recorded :)

This was the week that Adam landed himself in the ER twice, spent two nights in the hospital (one of which was in the ICU).  This was a very emotional and scary time but our faith never faltered and Adam was home in time for his 32nd birthday.  Praise God.

We saw Paul McCartney.  Best show ever. I loved the story of "Blackbird" as I mentioned before and I had printed out this photo from a shop so I could show Adam that I wanted it :)  I placed it into my PL album as a reminder of the beauty. 

On the back of this insert, I have the set list of songs that Paul McCartney played.

Did I mention is was the best show ever? :)

This next insert is a favorite.  I love these pages because they are perfect for Instagram photos!!  I have back to back photos that took at the show on this page.

On Saturday, it was National Adoption Day/Amelia's Adoption Day.

This was in our swag bag that we got at the court house.  I also slapped on one of the stickers that we had for National Adoption Day as well.

On the back I have a copy of the court papers that we received.  I blurred out all of the important information but most importantly...CASE CLOSED!

Done and done!

I used an 8 1/2x11 insert to add this little Title page that I made in Photoshop. 

On the back of that, I typed up all of my memories from that day and printed it to size to slip in.

Next, we have another front and back 4x4 photo page.  These are all of the photos from the Court House.

Next up I have one of the triangles from a banner at Amelia's Gotcha Day party.  I thought this would be a perfect little segway to the party from the court house.

I also added this little bag from the Smashbook line and filled it with some of the smaller decorations from the party for Amelia to look at someday.

And to keep up with the theme of this week's spread.  I have another 4x4 photo page filled back and front with photos from the Gotcha Day party.

And then to end this week, I made a full page spread with the most important event of the week.  Amelia's new, official, legit, bona fide, name.
(Also, when I printed it out and did the cutting, I somehow lost the "R" in November.  This is something that I totally would have scrapped and re-printed before but truthfully I don't mind it anymore).

Ahhh! This was the best week!!!
Thank you for letting me share it with you :)
xo
janel

Would you like to know more about Project Life? You can read all about it here. You can also check out more of my Project Life pages right here!

Project Life-Week 45

Week 45

This was another jam packed week.  This week is a perfect example of why Project Life is awesome.  There were so many elements of this week that would NEVER have been documented if I was doing a traditional scrapbook.  I love how this project allows me to EASILY document the silly everyday things that make my life, my life.

Adam, Amelia and I stood in a freezing cold line for 2 hours to cast our vote for President.  Adam chose to write in Amelia as the Missouri State senator.  

I also sewed two new dresses for Amelia this week.

This fun little envelope page is the perfect size to hold my finished DVD with our video testimony for Orphan Sunday.  (Now I just have to find the DVD!)

My invitations, envelopes, badges and diaper pins came for Amelia's Gotcha Day party and I wanted a place to document all of those things.  Perfection.

This is the back of the invitation and the adorable labels that sealed the back of the envelopes.  Seriously, Nissa, you rocked these invitations.

Also, during this week was Amelia's Christmas photo shoot with Fresh Art Photography.  This was our cute little sneak peek :)

And finally, Amelia and I did an impromptu painting session one morning before school so that we could make her grammy this special little painting for her birthday!!

fun fun fun.

Week 46 is the BIGGEST week in my Project Life album so I am so excited to share it.

See you tomorrow.

xo

janel

Would you like to know more about Project Life? You can read all about it here. You can also check out more of my Project Life pages right here!

Project Life-Week 44

Yikes, so as I was doing my PL album this morning, I realized that I haven't posted any of my pages since HALLOWEEN! 

That is crazy.

Halloween was week 44 and we are currently on Week 50.  The good news is, I still work on my album and it's up to date.

Photographing and posting my pages is the hardest part of this project :)

So, I will post a new week each day until I catch up!

Deal? Deal.

Week 44

Amelia started crawling!  Old news, the girl is practically jogging these days.

Just kidding

not kidding.

We dressed her as Snow White to go to our church's Trunk or Treat.  It was easier and warmer than the Frida costume and my mom had this in her dress-up closet.

Jackster was the cutest little bat ever for Halloween.

Our invitation proofs had come for Amelia's Gotcha Day party.  I also spent an entire day working on a video for Orphan Sunday about our Adoption testimony.

Amelia's 8th month photo and stats :)

My mom, Amelia, and I went to The History Museum for the "Underneath It All" exhibit (which was on undergarments throughout history...AMAZING) and lunch.  Afterwards, we headed over to the zoo for a very fun afternoon.

Good times!!

I can not say it enough....Project Life is PERFECT!

I am so in love with this Project :)

xo

janel

Would you like to know more about Project Life? You can read all about it here. You can also check out more of my Project Life pages right here!

my wish list.

I have been racking my brain for months now on what I want for Christmas.  Of course there are a million little things that pop up here and there that I would like.  There have been only two things though that I really, truly want this year. 

1.  The Project Life Seafoam Core Kit.

Project Life has probably been the most amazing and most rewarding project I have ever done.  I love love love love (times a million) looking back at all of the memories I have captured this year.  Priceless I tell you.  I can not wait to get this kit into my hands so Amazon better hurry it up :)

Also, I love Elise!  Her blog is my number one favorite and her design of this kit is perfection.  

Dear Elise,

You are a genius.

Signed,

Janel

2.  Nike Flyknits.

I have wanted these since day one of the Summer Olympics.  I feel like the second I slip these babies on my feet, I will become an athlete.  Seriously, Nike has done a great job at making me think this.  I need a good pair of running shoes and these are what I have been lusting after since July.

Dear Adam,

I NEED THEM.

signed,

Janel

That's it folks. 

My tiny little Christmas list. 

I obviously received the best gift EVER already this year.

Dear God,

Thank you for Amelia.

Signed,

Janel

cinnamon ornaments

And boy does our house smell heavenly!!

I have always wanted to make these but never knew how simple it was.

This project was another one of our Advent activities.

We followed this awesome tutorial and it worked out swimmingly.

We didn't have quite enough cinnamon so our edges were a little rough (which was totally fine with me). Plus, after they were completely dry, the rough edges rubbed right off :)

For now they are hanging all over our tree and smelling lovely.  I will eventually tie them to everyone's Christmas gifts as I wrap them.

I love creating all of these new Christmas traditions with Amelia!!

xo

janel

a little bit of snow

Last night, Adam and I made paper snowflakes together as one of our Advent activities.  Adam's snowflakes, that he makes, are my favorite.  He's so cute when he makes them.

We made about 20 different snowflakes and hung them all of over our sliding glass doors. 

With this 70 degree weather we have been having here in St. Louis, these paper snowflakes were the perfect things to make our home feel a little bit more like the Christmas spirit.

Even Amelia wanted to get in on the snowflake making! I can't wait until next Christmas when she will actually be able to help us :)

xo

janel

advent

Oh yes, it's time for our Advent Calendar tradition.  Each year Adam and I take turns creating an Advent calendar for each other.  We have done scavenger hunts, online Advents, traditional advents and more.  We love Advent and our traditions.

This year, Adam and I are doing Advent together for Amelia.  We are so excited to start all of these old and new traditions with her!  The holiday season is so much more fun for us with a little one here.

  I completely fell in love with this adorable advent calendar! 

I love this sweet little village and the color scheme is so perfect for Amelia's room. 

 I LOVE IT!

I defintiely should have used card stock as the directions said but all I had was regular printer paper on hand. It still works :)

What are some of your favorite Advent Calendar traditions?  Any fun activities to do with babies?  I would love to hear your suggestions!

xo

janel

9 months

Seriously, when did my baby get so big?

It blows my mind.

9 months

Best nine months of my life.

*  You are crawling all over the place

*  you are pulling yourself up on everything

*  you are constantly trying new foods.

*  you still don't have any teeth (but that's ok because we LOVE your gummy smile)

*  you are FINALLY saying "mama" but only when you are crying.

*  you are talking all of the time

*  you love to be read to

*  you love playing with balls

*  you love to mimic our laughs, coughs, and claps

*  you clap all of the time when we sing to you

*  when we sing, you sing with us

*  you are still the happiest baby around

*  you smile and laugh all of the time.

*  you are a blessing beyond blessings.

*  we love you so much!!

xo

janel

reading in 2012

Last year I set a goal, on Goodreads, to read 100 books in 2011 and I was 18 books shy of reaching it.

This year I decided to make my goal more attainable, a put it at 50 books in 2012.

I hit my goal of 50 books in late July and decided to bump my goal up to 75 books in 2012.  Today, I finished reading my 75 book this year :)

Since it's December 1, I don't think I am going to get wicked ambitious and set my goal any higher.  I am going to be happy that I met goal and initially exceeded my original goal.

Here are the books that I have read so far this year.

My guess is that I will probably read about 5 more before the year is over (because I am totally hooked on Agatha Christie's Miss Marple series and want to finish it).

Reading is my favorite.

Have you read any good books lately?

xo

janel