PL2015 - Week 30

Week 30 fell in the middle of the summer.

This was the week I took the kids camping with a friend.

This is the week I felt kind of empowered because 1) I took the kids camping with a friend. [I was the one that loaded the vehicle with camping stuff, coolers of food, bevvies (both child and adult friendly) I gathered clothes and extra blankets. I loaded bikes onto the bike rack [which is a lot trickier than it looks]

and 2) Because I went camping. In the woods. with my kids. Without Barry.

I did stay in a tent trailer, which kept my bear anxiety at bay. Well, between the trailer and the wine, that was what kept my bear anxiety at bay...

Any way, here is week 30: 

Sahlin Studio Product Used:

Composition Elements
Composition Journal Cards
Composition Paper

I also used these Photo Templates, Vol. 1 in Portrait.
  

I created the 8 picture collage by altering one of the templates. 

Template Freebie

I wanted to share with you, that every month Sahlin Studio has a freebie template, which can be downloaded for free, for the month. You can find October's template here. Stop what you're doing, and go and get it. Now. I'll wait.

Now that you've done that, here's what I did with this months template freebie:

I just wanted a quick page, to document our summer trip. All the colours were fighting with one another, so I changed all the pictures to black and white, and just had one colour photo on the page.

I also created another quick page, to document our anniversary. We actually went to the mountains, because that's how Barry wanted to spend his birthday, but our anniversary happened too, so we combined them. We drove up to Moraine Lake, which I've heard about countless times, seen so many pictures of, that I know immediately where the picture has been taken, but have never actually seen it with my own eyes.

This particular day [also our Lake Louise day] we had every kind of weather. We ate our picnic lunch outside in the sun. [It was very pleasant] We got whipped by snow and wind, as evidenced by this photo below. Then we mooched around Banff with sweaters on, later in the day.

 
 The following Sahlin Studio Products were used:

October, template freebie - link above.

Celebrate Elements and Paper: https://the-lilypad.com/store/celebrate-elements.html 
http://the-lilypad.com/store/celebrate-papers.html

And, Reflection Kit & Journal Cards:

PL2015 Week 28 & 29

Now that fall is in high gear I'd like to zip through my summer pages a little bit faster. 

We have been so fortunate this year. We had a mild winter, which was lovely. Though, too bad we bought ski passes... A beautiful spring, that in my experience is not very typical. Summer was fantastic, though a bit hazy because of all the forest fires throughout BC and the states. And finally, fall. It's been splendid.

Last year, after our freakish September snow storm, our fall was virtually non-existent. Leaves simply died and fell off the trees. This year, we've been able to marvel at the colours. Sadly, this weekend the forecast is for about 3 degrees with a rain/snow mix. Any leaves remaining, will come down I'm sure.

Nose Hill has looked awesome too. I took the kids up last week, and even with the dreadful wind  blowing, the leaves stayed put.





We even made a trip to Banff/ Lake Louise last weekend because [gasp] we had no ice times! The larch trees where changing and I really wanted to see it. The weather was cool, and we did in fact get snowed on. We were dressed for mountain weather, many were not. I guess we had the advantage of knowing how quickly the weather can change. But even with the frigid temperature, the scenery did not disappoint.

 There's the snow!

She loves nature. She kept saying how beautiful everything was all day long.

This is the first time I've been here [aside from the winter months obviously] that there was not a single person out on the water in a canoe.

 A glimpse of the larches along the tree line. [With Madelyn looking inland...]

It was definitely snowing down the valley.

Another glimpse of the larch trees along the treeline.

Any way, now that we've looked at fall and our current weather situation, back to my summer layouts:

Week 28:

This week we went to Qarry Lake in Canmore with friends. It was super hot, and  a dip in this refreshing mountain lake was perfect. Eating ice cream with a cousin, trying to stay cool. Mad, outside reading. At 10 pm, it was the coolest we'd been all day. Mason went camping this weekend with another family. I loved that the Mum sent me texts and photos of him having a great time. A big deal for Madelyn, I surprised her and took her to get her ears pierced. A back yard camp out. You two slept out there all by yourselves!

Week 29:

This week we went for a picnic to Sibbald Lake. Madelyn caught frogs! So there was much excitement about that. We took Miss Libby, who had a great time. Mason is hard to pin down for pictures these days, so I take them when I can. Mason took over flyer delivery for a friend while he was on vacation. Bar and I got a quick golf game in while the kids were at sleep overs.

Sahlin Studio Product Used:

Week 28

Like a Boss - Kit
Like a Boss - Journal Cards


Week 29 

Celebrate - Elements 
Photo Journal No.1 - Word Art

Executive Decision

So, I've made an executive decision. I'm going to start putting my scrapbook pages on my blog too. I haven't done that in the past. And why the heck not? Because I almost always love how they've turned out. So, here are a few pages I did over the summer.

Lake Minnewanka:


  Libby's First Year:

Journey to Braces:


 Lake Louise:

Pierced Ears:

Bus Ride: 
 

All digital products used are Sahlin Studio.

Lake Minnewanka:  Country Road Elements & Paper

 

Libby's 1st Year: July Template freebie, Stamped Sentiments2:LoveArt & Shine Bright 

Journey to Braces: Viewpoint Elements, Journal Cards & Paper

Lake Louise: Documentary Kit & Papers

Pierced Ears: Celebrate Elements, Journal Cards & Papers

Bus Ride: Like a Boss Kit and Journal Cards 

 

Random Rambling and PL2015 - Week 27

Now that the kids are back to school, and night time comes, I seem to lose all momentum and find myself sitting in front of the TV.

First of all, it's hard to believe that the kids have been back to school for 3 weeks. Already it feels like summer was in the very distant past. So far, We've only had one bus pass mishap. The pass was forgotten on the bus. (I can only assume he wouldn't have left it there on purpose) A junior high student, called us to tell us she'd found it.  I'd had the foresight to jot down our phone number on the back, along with Mace's name, and it definitely worked out in our best interest on this day. This 4th day of school... Day 4 people. The "we will buy you the first bus pass of the month, and then you're,on you own for the next one" lecture seems to have helped a bit. So far he's kept track of it.

We've also gotten very familiar with the rinks again.  Back at it. Blankets. Wool mitts. Fleece. LOTS and LOTS of fleece.


And of course, I'm spending a ton of time at the school again. I'm currently doing my last stint as volunteer coordinator. This is the busiest time of the year. I might have attempted to high-five the school secretary, the exact moment when I realized I won't be doing this again next year.

Our poor Libby is wondering what on earth has happened. She went from having us home all the time, to me running in and out repeatedly throughout the day.

Guides is back up and running as is Scouts. The boys have already been out camping. Things are hopping.

I'm still feeling lucky to be a stay at home Mumma. I'm ever so grateful to be supported by my hubby.

I also followed along with Ali Edwards a Week in the Life. I did get the pictures all printed and put in the places/order I want, but there are a lot of finishing touches to do. I actually ordered Ali's kit this year. I'm pleased with how it's looking. I just have to find the time to finish it. How do people do it all? I don't even have a job to try and wrangle around. Yet I still fall behind.

And that's it. Up to speed. What's happening right now.

Oh yes, which brings us back to the part where I lose all my momentum and don't want to do anything. But zone out in front of the telly. Because by the time kids are in bed, good nights are said, and threats start up, the 'if you come out of your room again' type scenarios, it's well after 9 pm. Usually between 9:30-10:00 pm. Who wants to start a project then? Not me. I'm exhausted... The start up of school, the early mornings and just the hustle-bustle of life, is just as hard on me as it is on the kids.

Here's week 27:

This was a great week, our first full week off school for summer vacation. We made our first trip to the library. We hung out on Nose Hill. We celebrated Canada Day downtown. We went to Lake Louise and hiked up to the Agnes Tea House. [I also marvel at how I took a photo of the kids, where it looked like were were the ONLY ONES at Lake Louise] And believe me... There were hundreds of people there. Too many...

Sahlin Studio Products Used:

Foundation add on kit

PL2015 - Week 26

This week was pretty exciting. The Sahlin Studio Creative Team got new banners to add to our layouts. Now everyone’s layouts look neat and tidy, when posted on the various web pages. There’s also a professional look to the layouts posted.

Here is week 26:

 The last week of school happened, and Madelyn had her traditional last day of school photos with her teachers. Mason turned 13. THIRTEEN... Celebrated his birthday wake up with a donut cake, and later on, went for dinner. I got our first "I'm bored" of the summer. We had a couple of family birthday celebrations and Mace had a couple of friends over for pizza, video game marathon and a sleep over. 

Sahlin Studio Product Used:

Worth a Thousand Words: Elements and Journal Cards

PL2015 - Week 25

My outdated computer is beginning to give me some grief.

In the world of instant and now, I hate to wait. I hate to watch that little circle, circling round and round, and everything being ever so slow. Isn't it funny, how far we've come? When I was first introduced to the 'internet' we marveled at how we could get information to appear, right in front of us! In a matter of minutes.

Now, if it's not doing what I want, in a matter of seconds, I'm frustrated.

This morning it took me 40 minutes to load my pages to different websites. 40 minutes... That is cray-cray. It should have been done in 5.

Without any more waiting, or circles, [hopefully] here is week 25:

Week 25 puts us back to the middle of June.

A road trip with my Mum, to check out the Highwood Pass. It had just opened, and there were hardly any cars. There was hardly anyone period. Would definitely aim to do this drive again in June. Or September. So much better without hoards of people. We had a Jurassic Park fail. Madelyn wanted to see it, but it proved to be too much. Chatting with Barry via face-time. We've done this a handful of times, and I'm still startled to see people out in public, walking down the mall, face-timing someone... It's just weird. A picture of Bar and his kids on Father's Day.

Sahlin Studio Products Used:

Create - Add on
Create - Journal cards