PL2016 - November

This has taken a lot longer than it should have, but I'm glad that I didn't give up.

This is the two page spread I created for November, in my project life album:

November was a pretty eventful, busy month. However, once school/hockey/ringette starts, all our months are busy.

• Grade 6 field trip to the Youth Link, part of the Calgary Police Service. This field trip was excellent. It focused on many things that are very important to this particular age group: Healthy relationships. Gangs. Drugs.  Bullying. A lot of good information shared.  
• Grade 6's also ran the Remembrance Day Assembly at school. My last Remembrance Day Assembly... 
• Sadly, there have been very few trips to the playground after school this year... So if she asks if we can go after school, I say "absolutely".
• Ringette weekend in High River. Pool time = Awesome. In fact, they could just take the girls away and go to the hotel and the pool. That's really all they'd have to do. As long as there's a pool, all is good. Madelyn went with Kaelin and Kristina. We picked her up the next day. 
• Mustangs finally won a game. It was a much needed, confidence building, win. 

• Mason helping with yard work. If he had the choice, he absolutely would NOT help. But he doesn't have a choice. 
• Date night, vehicle selfie. 
• Last visit with Gigi. 
• Trump wins the US Election... Still don't know what to say about this, and we're '100 days' in to his presidency. 
• Grade 6 field trip to the Edmonton Legislature Buildings. Best. Field trip. Ever. Seriously, it was a whirlwind day, but it was awesome. The house was even in session, and we got to go in for a little while. 
• Celebrating Chris' birthday. 

The following Sahlin Studio product was used: 

2016 Calendar Cards

Reflection Elements 

Reflection Journal Cards

PL2017 - Week11

Week 11, focused on the story of provincials.

Madelyn's team made it to provincials, for the 2nd year in a row. Which is not usual. This year, the provincials were held in Calgary. [Last year we had to go to Medicine Hat] 

It was a tough go. We played against 3 northern Alberta teams, and they are always very strong. The girls played really well, and rallied, but in the end, we lost to all 3 northern teams. Having said that, the games were all very close. We gave them a run for their money. We also played against two southern teams, which just so happened to be Calgary teams. Teams that were in our division, and teams we have played throughout the season.  We won those games. 

Ringette could potentially be over by mid-February, and is for a lot of teams. Once they lose two games in city play-offs, their season is over. These girls played their hearts out at cities, and ended up with a silver medal. It was awesome to watch. The teams were all very evenly matched, and therefore, made the games very close, and very exciting. 

Because we played right to the end of cities, and we're headed to provincials, we had practices right through the middle of March. These girls got another month of ice time and games, because they made it as far as they did. 

All the girls from the team, were available and made it to the provincial weekend. They had to take Friday off school. They played twice Friday, twice Saturday and once Sunday. They attended an opening ceremony Friday morning. It was a pretty awesome experience for most of these young players. Madelyn moves up to U14 next year, this was such a special way to end the season. 

The following Sahlin Studio product was used:

Worth a 1000 Words - Elements

Worth a 1000 Words - Journal Cards

December Daily 2016 - Better Late than Never

I have mostly been done this album for awhile. There were just a few last things to add, sometimes it's the smallest things, that seems to take forever... 

It's always so great to look back on projects. When you're right in the midst of them, they can seem overwhelming.

This project, in the heat of the moment, is overwhelming. The best thing to do, is take it one day at a time. Getting somewhat ready beforehand, is also helpful. 

I love to look back at my past December daily albums. I love to see what changes. See what remains the same. This is the first year ever, in 15 years, that we didn't make a trip to see Santa... While it saddens me, I also understand that it's the natural progression. Mason didn't go last year, so I thought I had a few more visits with Madelyn. But she announced that she was too old, to sit on Santa's knee. She told me that when she'd gone last year, she observed she as the oldest girl in the line... It's funny what kids see, and what we see... Obviously that's not something I picked up on. She felt uncomfortable enough, that she didn't want to do it again.

This is picture heavy, here's my 2016 Album:

I used a lot of different product for this . I used Sahlin Studio product, I used Ali Edwards product. I used a bit of physical product I've squired away over the years.  I did a little bit of stitching on the sewing machine. I used Madelyn's artwork. Everything and anything goes with these types of projects. There are no rules.

I love this project, and I love it even more when it's all done and on the shelf.

PL2017 - Weeks 9&10

There are no rules, to my project life album this year. I'm really trying not to be too hard on myself, and just document stories.

I have missed a week, here and there. 

I have documented one story, rather than cover a whole week. [There are stories I haven't shared here, and won't] I'm taking a very laid back approach to this years album. 

I didn't have a lot of photos to share, for weeks 9&10. So, I condensed them into one week. 

All our winter, consists of sitting in cold arenas, for either hockey or ringette games. By this time of year, that's getting a little bit boring. For everyone. This is the time of year, that hockey and ringette are gearing up for playoffs. Ringette, were bounce back and forth between city play-offs and provincial play downs. They are two totally separate things. 

• Snapchat... I don't use this app, except to take ridiculous photos that I save. All but Mason has fun with it. At nearly 15 years old, he now thinks his parents are crazy.
• My little sidekick. If I'm sitting on the sofa, so is she. And she absolutely has to be touching me somehow. Has to sit on, not by.
• Ringette party... Jello shooters for the adults, a tray of Bottle Caps and Porn Stars.
• The girls won the silver medal in city play-offs. In the standings, our team came in first place in the division, but Cal-East played a pretty good game. We played them 3 times in play-offs, we won a game, they won a game, and then they won the final game. It's a pretty awesome accomplishment to do so well. 

The following Sahlin Studio product was used: 

Celebrate Elements

Celebrate Journal Cards

Also, something to note, Ali Edwards A Week in the Life [WITL] is happening next week, April 17th-23rd. It's more than project life, it's going much deeper into your every day. For more information and to read what Ali has to say about it, click here.

I have followed along with a WITL since 2008. In all that time, I have missed one year. I have 8 years of in-depth looks into our ordinary every day. The first time I followed along, I had a 6 and 3 year old. My kids are now nearly 15 and 12. A lot has changed in those years. I do look back on the years. Some albums are very photo heavy, with little journaling. Some are very word heavy. It's a big job, to document your life in such great detail. But the results are SO WORTH IT. And looking back, I realize I really like the words. I need to add more words. So this year, I my focus will be on, more words and stories to accompany the photos.  

Last year, I played along, and made the project extremely simple. I was in kind of a slump. My camera wasn't working well, I was bummed out. I didn't know if I wanted to play along with WITL, but I knew I'd regret not. I used a 4x4 size, and followed the same format used by Stephanie Bryan. Looking back now, I wish I would have included more information, but at least I have the photos. I might wish there was more, but I have at least captured a snippet in time. If you're interested, last years WITL is here. 

If you're on the fence at all, about WITL, my recommendation is DO IT. Trust me when I say, you won't regret it. 

PL2016 - October

I still have a few more spreads to spreads to share, before I'm completely finished with 2016 project life album.

Here is October:  

In October, we used up some airmiles and made a trip out to the west coast. Despite the rain, we had  a great time. Barry and I have been to the coast during the storm season, so we did anticipate the rain. What we did not anticipate however, was that it absolutely POURED rain. We now know the difference between water resistant, and water-proof. Water-proof, most definitely, being what you want... 

Before our trip, I spent the day with my mother-in-law and sister-in-law, making Lefsa, a Norwegian flat bread.

A few photos of our time away. The weather was crazy. While were there intact, we were lucky enough to see some storms! Eeks. Our trip up to Botanical Beach will always be remembered by us being in awe, at exactly how violent mother nature can be. The pictures will never do justice, what we saw/experienced that day.

• We went to watch my nephew play hockey at the Saddledome. This past season he played for Prince Albert, so they came to play against the Hitmen. It was so fun to be there with all our family. 
• Miss Madelyn was in a fashion show towards the end of October, and she did awesome, strutt'in her stuff on the catwalk. 
• On-going trips to the orthodontist.
• Halloween this year, Madelyn was a vet, perfect costume, for the perfect vet-to-be.
• Grade 6 field trip to the Municipal Buildings downtown. 
• Lastly, this years pumpkin creations. 

The following Sahlin Studio Product used:

Left side:

Life as We Know it

Monthly Calendar Cards

Right Side:

Project Mouse Halloween Bundle