Big News at Elemental Scraps

Elemental Scraps is having a Grand Re-Opening. The store has a new owner, Angie Kovacs. There are lots of Great Sales and Challenges.


I spent the weekend working on layouts for the event. Here is a walk down memory land. This is my 8th Grade Orchestra. Guess where I am.

Credits: Template: Challenge Template #10 by Chrissy W - Free at Elemental Scraps, Kit: Music Basically by Leah Riordan
Christian and our cat Luna on Thanksgiving Morning

Kit: My Love by Jannylyn Brokken - Availble in the December Elemental Scraps Grab Bag, spend $10 in store and get it for free
This was taken last year on one of our sparse snow days.

Template: Mix it up 5 by Chrissy W. Kit: Slippery Slope by Angie Kovacs and Chrissy W. Both available in their Collab Grab Bag #2 at Elemental Scraps
This is from last Friday at Zoo Lights

Credits: Christmas Traditions by Lindsay Jane Designs

Zoo Lights

The boys and I went to the first night of Zoo Lights tonight. We also were able to get on the first train ride. It sprinkled a bit early on, but then it was pretty dry and not too cold.

Neglect

We are still alive and well...My schedule which includeds Homeschooling, working part-time and trying to run or work out 5-6 days a week keeps me busy. I feel better over-all from the running and working out, but I find I am more tired at night, which is also the time I usually update my blog. I'll give some updates.
Homeschooling
Going well. I do not know what grade level Christian is at, I just know that he is reading. We let him choose the books he wants to read and help him through difficult words. When we are driving, he can read most of the road signs. He is starting to work on multipication. I found this online study that encourages family to incorporate math into daily life and introduce more difficult concepts early by applying them to daily activities. An example...last week we bought pizza and cheesy bread from Papa Murphys. There were six pieces left over. I asked Christian if he wanted to distribute the six pieces evenly and eat them for breakfast, lunch and dinner, how many pieces would he get for each meal. I put out three pieces of saran wrap out and asked him to distribute. He figured out that he would get two pieces. (I know that is actually division)
I checked out a couple books on playing chess and sat down are read them with Christian. He has taken off with this and wants to play chess all day. He is already beating me.
Liam likes to spend his days listening to the same Thomas the Train stories and songs. He wants us to read him his Thomas books often too. He is going through a big scissors and tape phase. He likes cut things up and tape them back up. He is able to name most of the chess pieces from observing us when we play.
Running & Working Out
I am making steady progress. I did a big run on Wednesday and my legs were very sore and unhappy for a couple days. I had to take it easy Friday and Saturday. Yesturday we all went at the community center. I left first and ran there, David and the boys walked. I was able to run to the center, go to the bathroom, get a drink of water, check in and do a mile on the elliptical before David and the boys arrived. I love the elliptical. I have to put it on a high resistance level and incline, but I can do 10-11 minute miles without even pushing myself.
Hen-House Update
I took some bread out to the chickens yesturday and one of our white chickens (who were supposed to be males) ran out of the hen house and grabbed the bread. She could not figure out how to get back it, so I had to pick her up and carry her in. I always thought these chickens were covered in dirt, when I looked at the feathers closely, I realized that it was not dirt, they have black spots on their feathers. I am curious what breed we ended up with. I hope it is an expensive one, since the most expensive chicken we bought last year turned out to be a rooster. It will even everything out. The are finished laying for the winter. They love it when the boys go out and dig up worms from the garden for them.
Christmas and snow themed kits are coming out. I went into the vault and used some of last year's photos to do layouts.


Tracey Monette and Saxon HoltWinter Frost.

Tracey Monette and Mikki LivanosWinter Wonderland

Christmas Traditions by Lindsay Jane Designs

Another Running update

I have not blogged about my running for a while. I still am running and I feel like I have broken through a wall. In the last week or so, it has become so much easier.
Today, I took Christian to run around the park by his Tae Kwon Do class and when we were running, he was trailing behind me exhausted. What a great change. When Liam runs off from me, I can easily chase after him and catch him. I don't think he understands this yet, he seems so surprised.
I am able to run for about 50 minutes straight. At the community center I turn that resistance and incline to high settings and I can do a mile on it in 11:45.
Mile goal is to get down to a 10 minute mile by August when we do Hood to Coast.

Halloween Weekend

We had a beautiful Halloween night. We all went out with light clothing on. I cannot remember the last time we had a warm, dry Halloween. The boys got lots of candy. I let them each pick out 15 pieces and I chose a few of my favorites then I packed up the rest and gave them to a co-worker of mine who works with the homeless and people in transition.
Here are two layouts...

Credits: Harvest Kitchen by Tracey Monette and Saxon Holt

Credits: Word Art Paper Cutters by Chrissy W. Template and Kit: Family Ties - Elemental Scraps (Team One) November Mega Kit

Trick or Treat

The boys and I went Trick or Treating tonight. I was exhausted because I opened today. I dressed like Sarah Palin for work this morning. My feet were sore from heels, so I decided to take the boys out in a more Alaska - out doorsy theme and put on a flannel shirt. Walking around in Portland, Oregon with my hair up, wearing jeans and a flannel shirt just does not stand out as unusual.

I did a couple of hybrid projects this week. The boys and I made treat bags using Starbucks handle bags.

Credits: October Magic by Lindsay Jane Designs
This is a Blessings Box. Christian is writing down something he is thankful for everyday and Liam is telling us something and we write it down. We will read them all on Thanksgiving. So far they are thankful for God, the number 100,000 and free samples at Trader Joes. I might take these and make a layout with them.

Credits: Stuffed by Shawna Clingerman, Libby Weifenbach & Melissa Bennett
Here are two layouts I did.

Credits: Template from Lindsay Jane's Blog. Kit: Golden Falls by Lindsay Jane Designs

Credits: Fall Out, Corn Maize, Thanksgiving Brushes by Melissa Bennett, Frame by Penny Springman
I have owned a jogging stroller since Christian was a baby and today, for the first time, I used it as a jogging stroller. Christian rode his bike and I jogged while pushing Liam in the stroller. He only weighs 31 lbs. He is lighter then many one year olds. I need to work on getting a good posture while running with the stoller.

An evening hay ride

On Monday night, the boys and I went to the Pumpkin Patch on Sauvies Island for a family night our church was hosting out there. They boys always have fun at pumpkin patches and outdoor activities, so of course they enjoyed it.
Like I said in my last post, we have enjoyed a beautiful, fantistic fall. The sky was blue and clear when we arrived and then we so a great sunset and the stars more visible out there when it got dark. (I forgot to bring a astronomy chart so we could identify the stars)
Here are some photos from the night.




On a personal note, I finally got my eyebrows waxed yesturday and I love them. The picture of me was taken before the wax, but my new bangs are visible. I think the nice bangs and waxed eyebrows transform me from the tired mom look to a bit more polished look.