december daily {days 18-25}

first, let me say, I've loved doing this album.  It was definitely a challenge for me & I was really excited that I completed it.  Next year, though, I'm going to simplify for sure.  Photo a day.  I found that as soon as the rush of all the Christmas to-do's hit me {school parties, wrapping, last minute holiday whatever & kids home} I basically just had to drop it & wait until after Christmas to complete it.  I really wanted to include more in those last days, but it would have just been too much for the book {plus I was just ready for it to be done}.  I'm planning on layouts to tell a more complete story of our Christmas Eve & Christmas & also want to make a mini for our Elf, Jessie & his daily happenings.  So anyway, here it is...

12.18.11

on this day I dove into wrapping. of course I had a little "helper" too.  I added in a page I made from a brown lunch bag, which was what I used for a lot of our wrapping.

12.19.11

on this day, Evan's class had a gingerbread house day {his teacher has been doing this with her class for years... it's so much fun}. I went to help him out & loved what we created together :)

12.20.11

on this day I was in gift-making mode.  the kids' last day of school was the next day {which included Christmas parties} so I HAD to get the teacher gifts made! I didn't send out too many actual cards, but wanted to include the card I had sent out & the photo of the kids I had included in them somewhere in the book, so this is where it ended up.

12.21.11

on this day, there was so much going on! seriously if I included it all, it would probably be 6 pages... Christmas parties, babysitting, Christmas concert & best of all... grandma & grandpa came home!  The photo of Evan & my mom is priceless... he was SO excited to see her!  The back of the page is a folded program from Evan's concert with his name circled.  The concerts/plays at our elementary school are always the best.  We are so lucky to have an incredible music director!

12.22.11

on this day we did tons of baking & making!  Lydia had been asking me constantly about making cookies for Santa, so that's what we did!  I was messing around with a few things for this page on my Silouette sd.  I cut the from banner, but it didn't cut all the way through, so I just peeled away the letters & included it anyway :)  I also made the cookies for santa title that I made up with a font on my computer. 

12.23.11

this was a not-so-happy day. although it was my moms birthday, we also spent the night at my aunt Betty's visitation, who had passed away a few days before.  on the upside, it was great to be able to see all of our family.  I included 2 pictures I captured while we were visiting of Lydia & Collin with cousins we don't get to see too often.  this was the reason my parents made the trip back from Texas as well, which was a major bonus for us as well, as we weren't planning on getting to spend Christmas with them this year {which would have been a first}.

12.24.11

I always have LOVED Christmas Eve... for as long as I can remember, it has been when my family celebrates together.  We start with mass, then supper & then PRESENTS!  We've changed it up over the years a little, but it still is my favorite.  Again, this one could go on for pages & pages, but I kept it super short.  The day started with my aunt's funeral & then went onto church with Dan's dad & then fun with the Klesner family at my sisters.  Then home to get ready for Santa!  The picture is our tree that night after Santa had made his way to our house... :)

12.25.11

on this day... it was Christmas!  Since we've had kids, this is our day to spend together at home.  It always starts with the kids waking us up at the crack of dawn & excitedly ripping through stockings & presents. This is followed by a homemade breakfast, lots of assembling, playing & relaxing. This Christmas we did something new & had Dan's family over that night for supper.  It was great to get everyone together, with his family in all different directions, it's nice to be able to see everyone & have a relaxed time to visit.

done.

{robyn}

DHD is turning 2!

Just wanted to pop in quick to tell you that our beloved Design House Digital is turning 2 tomorrow!!! I feel so lucky to be part of this amazing website... it is truly one of the best things that has happened to me!  Between the community of lovely people that frequent there, to the amazing decorators, the incredible designers... there is just so much to love :)  So, come on over, starting tomorrow & see all of the AWESOME deals that will be happening over the next week!  There will be sales, giveaways, dollar kits, chats, a blog hop... yep, it's gonna be great!

enjoy!

{robyn}

new releases 12.29

can you believe 2011 is almost over? It's truly been an amazing year & I hope that 2012 will follow in it's footsteps!  Christmas has come & gone... we were lucky enough to have a impromptu visit from my parents for the holidays, which was bittersweet.  They drove home from Texas for a few days because of my Aunt Betty's passing.  We tried to get as much grandma & grandpa time as we could... did some baking, some shopping, celebrated my mom's birthday & our Klesner family tradition of Christmas Eve together.  My parents left Christmas morning to head back & the kids opened gifts as usual at our house Christmas morning.  Christmas night we hosted Dan's family for supper. It's great to get them all together, it just doesn't seem to happen enough. 

anyway... I have lots going on here.  The kids are still home for Christmas break & I'm in the process of finishing up my December Daily & itching to start on Project Life!  I'm trying my best to get some useful kits made up for those of you that are playing along with either Project Life of P365 type projects... whether it's digital, hybrid  or paper.  Here's what I've got for you this week...

by {me}

by {shelley}

by {shannon}

by {anna}

I've been playing around with some ideas for my Project Life title page the last few days using some of the new stuff.  I love the look of placing the digital stamps & rubons on top of the photos before I print...

don't forget all new releases are 30% off today... also coming up is DHD's birthday on January 1st!  Keep an eye out for fun stuff happening there too :) 

today I'm gonna get my kids out of the house to go see a movie.  we've been pretty much home bodies since Christmas break started, so I want to get out & do something!  enjoy your day!

{robyn}

Everyday Journaling Cards v1	Everyday Banner Stamps v1	Dated 2012 Date Stamps	Everyday Month Day Rubons
So Daily Die Cut Number Cards	In Stitches neutral basics	Cool Kid Digital papers	Cool Kid digital elements

InLinkz.com

december daily {days 14-17}

12.14.11

on this day Lydia received an email from Santa & a video.  We did this last year too {PNP or Portable North Pole} & she loved it then too!  I would suggest it to anyone.  The excitement on her face was priceless!  Santa knew a lot about her & she still can't figure out how he got pictures of her for in his book ;)  She's watched it over & over... just to make sure she's still on the "nice" list.

12.15.11

On this day I wanted to show the kids {well the oldest always seems to be missing from the photos} writing letters to my parents who are in Texas.  Maybe I'll even be able to get them back from my mom later so they can be included here.  They were so sweet.  Also, Lydia brought home a gift for Dan & I from preschool & insisted I open it right away instead of waiting for Christmas.  I know this is going to be one of those homemade ornaments that I cherish forever {as long as it doesn't get broken}.  I cut down the bag she had decorated with stickers & a tag to create an extra page. 

12.16.11

on this day I was trying to do a speed shop while Lydia was at preschool. Our closest Target is about 35 minutes away, so I never have much time.  Thankfully, it does have a Starbucks in it, so I included a pic while I was waiting for my Chai Tea Latte :)  I also stitched in the cardboard cozy from my drink. On the back of the page I included my list I took along that day.

12.17.11

on this day I wanted to get lots done!  I had bought some material for new stocking for the kids the night before & started to sew them up that day.  I kept it simple, as I'm not a very advanced in the sewing department.  I love how they turned out & the kids love that they are bigger than their last ones :)  I included pics of each & also some scraps from the material I used.

I'm trying to make this week as stress-free as possible & there are tons of things I want to do with the kids while they are off. Hopefully baking some cookies & maybe even some movie-watching will come into the mix! 

We received a call from my parents yesterday that they were going to leave their motorhome in Texas & drive home over the next few days.  We are very excited that they'll be home for Christmas {the kids are so happy}, but it is very bittersweet, because the reason they are coming home is that my mom's oldest sister is not doing well.  So, we are praying for auntie Betty & her family, as well as the safety of my parents as they make the long drive home.

{robyn}

december daily {days 10-13}

playing catch up again :)

12.10.11

on this day we took a quick trip to the mall to let the boys pick out a few things they had on their lists.  at their age, sometimes it's easier to let them to that.  They both picked out air soft guns & Evan picked out a wooden baseball bat that was on his list.  We finished it off with dinner at the Olive Garden. The present was something Lydia brought home from school & since I had the blank page, I decided to add that in here.

12.11.11

on this day, the kids spent the morning outside playing, riding 4 wheelers & sledding with Dan.  In the afternoon Collin had a chorus concert that Dan & I went too.  It was really awesome.

12.12.11

on this day... well not much happened! Lydia did have me help write a letter to Santa, so I made this little envelope to put that in. 

12.13.11

on thhis day, again, not much.  I used another picture I took when I first decorated the house of the nativity that Dan bought me several years ago.  It's something I just love.

so that's all for right now.  I'm a few days back on this, but plan to catch up quickly.  I'm trying not to overthink it. 

{robyn}