Ta-da!

Finished product of Emily first year print. Now I just have to pick it up from Costco tomorow, and get it framed. I love it!

PS. She had her birthday hat picture taken today. I swore I would only buy the minimum but of course I went crazy...

Some of the end product...

Digital Scrapbook project.

I am in Christmas present planning mode, (I know, I know, but I like to plan early) and I decieded a few weeks ago to make a calender for my husbands grandmother for her gift. I went on Costco.com and looked at my options and was just going to create it on there by uploading my photos with the templates they have...

I did think to myself that I should take the time and digitaly make some cute layouts for the calender, but I have to admit it sounded kinda time consuming, and that it would cut into my catching up on other scrapping lol.

HOWEVER! I came across this wonderful blog http://scripscrapp.blogspot.com/2009/08/calendar-freebie.html

This awesome blogger has created quick pages ( meaning just put your pics in the frame pages), that are adorable for calender creation use! The best part, her creations are free. Friday night after the kids went to bed, I spent my time choosing pics for the calender of the kiddos. Yesterday I uploaded my saved pages on Costco.com and created a calender with them. Their calenders are currently on sale through some time in September so with shipping (cause they don't make the calenders in their stores) the cost to make this gift is under $12. Not to bad... and really cute.

If I like the product after I get this one back, I am most likely going to print more for other family members.

I will be making some posts to show off my layouts that I did with her templates.

Last two for the day, these pics were from a hot spring day in which we put up the baby pool for the first time and let the kids go at it.

More pages I printed...

This layout was from our trip early this summer to pick strawberries and play at a local beach.

More digital info, and 2 pages I recently printed.

(these pages are pics from my mom's bday this past May at my house, in one of the pictures one of my nephews has a pretty bruised face from a skate boarding incident, just in case your wondering whats up with his mug)

I have completed over 30 digital pages since returning home from vacation. I know crazy. But I love it, and it's so quick and easy. I have not printed all of them as basically I didn't want to spend that much, as it didn't fit into my budget, so I only printed about 6 pages or so through Costco. Heads up to ladies thinking about purchasing Creative Memories Digital program- I currently have story book creator plus 2.0 version- in a couple of weeks 3.0 is supposed to be coming out, so you may want to wait for that. It will have a few updated things. The photo organizational program-Memory Manager actually just came out with a 3.0 upgrade as well. I had 2.0 myself, but I opted for the upgrade yesterday. I figure what the hell. I was able to upgrade by just ordering the upgrade online for $15.95. I am hoping the upgrade for the digital program is just as cheap....

So my advice is, wait a few weeks, then just order the programs from the creative memories website, as you can download them just like that. I will be posting links in another post for great links/blogs with free kits. Keep in mind I have not broken down and purchased any kits (though they are really cheap), there are just tooonnss of free ones out there that have given me plenty to keep my busy. Seriously, it's amazing.

More Giles Household Random Happenings...

I can’t believe the summer is almost over. As much as I love the pool, beach, etc, I have to admit I am ready for fall. I am itching to bring out the decorations, wear long sleeve shirts, and see the leaves changing colors. However, as summer ends, I think life is going to speed up for us.
Preschool starts for Laura and Rachel next month, meaning lots of tying up loose ends for that, orientations, teacher visits, etc etc. In October they are both also going to be in Gymnastics on different days, and I am hoping to find a fall softball team to play on. I have always had a agenda calendar before, but now I will have to really use it to keep up with appointments and all our happenings…or I will be one scatterbrained fool.

I am done with back to school shopping I think. I took advantage of the 30% coupon to get the girls some things from Gymboree. While at the beach we got them sneakers, and at Target I bought the girls fake Uggs. You don’t think I am actually going to get them real Uggs do you? They are adorable by the way, I got hot pink and dark brown. They think they are pretty spiffy in them too. I do need to get a few more pairs of jeans for them, which will probably come from Costco, as they had some cute ones out last time I was there.

One of our little ones apparently decided to download some songs on our cell phones by accident. I made the discovery when I got our cell phone bill and it was higher then normal. We never download ring tones, and never do them at 5:00am. Thankfully Verizon Costumer Support was understanding and took the charges off. Dave asked them if the rumors were true about them getting a contract for the IPHONE, and the man said he couldn’t comment, but he did say that something was in the works… For the record, if it goes through I will be at their store asap to get one.

Birthday prepping

The pic above is something I am working on for Emily's Birthday... Not all of these are going to be the final product pictures used, as I was just messing with it, so bear with my mess...For Laura and Rachel I had these cute Pottery Barn Matted Frame thing for each month of their first year... I put them out on display during their first birthday parties... The frames are not made anymore, and I lucked out finding a matching one for Rachel at a Consignment shop. Ebay's prices are a tad crazy, but I came across this tuturial on Creative Memories website:http://projectcenter.creativememories.com/digital/2009/08/digital-scrapbooking-project-ideas-your-first-year.html

so I decieded to do my own, and then have it matted and framed in time for her 1st birthday. I will save a ton of time and money by going that route, and I have an excuse to digi scrap! I still can't believe she's turning 1 !

'tis the season

While we were at the beach, I used my shopping money to buy Christmas tree ornaments...I know totally random... I don't know if I shared it on my blog, but I really want to have a tropical theme tree. In addition to that, I want to do a Hallween tree this fall. Alot of the shops in Nags Head had gorgous tropical ornaments, and surpringly a good number of halloween ornaments as well! Jackpot! I have six halloween ornaments, and I am debating about finding a small black table top tree, or doing something similiar like the picture above... I might attempt to make a few halloween ornaments as well... I love halloween and christmas, and I am just itching for September to get here pretty much so I can start my fall decorating...

For Christmas this year we always put up a real tree with ornaments that both Dave and I have gotten from childhood on up, and last year I purchashed a pink tree for the girls to go in the playroom, with girly ornaments (super cute). I want to get a tall skinny tree for corner to do my tropical theme tree. Debating about getting a fake green tree, or getting a fake white one...I have a good number of beachy ornaments, so I should be able to pull it off this year... but I think Dave is going to be overwhelmed when I drag everything out to put up this season lol.

Last two for a bit, cause I am sure your tired of seeing these...

Sandy Beach Layout...

Jockey's Ridge

Some Beach Layouts....

Digi scrapping...

I have scrapped a few pages from our trip to the beach..... Blogger will only let me load two with each post. Bear with me... On our way down to the beach we stopped at Grave Digger to stretch our legs, and let the kids play.

Random thoughts...

I was feeling thin today, a patient even asked me if I lost weight, however I got on the scale and the numbers were not pretty... I will attempt to work out more... confession... sometimes I update my facebook status by saying I am working out, and it never happens... guess it sounds good though.... I also have stopped taking Alli, which has been interesting...I will spare you the personal details...I just wanted to take a break from it, as I was sorta kinda abusing it by not eatting right, and thinking if I take a few with my meals it would all even out. It was just getting unhealthy for me, and I got do this the healthy way.

I heart a bunch of the fall clothes for kids at Target! The OshKosh line at Target is sooo cute!! Especially those bubble skirts! I will be buying a little bit of everything within time...

Gymboree costumes are out, and it's a bust.... Not digging them... they have a flapper costume and a 50's girl... My kids have no clue what the F that is... That can't be fun for them.... They do have a cute leopard kitty thing, but of course the dress is about 35, and the accessories that make it look like a cat are extra... Don't you just love paying 60 sum dollars for halloween costumes? I do have a 30% off coupon and I am debating about giving in and getting that for Laura if she likes it...Rachel actually voiced she wants to be a butterfly, which is what Laura was last year, so despite me saying she wouldn't do the hand me down thing, I guess I might as well since it's in perfect condition and a butterfly costume... Emily will be a bee- it's cute, in good shape, and well we already have it... It's not if she will actually care what she is at this point...

Laura is obsessed with Mamma Mia... It's on HBO every freaking day pretty much, and she loves it! Guess ET just isn't cutting it these days... I think she's going to be our "performer". She loves singing and dancing...

She has her last gymnastics class next week. It's a show and tell day meaning I can actually be in the same room when she does it, and take pics. All the grandparent are invited so she will have a little fan club that day. I have signed her and Rachel up for the fall session that starts in Oct., and they are having a mini session next month that I got Laura in since she's digging it.

I am still on my digitial scrapbooking kick... I gotta catch up I tell ya.

A few pictures

Our week in Nags Head was so much fun. I am not going to lie, a vacation with three kids at such young ages isn't exactly total relaxing, but seeing the kids happy and having fun is worth it. Dave and I gave each other turns to have breaks when the kids were napping to go off by ourselves to the pool or beach which was nice. During my turn on the breaks I was able to read almost three books.... I read the Best Friends book that I posted about, Swapping Lives (can't remember the author), and I have almost finished the newest True Blood Sookie Stackhouse book.

We spent our days going back and forth between the pool and beach, the kids liked the beach, but at this point have more fun in the pool.

Our last night at the beach I did something crazy. I allowed my two oldest daughters to get their ears pierced. This was a big step for me....I had said I would try to wait until they were 5. I didn't do it when they were infants because frankly I think that babies look silly with them (no offense to anyone who did it to their babies, just my personal preference). However, Laura had started asking to get them done as her pool BFF recently got hers done... Laugh all you want, but I attempted to tell her she didn't have be a follower and do everything her friends do, yeah, that whole conversation went over her head...So anyways, Dave and Laura ended up talking me into allowing this whole piercing thing to take place at the beach... She sat in the chair and was so brave. She was just as serious as she could be, and sat with her arms crossed. She didn't cry, or make a sound as she got them put it! As soon as she hopped out of the chair Miss Rachel jumped up in it and turned her ear and asked for some too... I didn't want to upset her, as Rachel lives and breathes to do everything like her big sister, so I allowed her to get it done too...Rachel cried for less then 30 seconds, but was fine. They both think they are pretty special with their matching earrings, and look in the mirror every 5 min to admire them...

And no, Emily did not get hers put in. She may have to wait longer then them because I think the earrings make the other two look even older now lol.

Prepare to Cry...

I am back from vacation, we had a amazing time, and I will post pics soon. I have to share this poem though. I heard it read on the radio yesterday, and after they read the poem they played Butterfly Kisses. Needless to say I ruined my eye make up... I guess it's really hitting me now that I have to kiddos in preschool this year... God help me when they actually have a full day of school and not just a couple of hours...

I Trust You'll Treat Her Well

World, I bequeath to you today one little girl in a crispy dress. With two blue eyes...and a happy laugh that ripples all day long, and a batch of light blonde hair that bounces in the sunlight when she runs.

I Trust You'll Treat Her Well.

She's slipping out of the backyard of my heart this morning and skipping off down the street to her first day at school.And never again will she be completely mine...Prim and proud, she'll wave a young and independent hand this morning, and say goodbye and walk with little-lady steps to the nearby schoolhouse...Gone will be the chattering little hoyden who lived only for play, and gone will be the delightful little gamin who roamed the yard like a proud princess with nary a care in her little world.Now, she will learn to stand in lines...and wait by the alphabet for her name to be called...She will learn to tune her little-girl ears for the sound of school bells, and for deadlines...She will learn to giggle and gossip... and to look at the ceiling in a disinterested way when the little boy across the aisle sticks out his tongue.Now she will learn to be jealous...and now she will learn how it is to feel hurt inside...and now she will learn how not to cry. No longer will she have time to sit on the front porch steps on a summer day and watch while an ant scurries across a crack in the sidewalk...Or will she have time to pop out of bed with the dawn to kiss lilac blossoms in the morning dew. Now she will worry about important things...like grades...and what dresses to wear...and whose best friend is whose. Now she will worry about the little boy who pulls her hair at recess time... and staying after school...and which little girls like which little boys...And the magic of books and knowledge will soon take the place of the magic of her blocks and dolls. And she'll find her new heroes. For five full years I've been her sage and Santa Claus...her pal and playmate...her parent and friend. Now, alas, she'll learn to share her worship and adoration with her teachers (which is only right).No longer will her parents be the smartest, and greatest in the world. Today, when the first school bell rings, she'll learn how it is to be a member of the group...with all its privileges, and, of course, its disadvantages, too. She'll learn in time that proper young ladies don't laugh out loud...or keep frogs in pickle jars in bedrooms...or watch ants scurry across the cracks in a summer sidewalk...Today, she'll begin to learn for the first time that all who smile at her are not her friends. That "the group" can be a demanding mistress... and I'll stand on the porch and watch her start out on the long, long journey to becoming a woman.

So WORLD, I BEQUEATH TO YOU TODAY ONE LITTLE GIRL in a crispy dress, with two blue eyes, a happy laugh that ripples all day long, and a batch of light blonde hair that bounces in the sunlight when she runs.

I TRUST YOU'LL TREAT HER WELL.

Be back in a week!

We leave today for a week in the Outer Banks... I am excited, and can't wait until we get there. The girls are super excited and they still don't really "get" how long we are going to be, and how we will be able to sit at the pool and beach to our hearts content. Just in case there is actually time for me to read instead of chase kids, I downloaded Jennifer Weiner's new book, Best Friends, on my kindle. It looks really good, and well all her books rock. I wanted to download the new Sookie Stackhouse (true blood) book, but I decieded to wait and see if I even have time to read. Speaking of which, thank god they have HBO so I can see my True Blood Sunday night.

Well I hope everyone has a great week, and since I am not taking my laptop I will catch up with everyone next week!

Still talking about scrapbooking....

I discovered that CM offers a free digital thingy each day! Needless to say I downloaded 23 of them within 5 min.... Ha! Check it out here http://projectcenter.creativememories.com/digital/digital-freebies/ They also have lots of tips and tricks that are helpful....

I posted a few pages I finished recently...picked up 4 new ones today from Costco later on...