Daily December Album

I saw Daily December or Journal Your Christmas albums on several blogs/sites I look at. I thought the idea sounded fun. And of course all the projects were neat to see. I was convinced I needed to make my own. This album was one of my favorites. Here is my album, finished.


My whole book is over 50 pages, if you include all the smaller insert pages. I covered Thanksgiving through Jan. 6. Here are some of the pages:

I saw someone else made a page using a Starbucks cup and loved that idea! Fun!

I used my Cricut a ton, especially for titles, but also cut this scalloped circle page. And many brackets, shapes, and designs.

I used one red or black circle verb sticker for each day. They each have a verb, and a little quote/inspirational phrase.

First set of Christmas Eve pages:

Christmas Day--There are several more covering Christmas Day, too, including two pages covering each kid.

End of the year...

New Year's goals

Christmas Magic and, Next Year, Remember to...

Packing up all the decorations

Very last page in the book

The cover of the book. I made the album using bookboard. I painted the inside covers red and glued pretty paper over the front and back, then Modge-Podged the covers so they'll be a little more protected. The pages are 8"x 8" in the page protectors. The pages w/out protectors are about 9 1/4" x 8". I used red binder rings to hold the whole works together.

If I do this again, I'll do it more simply. I think I'll only make one page a day, and try to make the pages as the days come, not do the whole thing after Christmas. I think I made it too involved this time. It was a fun project, and I do love how it turned out! If you want to see the rest of it, well, you'll have to come visit. :)

Project 365, Weeks 45 - 52

I know all you readers have been waiting on pins and needles for the conclusion to Project 365, ahem, 2009. Ha! Well, it's done! I actually finished all the weekly pages the beginning of February, at our scrapbook night at church. I just didn't take pictures until this week.

Week 45


Week 46


Week 47


Week 48

Week 49

Week 50

Week 51

Week 52

The very last page, Dec. 31. I kind of didn't know what to do with Dec. 31, since Thursday was the start of each new week. I didn't want to do an entire week, going into 2010, so just did a recap of Dec. 31.

And the title page! This was the last page I completed, the very first in the album. I just finished it at the March scrapbook night. I got the idea from a magazine.

This is a fun album to look at. I'm not doing it this year, and felt like such a rebel in January when I'd not take a picture a day here, a few days there. Ha! I'm also happy I used a bunch of products from my stash. I only bought the actual album and page protectors, and the stamp set to stamp "Week Of" and the days of the week. Glad it's done! I might do this project again, but there are some things I'll do differently. I really did enjoy making it.

Baseball Begins

And it's already 25% done! Austin had his first game last Wednesday, March 17. You can see, his team is the same as last year! Crazy! He's a Rockhound again, and even the same color shirt and cap. But a different number. He's been #3 both soccer seasons and last year at T-Ball, but is #7 this year. We told him he could wear last year's shirt if he needed to. Austin thought about that a minute, then looked at us and said, "No I can't! Isaiah's number 3!"

Here's our handsome hitter in the dugout. And ready to hit. That's how he looked at me when I called his name through the fence. Ready to hit, mom, not pose!


Brian is helping coach this year. Not the head coach, but one of the assistants. I am so. glad. !!!!!!!!!!! Now Brian takes Austin to his practices during the week, and he has several, 2 or 3 (?!?!) each week, plus a game or two, now that they have started. Thankfully they are flexible at work, so he can get off a few minutes early to coach. Really, I am so thankful for that! Much easier to get dinner at a decent time, put laundry away, etc. I think the sisters are thankful too. ;) They would get bored at practice, with no playground nearby. More than a couple friends have said things like, "You can kiss your free time good-bye when baseball starts", or "You sign your life away when you sign up for baseball!" And it's somewhat true. Anyway, Austin likes baseball, and he's having fun and learning, so that's good. I am glad of that, too. He also really likes having Brian helping on his team. Win-win situation!

Coach Brian giving Austin pointers in the field. Actually, I'm not sure what they were discussing, but thought it was a cute father-son moment anyway. :D


Nice swing, Austin!

Austin is in CAPS--Coach Assissted Pitching--this year. The coaches pitch to the kids. So far Brian has just pitched at practiced. Sometimes the coaches pitch a little high for the boys, but Brian said it's hard pitching to their level! Each boy gets six pitches. If he hits none of the six, he strikes out. So hopefully most of the pitches will be good, as they don't walk the batters at this age.

Twenty Months

Caroline turned 20 mos. last Wednesday, the 10th. In the first picture she is doing Running Over. It's the 5th song down in the link. That was the only link I could find! Does anybody besides my family know this song?! I have no idea where it came from. We didn't even sing it in Sunday School, that I remember. We sing, and she does the motions.



At 20 months Caroline is a character! Oh my, she is such a silly little girl. And can be a stinker! She is not destructive, but in the past week has ripped several books--including a few library books and Lauren's Cubbies book. I think it starts as an accident, then it's kind of interesting to hear the tearing sound, and before we know it, a whole page section is torn off!

In the mornings when I put lotion on, she comes in and says, " 'Otion? 'Otion?", and I give her a teeny drop of lotion that she rubs into her hands. Often when she's in the bathroom with me, she says, "Ap sick? Ap sick?", and then I put some Chap Stick on her lips. She always says, "MMmmm...," then licks her lips. Funny!

She's learning colors. Or maybe not. She goes around the house pointing at random things saying, "'Reen! 'Reen! 'Reen!" Everything is green. ;) However, Saturday she pointed at Piglet and said, "Pink", which was right. She also has correctly pointed out other pink things to me. We have a lot of pink around here. That's an important color to know. ;) Not to mention it's her big sisters' favorite.


She sort of counts. I didn't really believe it when Lauren told me, but it's true! Lauren said she taught Caroline. Which I think must be partly true, too! Yesterday Brian was reading a counting story to the girls at nap time, and started out, "One, two...", and Caroline continued in speed counting, "Tee four fize!" Oh my oh my.

She's fascinated with her tummy and belly button. And mine. She'll lift up my shirt and say, "Ummy. Button." Then poke my tummy and squeal, "EEeeee!", like she's tickling me. Goofball! She also likes to point out both of our face parts: eyes, ears, nose, hair, head, mouth. and my glasses and earrings.


Caroline continues to love books. She adores her thumb; sucks it all the time--when she's tired, for comfort, when she doesn't get her way (for consolation, I guess), when she's hungry... She has a thing for shoes and every day tries on her own shoes and/or her siblings' shoes that she finds laying around. She wants to be big, and independent, and loves to play with Lauren's Barbies and Pet Shop stuff. Forget toddler toys. :P

She is obsessed with yogurt. She eats it almost every day and loves it! You barely open the fridge, and she is right there, peering in, saying, "Gogoot?! Gogoot?!"

She loves her big brother and sisters, and they are pleased with her too. Unless she messes up their toys too much!! She and Lauren play together often throughout the day. When we were out taking Caroline's 20-month pictures, she and Lauren played a lot. They sat on the "bench". They rang the doorbell--freaking out the cats inside, I'm sure! Side note: I think all little girls' skirts should have shorts attached. Or at least come with bloomers! Because little girls do not know how to sit like little ladies. ;)

They played peek-a-boo. And Caroline gave Lauren lots of love, kissing her leg. Until Lauren yelled, "Ouch! She bit me!" Then the lovin' was over. Ha! And we went inside.

Ready Reader

Yesterday Julia and Austin competed in the Sight Read Aloud Contest sponsored by a local Kiwanis group. Brian took Austin to read at 9:20, then off they went to the opening ceremonies for baseball at 10. The little girls and I went with Julia to read at 9:45. Only Lauren went in the room with her, though. Julia didn't want Caroline in there. And I don't blame her! Caroline was already balking and protesting about being restrained in the hall.

The kids were judged on clarity, pace, expression, pronunciation, and overall presence. Brian said he thought Austin could have spoken louder and more clearly, but that he knew all the words and read his piece well. He had to read a selection from a Henry and Mudge book. Lauren said Julia did a good job. ;) I don't know, since I was keeping track of Caroline in the hall. Julia had to read a piece, Fly Away Home, about birds, she said. And she hadn't read it before. Lauren said it was a good story. :)

The girls and I ran to WalMart and the outlet mall super quick. Julia bought earrings and a necklace with her own money. She gets an allowance, but hardly ever spends her money! I was much the same way at her age. Anyway, we also ran to Vons to get groceries, then home to pick up the boys, then back to Arroyo Grande for the reading contest awards ceremony.

They announced the sixth grade winners first, going down, until the made it through the first graders. Austin seemed so sure he would get an award. Then he looked so sad when his name never was called, like he couldn't believe it. :( Poor guy. By this time we already knew Julia had won a medal. Second place! There are 10 winners for each grade, two 1st place, two 2nd place, etc. She won 5th place in 1st grade, didn't enter in 2nd, and won 3rd place in 3rd grade. The "problem" with 2nd place, is, it's oh-so-close to 1st place and winning that $100 savings bond! My thoughts--not Julia's. ;) She was very, very happy to get 2nd place! And of course, we are very proud of her! Here she is, being awarded her medal.



The medal winners afterwards... The 4th graders are in the 3rd row down. The boy with red hair next to Julia won 1st place; He goes to our church. The girl next to him, also won 1st place. The thing is, no matter what place our kids earned, we couldn't help but be happy for all the winners. All the kids were so pleased and proud of themselves, just beaming, happy to have a medal. And Austin "got over" his disappointment of no medal pretty quickly. At least he got an ice cream certificate for participating; everyone gets that. Plus cookies, after they read. :)


Julia with her 2nd place medal!! Doesn't she look scholarly with it against her navy blue jacket? She just happened to be wearing that. I thought it looked like she was on a debate team or something. Anyway. Way to go, Julia! You are an awesome sight-reader!


Update--Monday morning: When I walked Austin to his line this morning, his teacher was all smiles, and said, "I heard Austin participated in the sight-read contest!" She said Austin's friend, Cooper's mom, had asked if it would be ok if Cooper shared the 4th place medal he won, or would it bother Austin. I told Mrs. B. that Austin was disappointed he didn't win a medal, but proud of his friend (which he was). Mrs. B. said she was going to have them both come to the front of the class, b/c she thought it was great they both had the courage to try. I think Austin will feel good about that. Mrs. B. also said how much Austin has improved in reading this year, and he can be proud of that. Which I agree. At the beginning of the year he could read simple books. Now he is able to read simple chapter books and books like Henry and Mudge, which he had to read at the contest. We are so proud of the progress he is making!

Talking Classes

Last Thursday I had our IEP meeting with Caitlyn, the speech-language pathologist, who evaluated Lauren's speech, back in February. A few specifics from the meeting:

*Caitlyn had told me in Feb., she thought Lauren would need some speech therapy, and that she thought Lauren would be borderline for qualifying. Any score between 85 and 115 is considered normal. Lauren scored at 52. I thought she'd be closer to 85, but also thought Caitlyn's report was accurate. The evaluation certainly was thorough!

*According to the report, Lauren's intelligibility is fair. Caitlyn estimated Lauren is able to be understood slightly less than 70%. The goal for her, in 12 mos., is to be higher than 70%. Although, Caitlyn did note that Lauren is able to be understood with careful listening.

*The good news is, Lauren is at or above where she needs to be in every other area measured (motor skills, fluency, recitation, etc.) Caitlyn said Lauren is mature for her age and has a strong sense of self, which is a good thing. :)

*The sounds Lauren has to work on initially are "f" and "v". Currently she says the "f" sound using "s". And "v" kind of like "zh". She says other sounds incorrectly as well, but they are not expected to be mastered at age 4.

*Lauren will be going to speech class twice a week, 30 minutes each session. There is a max of 4 kids in each class. The classes are through our school district, and more specifically, S.N.I.P (Special Needs Intervention Preschool).

So, Lauren had her first speech class Tuesday. She was SO excited! I took her picture in front of the door, like we do with Julia and Austin's first-day-of-school pictures. It was windy! See her pigtails blowing?! Thankfully S.N.I.P has an SLP come to a local school twice a week, so we don't have to drive 20 min. north for the 30 min. classes! Lauren is familiar with the school where they're at, as it's where Julia did Kindergarten and Austin had soccer practice. After her class, I said, "I was going to take your picture by the big tiger, like we did with Julia. Do you still want me to?"

Lauren, still excited about her class: "Oh! Yes! I awmost sowgot (forgot)! I mean, fffff fowgot!" And she stood proudly by the tiger to pose. :) She'd grabbed one of Julia's old backpacks to put her homework in. Afterwards, she told me several times, "I had so much sun...", caught herself, "...ffff fun today!"

We have to do her speech homework 4 times a week. This week she has to count to five several times, not to learn counting, but to be sure to say "f" in four and five. And all the kids got a paper full of hidden pictures, and a telescope (cardstock tube), and have to say, "I spy a ...", naming a picture. Except Lauren has to say, "I found a ...", to work on "f".


And something she told me today:

"My favorite year is Easter, because I get candy. And summer because I get to swim and go to the sair...ffff fair. And Christmas because I get presents. And Halloween because I get more candy!"

Airplane Launch

Last week, our future engineer set up an airplane launch. That boy is constantly rigging things up and using things for purposes for which they were not intended. :D This day he was using part of his dinosaur race track? monster truck set? to shoot paper airplanes through the sky.

Set the plane up.... Pull back....and....shoot! It's off!



Still flying... Where is it? Aaaaaaaand.... down it lands.

Big smile because his invention worked! Cool... Lauren thought so too. Austin launched his plane several more times before he finally had enough.