Journal Your Christmas - 1st December 2012

Last year I started this project with every intention of completing it but I failed.  Its now sat in a box under my desk.  So this year I'm hoping to complete it even if it takes me until next Christmas!!

Here is my manifesto.  Ive included a few photos from last year and a list of all the bits and pieces I'm going to need.  The page protectors aren't quite working out as I hoped though  they don't hold things in without having to tape them up.

Journal Your Christmas - Album Cover

This year I am determined to complete this project.  Last year I seemed to run out of time and then the memories disappeared with it.  So this year I have my note pad at the ready so that I can record all the memories and goings on so that even if I don't get an entry done straight away I can look back in my note book and compose a page (that's the plan anyway).

I have bought myself a selection of multi pocket page protectors so make it a little bit more interesting.

 So here is the front cover, I decided to keep it simply and included a few of the snowflakes that I used on the date tags and my latest purchase.....bakers twine, I love it x

Project LIfe Week 1

This year I plan on taking part in Project life.  I've not ordered my core kit yet as I can decided what one I want.  So while I'm still in the planning stages I'm keeping a journal off all the things that happen in the week as well as making sure I have my camera with me where ever I go.

I decided this year I was going to do more cooking from scratch.  Adam was given a sausage cook book for Christmas so I had a flick though and found a recipe for sausages, sweet potato, basil and goats cheese. I changed it ever so slightly by adding spinach instead of basil and it tasted lovely.  I'd only ever had goats cheese once before and that time it tasted and smelt like a goat.  So my tastes must have changed as I really enjoyed it.

Adam decided to start the new year off with a nice clean van.  The pressure washer needed a slight repair before he could really get going.  I'm not sure I've ever seen it done like this before but it did the job and it is now parked out side gleaming white. 

The schools went back on Monday.  Even though it was sad that Christmas was all over it was nice to get back to normal an know that all the jobs that needed doing could now be done with out the children getting in the way, I could pop to the shops rather than having to plan a military style outing. 

We also went out for a walk (a little one as it was quite muddy) on Greenham Common.  It was lovely to see Adam pushing Eleanor along in her pushchair, normally we are in the super market and I don't get to see it.  Eleanor was awake the whole time and really seemed to be enjoying being out in the open and fresh air. 

The best day and worst day of 2012!

The best and worst day of 2012!

 2012 was an odd year for me.  I spent the first 9 months of it pregnant which I loved every minute of and wished now that I hadn't wished it away as I did, I miss the excitement of the planning it all and the unknowing what baby was going to be.  But then on the other hand I have the most gorgeous baby girl to be thankful for.  The birth may not have quite gone to plan, I didn't get to use my tankini I'd bought especially for the water birth I'd planned and I lost my car all in the same day but I still have my baby girl to cuddle and kiss when ever I like.

Its taken my quite a while to get over what actually happened on the way to the hospital.  I think to start off with I thought it was all a dream and nothing really happened.  I thought Adam was going to go over to collect the baby's bits out of it and say it was fine. I didn't look at the car as we left in the ambulance so it was a bit of a shock when he came back and showed me this photo.

 


I know it probably sounds crazy but all I could think about was my lovely car and how much I loved it, still do!  I now look at it and realise how luck we all were.  Adam walked away with a broken collar bone and I was just badly bruised.  But most importantly baby was fine.

 

Poor Adam couldn't pick Eleanor up to give her the big cuddle he wanted to but hes making up for it now.  His shoulder still causes him trouble but its getting better.

Eleanor is now 4 months old and we couldn't ask for a happier baby, she is perfect in every way.  Having four children in the house took a bit of getting used to but we are coping quite well and it seems to be working.

So this year I would like a normal, boring year please!  Maybe a few surprises along the way but all good things!
   

Journal Your Christmas - Christmas Cards

Edward started school in September, only afternoons but he loves it.  I worried he wouldn't settle in or I'd be down there every day trying to sort him out but he's settled in perfectly and can't wait to get there every day.  He looks so cute in his little uniform and his little school shoes.  One day when I picked him up he came out with a Christmas card he had made - a blue Christmas tree.......  When I asked him why a blue tree he replied mummy I love dark blue.  The school then sell them to make money for the school and at only £5 for 10 I didn't mind buying them.   I wanted to keep one safe so I could show him in years to come what he had made.

I decided to include his card in my layout, I didn't want to mark or damage the card in any day so I have attached he envelope to the layout and the the card can sit inside nice and safely.  I also wanted to include this years Christmas stamp some where on the page so I attempted to make a cluster of embellishments with the date tag.  The background paper is the same one as my last page, Pebbles Paper,  Christmas Gift paper.  I love the journalling tags from Crate Papers Phrase stickers, problem is I'm not sure I have enough to finish the project with... I can always buy more ;-)

Journal Your Christmas - Winter Weather

I can't believe this time last year every where you looked was white.  I had to move out of my house for a while as I was running low on oil and couldn't heat the house just incase I ran out.  I had nearly forgotten about that until I had picked up my JYC 2010.  That is one of the reasons I love this project and scrapbooking .  I documented events that I will never forget but may well this were further in the past.  The morning this prompt arrived I woke up to my car glistening and the ground looking like it has a light scattering of glitter over it.  As the sun came up it shone through the trees and created a very pretty sight.

This layout was made on kraft.  I love the red spots on the white/cream background of Pebbles Papers - Christmas Gift.  My pages have taken a bit of a more traditional look this year so I needed to add some green to the layout so I cut some thin strips of one of the Crate Paper Peppermint Collection papers and inked them with my early Christmas present from Adam, a distress ink in vintage photo.  I was also lucky enough for him to buy me a EK Success Postage Stamp border punch which I used on this layout.  The pretty journal tag is also from the Crate Paper Peppermit Collection Phrase Stickers.  

Journal Your Christmas - Manifesto

I love this time of year.  The shops begin to sparkle with all the lights twinkling.  Driving home at night becomes magical to with the houses decorated with pretty lights.  Adam and I recently went to the Christmas markets in Birmingham, we ate far to much but it was lovely, especially the Baileys almonds we bought and quickly ate.

This time of year also means the start of Shimelle's class - Journal Your Christmas.  Todays prompt was the Christmas Manifesto.  I decided to use Shimelle's downloadable Manifesto.  I loved the look of last years layouts including them.  I especially love the line about the sugarplum fairies, as a child I love the idea of them dancing around.  This layout was very plain and simple.