Rodin and Notre Dame, Paris

I am in love with Rodin, so since I was in charge of planning this trip -everyone got to go to the Musee Rodin. Visiting Rodin with DH and Steve was like visiting with teenaged boys... if you know Rodin, you know there's a lot of nudity here!

This page is a 12x8 page...

Its companion page is a divided page protector:

Here's another 12x8  combined with a front/back divided page -- at Notre Dame Cathedral

And off to Paris we went....

I've finally tackled scrapping our trip to Paris and Germany way back in 2012.

I decided to use a We R Memory Keepers 12x8 album. I'm pretty sure this size has been discontinued.  I also decided to use the Echo Park Photo Freedom "Transatlantique" Set and the Echo Park Getaway collection for most of this album.

I decided I'd use a mix of the We R divided page protectors for this size, some 8x8 protectors punched to fit the ring binder, and some 12x12 protectors cut down to the 8x12 size. This way I could have a variety of sizes and fun things. I was shocked by how quickly I was able to make it through these pages... this may be my new favorite method of making an album!

When we went on this trip, I made a Smash book during the trip. That book is filled with journalling, and memorabilia; and there are photos there, too, but mostly smaller prints. So this album is really focused on pretty pics.

So, I started where we started our trip... in Paris.
This one is an 8x8 with a 5x7 print.

 On the back of this page, we've got some more Eiffel tower views:

As we start to look at the pocket pages, you will notice that I have 4 x 5.3 Snapfish "true digital" prints instead of 4x6 prints in the pocket pages, so I had to fill in the gap in the pockets

 

This 8x8 two pager appears a little further into the album, but it's actually from the first night we were in Paris. Delicious food pics are a necessity for Paris! And let me introduce you to our traveling companions - Steve and Chi Sun!

and page 2

December Daily/ Journal Your Christmas - ELEVEN

Dec 31

We headed to lunch and took [the kids] to go bowling... when we returned home we were shocked to discover that Santa had made a rare afternoon visit! Presents were opened and even [niece] was visited! After gifts we all had a lovely New Years Eve together! We watched the ball drop and rang in the year 2015 together! AMAZING!

Jan 1

[Brother, SIL] their kids, [Brother and his Fiancee] My Mom & Dad, DH's Mom & Dad, [BFF's family] and our family all celebrated the New Year with food and fun together on Jan 1st! It was happy, relaxed and lovely!

At some point I will certainly wrap up the last few days and the missing ones.... but for now that's all.

December Daily/ Journal Your Christmas - TEN

Dec 28 -- This is another missing page! Sorry!

Dec 29

Today's page is a photo collage of the year passed. "Looking back at a full and wonderful year"

Dec 30

This photo of my pretty white tree :)
Others may be taking down their trees... we just set this pretty one up... I love it! Just what I wanted and a neat way to kick off our holiday today! [IL's] and [Oldest] and [Fiancee] arrive today for our New Year Celebrations!

December Daily/ Journal Your Christmas - NINE

Dec 25

Our Christmas day was quiet but really nice. We each opened one gift (Clearly [Little Guy]'s was a hit!), had a nice eggnog crepe breakfast -- and for dinner we took Andrew out and had Hibachi at Ai! Such Fun!

Dec 26 -- this page is not ready to post.  Yup, there's a few partially finished holes in there...

Dec 27

We held a holiday boardgame party today [Various friends] joines us for treats and goodies, and loads of games!

Calvinball!

I've recently joined Get It Scrapped! 
 
I usually take a class in the early part of the year to get me motivated and moving on new things... but I couldn't find a ton that excited me at this time. But I decided the wide variety of classes, sketches and other things available at Get It Scrapped would be a great place to start... They offer new classes regularly, and access to existing classes, workshops, live crops and other events, ebooks, sketches, a gallery and message boards....

Plus I knew that they were coming up on the annual

CALVINBALL!

party/contest!

What is Calvinball?

Ummm a big random, crazy scrapbooking challenge where the rules keep changing and the goals is to get as much scrapping as possible done! And to have fun! And to talk smack! And... whatever else comes along!

It started March 1 but you're welcome to come and play! You don't have to be a subscriber to play!

December Daily/ Journal Your Christmas - EIGHT

Dec 22

This page was a little different... I loved the Santa Hat page and wanted to leave it as is in the book. I put this smaller page in front of it and added a folded journal card with a Santa rub on to it...and Muppet Boy and Little Guy's photo with Santa, too :)


Dec 23

Despite all the years we have developed traditions to celebrate at the New Year when [the Older Boys] spend Christmas with their dad, this year I think the shift is causing [Little Guy] a bit of a struggle. He asked if after celebrating Christmas Eve with my parents, brothers, etc..."Will Christmas even be Special?"Ouch! I told him that, of course, it would be! We will each open one gift and we will have a special Christmas breakfast. He seemed satisfied wit that but I admit I'm struggling to find the right way to make it shine this year... which I always struggle with when the older boys are away! I'm going to wrap some gifts today and give it all some thought!

Dec 24

The journaling and photo on top are focused on the unexpected visit of my cousin at Christmas Eve!
The flip open shows a pic of all the kiddos. The journaling is a bit sad -- we had a sudden realization that all the other kids had presents to open (from us mostly) but their families had given us "Family gifts" and Little Guy sat with no gifts watching his cousins open presents.

December Daily/ Journal Your Christmas - SEVEN

Dec 19

Oh what fun it is... Before dropping [Muppet Boy] off with his dad, we met up with Grandma and Grandpa in Castle Rock. We piled all into my car and drove down to see the Illuminations Light Display in Larkspur. So many fun, bright, and clever scenes in lights plus a fun sequence coordinated with music. What a good time!

Dec 20

Jingle All the Way The one gift I give every year that is sure to be a hit is the calendar I make for my parents using photos from the passing year. I always use Snapfish... all my photos are there, they save my birthdays and info and it always turns out beautifully.

Dec 21

It had been years since my mom and dad last hosted a holiday baking day! We made cookies, candies and best of all memories. Everyone got in on the fun - even DH and [brothers] who were determined to be there only for the food. 
-Snickerdoodles -Spritz Cookies -Chocolate Pretzels -White Chocolate Pretzels -Chocolate Chip Cookies -Fudge -Cashew Brittle -Peanut Brittle -Nut Clusters  and, of course, Divinity
When the baking was done, we decided to visit the Many Lights of Christmas drive through display and then grab dinner at the Black Bear. 

December Daily/ Journal Your Christmas - SIX

Even more JYC.... This seems to be dragging along but I really want it all up on my blog!


Dec 16

Having my parents and [brother and family] so close by this year has been such a wonderful gift. They have added so much to our lives since they moved here and we are oh so thankful!

Dec 17

Holiday Happiness Spent the afternoon at the Broadmoor with my mom.  Saw their gorgeous decorations and shopped a bit. The lifesize gingerbread house was AWESOME! So many great details. The evening was filled with V7's Christmas party - songs, games and crafts. We got to V7 and Muppet Boy looked at me accusingly and said "You tricked me! You said this was a party, but it's a SERVICE!"

Dec 18

There and Back Again Tonight we skipped wrestling practice and took the boys to see the final installment of the Hobbit. It's like the end of an era - no more Middle Earth will fill our holiday seasons! It breaks my hear a little... Christmas seems to belong with Rivendell, the Shire and all our friends there!

15 Journal Your Christmas/December Daily --- FIVE

And back to posting the JYC/DD... I really want to finish posting this!


December 12

I really like this 6x8 size! For December 12th...
Dream As much as I love our Christmases, I can't even imagine not putting up our decorations!, there is a small part of me that always considers scrapping it and doing something else altogether. You know those "We're going to Disneyworld" surprise videos? Something like that - an unespected trip, a new experience. Our Christmas budget wouldn't fly us all to Hawaii but something Other. Something exciting, or something simpler... I love our traditions but maybe... something else. 

December 13

Here We Come A-Caroling This morning we met my parents for breakfast in Old Colorado City and stopped for a quick visit with Santa Claus. [Muppet Boy] (tired from the Scout lock in) took a nap and then we went up with the folks from V7's Compass Community to carol at McKenzie Place which was a fantastic time and the went a Community Christmas party. What a great day!

December 14

My Favorite - My mom came over to help decorate our new tree (love having them close by!). We had to get out the the step stool to decorate the high branches! We also had to come up with a Jerry Rig ro put the topper on. Came out GORGEOUS!

December 15

Joy Today [Little Guy] and [Muppet Boy] introduced [Niece] to our gingerbread house tradition. I handed the icing over to the kids and let them have at it. The house was dripping with icing and downing in candy. [Little Guy] and [Niece] were delighted with the results!

December Daily/ Journal Your Christmas - FOUR

Dec 9 -- the background of this page is the flyer that was attached to our new tree!

Our 1st Artificial Tree "After a lot of consideration I decided that this year I would take the leap and buy an artificial tree. I had found exactly what I wanted 9 ft tall with multi colored LEDs at COSTCO, but by the time I decided, they were sold out and I had to make a trek to another store."

Dec 10th - Concert

Concert - "We weren't sure whether Muppet Boy would be playing Clarinet, Bass Clarinet or Tenor Sax for the concert. He ended up with his clarinet. It was their first concert with a new director, and it went very well."

Dec 11th: My FOLKS!

Merry & Bright  "After the boys' appointments I had the morning free so I called my folks and asked them to shoot up to Bass Pro with me, they even visited Santa!"

Journal Your Christmas/December Daily --- THREE

December 6th -- Saint Nicholas Day! and Messiah performance, and Parade of Lights! BUSY DAY!

Saint Nicholas "St. Nicholas Day -- a visit and a few gifts, mostly chocolates and nutcracker ornaments"
Parade "While I sang Messiah and Scott worked, Muppet Boy got to perform in the Festival of Lights parade with [the high school] band. The parade was televised so we recorded it, and ]LittleBrother, his fiance, Little Guy, and their daughter] attended. 

Dec 7th -Church in the morning, Messiah in the evening.

Top photo -- "Little Guy did a great job singing Gloria Hodie with the Pioneers at Church this morning."
Bottom photo -- "After singing Messiah for a crowd of 3000 we celebrated our hard work together at IHOP - Such Fun!"
Messiah program also punched and added to album.


Dec 8th - Read

Read "This year, in our efforts to keep Christmas at home and in our hearts, I'm getting help from my favorite helpers - books! For me, The Hope of Christmas is focused on scripture and devotion. It lays out Old Testament prophecy and how Jesus fulfilled it.   For me and the kids together The Autobiography of Santa shares Saint Nicholas' story from his childhood in Myra in the 300s to today."

Journal Your Christmas/December Daily --- TWO

December Daily continued...

Dec 3rd -  Rehearsal with the full Orchestra

Joy - "The first week of December, for me, usually means extra Choir rehearsals, especially on a Messiah year!"

Dec 4th-

"Today was a fairly quiet and normal day, I got my haircut and then took the boys and got them haircuts. Then we headed to wrestling practice and kept up our tradition of counting all the decorated houses between our house and the school. (We counted 131!) The one below was so pretty that we stopped to see it!"

Dec 5th - Christmas Cards - I always try to include one of my cards in the album

"For this year's cards, I focused on using scrap supplies that I already had -so while this is an example. There were little differences in each card" -- 115 cards! 460 brads from my stash, background papers from my stash, wreath stamp from my stash... new sentiment stamp.

December Daily/ Journal Your Christmas - 2014

I've decided that it is time to attempt to revitalize my blog... again.

I completed 152 layouts, a baby gift album, 2 Christmas gifts, dozens of cards, 115 Christmas Cards, 130 Choir Christmas Cards, 13 altered journals... and a bit of this and that in 2014.

But Journal Your Christmas slipped by the wayside. I didn't get started right away as I had planned. As I have done every year since 2007!!! I've always

I played catch up twice and then fell WAY behind and am still catching up. I am now up through Jan 1 -- minus two days in December that I need to fill in.

I've learned that post it notes and pocket pages work GREAT in an after-the-fact project! I've had fun with it but.... it's a completely different project this way!

So, here we go! Start with a title page. I am using the Cozy Christmas collection from Simple Stories this year :)

And then December 1st.

The beginning of Journal Your Christmas is always "the Manifesto" - A statement of the purpose of the undertaking. Advent Promises "Another year of Christmas journaling begins. Advent has arrived - the coming, a time of expectant waiting for the birth of Christ, of preparation and celebration. I pray that this year can be filled with rejoicing, and focusing on the coming of the Greatest Gift, and on our gifts of love for one another."

Dec. 2nd

I really loved this calendar page and wanted to make sure and slip it in :) ... and the photo of Oldest is technically not from December, but from Thanksgiving weekend... but I knew he wouldn't be home again til the end of the month and wanted to sneak him in there :)
Signs of Christmas "There is not a single Christmas decoration up inside our house right now, in fact Fall and Thanksgiving are still on display but Oldest and Muppet Boy put up the outside lights while Oldest was home."

More tomorrow!