Happy Valentine's Day!

May you be surrounded by family and friends who love you and you love them today! To my blog readers, thank you so much for visiting my blog and leaving me comments - each one is read and so appreciated. I wish I was more blog savvy and knew how to reply to each of you. If you know, please let me know.

Love is everywhere and all around us! Remember this during the tough days and moments and rejoice during the joyous days!

Love you all!

Just a Very Busy Two Weeks

Goodness the last two weeks have been crazy busy and my poor blog has been neglected! Just one month out of school and I have gotten used to the good life; that is, sleeping until 800 am! LOL But these last three weeks has forced me to wake up at 545 am every single day! Why? To get everything packed and ready, kids fed, clothed and loaded into the van to leave at 745 am! I am so exhausted...and not much scrapping in the evenings! However, this is all about to change as tomorrow is the last day of camp and next week is all about packing and getting ready for our vacation - yippee!

I'll share a fun card made for a friend. Supplies are American Crafts (pattern paper, rubs); Cuttlebug dies.; Fiskars Upper Crest border punch (dang, I love that punch!) and some Kaiser pearls.

And here is a picture of my two "angels" at the University of Calgary at 800 am in the morning - notice how smiley and alert and happy they are? Well, 30 minutes prior, Madison was grumpy bear and Danielle was stretching in bed asking for just 2 more minutes! LOL

Thanks for dropping by! I'll have more to show in a few days!

-vw

Project 365

The next few posts will show alot of photos from Project 365. I have alot of scrappy projects to show...but not just yet...I'll show some sneaks closer to Scrap Shotz's online crop! (Don't forget to set aside May 29, 30 and 31 for the awesome crop!)

Day 21/Jan 21
Presents from Auntie Jenn - Christmas in January for the girls and extra birthday treats for Madison.

Day 22 - Jan 22
Perroquet! It was a big day for Madison - a special day for Madison! She was celebrated as the Perroquet for her class and treated to a pizza lunch and smoothie with the Principal, Mme. Celia Barrington.

Day 23/Jan 23
A card kit from a dear friend, Joan! Miss you terribly Joanie!

Day 24/Jan 24
A sneak of Madison's Mary Kate and Ashley project

Day 25/Jan 25
A very VERY special day for my little Danielle! She received a special gift from her friend Bryn...and she had a very wonderful playdate with her! Thank you Bryn for being a wonderful friend!

I now know exactly how I will save all these photos...stay tuned on December 31!

Thanks for dropping by!
-vw

Project 365

With the exception of 2 days, I have managed to take a picture every day! It's been so fun! Let me share some more pictures...

Day 16/Jan 16

Some flowers given to me by two very dear friends, Tracey and Jacquie! Thank you ladies for understanding always and being there for me - I cannot thank you enough!

Day 17/Jan 17
Impromptu photo shoot of Madison...still learning the ins and outs of my new camera. Will I ever learn everything? I doubt it but it sure is fun experimenting. This is what 9 yrs old looks like!

Day 18/Jan 18
An unseasonably warm day in January. Yes, those are Danielle's pajamas - we love pajama days! Here Danielle is collecting ice crystals from Shoveller Mommy. And Picker Danielle collects all the crystals and buries them in her crystal field.

Day 19/Jan 19
I just HAD to take a picture of Danielle sleeping. Honestly, how can someone be so busy and playful and hilarious during the day and look like an angel snoring away at night??? I ask this question every single day! LOL

Day 20/Jan 20
A historic day for everyone. Although I am a Canadian, I value and am excited about the political change and energy for the United States on this day.

Thanks for dropping by!
-vw

Project 365 - Day 16, 17, 18, 19 and 20

Thanks for indulging me with all my pictures! At the end of the year, I will have 365 pictures to show you! LOL

So Day 16

A beautiful bouquet of flowers to cheer me up from two very good friends! Thank you Tracey and Jacquie!

Day 17

Playing around with my camera in my studio while Madison was doing her homework!

Day 18

An unseasonably warm winter day as I shovelled the driveway and Danielle played in the snow. I was Shoveller Mommy and she was Picker Danielle. She was collecting all the ice crystals in the plastic bag the newspaper came in! Fun times!

Day 19

Finally captured Danielle sleeping - not the best shot but one nonetheless! How can someone who is so busy during the day look so angelic when we sleeps??? LOL

Day 20

A historic day - the day Barack Obama became President...I'm glad I have a picture of him even if it is on tv! LOL

Thanks so much for dropping by!
-vw

Project 365 - Day 6, 7 and 8

More photos to share for my version of Project 365.

Starting with Day 6:

Yes, this is not the most flattering pose for everyone but it was one that captured a special moment between a Dad and his girls. We were in Madison's room, teasing her as usual while getting ready for bed. Of course, Danielle wanted to be apart of the action! And I wanted to try some new settings on my camera! LOL I really should name my camera!

And here is Day 7:



I was so glad that I had one halfway decent shot of Danielle's first day at her new preschool. I have lived with alot of guilt and worry about moving Danielle from a preschool that she loved and adored...and spoke about all the time. It's so hard uprooting your children...but I needed help as I am still, yes still sick and have so many appointments to keep. I was so gratified to see Danielle zip over to the water table the minute she walked into the new classroom.

And Day 8:



This picture was taken on a whim. I brought a snack to school in celebration of Madison's 9th birthday. We had lots of marble cheese, sausage, oranges and stoned wheat thin crackers. I loved seeing the smile on Madison's face - it's been a tough year for all of us and seeing her happy makes me feel so much better!

Thanks for dropping by!
-vw

Project 365 - Day 5

When I first started with Project 365 (aka Photo a Day), I was skeptical that I would be able to keep up! I am just so happy that I have indeed taken a photo a day...and if I was truthful, there was one day that I missed! But I have missed a day since! It has also been very helpful to be taking a photography class at the same time! The weekly challenges help me to focus on subjects that are not the same old, same old! And the best thing...if you can believe it? I am shoot in Manual, not the semi creative modes but Manual! I still can't believe it myself but I am indeed doing it!

Without further adieu, here is my photo for Day 5. The girls had a joyful karate practice. I find it so hard to take decent pictures in the dojo but I will keep trying, especially since I am now a proud owner of the Nifty Fifty! So consider this a Before picture! LOL

Thanks for dropping by!
-vw

Project 365 - Days 2, 3 and 4

Ah, my day 2 picture is of Danielle! Look at that face; she can charm her way out of anything! LOL...and I think she knows it too! That is her current favorite sweater now that the Toopy & Binou sweater is too small!

And I know I have a picture on Day 3 but I just can't find it now...sigh...

So here is my Day 4 picture...a red juicy pomegrante...yum...love those!

Unfortunately, Madison doesn't care for the little seeds but Danielle and I just love them!

-vw

Project 365 - Day 1

I have been so busy with lots of appointments as I am still not 100% ... there seems to be a never-ending number of appointments ... sigh ... the bright side of all this is that I am very very grateful for my dear friends (both real and online) and the talented medical personnel who look after me. Grateful could definitely be an understatement here...

Ali Edwards is a real inspiration to me; she inspired me to pick the word, Refresh as my 2009 word. Another inspiration from Ali is the Photo A Day and the scrappy world is abuzz over Creating Keepsakes Project 365. Here is my version of Project 365. For me, taking a photo a day is a matter of remembering to take my camera out to play and learn - so indulge me as I share some of my photos for the next 365 days!

So on January 1, 2009, I took my new Canon 40D for a test drive. Here is one of my faves of the day!

I distinctly remember cracking open the manual to learn how to set-up the self-timer as I wanted a very slow shutter speed to get a "glow" on the Christmas ornaments. I wanted to try out a photography tip from Kathy Thompson-Laffoley (yes, the same amazing lady that I am taking the Digi Divas and Just Shoot Me classes)...

You know I was so happy it worked, well, at least better than it had in the past! LOL

So I hope you will look forward to more picture sharing in the days and weeks to come!

-vw