Yeah, Write

April Scrapbooking Fun

I may have skipped March's Take 12 layout, but I DID take the photos, which is the important part. And I didn't let being behind on my March page keep me from finishing my April page, though, and I hope you won't either if you're playing along with the Take Twelve photography challenge!

Here's what I created this time around, using coordinated products from Echo Park Paper.

Click image for larger view or to read journaling. One image blurred at request of the subject.

I love how using coordinated paper lines makes creative decisions SO easy. I finished this layout in about 45 minutes this morning, with many cute little interruptions from Keira. And yes, I've warned Jeremy that if he pulls weird faces when I pull out the camera, I WILL scrapbook them. Doesn't hurt me!

And here's my sister-in-law, Suzanne's, layout for April. I love that she's playing along from Arizona; it's a fun way to feel connected from so far away.

 

And speaking of feeling connected from far away, I hope you'll join us at Ella Publishing Co. for Spring Training! It starts next week. You'll spend 2 weeks enjoying 18 videos that will educate you, inspire you, and hold you accountable to daily crafting. And why would you want to craft daily, you ask? Because it's the best way to help you exercise your scrapbooking muscles, try fun new things, and set yourself up so that creative accidents can happen! (And by "creative accidents," I mean awesome creative things that happen by accident, not accidentally stabbing yourself in the thigh with fine-point scissors.)

And because it's my company, and I can do this, I'm going to share with YOU the Welcome video that only registered "Craft-letes" get to see. It's me and Wendy reminding you why this is cool and issuing a little warm-up exercise to get you ready for next week!

 

And, if you've stuck with me through my sporadic blogging of the past few months, you can save 15% off Spring Training 2012 when you enter the code DUMBBELL! It's going to be RAD. Seriously. I can't wait!!!

Breaking the Baby Stereotype

She'll mingle with goats.

And ride on a pony that's 50 times her size.

But she won't go near a baby bunny. Or a baby lamb. Or a baby duck, turkey, or chick. No way. Not a chance. And the look of terror that crosses her face when she's coaxed to reach out and pet one of these tiny creatures cannot be described.

Hmmm. Big animals = climb aboard! No big deal. Tiny animals = climb the nearest adult's pant leg, whether or not you know the adult to whom the leg belongs.

Other Ways Keira Breaks the Baby Mold
She barely tolerates milk, but she loves imported French mineral water. LOVES it.

She never developed stranger anxiety. She has always let almost anyone hold her, at least for a second or two.

She'd rather drink water than juice.

She likes low-fat Mozzarella much better than higher-fat Cheddar. In general, she automatically dislikes anything with calories in it, which is unfortunate since we're doing everything we can to help her bust out of that 5th percentile in height and weight.

She doesn't mind taking naps. You mention "nap" or "bedtime," and she starts humming her favorite lullaby. (If you hum something other than her favorite lullaby while rocking her to sleep, she will interrupt you.)

But there's one way that Keira is a very sterotypical 18-month-old toddler: she was petrified of the Easter Bunny at the mall. She temporarily sprouted kitten claws just so she could cling to my sweater for dear life.

A Story About Today in Four Parts

Part One: Background
My sister and her four cute kids are in town from California. We arranged for a photo shoot with my friend, Elisha Snow, in scenic Farmington, Utah. Elisha took us to a gorgeous orchard filled with blossoming cherry trees and photographed all five kids individually and in various groupings. Pictured: Gillian, age 5.

 

Part Two: Serendipity.
There was a black and white cat roaming the orchard. Of course there was a cat! When you want five kids under the age of 7 to stay in one general area for a photo shoot, there's always a cat to chase. You can't blame Keira for taking every opportunity to race to the west end of the orchard in search of the "gogga" (she's not yet distinguishing between dogs and cats). I captured a moment of pure serendipity with my iPhone as Gillian followed Keira directly into a sunbeam. No special apps or filters or editing at all. Just the right kind of light and a little bit of magic. 

 

Part Three: Hungry.
We tried to feed everyone earlier than their typical dinnertime, so there would be no rumbly tummies during the shoot. Keira wouldn't eat much and was therefore ravenous for the ride home. No amount of prunes, craisins, Teddy Grahams, or Just Corn would appease her. Meanwhile, Gillian quietly played with my iPhone during the ride. It was only when I arrived home that I saw how Gillian was really entertaining herself—by snapping iPhone photos of Keira crying.

 

Part Four: Pedicure.
Gillian's only other secret photography subjects were her recently painted toes. There were several angles and views of her pretty little piggies, but this is definitely the best. And here I thought she was playing Angry Birds.

 

The End.