Remember Today 3.31.09

{remember} dancing with Maddox to this song after the boys got off to school, his laughter, my spinning, his bouncing, my singing (scroll down to pause my music first).



This is such a cute video!

Day One

Today is day one. I completed my layout. I'll be posting each one at Life Made Creations. I'm going to be perfectly honest: I stink at commitment. I stink at this whole following-a-regime thing. When I read Patti's 37 Day challenge, I got so wrapped up in the idea of doing something worthwhile every day. But there was this little voice that said, "Don't do it. You suck at these things. You won't be able to do it. You'll fail."

Well, today is Day One, and I did it. And I'm one day closer to succeeding, to silencing that little voice of little faith. One down, 36 more to go. I'm not sure this is the attitude one should have on the first day of an endeavor like this, but it's my honest attitude. And my blog has always been good at keeping me honest. See you on Day Two!

Remember Today 3.30.09

{remember} how proud Maddox was of himself for jumping off the block all by himself at swim. After class he looked at me with this gigantic smile and asked, "Are you so proud of me?!"

37 Days

Tonight I found the blog of Patti Digh, author of 37 days, a book that poses the question, "What would you do today if you only had 37 days to live?" Right now she is challenging her blog readers to do something meaningful for the next 37 days straight. Err, make that the next 33 days, because, unfortunately, I'm 4 days late for this party. But I love this whole concept. So what would you do? Besides soak up as much time with my children, husband, family and friends (and say to hell with all the housework--they'll have to clean up the house after I'm dead), I would want to scrapbook as much as humanly possible. I do have this secret fear that I will not be able to tell my children's stories (or my own, for that matter) before I die. That hundreds of stories will be left untold, thousands of pictures will sit in envelopes or on a hard drive without stories and anecdotes matched up with them. It's one of the main reasons that I scrapbook: because someday someone will pick up these albums, look through the photos, read the stories and say, "So that's who so-and-so was."

I'm rarely on time for anything since having children, so I'm okay with being 4 days late. Tomorrow will be my Day One. And here's my contract: (copied from Patti's blog; I hope that's legal)

"I, ___Michelle Neddo___, being of kinda sound mind and body, have willingly decided to try to do one thing consistently every single day for the next 37 days. C’mon, self, it’s just 37 days.

The one thing I will try to do every day is this: create a scrapbook page (or some semblance of one) to add to my family's legacy.

I’m not going to pick two things or nine things because that will dilute my focus –- just one thing. One. One simple action. An action, not a goal. An action, not a value. An action, not a wish. Something I can DO.

I’m doing this challenge at this time because: with every day that passes I am one day farther from these memories and one day closer to not being able to record them accurately.

I’ve chosen this particular daily action because I believe if I do it consistently for 37 days with no (NONE, ZERO, ZIP) exceptions, I will: grow as an artist, feel more accomplished as my family's historian, be more aware and mindful of our lives, and feel generally better for having engaged my creative energies.

If I should fail, I won’t blame anyone but myself (not even my partner, that idiot with 29 items in the express lane at the Piggly Wiggly, the IRS (so needy!), the people who make frosted Pop Tarts and Lofthouse Cookies, or Fate).

I also realize that this contract is solely with myself and carries no rewards, penalties or punishments other than those associated with the reflection of the strength of my character.

New things will happen for me.

I’m ready.

TODAY IS DAY ONE. "

Remember Today 3.29.09

{remember} Camden choosing me over his dad (only one of us could go because L is sick) to take him to skating lessons. I'm not sure why he did it (he offered up that "Daddy gets to brush my teeth sometimes"), but I was honored to be able to see this little guy on the ice, and that he WANTED me there (nothing against you, Daddy-O!)

Remember Today 3.28.09

{remember} finding out one of my projects was featured on One Pretty Thing--huge grins, lots of happy dances with the boys (who have now verified that their mother is certifiably crazy), and phone calls to people who truly "get" what this means. Oh happy, HAPPY day!!

A Little PSE Before and After

My photos usually need a bit of help to look their best (don't we all?) So here's a "before and after" of a photo I took today at a school playground.

First the before:

I had shot some pictures earlier this morning and changed my white balance to tungsten and had forgotten to change it back. Ugh, nearly every photo I shot at the sunny playground made my children look like Violet Beauregarde after she chomped on Wonka's chewing gum. But when I did an adjustment for skin tone, it altered the beautiful vibrant blue of the sky. Enter a handy tool I just learned last week in a new CK special issue. Using the Magic Extractor tool under Image, I was able to get Maddox on a separate layer from the sky (be sure to create a dupe layer first). Once he was his own layer, I could adjust his skin tone to its normal color (too bad I couldn't help poor Violet this easily) and keep the sky the vibrant blue that it was. I also used the Clone Stamp tool in the side bar to get rid of the unsightly monkey bar in the lower right corner. This is one of my favorite tools, that and the Spot Healing Brush, which I seem to need on pics of me a LOT lately! Here's the final, and much improved picture:

I used the same Magic Extractor tool to extract Camden's bandana in this photo, and change the rest of the photo to B&W. Super cool stuff! Try out the Magic Extractor on one of your photos. It's so easy, even I can do it (plus, there are great instructions in PSE when you open the tool!)

Me & You

Soaking in the final months of

Me & You

before You

head off to school with your backpack

to make new friends,

have new experiences,

and learn from someone other than me.

Many things get easier

with each child,

but

letting go only gets

harder.

Remember Today 3.27.09

{remember} attending Literacy Night at L's school and relishing in the community in which we live. Watching my three boys completely engrossed with this author's talk, and thoroughly enjoying it myself. Sadly, forgetting my camera and missing some great shots of LC&M having books signed, and Logan and his good friend hugging with crazy grins only true friends share.

Remember Today 3.26.09

{remember} volunteering in C's classroom, having to leave and him giving me the biggest hug ever, the kind where I have to be the first to let go. He had tears in his eyes because he couldn't be at the center where I was helping like he usually is. A reminder to me of just how sensitive this tough brute of a hockey player really is.

This picture about sums up. . .

the way I feel about laundry:

Remember Today 3.25.09

{remember} being totally inspired by this book I picked up at the library to create art.

I love when an art book moves me to create with both inspiring tutorials and inspiring theory.

Remember Today 3.24.09

{remember} Camden losing his very first tooth while eating tortellini soup at dinner tonight, and then negotiating some sort of crazy deal with Logan: if L puts the tooth under his pillow and the Tooth Fairy takes it and gives him the money, he'll give C the $$ and also one of his prized Bakugan. Not sure what the point of this deal was (Logan's attempt at being given a chance to catch the TF in the act, perhaps), but I strongly advised against it: "If the Tooth Fairy is confused about where the tooth is, or can't find it, she probably won't leave any money."

Remember Today 3.23.09

{remember} Camden coming home and announcing that he had invited his two friends over. Little Mr. Social grabbed his class phone list and the phone and proceeded to place calls to his two friends to firm up the plans for 1:00. Too funny--this kid will never be without friends!

Remember Today 3.22.09

{remember} Maddox telling Logan to "mind your own business"--so not nice, but it was hard to contain my stifled chuckle.

Remember Today 3.21.09

{remember} scrapbooking in the kitchen and listening to the boys playing in the backyard; serving the boys lunch on the deck--spring is in the air!

Remember Today 3.20.09

{remember} sharing our Friday pizza and a movie with friends, and looking over from my spot in the chair with M to see the 5 kiddos nestled on the couch with my friend--too cute!

Remember Today 3.19.09

{remember} celebrating the last night of winter with our favorite soup. Recipe to follow soon.

Remember Today 3.18.09

{remember} our first trip to the park this year. It was Maddox's idea and not until I flipped through the photos did I realize how utterly happy he was the ENTIRE time. And Camden, yeah he attached himself to a cute baby and didn't leave her side for a half hour--pushing her in the swing, playing peek-a-boo at her carriage. He'll make a great Daddy someday!

Remember Today 3.17.09

{remember} forgetting to wear my green or dressing the boys in it, but making up for it with green cupcakes and sharing a corned beef & cabbage dinner with my parents.