An update and Joyride.

We spent the day today running around getting some last minute things for Ethan's 3rd birthday party tomorrow. We're having a pirate party complete with treasure chest and Pirate cake- Check out the cake my friend Bella made here- it's so awesome!

We're starting to see some light at the end of the renovation tunnel, and I hope this is the last round of vacuuming up sawdust and plaster dust ( I know it's probably not, but a girl can dream!)The windows are in, stained and trimmed. now for the oil, and clean up. The boys bathroom is still missing a couple of coats of paint, a toilet, two sinks and a counter, but it's already turning out to be one of my favorite rooms in the house (it's all about the bathtub- but I'll write about that on another day).

I'm still patiently waiting for news on my Cricut expression. It was supposed to arrive in time at my dad's house in Maine so he could bring it with him last Sunday. Now once it gets there, I'll have to arrange some other way to get it here in one piece. Maybe Santa can put it on his sleigh?! I would be soo happy if it made it here to go under the tree, or at least by my birthday.

The kids are doing fine, Ethan's an angel one minute, and testing the very limits of my patience the next. He's really starting to want to learn more grownup stuff, and loves helping Mark and I in the kitchen. Parker is turning out to be quite the imitator, picking up new sounds and words daily ( many he won't repeat again when prompted) My favorites right now are his elephant sound, roaring, and "whoa! whoa! whoa!" ( according to Parker there are 3 sounds- elephant, vehicle, and roar- if it's not an elephant or if it doesn't have wheels it must roar). Oh who am I fooling...I find anything he says at this stage darling!


Here's the layout I did last night cropping with the girls. I used some of the new Collage Press Christmas line Joyride- wow- what gorgeous papers!! fun and bold like I like 'em, but with just the right touch of distressing to add to the charm of the vintage graphics.
You can't get the feel of the whole line from the papers I used, so go check them out here if you want.

Cardstock: Bazzill Swiss dot, Bazill Basics Paper
PP: Collage Press
Letters: Prima, October Afternoon ( I've been getting a ton of use out of these babies!)
Bling: Zva ( and I used a whole flourish!!)
Chipboard: American Crafts

I must go now and test out the new tub (again) just to make sure it's all installed properly and the water still works...