LINARstudio

Layout: {axe}

Cardstock: Bazzill; Printed Paper; American Crafts; Stickers: American Crafts; Brads: Stash; Font: Arial; Sketch: Feeling Scrappy

Details:

Slice of Life: 3/12

It's almost too embarrassing to recount.

I loaded Chloe and Caden into the truck to go pick up Claire from school. Cole was already off to his hockey lesson with his dad. We new Claire would be a bit late as she was having a final French tutorial before the start of Spring Break, tomorrow.

We sat out in front of the school - Chloe and Caden playing on their Nintendo DS and iPods. Claire was running late and Caden asked to run into the washroom. I hesitated but who knew when Claire was going to emerge?

Claire came bounding out of the school, tossed her bags inside the hatch and opened the passenger door full of apologies. Apparently, a classmate had fallen down some stairs and both of her knees were bleeding badly. Claire helped her to the Health Centre. That is what kept her.

No matter. We were on our way.

We pull out of the school property with much conversation about March Break camps. Is Claire volunteering at Frozen Ropes? What was Chloe doing. Caden and Cole were going to hockey camp.

Right, Caden?

Totally forgot Caden went to the bathroom in the school!

A quick U-turn! Claire ran into the school. Caden was sitting on the steps awaiting our return. He emerged, big smile, a knowing look in his eyes. I felt terrible. Then, thankful he wasn't scared or hurt. He called me a goof. Normally, I'd be offended, in this case he was completely right.

We were, again, on our way.

Layout: Oh the Irony

Cardstock: Bazzill; Printed Paper: Basic Grey; Stickers: Making Memories, American Crafts; Font: Rockwell; Sketch: Feeling Scrappy

Details:

Layout: Roughhousing

In case anyone thinks I have forgotten about scrapbooking in my effort to write and take photos, let me assure you that is not the case. I did have to play "catch up" as life and laundry did get in the way of my more creative pursuits, but I am participating in the Sketchapalooza 3 course over at Feeling Scrappy. What a tremendous group of women Jayne has over there. Very creative and supportive community. If you get a chance, stop by sometime.

Cardstock: Bazzill; Printed Paper: My Minds Eye; Flowers: Stash, Prima; Stickers: American Crafts; Buttons: Stash; Ribbon: Stash; Ink: Color Box Fluid Chalk; Font: AL Post Master; Sketch: Feeling Scrappy

Detail:

Slice of Life: 3/10

It was report card day today for my three younger kids. They were all so pumped this morning happy to go and collect their marks. Well "they" may be a stretch. Cole in grade 6 and Chloe in grade 4 were anxious to get their grades; Caden, in grade 3, was more, well, resigned.

All of my kids are good students, it's only their level of enthusiasm and consistency that varies ... greatly.

Chloe came skipping to the car with a big toothy grin. She barely had the door open when she hollers in, "10 A's and 6 B's, Mama!" She had already opened the envelope and fully absorbed every word. So proud of herself! She should be.

Cole came out of the school doors, head down, looking dejected. I'm used to this act. He gets to the truck and he can't contain his enormous smile. Another one who had inhaled his report card upon distribution. Another 10 A's and 6 B's which qualifies him for Honour Roll and an Eagle Award, the two top earned honours in the school. Another one proud of himself.

Caden came out the doors and focused his attention on the stick he was dragging through the mud. I had to ask if he got his report card. I asked him how his marks were on said report card. I had to smile when I realized he never even looked. The smile was immediately replaced with the sad realization that he didn't bother looking because he thinks he can't get good marks. I explained to him that marks can always improve then opened the envelope. 16 Bs. And the comments started with: "Caden is a caring and sensitive individual who is an asset to the class." What a great report card! Clearly I have to work on his confidence through the final term!

I am so proud of them. All of them.

Slice of Life: 3/8

Ice time waits for no one.

Here it is, the first full week of March and it felt like we were in the dark depths of December though it wasn't quite as cold and snowy. Last night was the "spring forward" part of the time change rhyme and we all lost an hour of sleep. Poor Caden, he is always bright eyed when woken in the morning. Not this morning.

But, he did get to the rink, with his dad on time: 6:30AM.

On the other hand, I caught another half hour of sleep and met them for the game.

It will be an early night tonight. For everyone.

Slice of Life: 3/4

Today's edition is a funny. In a roll your eyes kind of way. Yay :)

Slice of Life 3/4

When Caden bounded into the car after school he was bursting, so excited to share that he had won, he won! I had no idea what he was talking about; it could have been anything from mini-sticks at recess to an eraser for a spelling test. It turns out that there was a draw at the Book Fair that has been going on at the school for the last few days. Caden won the grand prize!

Caden has been begging, in the way only an 8-year-old-youngest-of-four-children can for Pokemon books. Isn’t Pokemon over yet? Clearly not. I was so proud of myself. I stood firm and gave him no money for books. I gave his big brother, the reader, money to buy books for him.

Today Caden won free books. The condition made by the organizers was that he split the $50 prize and give $25 to his class and he in turn could purchase $25. He was so excited to tell me he got not one but TWO Pokemon books, and a poster!

His eyes were so bright and guileless: thrilled to have gotten he books he wanted.

No doubt I’m going to have to get him some “real” books to offset what he just purchased for himself. But, he’s reading. How bad can it be?

Slice of Life: 3/1

During the LOAD challenge of February, one of the very talented participants, Pam, was doing a Slice of Life project. It looked very interesting. Her digital layouts are stunning and her stories very inspiring and completely honest. Through my friend, the ever brilliant, Monica, I discovered the ladies over at Two Writing Teachers who have a Slice of Life challenge for this month.

Last month I focused on completing layouts and have been participating in some photography challenges. This month it might be fun to do a little Slice of Life. Some humourous bits, some serious bits, some chaotic bits. Kind of like my life is normally; but, more sharing of the bedlam that is mylife with my four children, seemingly, in control!

I was hoping to start with a joyful tidbit as today is a Sunday, and Sunday tends to be just the kids horsing around for most of the day. They can be very funny. Mind you, it's only coming up to 3PM so there is still plenty of opportunity! Unfortunately, I'm not finding much humour in my day. Maybe I'm just tired, or maybe it just didn't start off well:

Slice of Life: 3/1

From down the hall, I can hear my boys discuss the finer points of wrapping their hockey sticks. Cole, the expert, is patiently answering all of his little brother Caden’s questions while showing him how to perfectly wrap the handle and the blade. They have just returned from Corbett’s Source For Sports with their dad, Louis. Cole is teaching Caden how to wrap his stick the same way his dad, the original expert, taught him. It really is an art, you know? Well, not to worry, I didn’t either!

Hockey season is almost over and normally, two or three weeks before the official end we don’t head to the sport store to spend $170 on a stick.

I know, $170.

Gulp.

Louis is the convenor for our Novice Red hockey division. Every Sunday morning since October he has been at Joshua’s Creek Arena at 6:30AM to: greet players, parents and coaches; hand out game sheets; coordinate timers and referees; make sure rules are followed; and, insure games run smoothly. He is at the rink for five hours every Sunday morning, without exception.

As always, Louis arrived at the rink early. He discovered Caden’s hockey stick in his truck so he brought it into the rink in anticipation of our arrival for Caden’s 9AM game. Today was also photo distribution day so the team and individual photos taken a few weeks ago were all put out on a table at the entry to the rink for the coaches to collect and hand out to their teams.

I think you know where I’m going with this.

Louis went to watch the game in progress. Minutes before we arrived for Caden’s game, Louis realized that the stick had been stolen. STOLEN. A kid’s stick! Caden, in tears, realized he had no stick with which to play his game. Fortunately, one of the players on the opposing team had brought an extra stick so 8-year-old-disaster was averted. Tears were wiped off Caden’s little face and we went into the dressing room to get him ready for his game.

Louis was, understandably, livid. Who does that? Who takes a stick?

Gah.

LOAD: Day 27 & 28

Late! I got these done in time to upload onto the LOAD Flickr site, but did not do it here, my apologies! These are the two remaining layouts:

DAY 27:

DAY 28:

LOAD: Day 25

Cardstock: Bazzill; Ribbons, Brads & Staples: Stash; Font: Ice Age D