December Daily 2010 | Closing The Covers

The end of December is here and I am finally putting the finishing touches on my album, and getting ready to put it away until the holidays next year.  This was my first year doing this project, so I wasn't really sure what to expect, or even if I'd be able to finish!  In the end it definitely kept me busy, but I'm really glad I was able to take the time and make this album.  I know my kids and I will enjoy pulling it out at the beginning of the next holiday season and looking back over these memories!

December Daily 2010 | Days Twenty-Four and Twenty-Five

DAY TWENTY-FOUR

Christmas eve is finally here!  For today's page I shared this photo of Matt and the kids snuggling up and reading on the couch (pictured above). 

December Daily 2010 | Days Twenty-One, Twenty-Two, and Twenty-Three

DAY TWENTY-ONE (pictured above)

I so enjoy reading the kids' letters to Santa each year.  This year before they were mailed off I scanned a copy of each and tucked them into these envelopes for Day Twenty-One.  I added the days' number using the Advent Calendar Rub Ons by Making Memories.  It's been so fun using these rub ons with this album...three sheets for something like five bucks...totally worth it.

December Daily 2010 | Days Nineteen and Twenty

DAY NINETEEN (pictured above)

Today's page was another one of the pocket pages in this album.  I added the numbers to the tag using the Making Memories Advent Calendar Rub Ons, and slipped a few things from the past week inside.  A few images from the Christmas cards the kids made for their classmates, some "good for" tickets from Katie (one is to Maggie, good for 'holding you', and the other is to me, good for a hug).  I loved those!  I also included a thumbnail print of some photos from our trip to the Festival of Lights:

December Daily 2010 | Day Eighteen

Hard to believe that Christmas is almost here and December is almost over!  It's been a very busy last week, but thankfully I've managed to find a little time to try and do some catch up on this project.  My album has grown and I am loving it!  I love that I've captured so many memories about this past month that I think otherwise I just wouldn't remember if I hadn't.

Family Photos 2010

A family friend took our photos the other Sunday afternoon.  Thankfully we were lucky enough to get a day without rain so we could capture these moments.  Loving my family right now! 

December Daily 2010 | Days Sixteen and Seventeen

DAY SIXTEEN (pictured above)

Today I thought I'd include a few things that have come from some of our shopping trips this holiday season.  I just matted them onto the page using my Hermafix and played around with some of the Making Memories Noel Advent Calendar Rub Ons and a bit of paper from the same collection.  I included some journaling on the inside of the card: 

December Daily 2010 | Day Fifteen

Today's page is very simple.  It features a photo I took of my daughter earlier in the month.  I added some of Ali Edwards' Loving Life Word Art and some Holiday Word Art to the bottom before printing it out.  Then I matted it onto the patterned cardstock from the Anna Griffin Calisto Christmas collection.  Originally I was going to cover a file folder page with this photo, but it wasn't really working for me so instead I just printed and matted the photo.

December Daily 2010 | Days Thirteen and Fourteen

DAY THIRTEEN

My holiday album wouldn't be the same without highlighting my love of coffee somewhere in there.  Today's page is all about that, and sharing a neat little story about my trip to Starbucks this morning.

December Daily 2010 | Day Twelve

Above is a look at the front of Day Twelve.  We had our holiday photos taken by a friend, and Matt took this shot after we got home. 

December Daily 2010 | Day Eleven

Simplify. Simplify. Simplify.  That is why I love these pocket pages, because they make that so easy to do!  Today pages are very very simple, and for me that's okay.  Things around here have been so busy lately, I really need to keep things simple! 

December Daily 2010 | Day Ten

Today I did a couple of photo enlargements to cover the file folder page for Day Ten.  Loved it!  Especially the contrast between front and back.  The front is very playful and fun (fitting for Josiah) and the back captures the sweet feeling of the photo of Katherine and Maggie.  The front is pictured above. 
I added the sentiment using Ali Edwards' Hand Drawn Brushes and Stamps, as well as the number 10 printed from my computer and a few stickers from the Making Memories Wordfetti Noel collection.  I love his smile.

December Daily 2010 | Day Nine

Today I finshed up one of the pocket pages in my foundation that I was planning on using for Day Nine.  I used one of those Hambly Overlays that I'd heard about and attached it with some tiny brads from a Making Memories Scrapbook Basics Holiday Pack.  I will have to order some more of those overlays to use later because they are really great quality.  Glad for the recommendation on those!   Inside I put a few papers that have come home with the kids from school.  Right now it's very much a school homework dinner routine with little time left over during the weekday, so it'll be nice to have some full days to spend time together and just play.

December Daily 2010 | Day Eight

Welcome to Day Eight of December Daily 2010! 

December Daily 2010 | Day Seven

Well, we are seven days in and already my album is getting full.  Blame that on my penchant towards adding little things with dimension here and there to my pages.  So far this project is so much fun!  I am loving how I step into each day with this kind of expectation of what story I want to share. 

Two Months Old

I love this face.  And of course, everything else about this little one who has changed my life so much.  Most of my days are spent with her.  Feeding her.  Changing her diaper.  Cuddling with her.  Playing with her and listening to her coo.  Sometimes it can be exhausting...the 2 am feedings...trying to find the balance with everything and still find some me time in there...but at the same time I am so in love with this little girl and can't seem to get enough of her.  Her chubby little face...her smiles...the way she just loves to snuggle and listening to her discover her voice.  My precious Maggie Elisabeth...thank you God so much for this little blessing.

December Daily 2010 | Day Six

For day six I decided to use a few photos I've taken of some of the decorations around the house.  I love decorating for the holidays and the magical feeling it creates around me. 

December Daily 2010 | Days Four and Five

One of the things that I love, and also one of the things that's the most challenging, is the busyness that comes with the holiday season.  This last weekend was all about trying to find the balance between doing the fun things I want to do with some of the other tasks I have to do.  I think my pages are going to reflect more and more as the month goes on.  So, I'm keeping it simple so that I actually have a chance to do this album.  Even though there's not a ton of embellishing, I'm really loving how each page turns out. 

December Daily 2010 | Day Three

Day Three highlights some of my favorite photos from trimming the tree.  The card that Josiah is holding is from the Advent Cards project I made for December this year (you can find that project post here).  Each day the kids get to choose one activity from the tree to do.  The end of November and beginning of December have been fairly busy with school and homework, but we've gotten to do a few of the activities so far.  I like that the kids look forward to looking through and choosing something they get to do every day.  Here is the photo for the front of Day Three:

December Daily 2010 | Day Two

 Let me just start by saying I love my Christmas tree. : )  Each year it's a little different, a little better.  I really love the older ornaments passed down from my mom, and the handmade ornaments that Katie and Josiah have made.  I also try to pick up a few ornaments that catch my eye each year to add to my collection of, and Day Two's layout features some of those.  It also tells the story of our tree this year.

December Daily 2010 | Title Page & Day One

Ahh December...it's finally here!  I love love love this month.  Even with the busy schedule and everything that must be done, one of the things that I've been looking forward to is December Daily.  Documenting the holidays as they happen with words and photos.