Julie Brooks

Luke 2:11

"For today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord" Luke 2:11

 

Merry Christmas!

Chore Charts

 

Mason has done chores for the past few years, but Carson and Garrett have had it easy. Not anymore. Lol! I made these chore charts to help them see what is expected of them everyday in addition to quiet time and school work. After they complete a task they get a sticker and at the end of the week if their chart is full they will receive their allowance. As they get older and time passes we may add to this, but for now we will see how this goes. One day their wife will thank me for making them help around the house! ;) You can find the digital kit I used to make the chart here.

I also finished another scrapbook page. (two pages actually yeah!)

 

So far I have kept up with my goal of working on a page a day! ;)

I'm busy trying to get things ready to leave town Friday!!! Have I mentioned that we leave for the beach Friday?? YES!!! I'm beyond excited!!!! The boys are pumped! Brian is long past due a vacation so he is READY! We usually use his vacation time to go "home" to see family, but this year we decided a trip to the beach was is order. We will still go home at Thanksgiving and Christmas don't worry mom! ;) This trip will be good for Brian to relax because when we get back he starts his Doctoral program at Southwestern Seminary........yes people he will be Dr. Brooks in a few years! I'm really proud of him for going forward with this. He was accepted and ready to start in 2004, but as you know Carson was born early and had a nice little stay in the NICU and then 10 months later we did the same thing with Garrett. Two NICU graduates back to back! Needless to say he put off school because of babies that ended up costing us A LOT of money. The time is right now and he is ready!

Well, nothing is getting done with me sitting in front of this computer so I better go! Why does blog surfing, facebooking and scrapbooking sound so much better than cleaning and packing????

Routines

Template from Kissed Studio, Papers and elements from Hop Skip Jump kit at The Lilypad

I was able to scrapbook 2 pages today!!! :) Maybe I will catch up...HA! Seriously though I have set a new goal to start/finish a new page each day. I don't mean complete a page each day (that would be nice though) I just want to at least start it. I figure if I finish it that is a bonus. Sometimes I spend so much time searching for the right papers and elements I forget the focus is my picture. So here is today's page well....2 pages!!! Some days I may only have time to edit the pictures, but hey they will be ready for the next day when I want to make the page. :)

I have been rethinking how I spend my day and how I manage my time. There are so many things I want to do each day, but in all reality I can't. I AM A HUGE list maker and some days I look at my list and think even the BEST Proverbs 31 woman couldn't do all this. Who am I kidding???  So today I made a list of the non-negotiable things in my day to day life and then I made a list of things I'd like to do if everything else is taken care of. We will see how it goes! All I know is we start back to school when we get home from the beach on Sept 14th and I have to be ready for another wonderful year of teaching my boys! 

I also spent some of the day working on our homeschool schedule/ family schedule for this year and I have to say I'm VERY excited about being on a schedule again. :) I like a strict routine, but that doesn't always mean I enjoy it. :) I do like sleeping in during the summer!! Things do run a lot smoother when everyone is on a schedule plus I get a lot more accomplished.

Sisters

One of the hardest things about living in Arkansas is the fact that we are 6 hours from our family. For someone that has a close family it's HARD. There are many times when I call my mom and she is out shopping with my sisters and I get sad. (it's no secret I LOVE to shop)  I miss out on a lot of Target trips. Lol! Actually, I feel like I miss out on a lot. :( For those that live away from family you know what I'm talking about. Distance can be tough no matter what age you are. It always hits me hardest after I have been home to visit for a long period of time. While I'm home visiting it hits me what all goes on while I'm not there. Day to day things that we don't get to be a part of. It also makes me sad that our family doesn't get to be a part of our day to day life here in Crossett. For example Awana's is starting back up at church and I would love the grandparents to be able to see how hard the boys work each week memorizing scripture. Upward will be starting soon and it makes me sad that my boys never have grandparents, aunts, uncles or cousins at their games cheering them on. :( Our boys are active in children's choir and never have family at any performances. Pure sadness. HOWEVER I don't want you to think we don't like it here because we DO! I'm just human and would like to have our family around. :)

I will say that in the absence of our family God has placed several people from our church into our boys lives to help feel the void of a local grandparent. For this I will be eternally grateful. We feel called to FBC, Crossett and we are glad to call it our home, but sometimes I/we just need some family lovin!

I had intended to start this post off about my sisters hence the title of my post, but my mind and heart took me another direction! Lol!

Back to my title SISTERS!

I am blessed beyond words to have two wonderful sisters who are not only beautiful on the outside, but beautiful on the inside as well. I miss them like crazy! Oh the trouble we could get into if I lived closer....probably why God has me in Arkansas! (it's better for my bank account...hee hee) My sisters and I know how to make each other laugh! We are passionate about our family and will stand behind each other and don't think for one minute we will ever let someone hurt the other. We are loud! :) We are all Mom's now. We are BIG dreamers! We love to be crafty. We worship the same Lord! We don't miss an opportunity for a pedicure and eyebrow wax! We are cry. We share with each other our hurts, wants and needs. We can read each other like a book. Where one is weak another is strong and we complete each other as only sisters can! I love my sisters!

Next I need to make a brother page. :) I have been lucky to have my brother live with us the past two summers. He left Monday and it's been a sad week in our house. The boys ask everyday why Scott had to leave. They thought it was so cool to have their Uncle as their children's minister.  We wish him the best as he starts his senior year at DBU then he is off to seminary. 

The boys are begging for a snack...something about a chocolate cake...... so that means Mom is needed in the kitchen. :) 

Scrapbook page info: Papers from SMJ Vintage Lines; Template from Janet Phillips

Digi Goodness!

I have been Digi Scrappin all day! (thanks to my wonderful husband) I'm trying to finish up my January pages for Digital Project 365. (not finished yet, but very close) I'm proud to say I have taken a picture everyday for 30 days straight! I can't wait to see what this project will look like at the end of the year. :) For now I can't believe Feb 1st is Sunday!!! Where did January go?

I do have one thing to show you today. I was thrilled when my sister asked me to make Blakely's birth announcements and I finally finished them today. I spent longer on this project than any other I have done in a long time. I wanted it to be perfect just like Miss. Blakely. I started over what seemed like 100 times and in the end this is what we went with.
I could just stare at her all day! She is so perfect!!

Ok back to work! My goal is to have my January pages finished before Feb 1st gets here.

Digital Project 365

My friend Sarah has created a new site called Digital Project 365. Sarah has created and is selling her digital templates to go along with project 365! If you aren't familiar with project 365 visit the project 365 blog HERE.

I have taken the challenge to take a picture everyday in 2009. I'm using Sarah's templates to help me document all the details. I plan on having my pages bound into a book at Shutterfly. I'm very excited about having my entire year documented. I have take a photo everyday so far and have journaled a small excerpt about each day. I know several years from now I will look back on these pages and be thankful I did this. I don't want to miss the small details of everyday life. Life passes by way to fast.

Here is a link to 365 ideas for photos courtesy of Creating Keepsakes. 

I have created a folder on the sidebar of my blog called A photo a day in 2009 that is where I will be posting daily photos. In addition to that I am using Sarah's templates to scrap my pages for the entire week. I have almost completed my pages for the first 10 days of January. I will post them soon!

It's not to late to start! Jump in and join the fun today!

Sarah also has an exciting announcement on her Digital Project 365 site today....go check it out!

A Good Laugh

I have been busy working on Christmas gifts, but managed to squeeze in a page for myself.

 
 
 
Template by Janet Phillips, Holiday Jingle kit by Gina Cabrera
I can't share the other things I've made because they are Christmas gifts and my family reads my blog!

 I do have a funny story to share with you. This past weekend was the Christmas musical from church. The lady in charge of casting the parts asked Mason if he would like to be a Shepard and if Carson would like to be Jesus as a young child. Carson replied I'd rather be Buzz Light-year and save the day.  Carson proceeds to tell us that Jesus could attack the Shepard and he could save the day!  Um Hello!!! Did my child just say that? Yes, he did! I should have realized at that point that this wasn't going to be good. After we talked with Carson and informed him how important playing Jesus was he agreed. I also informed my sweet child that without JESUS there would be NO BUZZ LIGHTYEAR! Great words of wisdom.....I know! :)
Friday night was rehearsal and everything went well. Saturday was performance 1 of 4! The first half was ending and intermission was starting. I went to get Carson from the nursery where Mrs Autumn had him dressed and ready. He was the cutest Jesus boy I'd ever seen! We made our way to the back of the sanctuary where I said, "it's your time now Carson make your way to the front." NO! I'm NOT going was the response I got. Standing next to us were the Wise Men who tried everything they could to get Carson to go! I decided at this point I would have to pick him up and carry him ALL THE WAY TO THE FRONT! I finally get him to the stage the lights are blacked out on the nativity set so I place him on the stage after much discussion. As I turn around the lights come up and Carson is flopping around the stage saying I'm not standing here! As I sat down on the front pew Carson jumped off the stage and ran out the back door saying I'm outta here! Those sitting close enough to hear got a good laugh.I at this point was NOT laughing.  By the time I got to him he was shedding the costume and telling me he wasn't Jesus. Your right, your NOT Jesus!! Jesus would NOT have fled the manger scene! More words of wisdom I know! :) Needless to say we gave the part away to another young boy who did a great job! Ministers kids! We will never live this one down.

I have another story this one involves Mason.  Mason is NOT shy......not one tiny bit! The same lady who asked the boys to take part in the musical had taken Mason into the choir room to get his costume on. Mason has a tall walking stick made by coach (it's beautiful) that he took to use as his rod and staff. Mrs. Paula said after Mason got his costume on he turned to the choir and said, "Let my people go!" Someone in the choir said if you throw that rod down and it turns into a snake I'm running out of here. Mason throws the stick down and gets a good laugh out of the choir.

Now after both stories which child do you think is our theater child?

Happy Thanksgiving!

On this Thanksgiving eve I'm reflecting on the things that I am thankful for and these 3 little guys are tops! Being a mom is the best job in the world. A few other things that I am thankful for are my faith, a godly and loving husband who treats me like a princess, my wonderful  family, friends, a free country, a church family that loves us, the joy of homeschooling, a roof over my head, a car to drive, food in my pantry, my baby is fully potty trained now, good health, the ability to run, coffee, my running shoes, chocolate pie, my mom's turkey and dressing.

I hope you have a Happy Thanksgiving!

Baby Shower Invitation

Most of you that read my blog know I have two sisters and that one of them is pregnant! Karen is having a little girl in January. I could not be more excited to finally have a niece!! I wanted a precious sweet little girl, but God gave me three precious, sweet, rowdy, dirty stinky boys!! I love my boys and am honored that Lord in-trusted them to Brian and I. We have the great responsibility of raising three future heads of households and I pray daily that I don't fail. I want them to be Godly men who love the Lord and their wife just like their Daddy does me! My boys couldn't have a better role model.

You have to read Karen's blog post HERE. Before you  head over to her blog here is a little background.....Karen had originally wanted to paint one whole wall in her nursery with quotes from nursery rhymes, songs, books, etc. The more she thought about it, she decided to let each of Blakely's aunts, uncles, cousins, parents and grandparents come up with their own quotes to make it a little more personal. Today Karen posted the final list of quotes that everyone in my family came up with, and it brought me to tears!!! I lost it when I read the quote from my dad! I think Blakey has won over Grandpa's heart pretty fast and she isn't even here yet. :)

Here is the shower invitation I made for the shower my mom, sister and I are giving. It matches Blakely's nursery.

Digi Birthday Invitations

 

Supplies: Birthday WishesKit from SMJ, Wild Animals kit from SMJ

A friend of mine at church asked me to make her daughters birthday invitations.....this is where going digi is VERY helpful!! I was able to create the invitation in Photoshop and then print the amount needed. I can't imagine stamping this card 22 times. Just another reason I love my Photoshop CS2!! :)

Here are some upcoming digital classes that I have taken and have found to be helpful! Classes are taught on line by Jessica Sprague.

Up & Running With Photoshop

Now We're Rockin' With Photoshop

Digi: In Deep