To work with your hands

Yipee!

Yipee!  Cowboy Connor's Room is done!  We have had such a fun time putting together his new big boy room.  Sean worked so hard to get it painted, move the bed, and follow all my "hang this here" requests.

Mom and Dad came up last week and helped make the curtain.  They brought the vintage horse collection from Mom's childhood.  Whitney found me the Pottery Barn Kid's Rodeo poster ... And it just makes the room!  Love it!  Popa found us the old saddle stir-ups... I'm planning on making them into book ends. 

I have had fun organizing the little guy's closet - which means everything in "sister's" closet is just hers!!!  Connor has already adjusted really well in his new room.  He loves playing in there, but he also likes to leave goodies for Baby to "play" with too.  Today, during naptime, I found his scooter, a toy cow, and several cars in her room.  Already such a thoughtful big brother!

Now, I am busy with Baby's Room - AND PINK IS SO FUN!!!  Will share some pics of her room soon.

My friend Sharee wrote a great post all about Jenny's Red Wagon Welcome Shower.  That was such a fun party to throw.  Click to see her cute blog and all the pictures of the little details we pulled together to help welcome Baby Boy McDonnell.

My Pile of Pictures... Coming soon!

I have found my new favorite way of getting my pictures printed... I send them to Wal-Greens and can pick them up in about an hour!  Don't have to wait several shipping days anymore. 

So, in about an hour my pile of pictures will be done and I will be able to start scrapbooking .... but probably won't for a while! 

We have had a busy weekend (Baby shower for Aunt Jenny and Baby Boy Cousin, Celebrating Grandmother and Grandddaddy's birthdays, and also getting Connor's Cowboy room painted!)- but also month of June so far.  I haven't scrapbooked since March, so I have quite a bit of catching up to do... But here are a few of the things that have kept us busy this month:

Trip to Missouri to see Popa and Grammy

We enjoyed some time on the lake, riding the 4 wheeler, and participating in their local Relay for LIfe.  We also got to go to "Kid Country" and ride some fun rides!  Thanks for such a fun weekend, Popa and Grammy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5 Day Club with "High Five!"

Our Life Group from church hosted a "5 Day Club" at one of our friends' houses for the second week of June.  Each night included a Bible story, songs, crafts, but the highlight was game time with "High FIve!"  That was one crazy guy!  Hmmm.... I wonder who that was?  Most of the kids never figured it out!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

More to come.... Jenny's "Red Wagon Welcome" Baby Shower and Connor's Cowboy Room! 

 

Happy Birthday Dad!

Today is my sweet Daddy's birthday.  What a wonderful man!  He is adored by many - but especially me! 

I wanted to make myself a birthday layout when i turned 30 this year... but it just didn't happen.  So in honor of "good ol dad" and his day,  I thought I would share this birthday idea:

I found this on Ali's blog in February - "A couple weeks ago I read a post by Andrea over at Hula Seventy where she detailed 36 things that happened to her over the last year (she has a tradition of making lists and had recently turned 37).

Her focus:"lovely little (and big) things that snuck up on me from behind and took me completely by surprise. things I never expected to happen, things I had no way of knowing I'd do in the course of a year. these are the things I never really saw coming."

There is no reason that I couldn't do this layout anytime... my birthday month just seemed appropriate.  I want to at least begin journaling some of these "lovely little things that snuck up on me."  This would even be an awesome thing to try and do once a month to make sure that I am living a life of gratitude.

So, today, I want to say that I'm most grateful for my dad - aka Granddaddy... the best buddy anyone - boy or girl - could ever ask for!  I love you, Dad!

 

A new idea... "Life Before You"

Just had a new idea... thought i would share it with you and get it down on "paper" before I forget it (a common occurrence these days with my pregnant brain!).

A page or a mini album that i would like to try and do:  "Life - Before You"

I want to try and take a picture a dayover the next weeks before baby arrives.  Then, compile them all together with short, simple journaling... documenting what life was like for the "McD 3" just before she joined our abode. 

(I found a blogabout a man who began the picture a day idea during a college project in 1979 and continued it for 18 years ... until the day he died - at age 41. His photos were all Polaroids.. cool - huh?  Now that is really "capturing life" - right?)

As we prepare for her (decorating her nursery, hanging up her fun girl clothes, getting Connor's cowboy room finished, moving our home office, and dusting off all the baby paraphernalia) we also are trying to live life to the fullest with our little man.  I want to remember these last sweet days with him as our first "baby."  I also want her to see someday how excited we were for her arrival.

I have a whole scrapbook of my pregnancy with Connor - with all my showers, my growing tummy, making his nursery, etc... It went on and on.  Lots of moms have told me my second child would get short handed when it came to my scrapbooking.... So I want to make sure I have something that documents our anticipation of her birth.  I think this little idea will be perfect!  NOW... the hard part!  Actually doing it!

Here's today's picture for the day.  We celebrated "Daddy's Day" early this morning with a "Breakfast Picnic and Adventure."  Connor and i surprised Sean by taking him to our favorite park for breakfast tacos and to feed the ducks and turtles.  We also tried out a special "adventure toy" we bought just for our morning --- a bug net and magnifying glass!  Good memory for our last Father's Day with just one.

May has come and gone!

Where have I been lately?  Not in blogging world apparently!  We have been in summer full force now for a month or so.  Since this spring, we have been busy around here embracing summertime!  I haven't scrapbooked in a month.  My goal is to be caught up before "sister" arrives (end of July probably is what the Dr. says now!!!!)

May

May brought beautiful weather and comfortable temperatures.  We spent lots of time outside - at the park and with friends and family.  Here are a few highlights:

• "Mickey the Turtle" - Thanks to Popa and Grammy! 
• "All Things Pink" - Surprise from my two girlfriends Kara and Julie and their kids. 
• Connor's last day of "school" with Memaw - He sure has grown up and learned so much this year!
• Sean hiked the Grand Canyon - rim to rim- with his Aggie buddies.  So proud of him!
• Connor and Elizabeth to the farm and the beach with Grandmother and Granddaddy!  fun!

• Memorial Day Celebration with the Kriels - Connor decides that if his little sister is as cool as his cousin Olivia, he is super excited about being a big brother! 

Blogging helps me to be a little bit more "accountable" to someone in regards to my goals for "working with my hands."  I need to document these last few months as "the McD 3" well.  I know once Baby Girl joins us, it will be hard for me to go backwards in my scrapbooks.  So, now I have said it... and you all know that is my "goal!"  We'll see if i actually stick to it! 

Do they care?

I have poured countless hours into the scrapbooks that I have created.  Sometimes, I ask myself.. "Why do I do this again?"  A few reasons pop into my head:

1.   It is fun! ---This is a true creative outlet for me and I really enjoy it.  Some ladies like to sew, paint, or bake.. I like to "play" with paper and glue!
3. I accomplish something when I scrapbook.--- The type "A" side of me loves the sense of accomplishment when I finish a page.  I have organized a little piece of our sometimes crazy life by putting the pictures "away" in the right "place"  I can check that part of life off my never ending "list."  I feel better just talking about it right now!
5.   I am my family's historian.--- I do this most of all for my family to be able to look back and see what happened in our life and what mattered to us. 

Number #3 on this list is the true reason why I want to continue to scrapbook.  But, a lot of times I wonder if they really could care less about these books... Do they care? Or is it just me making up that "fairy tale idea" of my grandchildren coming to me years from now asking, "Can we see your scrapbooks?"  Two things happened over the last few days that told me "They do care.":

While Connor's Popa and Grammy were visiting us this weekend, some of us sat around the dinig room table to play a game while Connor played around us.   Aunt Jenny skipped the game and instead pulled out some of my scrapbooks to see some of my latest layouts.  I noticed Connor meander over to sit with her on the couch and before long, he was fascinated with the pages she was studying.  It did my heart good to see his little face light up as he "explained" to his patient Aunt Jenny every photo - just what was happening... and also asking her "Do you remember ...."   

He does care - even at age 2.

The second piece of evidence came from my mom - our family historian..... She shared with me something that happened with my brother this past week.  On a very sad note, one of his Aggie buddies was killed in Iraq last week.  John wanted to find some pictures of Matt to share with his other class mates as they gathered together this weekend to remember the old days.  Mom pulled out John's college scrapbooks, where she had documented his four years in the Corps of Cadets with all his buddies... He said the pages really brought back memories he had forgotten about.  It warmed her heart to see that he really did care.  Having those photos of Matt and their times together as a class meant a lot to him.... I'm sure those pictures helped bring on some smiles during an otherwise sad time.

He does care - even at age 27.

So, my question has been answered for now - They do care.  I just need to remind myself that I don't have to make every layout a work of art - or an award winning scrapbook masterpiece... I just need to get these memories documented - even if that means just putting the photos in a flip book - so that my little boy can come home decades from now - just when he needs that extra memory that will make him smile again.

School Buses, Rock Stars, and Dirt!

I have been working on getting caught up with my scrapbooks (I'm through Dec 07 now!).  I realized that having this blog has encouraged me to write more than I usually would.... So, when I sit down to a layout, a lot of my journaling has already been done for me - right here.  I just print out my posts and use bits and pieces that apply to each layout.  I have been just handwriting them directly onto my pages, but I also plan to use some just printed out.  One of the big reasons that I am so passionate about scrapbooking is because it provides me a way to tell my family's story.  I didn't realize this adventure in blogging would help me so much with that love! 

Three huge hits around here lately:

FIRST.... Visiting Uncle Jeff at his school and seeing his SCHOOL BUS!!!!

Connor loves school buses right now.  Uncle Jeff invited him to come to his school on a day that he would be driving his kids to a track meet.  Connor's favorite parts of the morning were opening and shutting the door, honking the horn, and pointing out to us that this was a very "old" bus!  Guess that is all Plano ISD trusts "Coach McDonnell" with! ha!

SECONDLY.... Connor has finally mastered his guitar playing skills standing up.   Watch out American Idol Season 20!  We have a ROCK STAR on our hands!

And LAST... DIRT!!!  We have been learning about the word "patience" - SO to help understand what it means to "wait quietly for something" we planted some beans in some cups to wait for them to grow.  We have had a ball "patiently waiting" for the roots to spread, the stems to shoot up through the dirt, and now the leaves to grow. 

Today, we tried to trick Daddy and made pretend dirt that we got to eat at lunch (with oreos and chocolate pudding).  We even added some of our mint plant from our herb garden.  Connor loved sharing that we "ate dirt!"  Can you tell which one is our "edible variety?" 

Now I am off to some more scrapbook pages and I think there is another cup of "dirt" calling my name!!!

March and Now April

Wow, March flew by and now we are into April.  Haven't spent anytime updating my blog, but I have been busy with other things. Here are a few "highlights" from March!

• Early this month, we found out that Baby is a SISTER!!!!  We are thrilled to have a girl join the McDonnell Clan ... and I have already been busy buying pink!
• I turned 30!  And did we ever celebrate!  I feel like I have been partying for a month... and that was fun, but I'm ready to move on to someone else now!
• Easter - Connor had a blast this Easter season - dying and hunting eggs and talking about Jesus being ALIVE! 

Sean and I "retreated" to the Texas Hill Country for a long weekend... just strolling downtown Fredricksburg, he did some hiking while I did some reading,lots of uninterrupted talking, and of course great eating! 

I planned and pulled off our Allen Bible Church Ladies spring retreat again this year.  With the help of my great team, we organized the first "One Day" retreat - at South Fork Ranch.. only a few minutes from home. 

Working with My Hands....

Have done a little bit of scrapbooking.  I put together a "book in a bag" that Whitney gave me for my birthday.. by SEI.. great scrapbook shortcut!  SO easy!  I did it in the car on the way home from Fredricksburg.  Today, I added pictures from all our family Easters.  I will use it as a coffee table book... another way to look back and see our family growing and changing....Next year we will get to add pictures of Sister!  Now, I will just pull this little book out each spring to see all our Easters past.

Why St. Patrick's Day?

Our Little Irish Man Decked Out in Green!

Someone recently asked me why I decorate for March 17th - why I care... Well, not only is it fun to just have a random "celebration" thrown in the midst of day-to-day life, it means family to me.

Both Sean and my families have Irish heritage.  Sean's grandmother is an Irish citizen still - a war bride.  I love to hear her Irish lilt and her funny idioms.  She still has family living in Ireland.

We had a fun day yesterday... wearing green, making green eggs for breakfast, eating cabbage at dinner.  Sean's mom gave me an Irish cookbook and I read the whole thing. Found some neat recipes to try out.

After that whole day of green, I found a neat explanation of why Irish celebrate St. Patrick's Day... today - oops.  I will file this away for next year for sure. 

Veggie Tales did a short video on who St. Patrick was and why he was a blessing to Ireland.  Really cool stuff to share with kids next March 17th!  We tried to make shamrocks with potato stamps this year - but Connor isn't into "projects" right now.  He would rather play outside. ha!

So... why do we make Shamrock decorations anyway?
God called Patrick to return to Ireland as a missionary. Patrick used a small three leaved plant growing there to help teach people about God. The Shamrock has three leaves in one plant, helping to illustrate the Christian doctrine of the Trinity: God the Father, God the Son (Jesus) and God the Holy Spirit.

Hope you wore your green and ate your cabbage - If not, consider yourself pinched by the McDonnell Clan!

Why you should scrapbook

Here is the story I told you to be watching for.  Mom and I visited a new scrapbook store in McKinney last week - http://www.scrappinbunnies.com/.  It got me really excited about getting back to what I love... putting it down on pages!  We got to chat with the lady that opened the store and ask her about her story.  Here it is from her website:

After three years, we have finally decided to commit to our
dream. 
August 18, 2004 I had a stroke.  It was very unusual especially
at my age.  By God's grace, I had great medical care and quick.
I was fortunate in that the only true recovery I had to face was
regaining my memory.  With an amazing husband, four kids, a
great family and many friends there was a lot to recall.  As
instructed in the hospital one therapy for memory loss or
memory recovery was scrap-booking.  For months, I sat day in
and day out doing just that, trying to recall details of everything
from childhood memories, first dates, wedding proposal, births
of our children and even how many years my husband and I
had been married.  Slowly but surely they all seemed to have
come back.  During the process my husband and I decided we
should open a store that not only sells scrap-book items, but
teaches, serves and gives back to the community.  Here we are
again, by God's grace doing just that. 
I hope you will come share with me and with my family, your
story and your family as we begin this journey.
We have shopped more than 25 stores nationwide to try to
make sure we offer everything that you could hope for in a
scrap-book store and more.
If there is something that we do not have, please drop us a
suggestion and we will do our best to accommodate your
heart's desire.

Cool - right?  You never know what life has around the corner!  Get those pictures taken and those stories recorded.  Capturing those memories are PRICELESS ... and this story is a great testimony to that.

So, as for me, I have done a little bit of my own scrap booking over the last week.  I love the feeling of completing something!  I finished a layout about my niece and her birth this fall.  I got to use some pink and glitter too! 

It is overwhelming to dive back in after being away from the scrap booking world for a while.  My plan is to take small steps.... Getting pictures organized and deciding on what stories are important to tell.  One great way to give yourself a jump start is to use magazines and books as inspiration.  I picked a layout that I loved  in a recent magazine, choose some pictures that would work on that layout, and just did it.  I find that I have to brush off the cobwebs at first to get in the "groove" again - but once I have started, it all starts to come back.

I actually have spent more time uploading, cropping, and ordering prints over the last week- BUT, my order just arrived in the mail this afternoon... And now I have a whole stack of memories waiting to be put on the pages!