this is our happily ever after

2014 Project Life (January)

This year (and the last half of 2013) I am documenting life one month at a time.  I love the idea of completing layouts for each week, but that just doesn't work for my life right now.  

I plan on writing a blog post about my process when choosing photos, ordering photos, and creating a layout, but for now here are some visuals of the January layouts in our Project Life album.  

I have 6 more weeks of Summer Break and it is my goal to be caught up by the time I return to teaching in mid-August.  I also really need to work on Karsten's baby/toddler/childhood album, but let's take this one thing at a time!  

This is the title page of our Project Life album.  I have a lot of kits to pull from, but I'm really loving Strawberry right now!

 

Design A pocket pages are always my base, but I also really like adding Design G to highlight events that I have more photos of.  I typically take vertical and horizontal photos, so this design works well for me. 

This Design G page holds photos of my Dad taking K to the putting green in our neighborhood.  I treasure these photos and wanted to highlight them in the album.

 

Just everyday life photos...nothing fancy

 

That cute pink flag is from EmilyLey.com...I bought them to use in my Simplified Planner, but they also are perfect for Project Life!

Another Design G insert to highlight a winter trip to the beach

 

Like so many...I have loved documenting my life using my iphone 4s and Instagram.  I actually find it kind rather addicting.  I knew I wanted to include some of them in my album and the best way I found was to print them as 3x3 squares using Persnickety Prints.  Now, this is not the cheap way of doing things, so make sure that what you print you plan on using!  I threw a few away and will plan my layouts a little better next time, so as not to waste!  When tryint to place them in the Design F pocket pages they were a bit too snug, so I trimmed off just a tiny part of each side.  To keep the style clean and simple I just used the 3x4 grid cards to write a brief description of the photo.  I actually used one grid card for 2 photos...the photo on the front and the photo on the back.  

I am thankful that I love my handwriting...I know this is a hang up for many!  I had terrible handwriting as a young child and worked one summer and improving it....it's transformed over the years and some days (and with some pens) it's better than others...I used my black LePen for all of this journaling....these are my favorite pens ever!!!  

 

 

I used two Design F pages for instagram photos and filled them with greys, black,and yellow fillers cards.  I even used some hashtags for certain photos....because that's something I do on Instagram.  Will we still be hastaging in 5 years, who knows...but it's part of my daily life right now, so why not!

 

These pages are pretty simple, very few embellishments, but that's fine with me.  At this point, I just want to tell stories and get photos in pockets.  Check out my other Project Life pages and  see how my style has evolved.  Hopefully next week I'll have February complete and ready to share!   

photographing the details of life

This past weekend I took a bit of time to look through some older blog posts to help  me focus on the direction of my blog over the summer.  You wouldn't know it by my lack of blogging recently, but one of my focuses of 2014 is to grow my blog readership, share more of my story, and challenge my readers to focus on their blessings.

One of my favorite things to photograph are the details of everyday life.  Recently I've found myself using my iphone camera more and more...it's easy, it's with me almost all the time, and frankly it takes great photos.  I love the "pic-tap-go" app to edit photos!  

Tips for taking detail shots:

• Zoom in
• kneel down or even lie on your stomach
• look for the small moment in a big story

Here's some inspiration to get you thinking about the little details of life

washi tape---love this stuff and use it all the time

 

 

edamame---a healthy snack

 

Close up shot of your child

Art supplies at a recent Mom's Night Out

 

Easel and blank canvas at the Mom's Night Out

Stack of papers waiting to be graded

Sunset on a recent road trip

 

Recycling basket

 

Zoe enjoying some sunshine

Not only do I take lots of photos each month I print them and document them too.  I use the Project Life system to store and journal about my photos.  This summer I will be catching up on my 2014 album and sharing my pages here!  

You can also see my everyday photos on my instagram account at angelaemoore  follow me!

Dear Karsten (3 years old!)

Dear Karsten---

I sit here on the eve of your 3rd Birthday in complete awe of the fact that you're turning 3 in just hours!  What a year it has been!!!  You have matured in more ways than I can even express.  I just read the letter I wrote to you when you turned 2 and it said that you were saying more than 60 words.  Now, sweet boy, you talk in complete sentences!  Your vocabulary blows my mind on a daily basis.  You know the names of countless ocean animals, dinosaurs, and other things like thunderstorms and rain clouds. You make connections between things you've seen on tv and things you see in real life.  You make connections between things you've read and things you've experienced.  It's remarkable to see how your brain works!  

You're quite the naturalist and LOVE being outdoors.  You enjoy collecting rocks and picking flowers for Mommy!  Whenever you go for a walk with Daddy you have to stop and pick me "flowers".  You put them in your pocket and then proudly deliver them to me when you get home! You win me over everyday with your sweet face, thoughtfulness, and snuggles.  

You love spending time with Daddy, playing with trains, kicking the soccer ball, or attacking Mommy with dinos!  Daddy is your best buddy, but you are undoubtably a Momma's Boy!  You love giving and receiving snuggles every morning, afternoon, and evening.  I hope and pray that we continue having a close relationship as you grow and mature.  

At 3 years old your current obsessions are playing with your trains, dinos, and watching Octonauts.  You continue to love books and your current favorite is Llama Llama Misses Mama.  We have to read it every night and you can pretty much echo everything I read!  You play very independently with your trains and other toys, but as soon as Daddy gets home you want him to play with you.  

You are very active, but you also know how to kick back and relax!  When we get home from school you like to take off your shoes, lay on the couch, and watch Octonauts or Dinosaur Train.  

Your favorite foods are chicken nuggets, pizza, yogurt, fruit, and pretty much any junk food that I will allow.  One of my biggest goals for this next year is to alter your eating habits, making you a more well rounded eater!  Tonight we had a birthday cake for you, but wouldn't let you eat it until you had eaten some of your grilled chicken.  You were very uninterested in the chicken until you saw the cake and knew you wouldn't get any until you ate the chicken.  I've never seen you put chicken into your mouth so fast!  We were all laughing hysterically!  I learned a valuable lesson....you will eat your dinner if dessert follows!  

This year you began school.  You have learned so much and made some great friends!  I love seeing you every afternoon at dismissal and talking to you about your day.  You always make sure to tell me who had a potty accident or who got into trouble!  Mac is your best friend at school and I loved seeing the two of you play together on your field trip!  

You are working really hard at potty training!  We just stopped putting pull ups on you during the day and you only have had a couple of accidents since then.  This is a huge milestone and I know you have great satisfaction when you go on the potty!  You're such a big boy!  

You continue to get cuter and cuter every day.  You captivate people around you with your charm and smile.  People tell me all the time how cute you are!  You are so special!  

Some of your Karstenisms are:

saying "I can't want that" when you mean "I don't want that"

saying "ish" for "fish"...still, to this day....though he can say his "f" sound

saying "I want__________________"  all the time

running around before your bath yelling "naked boy!"

wanting to play games on "mommy's phone"

saying that you "want a snack"... first thing in the morning

wondering what a particular "moise" aka noise is

pointing out construction sites while driving around

Showing me things in real life and then saying "like my book" because we've read a book with the same thing in it. 

You continue to be our greatest delight.  You bring so much laughter and joy to our lives and we couldn't imagine our lives without your bright smile.  I thank God every day that He allowed me to be your Mommy. 

I love you with all my heart Bugsy!!!

Love always,

Mommy (and Daddy)

To see more Dear Karsten letters click here and scroll down

my love of instagram

Back in November Brian and I entered into the 21st century and got iphones!  For better or worse, our lives are forever changed!!  

As you know I'm an avid photographer.  I take pictures of the littlest things in life and the biggest moments.  BUT...I do not take my Canon 7D with me everywhere I go. It's way too cumbersome.  I do however have my phone with me pretty much all of the time.  I love the iphone because it has a pretty good camera and this helps me to capture moments throughout my day.  

The first app I put on my phone was the instagram app.  By nature I'm a sharer...I like to share my life with people (thus having this blog for over 7 years).  I love being able to share even more glimpses of my life through Instagram.  

I also really like some of the filters that Instagram has.  These filters can quickly add mood to a photograph or alter a photo to make it more appealing.  

I've added a link to my instagram page over on the sidebar.  If you're on instagram feel free to follow me.  

Here are a few of my favorite moments captured on instagram.

100th Day of school last week

 

 

These two love each other, especially when it's cold outside!

We spent last Saturday researching playgrounds for our backyard.

Cool story about this instagram photo.  I added an #ikea #raskogcart hashtag when I posted it and #ikeausa used it on their instagram stream one day last week.  I had also #projectlife hashtagged it and Becky Higgins also shared it.  So many people left comments that they were goint to go buy this cart.  I really think that Ikea owes me a free one!  #ifonlythatweretrue

moments with my sweetest little boy

Karsten at his first swimming lesson

 

Mr. Happy in the car

 

**Note---I rarely post something on instagram the moment it happens.  I am trying to be more conscience about not posting where I am at any given time.  Sadly, there are people who use social media as a means to track/stalk people.  I certainly have NOT been victim to this, but I don't want to open my family up to this possiblity.  When you see that I've posted a picture of somewhere we are I'm really sharing somewhere we've BEEN.***

 

happiness is...a boy at the park

We headed out of town for a few days after Christmas.  My sweet (and newly engaged) cousin Jessica allowed us to spend time at her house while she was away.  It's so nice to have a home to stay in while away. 

Though I was wanting to go shopping in Wimberly I knew my little guy would be much happier at the local park, so that's what we did.  

Nothing makes this boy happier than being outdoors; climbing, jumping, running.  

 

 

we ended our time at the park with a train ride....and then went back to Jessica's where K took a 3 hour nap!!!  Oh, the power of fresh air!

Glimpses of Christmas 2013

We've just returned from a long weekend away in the Hill Country of Texas where we went to Sea World, shopped in Gruene, saw the foundation for my parent's new home, had brunch with Kelly, and spent some family time relaxing.  

It was wonderful.

Before I jump into the excitement that a new year always holds for me I wanted to take a blog post and dedicate it to all things Christmas in our home this year.  The decorating and celebrating.  This is basically a whole month's worth of life in one post....there may be a few dozen photos...you've been warned!

We decorated for Christmas as soon as Thanksgiving was over.  

Karsten was fascinated by the nativity.  This particular nativity was purchased by my Mom in Bethlehem...it's pretty special!  Several times during this past month the animals or the baby Jesus would be found among Karsten's train tracks!  Toddlers are so fun...and mischievious!

 

My Mom made this Beary Merry Christmas for my brother and I when we were little.  There's a little stuffed bear that  you move each day of December.  Karsten loved this new tradition and I'm so glad my Mom saved it for him!  It hung in his room and each night he would move the bear before bed.

 

He was also a big fan of moving ornaments around on the tree.  He has his own tree in his playroom, but as soon as "mommy's tree" (as he referred to it) went up then he wanted to move all of his ornaments to my tree and then he would move them around each day.

 

I love capturing shots of his hands at work...one of my favorite things to photograph!

 

I

 

I was big into burlap this Christmas...I found new stockings for Brian and I at Target (on sale) and made a quick banner out of burlap flags I found at Hobby Lobby.  One of my Christmas presents from my Mom was this beautiful angel made out of wood, burlap, and metal!  I love her!

I adhered the JOY onto our wall using command strips....it may or may not come down after Christmas!  

Christmas cookies

 

Christmas cactus and bokeh...always a favorite

 

Karsten's first experience with Christmas ads!

 

 

Looking at Christmas lights

addressing over 100 Christmas cards

Zoe and string...I used alot of this string in gift wrapping this year.  It looked cute with kraft paper.  I got the whole spool at Hobby Lobby for less than $3!

 

one big hot Christmas wrapping paper/present mess!

 

Christmas Eve at my aunt and uncle's...Karsten was excited to open presents!

Michael and Emily (parents to be!)

 

Karsten received some of those capsules that you dissolve to reveal different shaped sponges.  Much of Christmas Eve was doing this!

 

Christmas Morning--I like the idea of something being unwrapped under the tree, but Brian wanted K's two big gifts to be wrapped, so I chose to just take this little Ikea toy out of it's package and set it under the tree.  Karsten spent 10 minutes pulling it around...he was clueless about what was in store for him within the gift wrap!

 

a new soccer ball

which of course was put to use immediately

 

One of his big gifts

 

who's more excited???  

 

a firetruck!!!

 

 

the extended ladder is taller than he is!

 

hey look....I was there too!

 

dinos

 

His last big gift....Tidmouth Sheds (a part of the Thomas the Train collection)  He was so excited about this and has played with it every day for at least an hour!

The next day we played with this fishing game which I might say is quite tricky!

He also took his firetruck outside the next day and Brian put water in the reservoir and then they pumped the water out.  If you look closely you can see the stream of water....it goes really far!

it's also a good water fountain for the t-rex

So that pretty much sums up the Christmas Season in our home!  I'm always excited as Christmas approaches, but I'm equally excited about the beginning of a new year.  That's what tomorrow's blog post will be about!  Check back!

family photos

I've been wanting to have a professional photographer take photos of our family since adopting Karsten, but it never made it to the top of the priority list until this year.  As someone who admires great photography I knew I needed to find just the right photographer for our family.  Two friends of mine have used Jen at Photojenic and I've always loved the pictures they took away from their sessions.  

So, a few weeks ago B and I took the day off work and had photos taken with Karsten.  We had a mini session, so she only photographed us for 30 minutes, but she caught some great shots.  She shot outside of her adorable studio where she had an old teal truck and lots of other great backgrounds.  I was in photography heaven!  

I'll let the photos speak for themselves...they capture us perfectly....a whole lot of sweetness and silliness!

Every year I hope to capture a photo of us reading a book to him.  Reading is a big part of our home!   He is so into trains right now that I wanted a book to capture that!  

 

can't you just see how much they adore each other!!!

heart....in....a....puddle  (probably my favorite shot from the entire photo shoot!)

 

Loved this vintage yellow scooter...and the metal building behind her studio!

 

 

 

 

I love how she captured our family.  The reason for all the tickling was that Karsten kept wanting to put on his serious face because he wasn't quite sure what was going on...we had to keep him smiling!

He was NOT thrilled with having his shirt, shoes, and socks taken off for this shot, but man it turned out cute!  She captured his pouty face perfectly!

 

The Dallas Arboretum

While we were in Dallas a couple of weekends ago we visited the Dallas Arboretum.  Ever since seeing a photo of their pumpkin display online it has been on my bucket list.  I will let the photos speak for themselves.  It was a photographers haven...I took hundreds of photos...these are my favorites.  

 

I've never seen so many pumpkins and gourds in one place!

 

Braedon, Caroline, Karsten---Cousins

our little "ductor" aka conductor

Though he was feeling puny for Halloween I was relieved to have photos of him in his Halloween costume. His love for trains made this year's costume an easy decision: a train conductor.  Striped overalls, a conductors hat, and we were set!  I also appreciate the fact that he can wear all of these components over and over...so no wasted $$

Last weekend we drove up to Rusk, Texas; Home of the Texas State Railroad."  We took a 30 minute train ride to a "pumpkin patch"/Fall festival and then back to the train station. Brian's brother and his family joined us for this adventure.  

He wasn't so sure about the train live and in person, but he seemed to enjoy the ride.

chris shanda braedon

playing with camera....kinda cool

he's in this phase where he doesn't want to look at the camera...lil stinker!

best photo from the day

a steam train chugging by

cute fact: whenever Karsten sees a RR crossing sign he says "ding ding"

After about 2 hours of playing and eating we got back on the train....it was a fun day and I would recommend it those families who have kids who like trains.  Next year we'll probably go back for the Polar Express Train Ride

2013 Project Life (week 17-22)

Week 17 (April)  after a week full of festivities it was nice to have a quiet week

Week 18

Week 19

Week 20

Week 21

Week 22