In The Cat Cave

Well, inspired by Cheryl's comment to give myself more room in my scrap room by putting away my holiday paper... I decided that this week I need to find a way to finish up my 2011 Christmas layouts before the next Christmas season comes upon us.  I only have about 3 layouts that I would like to do but I just keep avoiding them because I can't find anything to match them... it just seems like a huge job.

Anyways, we'll see if I can achieve that sucker.  I'd also like to complete the pagemaps challenge.  Anything else is bonus!!

Jane, who just turned two is now officially home with me in the day time.  We took her out of daycare as I am off on mat/sick leave.  My husband, Ryan also works in the evenings and weekends so it was a good time for Ryan to hang out with her and save some money.  Lord knows that mat leave is not lucrative! The point is that I won't be able to get my projects done in the days.

On another note, our family just laid our grandfather to rest.  This has been quite sad but he lived a full life living to be 82.  Ironically, on Saturday I was commissioned with the task of putting together the collage that would be at the funeral home.  Now this was not a beautiful piece of art but was literally getting as many pictures up on a magnetic board as possible.  In the end, all the grandchildren were huddled around boxes of old photos that my grandmother had kept for many years without putting them in albums. The pictures brought back so many great memories and was an amazing thing to do with the family. The experience is something I will appreciate more down the road then at this time because its still a little too close to home that we lost our beloved. The one big question that was often asked was "is that.. Dad...Uncle Wayne? etc". "who is that?" "when was that".  So, it brought out the importance of labelling pictures.  (in my head I am thinking.. ITS SUCH A BIG JOBBBBBBBB). So, on my next layout relating to a family meal (one of my Christmas promises) I am vowing to write who is sitting at the dinner table. And also vowing to remember to label more often than not.

Wow, I meant this to be a quick post.  So, anyway, here's my Christmas Eve layout.  This is not based off a sketch and generally uses the 'Saint Nick' collection from Fancy Pants, which I always love but can never find anything to match!