Deciding to homeschool/unschool your kids is a bit like those early weeks of being pregnant (stay with me here...) in that something monumental is happening... Life has suddenly completely changed course. It's huge. But no one else can see it yet.
I remember being a couple months pregnant and wanting everyone to know, wanting to shake people by the arms and shout- SOMETHING AMAZING IS BREWING. MY LIFE WILL NEVER BE THE SAME.
But strangers wouldn't really care. It was huge for me- and, this- this decision- is huge for me and my family- but won't really effect anyone else. It's just such a major thing for us, that it feels like the change should be visible. Can't you see it in us? Can't you see the shift we've made? The new direction we are taking our lives and our family?
(I have written and trashed and rewritten a whole long thing about how we came to this decision- but I feel like so much of it is Keaton's story, and not mine to tell. And I don't want to list our reasons and then feel like I need to defend those reasons. So there's that. It just is. Our new, our life changing. Here we go...)
For the past month the Creative Team was asked to go back to the basics- strip away all the extra and show how simple and easy Project Life really makes documenting your life. (I'm not a huge embelisher when it comes to PL- so this wasn't a huge challenge for me... I am all about keeping it simple!) The other requirement? Use only cards from one core kit. Also pretty easy- especially cuz I got to pull some files and use the Rain edition- yay! It was cool to see it in action. (I've dabbled in using my own kit- printing the design files I have as photos- but this time I had a bunch printed on cardstock- and it made it so much more real. Very cool.)
So, without further chit chat...
Here is April (it was a bit of a weather rollercoaster as you will see...)
(above is the week including Keaton's birthday insert- and below without)
(this spread showcases our crazy random last minute "escape the crappy weather rodadtrip to Iowa" with a friend and her two girls- who are the same age as Keaton and Ollie... Hello adventure! It does not however showcase an adorable photo of the fabulous Jen Geigley who I finally got to meet IRL, cuz I was strung out on travel weirdness and was super lame and didn't even think to snag a shot of the two of us together. Boo to me!)
and the other side of the insert with photos from Keaton's teeny friend birthday party (he only invited three friends- and one had to cancel last minute due to snow. YEP. Epic snowstorm on April 18th. Just for fun.)
this spread has my favorite insert so far... see the bit that says "Tuesday" ? Yep- more snow. Lots. Keaton woke up and looked out his window and said "Mama! Can I go shovel?" And I couldn't even believe it. It would have been funny at this point in the year if it weren't so epically unending winter crazymaking (I know that's not a real sentence...but words fail me when describing all the snow we've had. Super weird. How about that? better?)
BUT- flip to the other side of the insert- and you will see that three days later- it was so sunny and hot that the boys are playing in the dirt, wearing shorts and t's and sunhats... while I basked and read a book on the deck. HUZZAH! But also super weird.
And that is April folks... Thanks for peeking. It was awesome to get to put my Rain kit into action. What was that? You want to play with Rain, too? Well I have good news friend-o! It is available starting today through AC Digitals. (I am actually writing this Sunday evening and future pubbing it because I will be gone up to the cabin starting Monday bright and early- so I don't have an exact link for you- but you should be able to find it pretty easily on their site)
More? You want more goodies? If you haven't already- head over to the Splendid Fiins facebook page- click like- and then Fan Freebies up in the top-ish right corner- there is a set of PL cards that perfectly coordinate with the Rain kit. Use alongside the digi kit if that's how you roll- or print them out and stare at them longingly, dreaming of the day (SOON!) when you can get your mitts on the physical print kit. (Which I just found out last night- will be sold in Archiver's! Insert cartwheel here!)
Happy interNational Scrapbooking Day! Hooray! Scrapbooking all up in your face.
Lots is happening around here and all over the interwebs. I will highlight a few briefly- ready?
Freebies anyone? (who doesn't love free?)
(click above to be taken to the Splendid Fiins facebook fan page)
want more delights?
everything in my shop is now at least 30% off through May 6th (some bundles are even more discounted!). And just today 50 products are making their Lilypad debut! Check. It. Out.
check out Pick Your Prize... post a pic and link to your fave Splendid Fiins product- and you just might win it!
there's Pin It to Win It... pin your favorite products for a chance to win them all!
And there are loads more games and challenges and contests over on the Lilypad forums.
So grab lots of loot, play lots of games, win lots of prizes- and have a blast this weekend!
And finally... mayhaps you have seen the video from the Project Life Creative team- sharing our tips and tricks. It's strung together with snippets from each of the team members. And it's super cool to see everyone and hear their voices. Love it. We were told to just shoot and send in 15 seconds. Sounds easy, right? HA! Get ready for some behind the scenes flubbery. It's loaded with unflattering angles, weird faces, lots of hair fixing and a misquote from "Don't Let the Pigeon Stay Up Late"
