Things Are Good...

Yep, things here are good.  There is a lot going on and we're dealing with stuff, but things just FEEL good.  I always like it when that happens.  To feel good even when life isn't perfect.

So the last few days have been nice.  On Tuesday Alaina and I went on a date with my friend Debbie and her daughter, Sarah.  Sarah, who is 16, has been one of the biggest blessings this past year.  She has loved Alaina like a sister and Alaina has soaked it up.  Both their faces just light up when they see each other.  I love seeing someone else love my daughter.  I did a LO a while back of them...here it is again.

Don't they look SOOOOO happy together?  It will be so sad to have to say goodbye when we move.  It is going to break all our hearts.

Then on Wednesday I took some time out by myself.  Well, I wasn't really by myself, I had Levi with me, but he slept the whole time so that doesn't really count.  It was WONDERFUL.  I really, really needed some time OUT OF THE HOUSE and time ALONE.  So, first I went and got a yummy HOT CHAI LATTE from Coffee Bean.  Mmmm. My favorite. Then, I went shopping (and my husband went and had a massage!)  I got lots of little (and fun) things.  I picked up some new clothes for Levi.  Even though he doesn't really NEED anything, I am a third child so I am very aware of the hand-me-down syndrome.  And even though he would never know that everything he has has been worn by Caleb, I know.  I think every kid needs things that are just theirs.  So, I picked up a few shirts and a few outfits.  Boy clothes are REALLY hard to find here, so I couldn't get much.  But I did find the cutest little OLD NAVY sweat suit for him which will be perfect for when we go back to the States.  (By the way, no, we do not have OLD NAVY here.  We have a few stores that sell reject clothing and I pick up lots of OLD NAVY goodies there.)  I also picked up some new PJ's for all the kids.  Usually I cannot do the tacky matching thing but 1) I LOVE Old Navy PJ's and they had them in all three sizes I needed and 2) I know the kids will LOVE having matching PJ's.  So I'll save those for this summer as well.

Let's see, what else did I get?  Oh, I bought a bunch of little art supplies for the kids...pads of thick paper, some new paint brushes, some colored pencils, and stamping pads.  Caleb really surprised me the other day by wanting to join Alaina and me as we were doing watercolors.  So after our fun painting session I thought some new supplies were in order. 

And then I got a few things for ME!  Yea!  I bought myself a new light green zip-up hoodie which I love.  I picked up a new Jodie Piccoult book, too.  I read a few of her books a few years ago when we were in India but haven't read anything since.  It should give me something to do while I feed Levi!  And my favorite purchase... SCRAPBOOKS ETC. DESIGN SECRETS!  My sweet friend Vicki lent me hers after I had Levi and I knew right away it was something I wanted to own.  But, finding things like that here is HARD.  But, I found one!  And you know what the best thing is?  The price.  Now a lot of things are cheaper here in Malaysia. But imported things are much more expensive.  In KL I had to pay almost $10 for a CK Magazine.  But for some reason, magazines put out by BHG are only Rm9 ($2.40)!!  That's right.  Just under $2.50 for a magazine with a cover price of $12.95!  Now that makes up for my $10 purchase of a $5.99 CK, doesn't it?

Okay, a few LO's before I go. First is another one of Levi.  Another scrapper did a LO a while back of her little guy.  She had pix from the first 12 months with his bear.  I loved it and knew I wanted to do a similar one.  So, before Levi was born I bought a bear.  Then I decided that in addition to the complete LO a year from now, I would use these pictures for a month-by-month series of Lo's too.  Here is the inspiration piece...

And here is my first LO...

Here is a LO I did using Gina Miller's new GARDEN TREASURES (v.2).  It is a LO in honor of my big sis, Sally.  I have no idea if she reads this blog or not.  So Sally, if you are reading this, hope you enjoy it.  Love you.

And one I just did tonight.  Just a fun and playful LO using Mandabean's CLOWN-O-RAMA kit.  Love my little girls smile!

Oh, and look what I get to play with this weekend!!!  This is SWEET MINDY'S new kit, THANK HEAVEN.  I can't wait to use it...I've had a LO idea in my head for a while and this will be perfect.  I have the journaling all worked out and I think I picked a photo, and now all I need is a design.  Keep watching!

Comments

[Erika]

What a fun post! Your day out by yourself sounds great and you got some wonderful goodies. I'm assuming the hoodie will be for America :-) I'll be praying for you as you transition, transition, transition! Sounds like you are doing well, which is wonderful! Your pages are beautiful, as usual! Hope you're having a good Saturday.

[Kellie]

Janet, thank you thank you thank you for your post! There are two stores that carry Scrapbooks etc, and since I haven't been to either one in a while. But after I read your post, I thought, I'd better check and see if they have Design Secrets, because they normally only carry like one copy of the magazine, so I have to be fast to get it, and when I get there, not only do they have Design Secrets, but the OTHER book that I had in my cart at ideabooks4u.com...BHG Photography! So I got $25 worth of books for $5!!! Plus I saved shipping! I'm so excited.

I love your layout of Levi with the teddy bear; he is too cute!