Missing Princess

Kensington had her biggest highlight and let-down of our recent trip at Disney’s Magic Kingdom. As we entered the new Fantasyland, she became overly-excited at the sight of Rapunzel’s tower and insisted we go see it. As we were headed to our scheduled lunch with the Princesses (more to come on that soon) we told her we would have to come back. All she could talk about at lunch was going to see the tower. To be honest, we weren’t even sure if the tower was Rapunzel’s as we didn’t get a good look at it, but she was adamant that it was. After lunch we headed back in that direction and asked a cast member how to get to the tower. This is when we were told the devastating news… you can’t get to the tower. It’s floating in the forest and while you can see it from the village, you can’t go visit it. When we told this to her, she was heart-broken. Her entire body just shutdown. All she wanted to do was to visit her favorite princess, Rapunzel. Chris tried to console her, promising to give her anything that she wanted for her to put a smile on her face. It didn’t work. So she did what any young girl would do. She climbed up on the rock fence, turned toward the tower and yelled, “Rapunzel, let down your hair. Rapunzel, please let down your hair.” This caused a series of onlookers to take out their cameras to snap a picture of our own sad princess on the search for her dream.

This was the first scrapbook page I’ve done since getting our new Sizzix Eclipse. I couldn’t find anything to assist with the tower, so I created the SVG myself from an image I found online. You can download the free files here.

SVG Files:

Rapunzel Tower & Chevrons

Mickey Mouse Head

Rapunzel / Tangled Sun

The center of the sun (SVG also included) is a “gold doubloon” Kensi got from Jake and the Neverland Pirates Disney Jr. show.

This page is made up of:

Prism Stand Floss

Papers: Imaginisce’s “If the crown fits”; Kaiser Craft’s “Magic Happens” Collection; Glitz Design’s “Plum Crazy” Collection; My Mind’s Eye  Bohemia’s “Bluebird ‘All-Boy’ Stripes/Light Blue”

Embellishments: Prima Handmade Flowers; Recollections Floral Embellishments; Recollections Bling on a Roll; Making Memories {note}worthy trim and Paper Wizard’s “Princess” nameplate

 

 

 

 

 

Cowgirl Tough

After attending a recent Creating Keepsakes Scrapbook Convention (yes… I’m serious. We actually went to a two day convention), I decided that it was time to dust off my Cricut machine, catalog our embellishments and reorganize the craft room.

What I found while doing this was a project that I started in 2011 that I never completed. It goes back to a visit to Texas were Kensington and her cousin Roni went horseback riding at the BlackHawk River Ranch – where Roni worked as a ranch-hand. The issue that I ran across is that I have no clue as to the look I was going for. I couldn’t find my original sketch or an image of an existing layout that I saw that I was trying to replicate. After staring at it for more than thirty minutes I decided that I hated it. I started tearing the pictures off the page when Chris came in and asked me what I thought I was doing.

 

He tried to convince me to go back to the page and rework it, knowing that there is no wrong way to create a page.  Once he realized there was no turning back, he steered me in the direction of doing a shoestring project, using the inking and chalking techniques that I learned in one of my breakout sessions, as well as multiple layering techniques.

This is what I came up with. Notice the horseshoe I used for the letter "u". This was taken off the Christmas tree in the hotel that we stayed at the day that Kensi was born. I knew I wanted to keep it but didn't know how to display/preserve it. I think this is the perfect home for it. 

 

Now I only have 2 more layouts to compete for 2011, three for 2012, and then I can get started on her 2013 book. Onward and upward!

Happy Valentines Day... a day late.

Wow... so much to catch you up on - but unfortunately it won't be today. I'm just pooped. Within the past couple of days, Kensington has had a 'girls day out', a valentine's dinner with Rudy & Jorge (and family), a Taggies fashion show thanks to Pro, an afternoon with M2, a special How To Hug A Porcupine surprise and so much more. These are things I'll be posting about in the coming days. Stay tuned :)

The ends justify the means...

Whoo Hoo! Yesterday I actually bought something for myself. That's right... I went shopping and bought a new pair of Diesel jeans. The first personal purchase I've made in 36 days. But please don't judge me... I had to. Our daughter pee'd all over me. In public. So, the ends REALLY DO justify the means!


[click picture to enlarge]
Yesterday was a wonderful day (minus the pee incident). We hosted our Creative Memories event and Kensington was able to meet/see many new faces. Jackie and Jamie got their Kensi fix for the day, and are all ready in line for Wednesday's outing when I bring her to the office during lunch to meet the gang. Kensington got to play with her gal-pal Kat. They're already fighting over which one of them will get the best couture and walk down the runway first. It's tough. They're both gorgeous.

A couple week ago, I posted an entry about a great little contest that Brian and Steve had over at Book Dads, where someone could win a copy of "A Day With My Dad At The Beach" and our friend Nancy B. won it. Congrats!!! The cool thing is, Nancy gave the book to little Kensi yesterday at our gathering. Thanks Nancy, you're the best! I encourage everyone to check out Brian and Steve's site. They have another contest going on for two different books, Savvy by Ingrid Law & Rocket Man by William Elliott Hazelgrove.

As we were winding down the afternoon, Cindy had Miss K sleeping in her arms. I decided it would be best to change her before putting her in her car seat and heading to our next destination. So, in Dan's cubicle I laid down her changing mat and started to go to work. And so did she. Ha Ha. They all got a chuckle when she started to pee as I began to change her. Awe... this sucks. All over the changing pad and her cute little outfit. No worries. We brought additional outfits in case of any pee/spit up incidences. I grabbed her (diaper 1 off, diaper 2 now wet) and start to wet wipe her and take off her wet outfit (yes... she's a gusher). I now have her naked and clean, and all of a sudden I feel warmth running down my leg. Cindy, Kate and Laura literally scream with laughter. I too start laughing and then sudden fear struck me. I also need to pee and I'm laughing so hard (because I just got pee'd on in front of two of my employees - ones that will never let me lives this down), and I have such a weak bladder I knew that I would soon follow Kensington in her escapades. Thank God Chris rushed to grab Kensi (thanks team for your support) and I was able to avoid another embarrassing moment [which brought back memories of me peeing all over myself in High School, while on stage performing because I broke character and started laughing so hard I just started peeing, everywhere. I blame the large Dr. Pepper I had an hour before that from Burger King, as well as Beth, Amy and Dawn. I LITHTJB].

I already received a text message at 2:17 this morning that read "pee pee pants" and another one that said "how are you doing pee pee pants". Anyone looking for a job because I now have two openings on my team. No experience necessary. (Who's laughing now!)

So, it was off to Macy's to buy new jeans. As I go to pay for the items, I tell the associate that I don't need a bag, "I'm going Green". "Sir, I'd feel better if I could bag this for you. For security purposes." "Thanks, but really, it's a waste... you see (as I have the diaper bag covering me), my daughter pee'd all over me and I'm about to go into your changing room and out these on."

"Oh my..., well let me take off all of the tags and I'll give you a bag anyway to put your old jeans in".

I let her win.

There must have been some magic...

In that old silk hat we found,

For when they placed it on her head,

She began to dance around... Kensi the Snowgirl,

Was alive as she could be.

And the children say, She could laugh and play...

Just the same as you and me!

This outfit was supposed to be a gag gift from Kate, Jordan, Dan, Kiki and Cindy (along with the wonderful toys and gift card they bought Kensington's vibrating crib mattress). They saw it at Babies R Us and thought it was hideous, so they bought it thinking we'd hate it... but would never tell them because we'd wouldn't want to hurt their feelings (do they know me?!?!). When we opened it up, EVERYONE (with the exception of them) LOVED it. Our nephew, Mason, was the first to have an oppurtunity to wear it and he looked so adorable... so we couldn't wait for Kenis's turn.

Only one small glitch. The outfit is 0-9 months (okay... like that makes sense!!!). With the eight inches of snow we had this past weekend, it would be the perfect time to have her in the outfit. So while Chris was outside shoveling and snow blowing for an three hours on Sunday, I dressed her up - but she still to tiny to fill it out, so yes team... we'll be holding on to this outfit for another cold winter season, and for Christmas next year, will be making all of you Kensi the Snowgirl apparel that I will be expecting you to wear in the office. Lets just say I'll be making this part of your goals and evaluation process as being a 'team player' :o)

The cute pink backdrop is her monogrammed blanket, which she loves to sleep with. It's sooooo soft. Thanks Karen in Massachusetts!!!

The quickpage used for the picture above is from Raspberry Road Designs. Please check out all of the amazing pieces Susan Darter has put together.

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow...

Today Chris and I drove back up to New York to visit with our bio-parents. The drive took much longer than expected because of the winter weather that hit. Silly me... I took the word of our weather man that said the storm would pass and only leave us with rain - not the snow and sleet that actually came.

On the way up, Chris and I finalized the baby's name. We had the first name down, but ended up toying with middle names for about 5 hours and found one that we both agreed on. Thank God that's over with!!!

Once we arrive in their town, we called to let them know that we were down the road and they met us outside and we headed to Denny's (which, BTW, they have FANTASTIC new pancake puppies... like hush puppies, but battered and sprinkled with yummy goodness!)

When our birth monther got into the car, she had a pillow for Duncan... something our vet asked that they provide - a blanket, pillow, old shirt... something with Sara's scent on it so Duncan could get used to it and help him adjust to the baby. She also had a memory box that we'd talked about decorating together. She opened the box and took out a small rabbit. It was her childhood toy that her mother had made for her. She asked us if we could put it in the baby's nursery. The funny thing is, the theme of our nursery, How To Hug A Porcupine, has a similiar white rabbit in it.

We got to Denny's and she took out her journal and turned to her page that had two questions written in pencil... oh God, I think I know where this is going.


"So, what are your thoughts on a post-adoption agreement?" I choked on my pancake-puppie.
This was the question we'd been waiting on... but assumed that the lawyers were going to handle it - and the tried... they really did, but when they initiated the conversation, she wasn't ready for it, and we totally understood the time that she'd need.

Recent changes in New York law have brought about a lot of challenges for everyone affected by adoption. In a nutshell, one of the new laws states that in a New York agency adoption, if there is an agreement between the adoptive family and birth family to stay in contact after the placement of the baby, that is to be legally binding, and this agreement must be approved by the court.

Chris took the lead in the conversation and we came up with an agreement that benefited all 5 of us. The agency requires pictures once a year... the relationship that we've created clearly goes beyond what many couple go through, and we told them we'd do them quarterly for the first two years and then, we'd meet to discuss where we're all at emotionally and physically. The same with face-to-face visits... we'd agree on twice a year (and hope that her friends and sister would come as well) for the first two years - the first meeting being at Friends In Adoption annual family picnic - After two years, we'd discuss and agree on future visits and the frequency of them. In addition, if our bio-parents ever want an update, all they have to do is ask.

That... was the easy question. Next came:

"So, have you two thought of a name?"

Oh My God... do we tell them? What if they HATE it!??!? What if they have something in mind - that we HATE?!?!?

"If you haven't... it's okay. We can come up with something... but if you had something in mind, that's fine too." Chris and I look at each other. "Well, it's funny you bring that up. It's something that we've talked about since you two chose us. We couldn't agree on anything until really today. On the way up here. We'd really like to name her xxxxx xxxxx. The name, for us, means xxxxxxxxxxxxxx. Do you like? [beads of sweat start to trickle down my forehead]

"Oh... I do. That's one of the things we talked about - selecting a name with a meaning."

"Waitress... Check, please" before any other questions could come up :)

We headed to a small scrapbooking store close to her house to work on the memory box, but as we pulled up we saw the "For Rent" sign that hung on the front door.

So, we headed to Michaels about 20 minutes away. Once we got in, Chris talked to the manager and told him our situation... and he offered up his training room to the four of us. We wlaked up and down the aisles picking up papers and embellishments, ribbons and buttons, wood forms and stencils. We had a blast picking out items... not only did we buy supplies of the memory box and our scarbook pages today, but we made sure she had the supplies to do future pages for pictures that we send them. The employees at Micheals could not have been more helpful. We used their scissors and cutting boards, we went into their training box and took out the tools that we needs... and we able to have a fun experience and helped the four of us bond.

Below you'll see our layouts. The blue boxed will be replaced with pictures (they'r just a place holder).