Christmas in July

Just before I leave for summer holidays, I am putting a request out there - anyone want to join me in this project for December? I would love to come up with a design, and spend an evening (or two or three) putting it together with some friends...any takers? I have been doing Project 365 (a picture of the day challenge), and although it has taken a bit of self-discipline, it is such a great way to remember every day family and big events in such an easy way. I see the December daily as much the same, except that those important family traditions, recipes, etc will be in the form of a (beautiful) mini-book. I would have loved to see something like this passed down from my grandmother (can you imagine the power in that). Let me know if you are interested...

On another note - we are off today. We have a day ahead of cleaning and packing and making lists and crossing things off (and I have to make a side trip to Urban Scrapbook - the new Cosmo Cricket line is in, and probably will be gone by the time I come back...). We are so looking forward to getting away and reconnecting as a family outside of the everyday jumble of life. Oh, the ocean will smell so very, very sweet!

My Favourite at the Capital Ex Parade

So call me cynical, but I really disliked the whole "corporate advertisement" at the Capital Ex parade...it was so horribly obvious (kind of like the placement of the coke cans in all those 80's movies). The kids enjoyed the floats, but I'm not sure if I will be back next year or not. On the flip side, I met an 72 year old fairy clown who was the sweetest woman around and there was some comic relief throughout the parade, which came in the form of magnetic signs placed on the street cleaners after each horse exhibit. I couldn't resist - I had to take pictures and post them.

Weekend Bliss

We just got back from up north, after spending a (very wet) weekend camping, celebrating Derek and Megan's wedding, drinking quite a bit of wine, visiting with family and dancing until the cows came home (or rather, when the children needed to get to bed...). We were shocked when we drove into the city this afternoon and saw so much destruction, and were even more shocked when we found our patio table turned upsidedown, smashed into a few million pieces 15 feet from where we had left it on Friday. Quite the surprise!!

I am sad to say that the JS Photoshop class is all finished...here is the day 14 project. What I love about doing this on the computer is the fact that there is no clean up whatsoever...what I don't like is the lack of sensory stimulation. So, it is official, I am a hybrid scrapbooker - I love digital and I love traditional...here's the image I am going to use for a layout in the very near future. BTW - Eden took a few of these pics...love that she has a great eye for some very cool shots.

Such joy

It has been a crazy feeling here over the last few days - such amazing joy and happiness and love and gratitude and all around. Such an amazing gift, this joy...


(picture by Sheri Colautti...an amazing Edmonton photographer)

Mike made it home safe and sound yesterday evening, and there was celebration all around! Last week I had a horrible dream about Mike walking too close to the edge of a waterfall for the "perfect" shot, slipping and dying (needless to say, I was a little nervous about him leaving); I was shocked when he showed me his pictures, and the exact scene from my dream was there, on his pictures. I am thankful for the angels that held his feet in place... Glad to have him home!! Surprisingly, we have a great weekend hanging out with friends and family - Kim's husband was gone as well, and both our kids and us had a wonderful time! So thanks Kim!! Here is the cutest pic of Ephraim and Naomi (2 total heartbreakers in the making!!):

On another note, I have always wanted to use this quote with a picture, and thanks to JS and her great course, I finally have an excuse to use it!! The setting: the morning of Eden's birthday, just a few minutes after she rides her new bike for the first time. The inevitable fall, and Eden looking so forlorn. I love this picture, I love this girl and I love the emotion.

Just wanted to remind everyone that life really is quite precious...just in case you need a reminder, because I know I do every now and again.

Day 6

I was so excited to find a Day 6 link in my inbox this morning for the photoshop class (it is Saturday after all...a great surprise!!), so I sat down for a few minutes and altered this picture that I have from when I was baptized. I don't have many pictures of myself as a child (being the fifth child down the line wasn't great for photo ops, I'm sure!!), so this one is pretty close to my heart. I love it that it is just my mom and I...again, those moments were few and far between. And now I love it even more!!

Missing Mike

The first full 24 hours have passed, and I have survived...Mike is backpacking this weekend with a bunch of friends, and is {probably} at this moment, freezing his arse up half-way up a mountain in Yoho. :) We had a full day today, and it looks like we are going to be busy the rest of the weekend as well.

I snuck in a little time to finish Day 5 of the photoshop online course - today's lesson was on layering textures. Here is what I came up with:

I hope I stay a little warmer tonight!

Hmmmm...

I am supposed to be reading commentaries on 1 Samuel, but discovered the "Edward" version of the Twilight Series here, unfortunately got caught up in the story and now have a lot of not so exciting reading to do. Maybe I'll be surprised...

Oh...and here is day four's challenge. Can you tell I love this kid?

07/08/09 @ 10:11:12

Here's what I was doing this morning at 10:11:12...

I just started a mini class with the pastor at our church studying the book of 1 Samuel. We read through the whole book this morning, and hope to do some indepth study for the next few mornings.

And I'm pretty sure I will be playing on photoshop tonight at 10:11:12...taking a great online course from jessica sprague focussing on photo editing and it is FABULOUS!!! Here's a before and after picture {of the cutest kid on the face of this earth, I might add}

Here is the before picture...

And here is the altered photo with a 'vintage' feel. LOVE IT!!

6-7-8-9-10-11-12...

Today is a special day here at the Stolte's...our little girl has turned 6! Seems like just yesterday when we held her for the first time. Crazy how time flies!! We bought her a new two-wheeler for her birthday, and she couldn't have been more pleased...





On another note...what a cool idea!!


Check out liz's website for a fun idea...have your camera ready this Wednesday (at 10:11) to snap a shot of yourself!! (check out her website for some fun prizes for participating!!)

Happy Monday!!

Quote of the Day

If we were meant to pop out of bed, we'd all sleep in toasters. (thank you Cosmo Cricket!!)