What's B E T T E R than a long weekend?

The Tuesday after, of course!  I've been waiting for registration day oh-so-patiently (not!) and on Tuesday 9 am MST it will be here!!!!

Registration for what?  The Great Canadian Scrapbook Carnivals of course! We are so excited about our new venues, great classes and packed marketplace!!!!  What could be better than all your favourite scrappy things in one place???  Calgary's carnival is September 23-24, 2011 and Edmonton's is October 1-2, 2011. Have your registration finger ready, because the crops sell out within the hour, and many of the classes do as well.  The place you need to go for more info and to register is right here: The Great Canadian Scrapbook Carnival

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And on a final note:

What could make a long weekend better? Knowing that there is a scrappy sale going on!  My favourite online store, Scrapbooking Fanatics, is making room for the incoming goodness from CHA and is doing it with style!

Here is what the sale is about:

Check out the following discounts!

20% on adhesive

30% on albums, mini albums & magazines

25% on all* other items!!

*sales exclude previously discounted items, special orders and die cut machines

The sale will be from July 29, 2011 until midnight, August 2, 2011.

When shopping online, discounts will be taken after check out. You will be notified of your adjusted total.Items shown on the website are not guaranteed to be in stock & available.

I bring you good news, no? Have a safe and happy long weekend everyone!

Happiness for EVERY Wednesday!

This lovely prize pack from Graphic 45 and Canadian Scrapbooker Magazine could be yours!!!  Just head on over to Canadian Scrapbooker's facebook page, scroll down to the post announcing this prize package and add your comment... it's that easy!  You have until this Friday to enter. Hooray for "WHY NOT WIN WEDNESDAY"!!!!!

HOW can she be 8?????

Turning 8 and finished with second grade.... hard for this Mom to wrap her head around.  Funny how the passage of time unravels your memory.  All the day-to-day Avery-ness evolves so slowly that it seems hard to remember her any other way than how she is right now.  I catch my breath sometimes and wonder 'When did that happen?' 'When did that change?'  I miss reading bedtime stories to her; she wants to read them to herself.  I embarrass her when I forget myself and use nicknames from further back in her childhood, like "Baby Bear".  She will tolerate "Bear", for now.  She is a perplexing mix of noise and shyness, especially when she first meets someone.  She loves to put on a show, but is uncomfortable with being the centre of attention unexpectedly.  She feels things very deeply, but rarely says a word about what troubles her.  When she finally does, it comes racing out willy nilly.  Sometimes she wants help to deal with her troubles, sometimes she just wants to be heard and it is always a trick for this momma to figure out in an instant which one it is this time. She is deeply loyal and has a hard time when friendships change.  She is bright, but likes to rush through her work and sacrifice attention to detail and neatness for speed.  She is amazing. 

Her face and body have changed so much this past year with the introduction of glasses, ever changing gaps and she has become taller, leaner and elbowier.  I love that she loves how she is changing, that awkward phases just mean she is growing up. I habitually find little photos and videos like this on the computer and they always make me smile!  There are dozens of them; she plays with different effects, conscripts all her friends into her productions and has some very lovely ongoing stories.

What a difference a year makes!  This is Avery on her 7th birthday:

And this is Avery now:

I will shed a tear on Wednesday when she is officially 8.  It all goes too fast.

Another Fabulous Wednesday!

Another chance to win:0) Pop on over to Canadian Scrapbooker Magazine's facebook page and comment on this week's "Why Not Win Wednesday" post- just scroll down until you see the picture that matches this prize from Spellbinders!

And I have a few other fun things to tell you about.  Have you ever wanted to be a part of a design team?  Magenta is looking to add to their team and if you would like to apply, you can find the details on their blog.

Also, I have a great new blog to tell you about.  The stamp-gifted Cathie Allan has begun to blog!!!  I have her listed in the blog list to the side, or you can just follow this link to tour some wonderful stamp goodness and 'Creative Whispers'.

On a personal note, I am nearly finished with this school year.  I have to say that I was so nervous about stepping back into work with the school system.  It has been years since I have had to apply those skills and was so worried that I would have forgotten everything I knew, or no longer have the patience required.  I went through my performance appraisal today, and it seems that they like me!!!!  Whew!!!  What a sense of relief.  While I don't have a position lined up for the fall yet (my contract this year was tied to the needs of several specific students), I am so relieved to hear that they would take me back in a heartbeat.  Please cross your fingers for me that there is another opportunity in the fall... 

When you don't know what to say...

... sometimes space to wait it out is the answer.

There is lots on my mind lately.  No worries, everything is fine.  Just full of thinking of things.  Things I cannot change, but wish I could. Lots of events that are peripheral to me in a way, but effect me nonetheless. Lots of thinking about who I am as a human being, a work in progress, imperfect but trying. Changes happening that are outside of my control; the worst is waiting and not having some action to be busy with.

Glad it is summer.  One week of work left before holidays.  And then what?  A delightful mystery to let unfold.  Although finally getting baseboards and back splashes in our house will be part of our summer undertaking.

What thoughts are filling YOUR head these days?

And a little more remote testing!

This time with a picture.  Of my now string-obessed girl!

Remote test!

This is me, blogging from my phone!

Sent from my iPhone