I need a scrapbooking friend . . .

I saw this really cute idea on the internet. Someone made a school portfolio to keep their kids' school papers in. They used 12 large manila envelopes for each month of the year. It doesn't look too hard to make, but I'm not familiar with all the things called for. That is why I need the advice of a scrapbooker.
Here is the list of supplies that I don't know what they are or where to find them. (I know that I could just go ask at a craft store, but I always feel so silly. I'd rather go and sound like I know what I'm talking about!)

• 2 - 13½ x 10½ pieces heavy-weight chipboard
  
• 2 - 1 x 10½ pieces heavy-weight chipboard
  
• bookbinding tape or gaffer tape
  
• bone folder
  
• corner rounder

So my scrapbooking friends, any help you can give me would be very appreciated. I am tired of school papers carpeting my house. They need a place, and I need clean.

See full instructions here: Simple Scrapbooks Magazine

For the sake of beauty

Any mother with boys knows that there isn't much you can do to accessorize an outfit. But with a girl, the possibilities are endless! After three boys, I was more than ready to accessorize. However, being a girl is expensive. I found headbands that were $10 or more for ONE. That would never do -- I had to buy clothes for the baby, I couldn't go broke on headbands. So I decided to try to make them.

It began with one headband, just a simple floral headband . . .that grew into many.

There are red

and blue

and pink

and yellow and white.

And I just found a website (Boutique Bows) that gives instructions on making any kind of bow imaginable.

Too much? I think not. A girl can never have too much. But I'm not sure what to do once I've exhausted all headband options. Perhaps I'll have to learn how to sew . . .

Eliana at 6 weeks

Nicholas . . . Need I say more?

It's another normal day at the White house. Nicholas and I are playing cars. Eliana is asleep in my room. Life is slow and quiet. Soon enough, I hear the faint grunts of the sleeping girl, and know that I need to respond quickly before the grunts turn to shrieks. So, Nicholas and I go into my room and pick up the baby. I turn on a show to occupy Nicholas so I can change and feed Eliana. Being an obedient toddler, Nicholas sits down to watch Blue's Clues. But as soon as the diaper is off, he jumps up and climbs up the treadmill.

He's clever, this one. He knows that I won't leave an un-diapered child alone. I hurry and put Ellie's diaper on and pull Nicholas down. "Sit here," I command. "I'll be done in a minute." Nicholas smiles at me. "OK Mamma. Ni-Ni sit."

But I'm smarter than that. I know the magic of Blue and Steve is only strong enough to last 5 or 10 minutes. Hoping Eliana isn't too hungry (yeah right), I sit down to feed her. Nicholas asks what I'm doing. I tell him I'm feeding baby sister. He says, "Baby sister eatin' ice cream." "No," I laugh." "Baby sister is eating milk." Nicholas looks again. "No," He says. "Baby sister eatin' Mamma." Feeling oddly uncomfortable, I tell Nicholas to watch his show. But my words fall on deaf ears, as he makes a break for it and runs out the door. What happens next is what ALWAYS happens lately -- he goes to wash his hands. Now what mother would run in a panic if her child wanted to wash his hands? Any mother who sees her 21 month old son perched on the edge of the kitchen sink, both hands in the water, balancing on a cabinet door with his big toe.


And so the death-defying acts continue day after day. I guess that is just what makes Nicholas, Nicholas.

P.S. Just so the third member of our crazy at home trio isn't left out -- here is Eliana at 5 weeks.

Superficial Inspiration

Did you ever see anything that truly inspired you to be a better person? I did -- it was in the paper this week. I know for a fact that if I had this laundry room I would enjoy the doing laundry. I would probably do laundry EVERY day. AND -- I would cheerfully volunteer to iron my husband's shirts. It's true . . . This laundry room would make me a better person.


And speaking of inspiration, I really believe that owning this shirt would inspire me to fix my hair, put on make-up, and not wear sweats around the house every day.

Ok, while I'm still visiting my fantasy world, I truly believe that if I got to see this out my back door every day, I would be a happier person . . . which in turn would make me a better wife and mother. See -- in my fantasy world, everyone wins!

The Amazing Memory of Nicholas

Part One:
A few weeks ago, the children and I were rushing through Walmart. The boys had a birthday party to get to, and I had to pick up my mom from the airport. In a moment of insanity, I stuck our little Houdini in the cart basket for a second. . . Sensing freedom, Nicholas tried to climb out, but ended up falling onto the concrete floor. Unfortunately, his head caught the fall. I watched in horror as a bump the size of a golf ball grew on his forehead. Sobbing, I rushed him to the ER, where they did an MRI and pronounced him nothing but bruised.

His bruise four days later

Part Two:
Nicholas has always been a mother's dream when it comes to sleeping. At 7:30 every night, he asks to go to bed. He'll also ask for a nap occasionally. He has no problem going to sleep by himself. And he'll sleep till 6:30 or 7:00 in the morning. A few days after his fall, he freaked out when we tried to put him to bed -- he did not want to be left alone in his room. He woke up multiple times in the night crying and would not go back to sleep unless someone stayed in his room. Josh and I just thought it was because of the many changes in our house, and hoped he'd grow out of it.

Part Three:
A few days ago, Nicholas and I were playing in his room. For a brief moment, the room was silent. I heard a faint beeping noise. I wondered out loud, "What is making that beeping noise?" Fear appeared on Nicholas' face. He climbed into my lap and screamed, "No beep! No beep!" Strange, I thought. So we did a long search to discover what was making the noise. Hidden in one of his drawers was a toy running out of power. I turned off the toy and told Nicholas no more beeps. He looked at me for reassurance and asked over and over again, "No more beeps? Beeps all gone?" I repeated over and over again, no more beeps, until he was satisfied and went back to play. That night, before bed, he asked again "No more beeps?" "Beeps all gone," I said. He slept through the night for the first time in almost three weeks.

I told Josh what I thought was a funny story about the beeps. Josh told me that when Nicholas had his MRI, they told him he would just hear a few beeps and then he would be all done. So my poor boy has been hearing beeps for three weeks, scared that he would have to go into the machine again! I was shocked that he had remembered it! But the mystery is solved -- the beeps are gone and night time is peaceful again.

We made it to a month!!

I can't believe that tomorrow it will be a month since our sweet Eliana joined us. She is so much fun -- we all adore her! It's strange how now I can't even imagine life without her. She is such a wonderful addition to our family!



And Nicholas finally loves her too! He always asks to hold her or give her a binky. And the minute she makes any kind of noise, he makes sure to tell me "baby sister crying!" I was worried for nothing! I can tell these two are going to be great friends.