Birthday a Success. Scrapbooking a Bust!

Now I remember why I don't like scrapbooking!

No sooner did I take out my supplies when my kitchen table was taken over by swarms of would-be scrapbookers posing as children. They started cutting, gluing and photo-journaling like fiends, holding my double-sided tape and embellishments hostage. There was no room at the proverbial inn for one such as I. At first I was affronted and offended.

How could I scrapbook Grace's tenderest years with them feeding greedily at the trough of acid-free paper and stickers?

Then a thought came to my sleep-deprived mind, like a beacon of light on the shores of desperate motherhood: I could hear myself asking a disappointed Grace, "How could I possibly scrapbook with all of you using my stuff? I'm sorry I couldn't do any pages. Maybe when you're back in school..."

Maybe I was off the hook after all. But then the image of her disappointed face loomed ever larger in my mind. I couldn't make her sad. I just couldn't.

So after a day and a half of helping my children get scrapbooking out of their systems I took command of the table. I worked as often as I could and the pile of paper and slivers of scraps darkened one half of the table for a full week. It's a good thing we have such a big table. We ate at one end and I scrapped at the other.

When the dust finally settled (actually I couldn't stand looking at the mess anymore) I cleared the familial eating place of the remnants of Grace's childhood and surveyed my handiwork. I had done about 20 pages, which sounds great, but it was only up until her first birthday. I would tell myself that I was just going to put a few highlights from over the years, but when I looked at those sweet pictures I just had to include them. I'm such a sucker!!!

Sooooo.....I still have quite a bit to do.

I'll do it when school starts :)

As far as her birthday goes, she was given several choices as to how to celebrate her big day. They ranged from princess party to a sleepover, ice skating to bowling. She chose to go on a shopping spree at the mall and lunch out with dad (and I was off the hook). Her cousin Meghann was invited to come along. They ate at Johnny Rockets and Grace bought some new clothes, jewelry and shoes.

(Grace and her cousin Meghann with a duck cake made by the neighbor Savanah)

Our neighbor Savanah made Grace this duck cake, which was great because then I didn't have to make a cake! Do you like how I get out of doing things for my kids?

It was a great day for a great girl!

If she can ever get over the childhood trauma of not having a baby book...