Layout | I Loved You First

I subscribe to Ali Edwards's story kits, and the first kit I received was aptly titled, "Firsts."  With every kit, we get a large, plastic word. I love them, and because of that, have told myself I have to use them on the "perfect" layout.  What a better way to use my first word than to share the story of the "Love you" game Annaliese and I often play.

The background paper in this layout is from 2009. Apparently it was just waiting for the perfect layout to come along, because the minute I saw it, I knew it would be the one I used.  The big blue heart was in one of the other kits from Ali, and it was also perfect for this theme so aqua became a color I tried to tie in with the pinks/reds and black.  The journaling reads: 

"Mommy, let's play the I love you game."

"OK, Annaliese, I love you." 

"I love you more."
"I love you to the moon and back, Annaliese."
"I love YOU to the moon and back, Mommy."

"I love you to infinity and beyond, Annaliese."

"I love YOU to infinity and beyond, Mommy."
"Well, babe, that may be true, but I loved you first. Before anyone knew about you, I did, and I loved you instantly."

"I loved you second, Mommy."
"OK, sweetie, time for bed."

Plastic title and heart, chipboard phrases and hearts: Ali Edwards

Patterned paper: Fancy Pants, My Mind's Eye

Alpha Letters: American Crafts

Wood Veneer: Elle's Studio, Lawn Fawn

Journal Card: Elle's Studio

Doilies: Recollections

2015 Week Nine | February 23 - March 1

Things returned to a bit of normal here.  The kids and I went to work all five days, and Darrin worked from home a bit, but mostly spent his time resting and recuperating.

This girl turned FIVE this week. She took donuts to Sunday school, and when we gave her a choice of a leftover donut or a cupcake for her birthday candles, she chose a donut.  That would have been my choice, too :)

With a promise of her Red Robin birthday meal when Darrin was more mobile, we went to her favorite fast food place, Runza, where she loves to get the mini corn dogs and applesauce.  

After complaining he was bored and rejecting all my options, he finally took me up on rebuilding one of his Lego sets that had long ago fallen apart and we sorted piece for over winter break.  Our method for sorting (by type of brick, not color), worked well and he was able to put the TMNT sewer back together. 

Towards the end of the week, Darrin was moving a bit more out of his chair, joining us for meals at the table, and playing some chess with Ian. Ian's able to put up a fight in the beginning, but still hasn't been able to beat Darrin.  Annaliese made a pattern with the checkers pieces while the boys were playing. 

Thankful it wasn't this cold last week with all the running to the hospital we did and how much we were outside.  Jealous Darrin didn't have to go outside this week and was able to stay under a quilt all day. 

He might like reading a little too much... he didn't even make it up to his room to read, instead made himself at home on the stairs, staying there to read until the book was finished.