Getting caught up with Scrapbooking

A lot has happened (as usual) since March, when I last posted here. We've celebrated birthdays, gone on an Alaskan cruise, took Ethan & Elliott camping for the first time and the list goes on. 

But, without making a post here that will read like a book, I'm just going to upload some pages I've completed in my Story Album for 2025. Kind of random since I'm trying to catch up but at the same time, work on some pages that are current, so I don't forget the stories. It would be a tremendous help if I just committed to journaling everyday. 

Some of the pages will be repeats but I think I've changed them so they get to be included again. 

 Week 2

Comfort is Katniss on my lap and my new candle called "Afternoon Scrapbooking" 

Week 3

Week 4 

Lots and lots of hidden journaling on this page. 

Loved using Tim Holtz's idea-ology small talk strips at the top. He's awesome! 

Week 5

Week 6

Not a lot happened this week. 

I love taking screesnshots of some of our conversations. This one was hilarious (but not appropriate)

Week 7

And now I'm going to jump ahead to where I'm trying to stay current. I don't have stories yet (or I should say stories documented) between the weeks of 7-19. Only partially done. And I'm okay with that.

Week 19

Week 20

So week 18 I haven't finished but I did do a 2 page spread to with it that has 18, 2"x2" square photos of Elliott and the time we baked Dolly Parton cupcakes. It turned out so cute! 

AND, I GET IT NOW! 

For a long time, I didn't fully understand why Jenn asked me not to post photos of the kids on my blog. I'd feel a little hurt, maybe even a bit defensive, after all, I LOVE sharing the joyful moments of the times we spend together. 

But lately, something has shifted for me. 

Learning more and more about the disturbing connections between powerful figures like Trump and Epstein, what they did, what they got away with (so far) and how little protection children sometimes really have, it's unsettling. It's made me realize how important it is to guard our kid's privacy, their faces, their names, and their presence online. 

Jenn was right. It's not just about cute moments or proud grandma posts. It's about safety, boundaries, and respect. These kids are growing up in a world that's far more exposed than the one we did. And, as much as I want to celebrate them, I now understand why that celebration doesn't need to happen on the internet. 

So, I get it now. 

As always, thanks for stopping by.