Getting back to normal...

Since my parents left on Monday....was that just 3 days ago????......I've been trying to get back to nomal daily life.  Its been a bit of a challenge since I've felt like a balloon that just lost all its air.  Having my parents here was wonderful, seeing them leave was painful, and not knowing when we'll be togehter again is just plain hard.

The easy part of getting back to normal life was getting the boys to school each day, caring for them when they came home, doing the laundry and house cleaning.  The hard part was going to the grocery store where I had just been with my Mom before they left, wishing they were here for tea, and the quiet of the house.  Not like they are noisy people but having extras in the house just makes for more noise, more converstation.  It was really hard for me to sit at my scrap table and not have my Mom across from me.  Even as I write this, I miss having her here.

So this first layout was a "just get it done" and move on.  I had been thinking on the sketch for Sketchy Thursdays and had pictures in mind but not really a plan.  So this is what I ended up with.

It all started simple enough.  "Mum....can I make some biscuits and use your sifter?"  And then he turned into the mad baker!  I mean, look at that face!  I love these photos.  And this is so Aron!  This page is a little flat from what I've been playing with but I'm glad to have it finished.

This next layout came together a little easier.  I'm actually going to enter it into 3 different challenges.  I usually don't like to do that but I'm running a little behind on my scrapping this month.  Over at Scrap Jacked the challenge this time around is to scrap lift one of their designers.  I've not played along with this site before but thought it would be fun to give it a go.  So I chose Mandy's layout to scrap lift.

I'm also going to enter this into These are a few of my Favorite Things challenge to use your favorite photos.  Our 9 year old son Ian took these pictures.  When he gets the camera, he becomes a little paparazzi snapping away as fast as he can before I take it back.  He is a boy after my own heart!  :)  The last challenge I'm entering this one in is for ScrapFit's "stand by your man" challenge.  I could use just about any page for this challenge as its to incorporate a man in your life.  I have plenty of pages with my "men" in them.  :)  Overall, I was pretty happy with the way this one turned out.  I thought it fitting to make my grey "flowers" out of scraps from one of Bryce's t-shirt.  And yes, he knew I had cut it up.  :)

My last layout for today is going to be entered into White With 1's challenge for this month.  This time around it was orange and scallops.  I just love this picture of Ian.  When we visited the Botanical Gardens in Christchurch, he said he would help point out pretty flowers for me to take photographs of.  Of all the photos I took that day, this one is my favorite.  I totally would not have scrapped this picture this way so I'm glad to have found this challenge.

Well, that's all for today.  I'm glad to have gotten my scrapping mojo back.  Time for a bit of a clean up and then start another project.  And Mom.....when you read this, I totally wish you were sitting across from me.  Love you.  :)

Have a happy day Everyone!