One of my main projects over the weekend was to finally finish up my December Daily from last year. I had made it to day eighteen, but then got so sick with pneumonia I didn’t finish. I am calling it done even though I skipped days 23 and 24. I decided I really didn’t care if it was exactly daily or not, the whole experience of it this year was a bit much for me and at this point I just wanted to be done. (It was my first year doing Project Life…and for me two projects of that magnitude were too, too much.) It bummed me out to look at the whole process as drudgery–so I definitely have to think about how I can keep up with this tradition (it was my fourth year of doing it and I just can’t see stopping now) and still enjoy it.

There are some pages I really like, but the book as a whole really feels messy and all over the place…probably because it is! Going forward next year I am pretty sure it a) won’t be a “daily” project and b) it will definitely be a clean-lined template type album like Lynette’s. (Side note: I actually bought Lynette’s book this year but didn’t use it. Why? I don’t know.)

Anyhow–I present to you the finished book:

Click here to view this photo book larger

I am really glad it’s finished. Now onto catching up on 2013 inserts, uploading Volume II of 2012 album into Shutterfly, and oh yeah–get eight more years off of my harddrive and into albums. I ordered a blush and jade album off of HSN (I know what you all are thinking–paper?!?) and will be using them for past years. But don’t worry….I enjoy the traditional products only when looking backwards, I know that to keep up with a current weekly thing now there is no way I could do anything other than digital!! (Thirteen weeks of inserts not done, which are done traditional versus digital most of the time tell me that!!)

Whole Spread:

Left Side:

Right Side:

I am linking up again today at Ali Edwards. Be sure to check out all of the amazing December memories from around the world there!

Here is a look at Day 16 and 17 together:

And a look at Day 17 on its own:

Now time to do the Santa layout. Been looking forward to this one all month!!!

So onto my page! Here is Day 16:

Day 17 is halfway done, and day 18 should be a snap. We saw Santa that day and have TONS of photos. I am very excited to conquer that page. If naps go as planned, those pages should all be posted by tonight!

First a look at the two pages together:

Day 14 on its own:

Day 15 on its own:

We visited Santa yesterday, so there is a fun double-page spread coming up soon–along with more adventures of our little elf Gracie. Who keeps forgetting to move. Which reminds me….I better think of somewhere to put her.

A mom’s work is never done is it?!

PS–check out the b/w photo of Marie above, is that little upside down stance not the cutest thing ever?!?! She does it ALL of the time. Wait until you see my Project Life layout for this week–I have a 6×12 photo of this stance close up that will just melt your heart!

Day Thirteen is all about football! I have never referenced our love of the game before, even though it’s a large part of our holiday season. I am just like my grandmother, one of the biggest football fans I have ever seen in my life. She wouldn’t even talk to you on the phone during a game!

I still can’t believe Marie’s first word was touchdown. Guess the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree!

The following year I had Holly sit in the chair again so I could show how much she had grown.

In 2011 I had a newborn during December, and while I thought about putting them both in the chair, I was too tired to do it.

Today I had them sit together in the same chair, reading the same Millie books from 2009.

Makes my heart just melt. Here is Day 11, 2012:

Whole Spread:

Left Side:

Right Side:

Days 8 and 9 are dedicated to the Vegas trip. All photos were done with my iphone and instagram. LOVE!

Whole Spread:

Left Side:

Right Side:

Day 10 shows you what we came back to–13.5 inches of snow!

Now off to work on Project Life once the kids nap. I haven’t even started week 50 yet! December…you are a whirlwind.

I decided to only bring my iphone to Vegas with us because 1) I am addicted to Instagram and 2) I knew they would be easy and fun to scrap because I have awesome templates from Nettio Designs. I was right! This took all of about 15 minutes to complete!

Hope to have two more days posted later today. Linking up at Ali’s blog–go check out all of the inspiration!

Anyhow, onto day six!

I like to have a page about Holly in my December Daily book that reflects who she is right now, so this week we went outside for a photoshoot. I wanted to capture her cute braids, so “Ingalls” aren’t they? This layout also features the silhouette I completed of her for our tree ornaments this year. (If you missed the post earlier this year about how I do that, click here.)

Whole Spread:

Left Side:

Right Side:

This is all I can manage this AM, I am going to try to sleep for 20 minutes or so before I have to get up and get ready to go. No blogging this weekend, we are not even taking our computers. (For those that know me, this is NOT how I roll!) I will have an iphone and my ipad though…I mean there’s no sense living completely like an animal is there!?

Have a great weekend. I will be back on Monday afternoon with Days 7 and 8!