Scrapbooking weekend!!!

Yesterday, we had breakfast with someone from MOPs and her kids, then had a playdate with Carter's friend from preschool who moved to Bellevue after last year let out, then we dropped off stuff by my mom's house for the kids to stay overnight, then dropped off mom's apple corer/slicer at another MOPs member's house, then visited my grandparents and my three aunts, uncle & cousins there, then back to my mom's house.

After dropping off the kids, I went home to finish packing for the convention and went to sleep quite late, but was so excited I woke up before the alarm.

Amanda and I go together to the Creating Keepsakes scrapbook convention.  In order to miss it, you must be in the hospital (two years ago I was 3 weeks away from having Henri and on bedrest).  Each year we make it a little better.  The first year we tried a couple of classes and the vendor faire.  The next year we shopped on Friday and took classes Saturday.  This year, we are women on a mission.  No kids (even Valerie's at my mom's), 5 classes spread over two days, entire vendor fair must fit into 5 hours on Friday with possible revisit for a few hours during our lunch hour Saturday. Oh, and the Saturday evening crop (which my aunt will be joining us for-a crop is a time to work on scrapbooks for those who don't know-usually done in a group so you can gossip and share ideas and photos while you are "working").

We bring an extra bag for shopping.  The conventions start out in Portland and work their way around the country, so Seattle is the last stop.  Since scrapbook supplies are like clothing and there's new stuff every year, the vendors want to go home with empty trucks so they can pack up the new stuff for next year.  This means there are incredible deals to be had to begin with.  Then the Saturday night crop is the absolute last opportunity that the vendors have to unload stuff.  They sell right outside the crop doors for incredible deals and have great give-aways.

So today our classes were both very good.  One was for 12 birthday cards (4 of 3 designs) we made one of each design during class.  The next class was to make 4 single page layouts that we could then purchase the other side from the vendor downstairs (which we did).  Then we joined Shari, our friend from our scrapbook message board who lives nearby for the vendor fair.  It was so fun to visit with her and shop for our favorite things :)  Then Amanda and I headed to Wild Ginger for supper and split a beef curry.

Early to bed tonight as we'll be busy from 8:30am until 11pm.  SO FUN!

Called mom and dad and the kids are all being good, Valerie had 8 bottles today (that's about 32 ounces.  Average for her age is 25 ounces)  Carter decided he liked peas (he will only try new foods at her house).