Okay, I promised to share layouts. I am sharing layouts in lieu of pictures, because well, layouts are better, right? They give you the pictures and the story that goes with them. I have been all gung-ho on getting the layouts caught up so that I can order Georgie's book as soon as I hit 98 pages, but I was just loading them into the photobook software and seeing that they put a HUGE margin that could be cut during production. Now, in most cases, that wouldn't be so important, a bit of the photo is cut, or you leave a white border, but with a scrapbook layout? you cut off any of it and it gets off-kilter. OR, you happen to have journaling along one edge, or a date along the bottom edge...see where I'm going? Now the problem is, the software says could. So do I risk it and end up with a 70 Euro book that is no good because too much got cut off?

So I went off to check out Mueller and see what an 8x10 print would cost. Well, they don't have 8x10, they have something weird and huge that would be about 1.10 euros a piece. that does work out cheaper than the book (by about 20 cents) but you don't have a book and you have to trim and buy an album to put the layouts in. However, Mueller also offers a photobook. Cool, they even offer the square-format, and their book is cheaper! So I download the software and take a look at it. Two initial issues: there are no double page layouts (bad for my 2-page layouts but doable if I crop them and turn them into two photos instead of one big file) and the 'square' format is not. It's not a perfect square.

So I don't know what to do!! Any suggestions??

Anyway, here are the newest layouts, in chronological order:

	Credits: the design is by renee camacho (DWC, Feb 2005). Papers are by Katie Pertiet - 3 bears (designer digitals), bear patch is by Tracy Ann Robinson (scrapbookbytes), ribbon by jen wilson
	Credits: Tracy Robinson for her Paper and Ribbon: Home paperkit (recolored) at scrapbookbytes, to Manda Bean for the stitches & Gina Cabrera for the Kraft Cardstock.
	Credits: Tracy Ann Robinson (white canvas bg is from her Christmas Joy set & pink flowered paper is from her fresh posy kit, both available at scrapbookbytes) .
	design is from leslie lightfoot (DWC 2005) papers by sandra boddington

	the design is inspired by Cathy Blackstone und a hotslings broschure. Papers & rubons by Tracy Ann Robinson's from her new design it jingle collection (scrabookbytes), stitches by Nancie Rowe-Janitz & kraft cardstock by gina cabrera.
	Some thoughts running through my head lately...I think I could have gone on and on - one thing I miss about paper - no hidden journaling, I have to get what I'm thinking out in short-form! Design is by a gal with the username orangepekoe at twopeas. Solid textured papers are by Tracy Robinson (from her Artlines Storytime Basics collection (green) & her new Design It Jingle Collection (blue, brown and kraft). The rub-on dots are also from her jingle collection (really cool, these rubons!). The stitches are from Nancie Rowe-Janitz and the patterned paper is 'floral sky' from the sweet shoppe - Mandy T and Christy Lyle I believe. index tabs are by Ali folendore - I just gave them the texture from Tracy's papers.
	credits: tracy ann robinson: my design, mocha papers (scrapbookbytes). stitching: gina cabrera (dde )

Oh my, that was 8 layouts, plus the three I shared earlier this week. Yes, like I said, been on a roll (taking scraplifting to a whole new level...) in order to be caught up by G's 6th month birthday (which is Saturday, and there is no way I'll be caught up!!). New pictures in the mix are in the summer baby layout.

Liz is coming over today - quite happy about that. She'll spend the day and eat my awful diet food with me (in amounts large enough to satisfy a pregnant woman) and hopefully G will warm up to her quickly and be less fussy than today, meaning she'll need to take a NAP!

Sven and I are driving down to Austria on the 7th to visit with Tanja and Markus. They haven't seen Georgia since she got out of newborn sizes!! Plus, we need to celebrate Tanja's birthday belatedly...unfortunately, I had a phone call from Grit yesterday to confirm their plans to visit us over Easter. Now notice, I had made SURE we would be here on Easter so they could stop by as she had originally told me, and therefore thought nothing of booking the weekend before Easter. Now Grit tells me that they are driving down to Austria that weekend and want to stop by our place on the 7th, spend the night and have breakfast with us on the 8th. Well. That's not going to work. It is unfortunate, because I am afraid she won't be able to change her plans. Hoping that they manage to come by (and stay longer than an hour) on the Wednesday after Easter.

Called the in-laws today and asked if they were planning on coming over Easter? Was relieved to hear that they indeed DO plan to come and stay a week. I was starting to get cranky with them for not visiting and seeing Georgia more often!

So we should have a very full week. I am ready to take on visits now too - especially visitors who want to play with Georgia and give me a break!

Okay. For those of you impatiently waiting for the Clue of the Day (ha!) here ya go:

Day 8 of the Scavenger Hunt.

Clue Number 8: Who are Rob & Jon, what do they have to do with top tens and where are they right now?

yes, very obscure. The last few have been way too easy and I'm curious as to whether I can stump Ellen...

A reminder on the directions:

Anyone can play. I don't care if you come to it late, you may go back and do the clues from earlier days and catch up, same deal if you miss a day. The answer is a quote. Each day, after you have solved the clue, you will get one word of the quote. After 17 days, you will have all the words of the quote (scrambled) and may then send it to me unscrambled. And for bonus brownie points, you may tell me who wrote/said it. So I will have two 'winners' whoever first mails me the correctly unscrambled quote, and whoever can deciper the author of the quote. If you happen to know the unscrambled quote and the author before the game is over, you still must wait for the full game to finish before emailing me your answers!

Once you have the answer for a daily clue, please send me an Email (do not leave a comment or everyone will know!!) at amber dot ries at gmail dot com. Or you can use the contact form on my blog. Please write Scavenger Hunt Clue #1/2/3 etc., in the Email Subject so that I know which day you are on (especially if you miss a day or come to the game late, that way things won't get confused).

If you are just joining, please check out the previous days Clues starting with last Friday (use the calendar to the right to get to the days, or scroll down).

I want to share pictures and layouts (because I have done 6 since I last posted and have journaling for another two stewing about in my head) but we have our mom's group today and I don't have time to put them up. Tomorrow maybe...for now, I'll leave you with today's clue and head off to kill the other Mom's with my garlic breath (yah, dumb me made an eggplant thingie for dinner last night which included raw garlic. I MUST smell awful becuase my mouth TASTES awful!! don't suppose there's a quick fix for that?!)

I am also aware that I owe a few of you slightly more lengthy Emails - that is truly becoming the story of my life. I apologize and will get on that as soon as I can. And JU - you aren't playing, I'm waiting for your answers. And you too, Alice? What's up with sending me answers for day 1 and then copping out on me?!

On with the Game!

Day 7 of the Scavenger Hunt.

Clue Number 7: Who is Lena Gercke? Easy one today. Bonus: tell me what you think of her (if you do at all).

(How many of you have the songs from yesterday stuck in your heads? Can any of you still sing them despite not having heard them for years and years? We must have listened to them for hours and days and sang along. I had forgotten the 2nd one until iI googled it and then the tune just JUMPED into my head and I was singing it all day! The first song, well, that's been stuck in my head for what, 20 or more years?!! I need Kylene here, when did we get that record?)

A reminder on the directions:

Anyone can play. I don't care if you come to it late, you may go back and do the clues from earlier days and catch up, same deal if you miss a day. The answer is a quote. Each day, after you have solved the clue, you will get one word of the quote. After 17 days, you will have all the words of the quote (scrambled) and may then send it to me unscrambled. And for bonus brownie points, you may tell me who wrote/said it. So I will have two 'winners' whoever first mails me the correctly unscrambled quote, and whoever can deciper the author of the quote. If you happen to know the unscrambled quote and the author before the game is over, you still must wait for the full game to finish before emailing me your answers!

Once you have the answer for a daily clue, please send me an Email (do not leave a comment or everyone will know!!) at amber dot ries at gmail dot com. Or you can use the contact form on my blog. Please write Scavenger Hunt Clue #1/2/3 etc., in the Email Subject so that I know which day you are on (especially if you miss a day or come to the game late, that way things won't get confused).

Clue Number 6:

1. Who sang: 'I've got my very own set of designer genes...' & 'You're not gonna get rich on me'?
   
2. What is SPEW?
   
3. Where is Green Gables?
4. Bonus: you can send me an audio comment per Email where you sing me the answer for Number 1...how do you send audio comments? just record yourself using a program like: audacity and send away. I think, if anyone really does do this, then they get a special treat, a real one!!
   

*that's three questions, no hints - good luck!!

A reminder on the directions:

Anyone can play. I don't care if you come to it late, you may go back and do the clues from earlier days and catch up, same deal if you miss a day. The answer is a quote. Each day, after you have solved the clue, you will get one word of the quote. After 17 days, you will have all the words of the quote (scrambled) and may then send it to me unscrambled. And for bonus brownie points, you may tell me who wrote/said it. So I will have two 'winners' whoever first mails me the correctly unscrambled quote, and whoever can deciper the author of the quote. If you happen to know the unscrambled quote and the author before the game is over, you still must wait for the full game to finish before emailing me your answers!

Once you have the answer for a daily clue, please send me an Email (do not leave a comment or everyone will know!!) at amber dot ries at gmail dot com. Or you can use the contact form on my blog. Please write Scavenger Hunt Clue #1/2/3 etc., in the Email Subject so that I know which day you are on (especially if you miss a day or come to the game late, that way things won't get confused).

If you are just joining, please check out Day 1, Day 2, Day 3,  Day 4 & Day 5's clues.

Just a fun post. Recently, the webcounter I use changed some of its previously paidfor services to free services and since then, I have been able to see who is coming to my blog (the last 100) by a world map. it's so cute and cool, I have to share. Here are the last 100 visitors as of 1:45pm on Tuesday:

the not-so-cool part about it is how few of those visitors LEAVE COMMENTS!!!! I mean, seeing where you are all coming from is cool, but it would be even cooler if you'd say 'hey'!!

And now Georgia is a-cryin' so off I go!

I've had another bout of bad news today. I'm tired of bad news this year. I called my midwife to discuss starting Georgia on solids only to discover she's pregnant, and not only that, she's in her 25th week!!! Where's the bad news in that you ask? Well first, she had been pregnant with twins, but lost one of them (I don't know how far along). The second bad part, she was just headed off to the doctor's because she had had bad cramping and contractions all night long. I asked her to please give me a call when she got home, to let me know how things went and that all is okay. I have not heard back from her. I'm afraid this can only be bad news, that they kept her in the hospital for tests because they found something, that they put her on bedrest, that she lost the baby, and I'm just terrified. I don't know whether I can call her tomorrow or wait a few days or what, but I'm going to be worrying about her until I hear and then even if I have to hear bad news, I'll know what happened and can act accordingly.

Well, on with the game I guess.

Day 5 of the Scavenger Hunt.

Clue Number 5: Who said: "I jump out of the circle and then jump back in it, and then I... shake my gourd."
Bonus: where and when was it said? (this is vague, it has to be or it will give away the above answer)

A reminder on the directions:

Anyone can play. I don't care if you come to it late, you may go back and do the clues from earlier days and catch up, same deal if you miss a day. The answer is a quote. Each day, after you have solved the clue, you will get one word of the quote. After 17 days, you will have all the words of the quote (scrambled) and may then send it to me unscrambled. And for bonus brownie points, you may tell me who wrote/said it. So I will have two 'winners' whoever first mails me the correctly unscrambled quote, and whoever can deciper the author of the quote. If you happen to know the unscrambled quote and the author before the game is over, you still must wait for the full game to finish before emailing me your answers!

Once you have the answer for a daily clue, please send me an Email (do not leave a comment or everyone will know!!) at amber dot ries at gmail dot com. Or you can use the contact form on my blog. Please write Scavenger Hunt Clue #1/2/3 etc., in the Email Subject so that I know which day you are on (especially if you miss a day or come to the game late, that way things won't get confused).

If you are just joining, please check out Day 1, Day 2, Day 3 & Day 4's clues.

So Daylight Savings Time started yesteday and I didn't even realize it until I was up and my computer said it was an hour later than my alarm clock! I still don't understand why we go on DST a week before N.America. Anyone know?

HRealized yesterday that I have way too many photos of Georgia and so threw together three (yes, count them THREE) new layouts yesterday!

	Credits: This is a BH Sketch/lift out of the April CK, I only did the first page of it. supplies: papers are from Tracy Robinson's 'a sweet dream' - recolored (sweetshoppe) & Lilydale - Artlines II. The bunny patch is from her random patches line. and the ribbon is by Jen Wilson.
	credits: black & vanilla paper from Tracy Robinson's 'black is back: vanilla latte' collection. Tabs are by ali folendore (I recolored them). The green paper is a mix - the green background and texture is mine, the flowers are an overlay created from a sara carling paper (dream a little dream - sweetshoppe). the stitches are by mandabean/hollymccaig.
	This is an inspired lift of Jennifer Ditz-McGuire and Tracy Kyle from the DWC 2005 (Dec 31/jan 1). supplies: Black Paper, stitched flower and leaf, UPC barcode/title by Tracy Ann Robinson (the barcode is from her Artlines III Collection: Baystreet, I recolored it using a tip she put on her blog - very cool tip, the black paper is from her Artlines I collection - pink) Willow Haiku Papers & Index Tab by Ali Folendore. paperclip & green stitching is by Christy Lyle (deserted island - sweetshoppe) the paper flowers are mine - just scanned and recolored prima flowers.

So. On with the Game.

Day 4 of the Scavenger Hunt.

Clue Number 4: What part of Germany is known as 'the green lung of Berlin'? What is one thing this area is known for? Bonus: Why do you think this place landed a spot in my scavenger hunt?

hint: when you do a search for 'the green lung of Berlin' you will come up with two answers. I am looking for the one that is an area of Germany, like a city or a state.

A reminder on the directions:

Anyone can play. I don't care if you come to it late, you may go back and do the clues from earlier days and catch up, same deal if you miss a day. The answer is a quote. Each day, after you have solved the clue, you will get one word of the quote. After 17 days, you will have all the words of the quote (scrambled) and may then send it to me unscrambled. And for bonus brownie points, you may tell me who wrote/said it. So I will have two 'winners' whoever first mails me the correctly unscrambled quote, and whoever can deciper the author of the quote. If you happen to know the unscrambled quote and the author before the game is over, you still must wait for the full game to finish before emailing me your answers!

Once you have the answer for a daily clue, please send me an Email (do not leave a comment or everyone will know!!) at amber dot ries at gmail dot com. Or you can use the contact form on my blog. Please write Scavenger Hunt Clue #1/2/3 etc., in the Email Subject so that I know which day you are on (especially if you miss a day or come to the game late, that way things won't get confused).

If you are just joining, please check out Day 1, Day 2, & Day 3's clues.

Day 3 of the Scavenger Hunt.

I am having so much fun playing this game with you and was pleasantly surprised by some unexpected players! I hope you continue to play and have fun with it. Some days the clues will be harder than others, some days they'll be easier for family, and some days easier for friends - gotta shake it up a bit!

Clue Number 3: What major [scrapbooking] contest did I win & what year? Bonus: how many years did I enter before winning?

hint: One of my sidebar links will tell you the answer...
bonus hint: I entered the same number of years as [Stacy] did.

A reminder on the directions:

Anyone can play. I don't care if you come to it late, you may go back and do the clues from earlier days and catch up, same deal if you miss a day. The answer is a quote. Each day, after you have solved the clue, you will get one word of the quote. After 17 days, you will have all the words of the quote (scrambled) and may then send it to me unscrambled. And for bonus brownie points, you may tell me who wrote/said it. So I will have two 'winners' whoever first mails me the correctly unscrambled quote, and whoever can deciper the author of the quote. If you happen to know the unscrambled quote and the author before the game is over, you still must wait for the full game to finish before emailing me your answers!

Once you have the answer for a daily clue, please send me an Email (do not leave a comment or everyone will know!!) at amber dot ries at gmail dot com. Or you can use the contact form on my blog. Please write Scavenger Hunt Clue #1/2/3 etc., in the Email Subject so that I know which day you are on (especially if you miss a day or come to the game late, that way things won't get confused).

In other news. We drove to Pickauf on Saturday to look into getting Georgia a new stroller, as I promised to return Sybille's to her in April. Georgie is a bit too small for a stroller yet, so we got a jogger that lays down quite a bit and has a nice tight halter to hold her in. We sat her in it at the store and she seemed perfectly happy. The nicest thing about it: it is soooo light. I can lift it with one hand. Such a difference from the fullblown stroller/buggy from Sybille which is HEAVY and hard to handle. The new one is also a 3-wheeler (not my original intention, but I wanted a jogger) but the front wheel rotates and can be locked into position as well. This stroller is really so cool and light and packs up so compactly (I think) that we are seriously considering bringing it with us on the plane in July.

Which brings me to the newest news: our plans have solidified for the summer. We will indeed be in Seattle for the 4th of July! I have not been in the States for the 4th in 9 years!!! Sven has never been, only heard stories. In fact, Sven has only been in the States during the summer twice ever. It should be fun. Sven, Georgia and I are flying over the end of June and Sven is staying for two weeks, then flying back to Munich alone (sad about this). Georgia, Mom and I are following him back two weeks after that (putting Georgie and me a total of four weeks in Seattle) and Mom is staying for two weeks in Munich. This is our big vacation for the year. No fun resort trips to Greece or sightseeing tours of Rome and Pompeii this year. That's okay though, a summer in Seattle is something I've been missing for many years!

So, Erin, if you still check in here - let's definetly make a date to get together while I am there, okay?

And I accidentally skipped right over the horror-trip back home from Pickauf today. I will assume Georgie was exhausted and that is why she proceeded to (once again) scream hysterically all the way home, becuase she did not scream on the way. It was torture. She wouldn't be calmed by her Daddy either, who jumped out of the car and ran to get her out of her carseat and comfort her as soon as we were home. She continued to howl in his arms and only calmed down when I took her. She needed changed and while doing that, my wipes ran out so I switched the packages and she grabbed the empty plastic quick as lightening and was happily playing with it. I needed her arms though, to dress her again in new, non-soiled clothing and she started to howl becuase i had to remover her hands from the plastic and that downspiraled into more hysterics. About 45 minutes later she was napping and I got lunch. Why do I bring this up? Because on the 7th of April we are scheduled to drive down to Austria to visit friends and that is a 3+ hour drive. Should be another torturous ride...

You'd never believe it by the photo, would you? Little Angel. And yes, Mom actually found a black onesie for her to wear. She looks so much like a little boy, here let me show you: Meet George...

Isn't [he] adorable? Not long after Liz took this picture, we went on a walk, dressed [George] up in [his] sheepskin jacket (yes, Mom, it already fits!) and the white hat, still looking boyish. [He] fell asleep pretty quickly and when we passed an older couple and their two little dogs, they couldn't stop exclaiming over how adorable the little boy was, all fast asleep on Mommy's chest (we were out with the Baby Björn).

So yah. My son. That was twice on Friday as we (Georgia and I) finally met our newest neighbors on the way up from the laundry room that morning and they assumed she was my son. They are expecting a son in July.

So anyway, there you see her, in her highchair, happily chewing on an eggspoon. She wasn't too sure of Liz, who had only just arrived. Refused to let Liz hold her and looked at her sceptically from the highchair and nearly started crying when Liz started taking pictures. She warmed up fairly quickly though and let Liz play with her and hold her much quicker than she let Sybille play with her on Tuesday.

Yup, she seems to be hitting an 'I want to always be near and see Mommy' phase. A bit difficult for me, as I'd like to be able to go away from her now and again had have her feel comfortable with whoever I leave her with! At the same time, I must admit it is an amazing feeling, finally being the one person she wants the most and the one person who can soothe her like no other!

Day 2 of the Scavenger Hunt.

Clue Number 2: What was the population of Tucson, AZ at the 2000 census? Brownie points: Which of my family members was living in Tucson that year and why?

hint: [she] was a wildcat. You're going to have to google this one. Good luck!!

A reminder on the directions:

Anyone can play. I don't care if you come to it late, you may go back and do the clues from earlier days and catch up, same deal if you miss a day. The answer is a quote. Each day, after you have solved the clue, you will get one word of the quote. After 17 days, you will have all the words of the quote (scrambled) and may then send it to me unscrambled. And for bonus brownie points, you may tell me who wrote/said it. So I will have two 'winners' whoever first mails me the correctly unscrambled quote, and whoever can deciper the author of the quote. If you happen to know the unscrambled quote and the author before the game is over, you still must wait for the full game to finish before emailing me your answers!

Once you have the answer for a daily clue, please send me an Email (do not leave a comment or everyone will know!!) at amber dot ries at gmail dot com. Or you can use the contact form on my blog. Please write Scavenger Hunt Clue #1/2/3 etc., in the Email Subject so that I know which day you are on (especially if you miss a day or come to the game late, that way things won't get confused).