Fidgeting in my seat, I impatiently looked out the window for the hundredth time in the hopes that the clouds had somehow disappeared and the skyline of Chicago had taken their place.  As the rumble of the landing gear replaced the methodical hum of the jet engines, we prepared for our landing- finally!

While everyone else dutifully trudged off the plane, I bounced and hopped down the aisle.  I knew who was waiting for me on the other side and I couldn’t wait to see him!  After what felt like an eternity we finally left the airplane behind and I immediately began scanning the crowd for his face.

A full head taller than everyone around him, I could see his smiling face waiting expectantly. I could hear the gentle laughter in his voice as the crowd parted as I ran and jumped into his arms.  While being covered with kisses, I hugged him just as hard as my little arms could muster.  I was so happy to see my “Papou.”  Without a single word of complaint to the numerous and heavy bags we had brought he steered us towards the Lincoln where my Yiyia was waiting with more hugs and kisses.  We were home!

My grandfather passed away suddenly when I was only sixteen but the childhood memories I have of him are some of my favorites.  Though at first glance someone might have been intimidated by his tall and towering physique, I knew that he was all heart!  His kindness and generosity are characteristics I hope live on in me and that I can pass along to my children as well.  He was so strong too!  And the stories he shared with us about being shot down over enemy territory and being cared for by pygmies… well, they just made me love and appreciate him even more!  I like to think some of his courage and sense of humor rubbed off on me!

I suppose that is one of the most wonderful things about being home right now.  I feel grounded- centered- by the sense of time and history I sense by being with my family.

What about you?  Has someone played a huge role in who you are and the person you hope to be?  Have you told them?  You see that I scrapbooked my special memory.  Have you done the same thing?  I would love to see your photos!  If you would like, leave a comment here telling us about someone special in your life or if you blog about it leave us the link so we can come see!

I hope you all had a wonderful weekend.  Perhaps some of you in the States enjoyed some Super Bowl fun?  We spent the weekend shopping and crafting just as I had hoped!

I am super excited to share my mood board with you all today.  As you might imagine, these last few weeks have been full of change as we transition from Morocco to the US to Denmark.  But it has not just been us that is feeling the change, but our blogs as well.  I was thrilled to join Holly’s Blogging Your Way course and have already found it to be tremendously helpful and insightful.  Oh, and did I mention that another of my blogging hero’s, Leslie, is co-teaching the class?  I have to tell you all that it just doesn’t get much better than this!

As part of our class homework, I made these pages as mood boards.  I really wanted to express what our little cozy place, Traveling Mama, is really all about.  We most certainly talk a great deal about family, paper, and travel, right?

Each of the elements has significance to how I would define Traveling Mama…  such as a style that includes a mix of cottage and modern design.  I also have more tutorials planned for the coming days as we continue to explore the art of creating with paper.

And if you happen to be looking for more decor ideas, stay tuned!  In the coming weeks we will begin to document more of our journey in creating a home overseas over at Traveling Tribe.

Okay, so now it is your turn.  What do you see in the photos that you like?  Tell me how they represent what you have seen here at Traveling Mama or perhaps what you hope to see!  For those of you with a blog do you like this type of exercise?  How would you define your own blog if you were to create a mood board for it?

Hi everyone!  I hope you all are doing well!  We are having a blast at CHA and really enjoying our time out here in Annaheim.  My first stop at CHA was Taylored Expressions.  Taylor was the very first papercrafting blogger I ever came across so it seemed fitting that she would be our first stop!  Taylor is such a sweetheart!

I also ran in to Ashley, of A New Design and Embellish Magazine.  I promise we did not coordinate our outfits, but isn’t she adorable?!

I also met up with my dear friend, Jill, who spent some time with us in Morocco.  Really, it’s all been so exciting and fun!  Today flew by and I am sure tomorrow will too.  I’ve been buying up lots of fun products to bring home and it is so much fun choosing items for my giveaway!  Make sure you leave me a comment on yesterday’s post so you can have a chance at winning some fun goodies!

We are having an absolute blast with this advent calendar.  This month is flying by and our excitement is growing by the minute!  The kids cannot wait to have Christmas here and in the States with our families.

We put up one of our little trees and Landon keeps going in to see it.  He likes to stand before it and say “ooooh!”  And then he starts grabbing all the ornamants off… which is exactly why the tree is in our room behind a closed door!  I’ll be sure to share photos of our little tree after I finish a project I am working on.  It’s going to be so pretty!

He is my dreamer.  He always has been.  I have learned to not rush in while he is dreaming and give “legs” to his ideas.  Sometimes he has no intention of acting on some of those dreams while other times we realize that our dreams collide… and suddenly it’s not just his dream, but ours.  We try it on for a while before we share it with anyone… yet another thing I have learned.  Dream killers are always lurking and they tend to be the people you least expect.

But once we get past that beginning baby stage, we hold our breaths and plunge in head long with no intention of turning back.  There is where we are right now- in the thick of living out {our} dream to move back to Europe.  Some days it all seems so daunting.  The packing, the selling, the moving, the logistics… some days it all feels so exhausting.  But I know if we hang on and push forward there is a wonderful life waiting for us on the other side.

What about you?  Are you living your dreams?  Is there something that you’ve always wanted to do but never had the courage to try?  Or maybe you are right there with us?  Right in the middle of trying something new?

We are enjoying our last day here in Spain.  It’s gone by so fast!  I thought I would share a little more of my envelope advent calendar.  You really should try making one!  It is so much fun!  The really cool part is that you can store each of your special memories in the envelope or even add a photo from that day!  It’s like a mini scrapbook and advent all in one!

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend!  See you on Monday!

December is here and with it all the wonderful excitement of the holidays.  I love this time of year!  Sometimes I find myself getting a little carried away, but I come by that honestly.  My Mom always decorated our house like the North Pole every year and even though we all give her a hard time about it… there is no place like my parent’s house at Christmas.

We’ve had to form new traditions as a family since we are so far from our family.  Just like most kids, mine love the thrill of an advent calendar.  We are very big into counting down until exciting days!   This year I created an envelope advent calendar and filled each day with hand drawn pictures, special notes, and coupons for things such as “the biggest hug EVER!”

What about you?  Do you have a family tradition that starts before Christmas Eve?

Project details: Inspired by Kelley Purkey’s envelope advent calendar project!

I just watched the sun rise over the Mediterranean with Rock of Gibraltar off in the distance.  It’s quiet here and I can say in all honesty that I am a very happy girl in this moment.  Spain is like chicken soup to the soul.  There is just something about the lively people, the homey feel of the food, and the beautiful jagged mountains dropping off into the sea.  I feel at home here, at ease with myself and with the world.  Mmmm, yes.  I will be gulping down as much of Spain as I can in these last few days before we say good-bye.  Though I have to admit that we have already begun plotting a return visit… one day.  I keep telling myself that the Motherland- Greece- is still calling my name.  So many places to see… so little time.

I will be back with loads of photos, including a family photo on the beach.  (No, Mom, I have not forgotten!)  Last night it was chilly at sunset, so it may be a brisk photo, but we will have one for sure!  I cannot gurantee that it will be {attitude} free but given the giddy, happy state of the entire family right now… well, a mother can hope, right?

Scrapbook page details: Caption reads, “She gets an {attitude} when she woudl rather be playing.”

I loved the first Everything But the Kitchen Sink sketch challenge and decided to take a little bit different approach- a scrapbook page!

Parker flipped out over his page, pointing at each car and photo with excitment.  I’m telling you- this kid sure knows how to make scrapbooking instantly gratifying for me!

There is still time if you want to participate in the challenge.  Just stop by here for the details!

Also, a huge thanks to BootsnAll Travel for naming TravelingMama one of the top 15 of the Best Expat Blogs!  What an honor!

Parker always keeps us laughing with his perfect timing and witty comments.  It’s not so much that what he says is so, terribly funny, but more of how his says it… and when.

He reminds me so much of my husband.  It is like getting to know my husband as a child and I have to say that he has won my heart over just as completely as my Traveling Man has.

Recently, Parker has been telling me, “You’re as pretty as a princess.”  And “You’re my beauty!”  (He always puckers up his lips, bats his eyes, and uses his “special” voice when he says it.)  Completely hysterical!

Oh, and my Traveling Man taught him to say, “Hi, I’m Doug Whiiiiiiner.”  And let me tell you- he nails the high pitched whine perfectly.  I need to record it so you all can hear him.  It’s that funny!

What has you laughing these days?  A special someone?  A new tv show?  A funny comic strip??