My  hubby, Austin surprised me with my favorite cake last night to celebrate the arrival of the book.  That guy knows how I love to celebrate!

And since I have been confessing things lately here on my blog I will admit to having a piece for breakfast this morning.  I mean, is there anything that says I am celebrating more than a piece of decadent cake for breakfast??  I think not!

So last night I was in a bit of a daze after the book arrived.  My hubby kept asking what was wrong ‘cause I didn't seem excited enough.  I think I was just too excited to get it out.  Who knew super-dee-duper excitement for me was shown as a daze?  LOL

I love the fam's reactions though.

Magnus couldn't, umm, care less.  I mean he really didn't care!  (He is only 4 after all so I can forgive.)  He was much more interested in the boxes of class supplies that had arrived at the same time.  You see he likes to open the boxes.  It is his job.  One he takes very seriously.  Once that box is open he couldn't care less what is inside!  I did try to convince him to look (he was the only one home) but since seeing his photo in Memory Makers magazine and other scrappy books he has come to the conclusion that he is every book with pictures.  Seen them once, see them all is his opinion. 

I am saving for therapy already.

Now Harper was completely different, the darlin'.  She ran into the house, grabbed the book and settled down on the couch for a long read.  She read everything.  Cover to cover.  Asked questions, made comments.  That girl knows how to make this momma happy!  I was in such a daze that I didn't think to take her photo but next time she has the book in her hands I will.

Austin of course made me laugh like he always does.  He wanted to know how many times he appeared in the book.  Not a word about me.  Just how long until people recognized him on the street (phh). Made me laugh hysterically. J

But seriously, my family had ego issues.  I am calling a carpenter today to get the doors made bigger in the house so everyone's head can fit through.  Just call us the big-headed-Rieger's.  As in, oh, here comes those big-headed-Rieger's.  Quick, don't make eye contact!

OK, so that my husband doesn't appear to be anything but the amazing husband that he is (remember the cake from above!) he did get all mushy on me and gave me the -babe, you are the best- speech which did make my head swell a bit.  So now my head won't fit through the door!  ;)

What are we going to do?  I hope that carpenter gets here quick!

So here are two things I loved about getting to see the book, live and in person.  Things I hadn't seen until yesterday.

The spine.  Can't wait to see it on a bookshelf!

And the back cover.  It has a back cover!  Ahhh....

And now some details.

The book arrives at the F+W warehouse at the end of June.  This means shortly after that it starts shipping to local stores and to online stores such as Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Tower Books, Buy.com.  If you are in the UK you can buy it here or here.  In Canada you can buy it here or here.  I am looking into Australia.  Live somewhere else and want to know where to buy it?  Let me know and I will find out for you.

And something exciting for those of you coming to the Great American Scrapbook Convention in Arlington, Texas in a few weeks.  There will be advance-hot-off-the-press-brought-in-just-for-you copies of the book available at the Memory Makers (F+W) booth.  Yup, you can get a copy almost a month early if you are at the show!  I will also be attending a book signing on Saturday, June 7^th from 1-2pm at the booth if you are so inclined.  (sounds very glamorous doesn't it - no wonder my head is swelling!!)

So that is it for my rambling.  I am sorry you have to go through this.  Feel free to skip this post.  I will not be offended at all!

And I am putting together that rounded corner tutorial in Photoshop today so it will be back to the regularly scheduled programming soon!  I promise! ;)