Reindeer

A local store brought in Prancer and Dancer for the kids to enjoy.

It was really pretty neat.  Santa also lent the store one of his sleighs so that the kids could get a feel for what it was like to ride in a sleigh.  What a great photo op, so I packed the three kids up and headed off to the store.



Here's where my 'chicken' daughters stood the entire time:

Do it!

Startin' Early

He'll be tweeting by Wednesday!

P.C.

The conversation that went down in our car last night while we looked at Christmas lights:

E: "These lights are great.  You know....Christmas IS the most wonderful time of the year!"

H: "E, that's not true.....there is Hanukkah too!"


Funny thing was....about 10 minutes later we saw a beautiful home decked in blue and white, complete with a Menorah and Dreidels.
Happy Hanukkah!

Happy Birthday Jesus!

Merry Christmas!

May your holiday season be filled with love, peace and joy!

I don't like the word 'hate'

I really don't!
It is close to being my least favorite word.
Ask my kids; I correct them each and every time they use it.

But when it comes to computers...it is fitting and unfortunately necessary to use:
I HATE COMPUTERS!

No, not because I don't know how to use them.  I actually consider myself relatively savvy with technology.  Oh no...it's because they crash.  They do silly things right in the middle of blogging and picture editing and Pinterest browsing.
Mine has crashed.  It cost me almost $200 just to pull everything off.
Now it will cost a crap ton of money to either fix (needs new battery and hard drive)  or the same crap ton of money to purchase a new one.  AND....it is only like 2 years old!  Seriously.....
I cringe as I type this, but....I HATE COMPUTERS!

My Heart Runneth Over Wednesdays!

my heart runneth over with.......anxiety!

I'm a little anxious this morning that I have forgotten something or someone in all of the holiday bustle.
So I'm asking for your forgiveness in advance if that's the case.

Santa Baby!

Santa visited our house a little early this year:

A little less chunky (and hairy) than I recall.

Blow! Blow! Blow!

Funny!

Don't worry, Be Happy!

Birthday Boy!

Since the cake at his party was NOT a success....we decided to go with donuts for the traditional first birthday breakfast.

EIV decided it would be best to lick the donut.

What do you mean....you don't eat your donuts that way?

Licking the donut made him VERY HAPPY!

I decided to tear it in half to see what he would do. 
That was the trick.
He went to town.

I mean REALLY went to town.....
Shove it in there baby.... ha!!!

The donuts were a big hit (OBVIOUSLY!!) for everyone!



Even with my morning success with the donuts....I had to try the cake again.
Come on....my other babies destroyed their cakes....I was certain EIV would do the same.
Here's what I got:

I give up.

My Heart Runneth Over Wednesdays...

my heart runneth over with......exhaustion!

I still haven't recovered from EIV's 1st Birthday party that we hosted last weekend.

It started the night before with the decorating of the cakes, cookies and cupcakes.
No Yankee-themed party would be complete without a few baseballs.
Here they are under construction:

And here they are completed:
One to destroy:

And one for the show:

And a field of baseball decorated cookies:

Before:

After:

A team of cupcakes:

For EIV's sisters to decorate:

(Look good enough to eat, don't they??)

Then it was time for the cake smash:

But despite our efforts.....there was to be no smashing of cake.

EIV was not interested at all.  Actually, he got pretty mad when I pushed his hand in the cake.

Next was the opening of the gifts.  With big sisters ages 7 and 5, there was NO WAY that EIV was actually going to be able to open any of his gifts (which he did not).  But he did enjoy the tissue paper party post-gift opening.

One Amazing Year!

This isn’t your ordinary First Birthday.  Oh no, this is the 1^st Birthday of my miracle baby.

A miracle you say….yes, nothing short of.

Two months ago, my baby underwent open heart surgery.

And today, as we celebrate his first year of life, he is extremely healthy and happy.

I’d love to erase many of the events of the past year…..but in a weird, super-odd way…..…I also wouldn’t change a thing.

EIV has taught us many things in his short time here on earth.  Patience, perseverance and real…I mean real love to list a few.  Thank you sweet boy for your strength and courage.  You are AMAZING!

One thing’s for sure…God has blessed us with this beautiful little man and today we wish him the Happiest First Birthday ever!

Sooooo True!

Snow

I've gotta be honest.....I was wishing for a snow day today!!!
Doesn't a day in your pajamas, slippers, with a cup of coffee (or hot chocolate) and never having to leave your house sound fabulous!
Oh yes, yes it does.....

Santa's gone High Tech!

Come on now...it is 2011....Santa loves efficiency....so this year he's decided to email messages to all the girls and boys around the world. 
Both of my girls were on Santa's radar and received messages.  Check out H's  HERE   and E's HERE  and EIV's is HERE

Wait til you see the video of their faces when they watched these.....PRICELESS! (to be posted at a later date)

My Heart Runneth Over Wednesdays!

my heart runneth over.......

......with joy this holiday season because I believe.  I believe in Jesus Christ and the power of giving! 
This story sums it up nicely:

I remember my first Christmas adventure with Grandma. I was just a kid.. I remember tearing across town on my bike to visit her on the day my big sister dropped the bomb: 'There is no Santa Claus,' she jeered. 'Even dummies know that!'

My Grandma was not the gushy kind, never had been. I fled to her that day because I knew she would be straight with me. I knew Grandma always told the truth, and I knew that the truth always went down a whole lot easier when swallowed with one of her 'world-famous' cinnamon buns. I knew they were world-famous, because Grandma said so. It had to be true.

Grandma was home, and the buns were still warm. Between bites, I told her everything. She was ready for me. 'No, Santa Claus?' She snorted.....'Ridiculous! Don't believe it. That rumor has been going around for years, and it makes me mad, plain mad!! Now, put on your coat, and let's go.' 'Go? Go where, Grandma?' I asked. I hadn't even finished my second world-famous cinnamon bun.

'Where' turned out to be Kerby's General Store, the one store in town that had a little bit of just about everything. As we walked through its doors, Grandma handed me ten dollars. That was a bundle in those days. 'Take this money,' she said, 'and buy something for someone who needs it. I'll wait for you in the car. 'Then she turned and walked out of Kerby's.

I was only eight years old.. I'd often gone shopping with my mother, but never had I shopped for anything all by myself. The store seemed big and crowded, full of people scrambling to finish their Christmas shopping. For a few moments I just stood there, confused, clutching that ten-dollar bill, wondering what to buy, and who on earth to buy it for. I thought of everybody I knew: my family, my friends, my neighbors, the kids at school, and the people who went to my church.

I was just about thought out, when I suddenly thought of Bobby Decker. He was a kid with bad breath and messy hair, and he sat right behind me in Mrs. Pollock's second grade class. Bobby Decker didn't have a coat. I knew that because he never went out to recess during the winter. His mother always wrote a note, telling the teacher that he had a cough, but all we kids knew that Bobby Decker didn't have a cough; he didn't have a good coat. I fingered the ten-dollar bill with growing excitement. I would buy Bobby Decker a coat! I settled on a red corduroy one that had a hood to it. It looked real warm, and he would like that. 'Is this a Christmas present for someone?' the lady behind the counter asked kindly, as I laid my ten dollars down. 'Yes, ma'am,' I replied shyly.. 'It's for Bobby.' The nice lady smiled at me, as I told her about how Bobby really needed a good winter coat. I didn't get any change, but she put the coat in a bag, smiled again, and wished me a Merry Christmas.

That evening, Grandma helped me wrap the coat in Christmas paper and ribbons and wrote, 'To Bobby, From Santa Claus' on it. A little tag fell out of the coat, and Grandma tucked it in her Bible. Grandma said that Santa always insisted on secrecy.. Then she drove me over to Bobby Decker's house, explaining as we went that I was now and forever officially, one of Santa's helpers. Grandma parked down the street from Bobby's house, and she and I crept noiselessly and hid in the bushes by his front walk.

Then Grandma gave me a nudge. 'All right, Santa Claus,' she whispered, 'get going.' I took a deep breath, dashed for his front door, threw the present down on his step, pounded his door and flew back to the safety of the bushes and Grandma. Together we waited breathlessly in the darkness for the front door to open. Finally it did, and there stood Bobby.

Fifty years haven't dimmed the thrill of those moments spent shivering, beside my Grandma, in Bobby Decker's bushes. That night, I realized that those awful rumors about Santa Claus were just what Grandma said they were: ridiculous. Santa was alive and well, and we were on his team.

I still have the Bible, with the coat tag tucked inside: $19.95.

May you always have LOVE to share.

And may you always believe in the magic of Santa Claus.

Thank you to all who give without expecting anything in return!

God bless,

So funny and so true!

A girl can dream

I'm dreaming tonight about the day we splashed in the pool

Since the high was only 20 today (but it actually felt like 9 with the wind). brrrrrrrrrrrr

My Heart Runneth Over Wednesdays...

My heart runneth over:

.....with a variety of emotions as I celebrate another year of life.



As I process these emotions
(Joy,
regret,
happiness,
disappointment,
excitement,
fear,
contentment,
and a handful of others)

and think back over my 35 years, I realize how incredibly blessed I am.

I am healthy (as is my entire family), have a fabulous husband, three amazing, beautiful children, and by every definition of the phrase...My Heart (Cup) Runneth Over......"I have more than enough for my needs".

Beautiful Tree Skirt

I'm addicted to Pinterest.  It teases me with all kinds of fun and creative ideas. From funky scarves made out of old t-shirts to hangers for flats made out of curled up wire hangers.  From photo and meal ideas to puffy paint on canvas. 
Heed this warning....DO NOT check out Pinterest unless you are ready to accept the addiction.

My latest find was this no-sew Christmas tree skirt.
Supplies included:  old sheet (could use an old blanket or painters tarp), 2 yards linen, 3 yards burlap, hot glue gun, scissors and a yard stick.

I started with an old twin sheet; folded it, then folded it again.  Then I cut it to make an oval (the original called for a circle, but I wanted more of an oval shape), I also cut the corner to make the inner circle.  (Minus the cat when you create yours :) )

I then cut the linen and the burlap into 3 inch strips.  Not an easy task with the burlap, so I had to lay it out across the entire floor and cut them one by one.  I was able to fold the linen and cut 3" strips, a few at a time.  I ended up with a pile of material (which clearly my cat AND dog loved!)

Then I warmed up the glue gun and began to fold the material:

I did a row of linen, then 2 rows of burlap (which was a little harder to fold, but certainly not impossible).

A couple of hours and a few burnt fingers later, here was the beautiful final product.  Sorry I didn't take many pictures in the middle of the project...I got carried away.

And here it is under my tree:

The pictures do not do this skirt justice.  It is really beautiful!  I love it! Thank you Pinterest!!

Homemade

We made some homemade Christmas ornaments yesterday.
The dough recipe was 4 cups of flour, 1 cup of salt and 1 1/2 cups water.  But the dough was not the important component.....the paint was, of course

E took the decorating very seriously.

Some of her masterpieces.

Her sweet hand:



H was more abstract with her ornament.



And my Heart Man's little hand:

Aren't these ornaments so incredible!   Makes me smile every time I look at them.  My kids are so precious.  I wish I could keep them little forever.

Oh Black Friday.....

Dear Black Friday,
You did it again!  You teased and tempted.  You angered and frustrated.  You tired me and made my body ache.  You made me say 'this is stupid' close to 100 times.  You seduced me to make silly choices (going to one store 3 times!).

But you also made me laugh. You allowed me to eat crap at 3am. You did save me money. You helped me check off nearly everything on my list. You showed me that I AM a patient woman.  And most importantly......You gave me time alone with two women I really love!

For them, the lost sleep and madness was worth it!
Thanks ladies...til we meet again next year!

Thankful

The simplest things in life make me so thankful.

Doesn't your heart just melt.........mine does.

Thank you God....for Everything!!

My Heart Runneth Over Wednesdays....

my heart runneth over:

-with well wishes for my Dad on his birthday!
Hope you have a fabulous day, Dad.  Thank you for the love and support.
You are literally the best!  Enjoy your day!

p.s.  the kids say:  "Happy Birthday Papa!!  We love you!!!"

I need.....

I’ve been scouring Black Friday ads.  Not because I love to shop (BECAUSE I DON’T), more because I love a good deal….I mean REALLY love a good deal.  Plenty of crap has been purchased in my home simply because it was on sale! 

As I have been looking through the ads, a realization came over me…..in this busy, material-obsessed world sometimes it is difficult for our brains to process what our ‘needs’ are….versus our ‘wants’.  After I crossed many, many things off the shopping list….I started to think about what my current needs are:

- a (long overdue) date with my husband

- an extra dose of patience

- a nap

- 10 minutes of silence to pray

I don’t think it’s much….but much needed….much more needed than anything in those black Friday ads.

The Who's

Introducing

Cindy Lou Who, Betty Lou Who.....

 

and Stu Lou Who

 

oh.....if I could only get Jeter to wear antlers

and paint Ed green....