{Ahh..the little things}

so incredibly tired....

In fact, I am off to bed after this post.  At 9 PM.  Wow.

I am SOOOO ready for Christmas break & so thankful that tomorrow is the last day of school.  I know (as always) I may feel differently once I am trying to entertain the kids for the next few weeks, but I am so ready for a break from the constant running to/from schools, and the nagging in the mornings.  It can not come soon enough!

In spite of being completely exhausted today, I managed to make 3 kinds of fudge, build 5 gingerbread houses, gather up & wrap 3 teacher gifts, and get my kids to bed early!  Now I must follow...

back to blogging?

I really want to get back to blogging - it just seems like there is not enough time lately.  I am sure it is because of all of the "extras" around Christmas - it seems like we have had something to do nearly every night of the week!  Tonight it is a girls Christmas dinner - I am looking forward to it :)  Dinner in a nice restaurant, fun times with my girlfriends,a gift exchange...should be lots of fun!

I've still been doing alot of crafting, and Ellie & I sold alot of our stuff, as well as stuff from friends at a sale at our church last weekend. All of the proceeds went to the Sudan project, which is our church's big mission area.  They have built schools (and adult life skills training places), water yards & churches for the people in that area.  Anyway, we raised $155.50 and are still waiting to hear the final total raised.  It was alot of fun, and I am looking forward to making it a yearly service project for our family.

I've also been busy around the house, not just decorating for Christmas, but also doing some painting, purging, organizing and some much needed deep cleaning.  It is amazing to me how much "stuff" we have & I thought that it would be a perfect time to get rid of some of the extra (of course, only to bring in LOTS more at Christmas time).  I am starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel though.  Not that I want to wish away the days of my kids being little AT ALL....but, I am noticing that this year the older kids are getting very few toys - and toys makes up 90% of the mess around here.  I also know that when the time comes that my little ones are no longer collecting their little toys in groups around the house, that I will be sad.  The other day I walked into the bathroom and saw this.....

.    .

These little moments make me pause & smile :)  right in the middle of my busy days.  I love being a Momma to preschoolers - it really is the best age, but it sure does go by fast!  Next year Zander will be in Kindergarten, and Ava will be in preschool - it seems so strange to think of  already.  Four kids in four different schools -oh my!  And I thought we lived in the car now...

the process

The last few weeks, an old friend & I have been exchanging "cute ideas" e-mails.  It started one night when we were at a girl scout event & found that we both love to blog-hop and see all of the amazing crafty women out there.  I have been inspired to try so many things between her e-mails, and that darn craft blog fest thing I mentioned a few posts back  (I apologize, again....)!  One of things I knew I had to make was a family rules canvas similar to this.  So, I bought a canvas that I thought looked pretty big (16x12) one day after I saw the idea, and  today I finally sat down at the computer to type out all oy "rules".  I knew that I did not want to try to print on each piece of scrap paper, and I also knew I did not have enough stickers or rub-ons to pull this off, so I figured that if I printed then on colored paper, then I could still cover the canvas with various scrap paper...and that si exactly what I did.

1. chose your rules & then have fun with the fonts ( I am such a geek - I LOVE fonts!)

2.  Print them & cut into strips, arrange them on your canvas

3. chose your background papers - I was actually able find all of the ones I liked right in my stash, and  even used some scraps as long as they had a 12" edge. 

4.  Cut them into various size strips & arrange to your liking.  I layed this all out again with the papers behind it just to make sure I liked it all before starting to mod-podge it all in place.

 

5.  After you are sure you are happy with it all, it is time to start the mess making.  Use the modge-podge to glue all of the paper to the canvas, I also put a coat over the top to help protect it.

  

 (make sure to smooth out all wrinkles while the glue is still wet, and BEFORE taking a picture to share on your blog...)

This is as much as I finshed today :)  I still plan to ink the edges of the rules, and sand the edges of the canvas after I cut off the raw edges to give it that shabby/distressed look.  So far, I am loving it though...

preparing...

just like everyone else, right?  Trying to switch my mind from Thanksgiving to Christmas, trying to get the lists all checked and the shopping started (thank you, black friday!).  I am trying to find ways to manage everything so that I avoid the "stress" part of this season.

One of the other things I needed to find a way to manage is my 5 yr old, and his question (already) of HOW MANY DAYS is there until Christmas?  I knew I had to make a countdown of some sort.  I first thought of the simple old paper chains, then I saw so many CUTE advent calendars & started to re-work it in my head to help us countdown as well.  Well, after seeing this example- I decided to get busy working on one of my/our own.  I decided to use envelops & tags for mine, and the kids helped me to decorate some of them (but lost interest very quickly).  I finally finished up tonight by writing crafts or fun activities on each tag.  I've told the kids we can read the cards in the morning, but all activities are for after school or evening time so that I have time to get things ready.  Right now it feels like it will be quite a commitment, but hopefully once we get started it just seems like fun.  Here is the finished project...

 

 

Looking at the pictures, I really wish I would have stuck to the same size envelopes.  I thought some variation would be cute, but in reality I think it looks more cluttered.  I know the kids will have so much fun with it though & that is what matters :)

Stay tuned for MANY more crafts in the coming weeks.  I am part of an ornament exchange, a jar gift swap, a kids craft Christmas bazaar for our church, and then of course there are many GIFTS to be made as well!  I just love, love, LOVE this time of year ♥

 

creative overload

I had mentioned that it has been quite a while since I have done much in the way of crafts, but have been planning & getting excited for some Christmas things.  A friend & I have also been e-mailing each other some great blogs with some fun re-decorating/organization types of craft ideas.  I have a few of them running through my head already on a "to-do" list for winter.

I also mentioned (quite a while ago) that I am the craft coordinator for my MOPS group this year.  Well, Wednesday is our meeting, as well as a craft day.  So tonight I have been busy getting all of the supplies ready, as well as creating a few samples.  This time we will be dressing up some hand sanitizer bottles because it seems that EVERYONE is worried about the nasty sickness going around and because I think they are just too cute :)   I *think* I first saw this idea last school year on Suzanne's blog and I am almost positive that she linked to "Just a girl" (this post specifically) where she shared the idea/tutorial.

But, before you go there (I am too late, right?) I must warn you that her current post is the inspiration behind my post tonight.  She is hosting a blog party she calls "I can make that" where there are sooooooo many crafty gift ideas.  Oh my goodness... I think it will take me a week to get through them all  :)  I've spent quite a while blog hopping tonight and have only visited maybe 20 of the 138 ideas.   My poor brain is in craft overload!  How do I decide what do I make first????

crafting

I am trying to get some of my many Christmas crafts/ideas started.  I LOVE this time of year & am looking forward to taking more time to do some crafts.  I do not feel like I have done much at all for quite some time!

I am taking part in an ornament exchange again this year, and I am thinking of making these...

(this is my sample one, I always have to try it out first!)  The kids thought it was cool, but that it should be made with green buttons.  I am pretty sure I saw the idea on Martha Stewart & that one was a green one.  What do you think?  I thought that some other colors would be cute, but now am not sure.  There were also some other button ornaments where the buttons were stacked and made into snowmen, and they were too cute as well.  I may try to make them too, but did not have all of the right buttons on hand.

And I have been searching all over for cute ides of things to put in a jar, which we are doing for my MOPS group exchange.  I am thinking of doing a dry mix (maybe cookies?) but want to be original too, so I may just stick with a color & put random things of that color in it (buttons, ribbon, ornaments, etc).  The only problem I see with that is that it is not very practical for the non-crafty person .  Still thinking...

I also gave my old winter wreath a makeover!  I've been looking for a replacement since last year, but I noticed that I am -  #1 too picky, #2 too cheap  :)  So, I came up with an idea to re-do mine.  Here it is before...

If you look closely, it is very faded and many of the cranberries are torn (thanks to my kiddos who LOVE to pick them off!)

I picked up some white spray paint and gave it a light coating so it looked like it had snowed on it, then I added some glitter spray over the top to give it a little sparkle.  It turned out very cute...

*I just noticed that when I am ready to hang it back up I need to make sure I center it, LOL!  I am waiting until a little closer to winter before I use it, I am trying to hang onto fall as long as I can :)

Today I also have a "melted snowman" drying on the counter.  My friend Mandy has a daisy troop and was going to make some ornaments with her girls and I told her I would help if she needed me to.  So, I cut out some pieces for her this afternoon and HAD to try one of them out.  Here is my version of the melted snowman ornament made with white glue...

I am excited to see it as it dries.  All of the little parts should show through really well, then you take a hole punch (or you can place the ribbon while the glue is wet) and tie a cute ribbon through to hang it on the tree.  I think the kids will really enjoy it!

 
 

random, yet again

Outside my window...

the sun is shining.

I am thinking...

about all of the sick people around here :(

I am thankful...

for quiet time

I am wearing... jeans & a green Miami t-shirt

I am

remembering... that my baby turns 3 this weekend.

I am going...n

o where until it is time to get everyone from school

I am reading...

bout three different books at once

I am hoping... for good results.

On my mind...

what ornament to make for the exchange I am in

Noticing that...

Ava is adorable

Pondering these words..."

there's no such thing as perfect people"

From the kitchen...

"come clean me up, I am too messy!"

Around the house...

toys, cards & folded clothes on the floor, groceries on the counter... general every day chaos!

One of my favorite things...

sunshine!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I am finally feeling better, and so are the kids :)  We even ventured to the grocery all together this morning, which has not happened in quite a while.  I am not even sure that we had groceries for the last two weeks, unless my sweet hubby picked them up here or there.  He really stepped it up where he needed to when I was feeling bad, I am so thankful to him for that. 

When realizing that Ava is about to turn THREE, I also am realizing that she is not potty trained.  And yes, it is just like that.  Not "we have been working on it, and..."  or "Ava is getting big enough to do it so..."  Nope!  It is like I completely forgot that was a duty of a Mom to a toddler.  Maybe it is because I've been there, and I totally dislike this stage.  Or maybe it is because I've been there, and know they have to be ready.  Maybe it is because I know she will not be in diapers forever?  Maybe all of them combined, but Ava is not potty trained.  Stay tuned on that one....

Oh yeah!  And the little questionaire above was taken from Suzanne's blog:)

random thoughts #5,420

• today the weather is BEAUTIFUL here
• so are the fall colors
• I am too tired/sick to enjoy it all
• I got pulled over today, and got a WARNING!  (I turned right on red in a school zone if you are curious)  :)
• Kaden is turning 10 on Sunday & I have no plans...that is so unlike me, but I have decided we have a new birthday theme around here - simple
• I think I will make a football shaped cake
• I realized today that I am supposed to help at 2 different harvest parties at 2 different schools...pretty much at the same time (oops!)
• I ♥ vanilla coke
• I am sad to be missing Bible study tomorrow, we have a group lunch after (which I love!) that I will also be missing  :(
• I think my husband is the best
• I have been bitten by a crafting bug today, no I have not crafted anything today - just feeling inspired to.  I'll keep you posted.
• we have three kittens here (outside) that we are loving, but I am not sure how the kids are going to feel when it is time to find them homes...

fall 09

It seems that this time of year always makes me happy. 

I think I LOVE summer, but when fall hits, there are so many other things I find that I love too... I like to spend my days cooking & baking.  I enjoy lighting fall scented candles and snuggling up with a book and a blanket.  I like to do crafty things with the kids, and take pictures out in the leaves.  We love the pumpkin patch field trips, and other fall festivals in our area. There is just so much to love about fall!

The last few days/week I have been very busy doing the first of those things.  My kitchen has never seen so much action :)  I have pulled out my slow-cooker cook book and tried some new recipes, may favorite being applesauce.  I have made some homemade peach freezer jam, and 2 different fruit crisps (apple & pear).  Next on the list will surely be something PUMPKIN...maybe a pumpkin roll or cake to take to MOPS (because I can't keep a whole roll or cake here without eating too much of it myself!). 

So, with all of this fall talk....what is your favorite fall food or activity?

day 2

Today started very much like yesterday, except that Zander & Ava were the ones who woke up in our bed this morning.  I am not sure what is going on, but it makes it much harder to get a good night sleep with two little ones taking up my space!

Shower, breakfast, nagging, school drops off - the usual :)

It is chilly today (mid-high 50's) so I decided to use some of my morning time to go through the kids clothes, get out the warmer clothes & pack up the summer things *sniff, sniff*  It took me all morning long, but I am happy to report that I took 3 bags of clothes and one bag of shoes to Goodwill, and I also have a bag of stuff for my niece.  Ahhh...it feels wonderful to get rid of things! 

I lit some fall scented candles & even turned the heat on this morning - I can't believe it!  Fall is definitely here.  Tonight at the soccer field will feel very different from last week, that is for sure.  We will all be bundled up instead of worried about being too hot.  Welcome to Ohio weather :)

After dropping Zander off at school Ava & I ran a quick errand (<--- isn't she cute all snuggled up in her warm clothes?), and we are now back home relaxing.  She is playing with her animals, and watching Kai Lan.  I plan to finish folding laundry, then work on my Bible Study (Breaking free by Beth Moore).  I am so behind this week! 

And I may not break that trend this afternoon because I really want to finish the book I've been reading -  "She's Come Undone"  I stayed up late reading last night, I am at one of those good parts when you hate to stop reading.

*yes, I snapped the picture of Ava before I buckled her into her seat