our life...

Crafts

2012-02-14T05:51:00.001-08:00

Happy Valentine's Day my friends!

My crafty friend (one of them) came over the other night and
I made her stay up way late to get some cute crafts done.
We make a banner for the kids art table.

Everyone needs a 'craft' banner.

I made this cupcake stand for Maddox's upcoming Shark Party.

It will be really cute filled with shark fin cupcakes. Yum!

We also made lots of these little thingys.
It's a water bottle drink/treat holder.

Really easy to make!

We got the idea from....all together now.....PINTEREST.

Good grief that sight is so awesome!

I am sending them on random days just for a little treat.

Sending them to support teachers that don't get enough love and attention.

(librarian, P.E. teacher, lunch lady)

We also made 2 stitched birthday banners for the shark party,
but you will have to wait to see those!

Have a lovey, dovey day!

P.S. Speaking of crafts and my crafty friend look for a very exciting post coming soon!!!
You won't want to miss it!!

random stuff

2012-02-12T20:04:00.000-08:00

My kids have been eating heart sandwiches for weeks.

I couldn't help myself.

They are so fun to put in the lunch boxes.

I sometimes write little 'i love yous'on the ziplock.

Tanner now asks for 'heart sanwich'.

I came out this morning to find this happy little 2 year old

sitting at the table in his favorite jammies eating fruit loops.

When I walk out he says, 'hi mom'.

I could just squeeze him.

Tanner does this when he is waiting for his blankie in the wash.

He asks for it over and over and then smiles so big when its done.

Hugs it close and carries it off.

And that bumble bee costume, he loves it too.

He wears it and chases Emma around.

She runs and pretends to be scared.

He giggles alot.

I baked, and baked, and baked.

All night Saturday night.

Then iced all day Sunday.

I made little notes to keep my orders all straight.

I will deliver them all today.
Work on a couple more v-day crafts for Emma's class.
Then take a deep breath.....sigh.

photo friday (not really)

2012-02-10T11:16:00.000-08:00

Look at this!

I haven't posted all week!

My goodness I am lazy.

No. Not really.

I've been busy.

Just no pictures.

Nothing too exciting.

I had planned to show you a big GW desk makeover.

I painted it.

It's in Emma's room.

She is already using it, but I have been to Hobby Lobby

THREE times to get knobs for it and THREE times I

have forgotten the reason I was there and squandered my money

on other things. Walked out happy and giddy to craft and

DUH no knobs.

Ah, well.

I'll keep you posted.

I cut Tanner's hair.

Trimmed.

It's still long.

Maddox has been in a bad mood all week.

For real.

I seriously don't know what to do with him sometimes.

He gets mad and/or cries about everything.

ev.ery.thing.

It's exhausting.

I believe I have used that word to describe him before.

I think it's 'the fours'.

He's four.

Three wasn't great for him either though.

I did a scrapbook page of him when he was three.

It has little monsters all over it.

Haha. I do love him dearly.

Look, here it is.

I found it.

Maybe I am hoping it's 'the fours' because

he's almost five.

24 days to be exact.

I've been working on it of course.

Yesterday, I had a little crafty time with my bff.

I cut out some cute waves for the party.

It's a shark/scuba party.

I will be making these this weekend.

I will be gather the pieces.

They are for Emma's Valentine Class party.

I bought lots more stuff that too.

Valentine's definitely has me in the mood to craft this year.

And bake.

I am making Cake Batter Rice Krispie treats sprayed PINK with sprinkles.

Pink Cupcakes.

LOTS of sugar cookies.

and Marshmallow Pops!

Pink ones of course.

With sprinkles.

I have orders for 6 dozen Valentine Sugar cookies!

I am SO Excited!!

SO excited that people are using my new business

Studio 206!

SO excited that my friends have given me

a very warm welcome into the whole business thing.

I will baking my tail off on Saturday.

That's great!

Today, if I'm lucky, my crafty friend is coming

over again. Where will we completely destroy my breakfast room

table with paper, ribbon, fabric, and glue!

I've been to GW alot this week.

That's how you find the goods.

Well, that's it for me I guess.

I'm off to pick up the kids and do some crafting.

I should be cleaning.

But there's always tomorrow!

Have a great weekend.

Our weekend

2012-02-06T09:12:00.000-08:00

Hey there!
Did you have a great weekend?
We sure did.

Friday afternoon the weather was so nice.
The kids played outside for a long time after school.
Then we had friends over for game night!
This is the only picture I took. At all.
I was going to try to take pictures but once everyone got here,
I got distracted. Ahh well. We had fun.

Saturday was a rainy, cloudy day.

We got laundry, cleaning, and playing done then I went antiquing with a friend.

I picked up this sweet little handmade sign for Emma's room.

When I got back, Mark had dinner ready!

Yum! That was nice.

Baked Ham, rolls, baked potatoes and green beans.

I hung the paper chains from E's Art Party in the playroom.

I made one of our favorite desserts.

Peanut butter rice krispie treats with chocolate on top.

So good.

They're gone now.

I completely took every.thing. out of the kitchen cabinets and drawers AND pantry to straighten, clean, wipe, throw away, and organize. Maddox found the crayon molds, so we made crayons!

The kids did this to the bonus room.

We ALL played connect 4 about 12 times.

Tanner beat Maddox twice!

It was so funny.

I wasn't even helping him.

Then Mark set the tent up in the bonus room so these
three could sleep there all night.
Maddox: "This is the best night ever!"
Even Tanner slept in there.
After he came down stairs twice.
I would say, "you want me to put you in your bed?"
Tanner: "No no no. Sleep tent."

Sunday was church then I volunteered at a consignment sale for a while.
The kids went to bed early.
Mark watched the superbowl.
I didn't.
I was on pinterest.

And now we are back to Monday.

photo friday

2012-02-03T09:44:00.000-08:00

Have a great weekend friends!
I am looking forward to sleeping past 6am.

What's been happening...

2012-02-02T18:56:00.000-08:00

Tanner has been napping on the floor or couch downstairs.

Usually not on a Wii remote.

He is climbing out of his bed for all naptimes now.

So this is easier.

He gets a good hour or hour and half in.

I'm cool with it.

It's cute.

He needs a big boy bed.

(I think.) At his age, the others were already in 'big' beds.

But he's the last ....so....there.

We've been at the library every week or so.

We read a lot of books around here.

Like 10 a day.

It's nice to have a new selection.

Plus the library is one free hour of entertainment for the boys!

I moved the bookshelf from Emma's room into the playroom.

Emma got something new that I promise to show you next week.

I like it in here.

I also got a CandyLand rug at GW this week for

wait for it....

$1.99! Brand new. Oh, yeah.

It's now in front of the shelf.

So cute.

You really should shop at GW.

Even my friend/ crafty neighbor/ that will remain nameless goes

there now. Ha! She even bought shoes. I saw it with my own eyes.

Madd and I often fill our days with games.

He likes games and I like games.

Much better than playing pretend.

I don't cheat so he can win...well, only on CandyLand

because it's so fun to stack the deck on that game.

They have no idea. Hilarious.

My vacuum seems to be out all the time lately.

I vacuum one room and then it sits there.

And then another room the next day.

Still sits.

That's not like me.

Maddox can read all his blends.

That makes me smile.

Doesn't mean he's going to the big K this year.

We haven't decided.

Emma has been reading the Junie B. Jones series.

She is determined to read them all.

She has finished 11. (?)

12 more to go.

I got her this one (up there) today at the library.

She finished it before bed tonight.

Umm..Twizzlers makes mouths happy. (?)

Madd loves Twizzlers.

We made our own pizza tonight.

First time ever.

The kids loved doing it.

The boys and I liked it.

Emma not so much.

She has been a hard one to change from eating food

to healthier food. She turns her nose at all the new stuff I buy.

But I will keep buying it. Mark probably didn't like it much either.

He didn't say anything.

NaNaBooBoo
Tanner went diving.

Gotta go!

before and after

2012-02-02T06:15:00.000-08:00

In my bedroom...

$3 yard sale table. painted.
$2.(?) Goodwill frames. done.
New Accessories.
Much better.

Circus

2012-01-31T06:24:00.000-08:00

Our little neighbor Chloe had an extra ticket for the Circus on Saturday,
and she wanted to take Maddox!
How sweet.
They had a great time.

valentine mailbox

2012-01-30T11:06:00.000-08:00

Target has these cute little mailboxes for $1.00.
Brass candle holder from GW painted pink for Emma.
Gorilla Glue.

This idea brought to you by pinterest.

Random stuff

2012-01-23T10:19:00.000-08:00

Emma got the reading award at school on Friday.
Gooooo Emma!!
I am so proud of her!
This time they called her name first so she had to
stand up there in front of everyone while the other kids
got their awards, so she had to stand there longer, haha she didn't
like that.

Tanner watching t.v. in the van.

I love those built in DVD players.

At first we used them alot.

And now only occasionally to calm a fit throwing, crying, pouty child.

Or sometimes for Madd after school, waiting in the car rider line for Emma is

a hard time for him. He's tired from school, ready to be home, and it

doesn't help that I ask him a million questions about his day.

So he watches t.v.

I thought this picture was funny.

They have been doing it more lately.

I knew I wasn't the only one that wanted bunk beds in here!

This table has been in E's room.
We brought it down for the art party and never took it back.
I tucked it in a corner of the dining room and the kids
have been using it alot.
Now I have her a new desk.
From GW.
I am working on painting it.
It will be ready in about 2 days.

Tanner loves to pretend he is a dog. (?)

And anytime the laundry basket is out, that's his house. (?)

He can stay under there for a good while.

Tanner left the house like this today.
(?)

bye.

photo friday

2012-01-20T10:48:00.000-08:00

Today is Thursday

2012-01-19T12:13:00.000-08:00

I am already ready for the weekend.

I was ready yesterday.

Sunday will be 60 degrees here and I am painting!

I bought a cute desk for Emma's room at Goodwill pre Art Party

and it has no attention. I am dying to paint it. Put it in there. Get the Lego Friends sets off my dining room table. Then go the flea market and find an awesome, cute chair that is already beautiful and needs no work for a steal of a deal.

We'll see.

It could happen.

Can you believe that I put myself out there with Studio 206.

Me either. Kind of nervous that I may fall on my face.

I am scared of disappointing people. But praying that won't happen.

I'm out there. Good thing the house payment doesn't depend on it!

I posted on my facebook page that I was staying home today.

I didn't.

My mom left this morning and we (the boys and I ) needed to get out.

Maddox really needed a haircut.

I wanted to go to GW.

And Tanner wanted to go the library.

We got the haircut and went to the library.

I will go to GW later. By myself.

My mom can keep them busy for hours.

Maddox is turning 5 in 6 weeks.

Good grief. I don't want that to happen.

I love age 4. Probably because I am SO glad to get him out of age 3.

He was a challenging little 3.

But now. 5. I don't like it one bit.

I do like to party. We all know that.

He is going to have a Shark party.

He is obsessed with sharks and diving.

I'm going to start working on it now.

That's it for me.

I'm in the playroom typing.

Tanner is being a dog and fetching a wooden scrabble letter holder thingy as his stick.

He wants me to keep throwing it for him.

Maddox is some kind of spy/scuba diver surrounded by shark water and I (on the boat chair) am apparently some kind of bad guy that he is spying on.

But diaper duty calls!

Have a wonderful day!

Hang in there.

Tomorrow is Friday.

Big Announcement

2012-01-17T07:31:00.000-08:00

Today I am launching my new business!

Studio 206

creating handmade parties

Most of you know that I love giving my own kids really fun, themed birthday parties.

I love the planning and creating.

This is something I have been thinking about for a long time.

I think I have drove Mark a little crazy with all the details.

over and over. and over.

But I am excited!

I will admit that I get intimidated when I see just how many

party planning sites and business are out there. Wow!

And the creativity is amazing! The parties that I will create for Studio 206 will

be like the ones that I have put together for my own kids.

I want to help out people who need that extra little boost to bring everything together!

So that's my big announcement! My own party business.

I have more ideas in my head too that I hope to launch one day!

I really thank you and appreciate your support in this adventure!

Click HERE to visit and LIKE Studio 206 FaceBook Page

Click HERE to visit my new blog. Studio 206

"When you find something you love to do,

you never have to go to work."

"Life is too short. Live it to the fullest. Do what you LOVE."

For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD,

"plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Emma's Art Party

2012-01-16T07:17:00.000-08:00

What a great party!

We celebrated Emma turning 7 on Saturday with

an Arts and Crafts Birthday Party!

She loves to craft.

****************************************************************************

*************************************************************************

Front porch welcoming our guest to

Emma's Art Studio.

************************************************************************

Our Party Table!

When the kids started arriving I let them pick an apron and start

at a craft station. I had originally thought that I would have 3 groups of

6 and have them switch in groups all at the same time, but letting them go free

worked much better. A few chose not to do certain crafts and others wanted to

stay longer at their station. Also letting them roam around allowed them to

sit and visit with different friends at each station. We had 16 kids!...AND

you could hear a pin drop at craft time! No joke. I knew it would be like that

when I was planning. Kids love to craft and they were involved in their art!

I hung lots of paper chains in the main craft areas.

I also had a Creation Station set up for the kids

that finished early or just wanted to make their own thing.

It was filled with markers, crayons, colored pencils, glue,

scissors, buttons, tissue paper scraps, felt sticky hearts and

large Popsicle sticks. They actually loved this part of the party.

Quite a few of the kids spent lots of time there just creating!

We had a clay station.

Lots of different colors of clay and the

kids could make little creatures, flowers or whatever they dreamed up.

It works well to have some ideas already made for inspiration.

Thanks to my neighbor Tracey for all the clay inspiration!

Emma had previously put everyone's initials on paper plates so they

could keep all their crafts in one spot and take them home easily.

Melty Beads were so popular!
The kids loved. I would recommend having lots of
smaller templates. The larger can take a while to get done.
But some of the girls did great big ones!
Don't forget the iron and the wax paper!
Thanks to my MIL for ironing lots of creations!

The painting station was also a popular one.
What am I saying?
They really loved them all!
I bought small pottery magnets at Joann's dollar section.
2 for $1.
The kids did a great job and they all looked so cute!
(kids and magnets)

I had Emma create some art in printable frames before the party.

And then used painters tape to attach them to the wall.

Self Portraits

I made a pin the tail on the donkey kind of game only Art party style!

The kids were pinning the green on the paint palette.

Here's a little free party tip for you:
To make your party run smoother, have the
adhesive already on the back of whatever you are 'pinning'.

I made a six layer rainbow cake and didn't get a picture of the inside!
It was cute.
And very yummy!

This Arts and Crafts Birthday Party was a huge success!

Aprons from Oriental Trading.
Thank YOU to my friend Amanda for taking beautiful picutres!
You can get a paint palette printable HERE to make the game with.
Go HERE for the printable picture frame. Just click and save to your computer.
Unfortunately due to Pinterest (which I love! ) it is sometimes
hard to track back an original idea.
i.e. the rice krispie paint brushes
I would love to give credit where credit is due.
I have all the resources and party ideas pinned.
You can check out my Pinterest boards HERE.

photo friday

2012-01-13T08:16:00.000-08:00

Birthday Girl!
Turning 7 tomorrow!

Have a wonderful weekend.

Today is Thursday

2012-01-12T14:21:00.000-08:00

I thought yesterday was Thursday.
I'm glad it wasn't.
Or I would be behind.

Today after school it started snowing.
Our first snow this winter.
The kids are so excited!
Me? Not so much.

If it doesn't snow on Christmas, I don't care if ever snows.
Just give me spring.
Better yet, Summer!
Anyway, I don't want THIS snow to knock us out of
school tomorrow or Emma's party Saturday.

Speaking of Emma's party...

I've been baking today.

I made sugar cookies.

Now I'm working on icing them.

40 of them.

Not done yet.

Two more colors to go.

Icing this way is very easy.

I follow Bake at 350's recipes.

Tanner took a nap on the couch today.

I don't know why I think napping children on couches are so darn cute!

We got Magna-Tiles for Christmas.

Oh goodness.

You would think we won the lottery.

They ALL love them.

The box stays out all the time.

We only got a set of 32.

We need more.

Mark upgraded us for a free trial of NETFLIX.

Lottery again!

They love it.

We love it.

Why did we wait so long?

When Emma tells anyone what she is watching she has to add

that is on Netflix. They don't ask for certain shows.

They just say, 'Can I watch Netflix?'

Remember RugRats Cartoon?

I loved that one.

Now they do too.

They don't believe me when I say it's old.

My dining room table looked like this all week:

Tanner was not happy last Wednesday when everyone

went back to school! But he has now adjusted back

to his cute, nice self. Playing alone. Not throwing fits and yelling NO!

And lastly it's consignment sale season!

hallway shelf...again

2012-01-10T19:45:00.000-08:00

This shelf.
I love this shelf.
Mark built it just for me.
I showed him the picture and he made it.

I had nothing on it.
Just mixed matched ....um...crap.
It was bad.
But now it's not.

Spray painted some GW frames.

Wooden star - $6 clearance at Joann's

Cross - $3 clearance at Joann's

And I printed at home this family rules page.

You can get one too. Click here and print!

It will look exactly like this.

So now my shelf is d.o.n.e.

And I love it!

Bye!

new map

2012-01-09T14:49:00.000-08:00

Well old map actually.

I found this map when we were going through Mark's grandpa's house.

It is huge.

Massive.

It's one of those big classroom pull down kind.

Mark's grandpa used to work as the custodian at one of the old local schools.

I thought about framing it, but that was going to cost me 100s of dollars.

So I had Mark do the next best thing, which turned out to be the best thing.

He built a simple frame on the back, stretched the map around it and stapled.

I couldn't love it more.

We hung it on the big blank wall in the playroom.

perfect!

Pictures of Me

2012-01-08T19:23:00.000-08:00

I think someone has been playing with my camera.
again.

photo friday

2012-01-06T06:22:00.000-08:00

Top 10 List

2012-01-05T06:29:00.000-08:00

Emma brought this home from school yesterday.
It is her Top 10 List from Christmas Break.

I'll translate the 1st grade writing for you:

1. eating (she's my girl!)
2. giving presents
3. being with family
4. Praising God
5. opening presents
6. playing new toys
7. going to church
8. going to grandpa's
9. seeing my cousins
10. playing

I could not be more proud of her!

Dressed Piano

2012-01-04T08:40:00.000-08:00

When we bought the piano it was time to decorate for Fall.
Then it was time to decorate for Christmas.
Now it was time for .....well, nothing.
My piano was naked.

So I went shopping.
At Goodwill and Walmart and Target.

And now I have a dressed up piano that I love.

Lamps and shades were most expensive. (Target)

The lamps were cheap, the shades were cheap, but when you buying double it adds up.

Total $45

Found the clock and fake fern at Wal-Mart.

total $16.

I got the little tray for $1.99 at GW.

Spray painted it and added paper to the bottom.

Can't forget my Scrabble letters!
And the rest I already had.
I could have def. found cheaper lamps (not shades) at GW,
but that would take browsing for a few months and this time,
I didn't want to wait!

Family Game Night

2012-01-02T20:48:00.000-08:00

We had family game night.
I love playing games.
Madd loves playing games.
Emma doesn't like to lose.
Neither do I, but I don't get mad over Candy Land.
She does...sometimes.
We had fun.

We played Go fish, and the Princess PFF game.

Mark was snow white.

Just saying.

Tanner really thought he was playing too.
We let him hold Emma's matches and he would
spontaneously yell out, "Tat" (cat) or Dd.
He knows letter Dd for some odd reason.

We always prop the cards up on something (usually a couch cushion thrown on the floor)

because it's too many for the kids to hold in their small hands.

Game nights are good.
Game nights are fun.

Art Party Inspiration

2012-01-02T08:43:00.000-08:00

If you follow me on Pinterest, the cat is out of the bag on the Art Party.

Emma is having a Art/Craft Party for her big #7.

I've been planning.

I love to give my kids birthday parties.

I hope these will be some of their greatest memories of me and them.

I let them help decide their theme, and we search together for ideas.

They always bring me lots of funny, creative ideas of their own.

Some a little too extravagant and some that I modify and create for them.

Here's some of the inspiration for Emma's party:

12 more days.
Do you like throwing parties?
Or just going to them?

piano lessons

2012-01-01T12:46:00.000-08:00

Emma has been taking piano lessons for a few months now.

Our neighbor, very next door neighbor is her teacher.

How much more convienent could it be?

She takes once a week for 30 minutes.

She loves it.

AND she's good at it!

I'm so proud of her. She is learning to read music, but she also (unlike me when I played flute) can play things by ear and can memorize her songs. I have to take a piece of paper and cover up her hands, forcing her to read the music instead of playing all from memory.

She is making her way through her first piano book and has learned Rudolph.

Christmas 2011

2011-12-31T07:04:00.000-08:00

This was our tree after Santa came on Christmas Eve.

I love being Santa.

Not to just my own kids, but others as well.

It is so fun to give.

Maddox came down at 3:00am because he wet his bed.

I thought we were in for trouble, but apparently he didn't even

look over at the tree when he came down the stairs. He slept the rest

of the morning with us. Emma came running down at 7am, jumping on Mark (score!)

and yelling, "Santa came! We got scooters! Get up!"

Maddox shot out of the bed like a rocket!

Mark went up to wake up Tanner.

And THEN we opened!

The big gifts were scooter, figit friend, American Girl (knockoff from Target), Lego set for Tanner, Bey Blades, Bakugans, and a new backpack/lunchbox and a Wii!!

We rushed out the door to church.

Came back to play a little , clean up a little, cook a little,

and then off to Ray and Di's to celebrate with the family.

All the girls had their figit friends!

Tanner got a really cool race track, and magna tiles.

Madd got a Lego set, basket ball goal, and dress up knight set.

Emma got drawing books, swimming dog, and doodle bear.

It was a great Christmas!!
Hope you had a wonderful Christmas too!
Happy New Year my friends.

photo friday

2011-12-30T20:11:00.000-08:00

McDonald's babysitter

2011-12-29T15:24:00.000-08:00

McDonald's was my babysitter.

I went there to get us out of the house, eat lunch, and have some computer time.

by.my.self. Sorta.

They were entertained, fed, and happy to play ......for 2 hours.

Yep. It was so fun. I won the World's Best Mom award that day!

We went late so that most of the other kids were gone bye-bye.

Are you enjoying your time off from school?
We have been loving being home and being together.
I know that sounds dumb or unreal especially for a 2, 4 and 6 year old, but
it's true. We have had a blast together and maybe for the first time I can
say that my kids have really enjoyed being with each other.

Tonight in the car Maddox says to Emma,
"you wanna be best friends forever?"
Emma: "Well we already are."

And my heart melts.

I took down all my Christmas the last 3 days.
Just finished up today with the outside stuff.

Elf cookies

2011-12-27T09:01:00.000-08:00

I followed Bake at 350 directions exactly for making these cute little

Elf on the Shelf Cookies. I made my cookie cutter from transparency paper.

I was worried about how their little faces might turn out.

I was hoping they wouldn't look like the guy locked in the basement from Goonies.

But I used icing Markers for the first time and wow!

I love them!! So easy and fun.

I will definitely be making these again next year.
and more!

The kids and I are enjoying our last week together before school starts again.
Playing with all the new toys. (I'll share soon)
Slowly taking down Christmas..
AND planning a birthday party!

Reindeer Food

2011-12-24T20:18:00.000-08:00

Magical Reindeer Food.
Oatmeal, Sugar, and Glitter.
Wear cute christmas pajamas.
Sprinkle the lawn on Christmas Eve.
Expect Magic.

Christmas Trees

2011-12-24T20:07:00.000-08:00

It's Christmas Eve.
But I still wanted to post how my trees came out this year.

The candy tree is my new tree this year.
I got this one on sale last year after Christmas for $10.
It didn't get really decorated until 2 days ago.
When all Christmas ornaments went 70% off.

I really love this tree!

You gotta love that tree topper!

It's my favorite!

Here's some of my favorite ornaments on this tree.

Though I do love them all.

I saw a candy tree at someones house probably 5 years and fell in love.
Now I have my own.

Next is our 'main tree'. The one Santa visits.

It's our 'red' tree. I love it too.

I found that ribbon this year at JoAnn's sale.

And I.adore.it.

Most of the ornaments on this tree are country-ish, quilted, antiqued and natural.

On our honeymoon.....

I love this picture.

(wish I still looked like that!)

And lastly, our tree in the bonus room.

Which just gained an identity this year.

The 'blue and silver' tree.

I add the balls and the silver ribbon new this year.

My aunt Judy gave me lots of Hallmark ornaments.

I pulled out all the Santa's she gave us and hung them on this tree.

This is the tree for all those adorable handmade ornaments.

And that's all of our trees.
Oh, shoot! I forgot Emma's pink tree.
It is uber cute. She wrapped her pink boa around it, the no-sew heart banner, and
then she put one of her big pink hair bows on top! It's adorable.

Merry Christmas my friends!

rudolph noses

2011-12-23T13:01:00.000-08:00

Our Elf on the Shelf has been naughty again.

He dressed himself up like Rudolph and then painted the kids noses red,

while they were sleeping!

(Note the bed head.)

They loved it.

And couldn't believe that he did that!

He also drove the barbie car around this week!
He's more fun for me than the kids!

photo friday

2011-12-23T07:04:00.000-08:00

Driving in the car....

Check out my gorgeous scarf that my friend made for me!

library trip

2011-12-22T09:21:00.000-08:00

Maddox - the only one brave enough to ~~sit on Santa's lap~~ even get close to Santa.
He ask for Bey Blades.
You know Bey Blades?
They are really fun. Even for me.

Snowflake the reindeer was there.

And my mom went with us.

We did Christmas with her early this week.

Did you know reindeer drop their antlers every year,
and grow new ones? Yep.

Tanner wouldn't pet her.

or go near her.

Fun times.

We are staying busy on these days when school is out.

But also lots of home, relaxing, play time together.

The kids have loved being together this week.

Today is Wednesday

2011-12-21T09:18:00.000-08:00

I had the laundry in at 8:30 this morning.

I let the boys play in the rice bin on the deck.

We don't do it alot, so it's fun and interesting everytime.

Keeps them busy while I am trying to finish things.

Like, I don't know, 30 elf cookies!!

Look closely, someone took a bite!

Hahaha that was me.

I messed up that one anyway, and I wanted to make

sure they didn't taste like poo before I give them to my

friends. They didn't. Whew!

I saw them first over at Bake at 350.

I followed her directions exactly.

Including making my own template!

I will show you the finished cookies tomorrow.

And now, I mop the ~~dirty nasty~~ floors.

What are you guys doing today?

lego man

2011-12-21T09:08:00.000-08:00

Tanner got that little George the Monkey at the Christmas Parade

and he has gotten attached to it. Tucked under his arm while he drags his blankey.

George has also been sleeping with him every night.

Tanner just discovered Legos about a month ago.

They were originally Maddox's but he is not very interested in them.

This is what Tanner plays with the most when the others are at school all day.

He says, "build!

He is also learning colors while playing.

It's so cute how he says, "buu" (blue) and "eyyyo" (yellow).

I got him another set for Christmas.

Christmas Photo Booths

2011-12-20T09:02:00.000-08:00

I set up a photo booth for Emma's class party on Friday.

I handmade these cute props.
Hung up some Christmas wrapping paper for the background.

They had fun with it.

Can't wait to email all those pictures to the parents!

They didn't know we were doing it.

I took the props again to the Christmas party at church too!
So fun!
Don't you love photo booths?

Gingerbread House 2011

2011-12-19T11:16:00.000-08:00

The note in the Advent calender said we would make
a gingerbread house today.
Maddox wanted to know "when?"
"After breakfast", I say.
"I'm ready to eat!" says Maddox.
Okay.
So our house was decorated, done, and photographed before 9am.

I decided to use candy melts for the roof.

I loved how it turned out.

Tanner helped a little, but mostly just wanted to eat all the m&m's.

When it was all done, I put it on a plate, perched on a cake stand, and
drowned it in sugar. It makes it look like snow. We used to use coconut,
but today I was out and I like the sparkly sugar better.

We do one every year.
Do you?

Funnies

2011-12-14T15:37:00.000-08:00

Maddox to Tanner: "I am telling Elfie on you!"
Tanner puts his arm around Maddox and walks with him.
Maddox: "Tanner kicked me, bit me, and broke my legos."
"That's three things marked off your list!"
Tanner: "Oh."

Emma: "It's tomorrow. tomorrow. It's called Tomorrow!"
Maddox: " I know."
Emma: "Then why do you keep calling it 'the next day after this'?
No one is going to know what you are talking about when you are in 5th grade!"

Maddox and Emma playing.
Maddox: " Let's battle. I'll be Poke'mon and you be...
Emma: "I don't want to (farts) battle."
Madddox: "you will be tootie."

Emma: "Mom, Mrs. Sanford said we will have Girl Scouts on our desk in the morning!!
I wonder what they will look like?!?!!"
Me: " She probably means a brochure or something like that. Not real girls, honey."
Emma: "oh."
*She thought they would be like little elves, perched on all the desks.

Emma's math paper says write a number and then write if it is even or odd.
Emma writes....10 even or odd.
I explained that it was asking if it was even OR odd.
She says, "No mom. Mrs. Sanford said right even or odd."

One day I was playing games with Madd.
We got the game all set up and then I was just waiting for him to go first.
He looks at me and says: "You go first. You're the princess."
thankyouverymuch

Maddox: "What do you want for Christmas dad?"
Mark: " I just like watching you open your gifts."
Maddox: "You could wrap me up, open me and say, 'wow I got a new kid'."

Farmer's Market

2011-12-13T19:50:00.000-08:00

My friend Amanda invited me to ride along to the
Nashville Farmer's Market with her on Sunday.
Yes. I will. Thankyouverymuch.

Here are some things I saw.
But didn't necessarily buy.

Jams. I didn't.

I wanted to buy some local honey.

But I was confused on which one to get.

I don't like it. But would like for my kids to

have a chance to try some.

I think Mark likes it.

It's all so pretty.

Isn't it?

I love it.

It was fun!
Thanks BFF!
We had a nice, relaxing time.
OH, I almost forgot.
I did buy Salsa and Pickled Okra.
Yummmmm.

Christmas Lights and Santa Claus

2011-12-13T05:27:00.000-08:00

Friday night we took the kids to our favorite drive thru
Christmas Light display.
It was part of the advent calender activities.
They enjoyed as always.
There is a giant size mailbox where you put your letters to Santa,
and a dancing Frosty.
The best part is the Santa Claus at the end.
This year I wrote their names on a piece of paper
and hung it out the window so when Santa knew their
names they were amazed!
It was great.
Santa said things like, "Emma you have grown so much since last year."
"Maddox you have been a really good boy this year!"

The kids loved it.
The next day I heard Emma tell Maddox,
"I think that was the real Santa because he knew our names and
that really impressed me."

Merry Christmas!
12 more days!

reindeer treats

2011-12-12T11:00:00.000-08:00

Today's craft is brought to you by Pinterest.
(of course)

I gathered my supplies.

candy canes
wiggly eyes
red buttons
brown paper bags

Some got glue later and you have these little cute treat bags!

reindeer palooza!

21 of these little guys.

Emma was SO into helping me with these.
She is a crafty girl.
I let her use the hot glue gun for the first time!
She loved it.

She burnt her fingers.
twice.
She took it like a true crafter.

Tanner and Maddox just mostly ate the candy canes.

easy.
cheap.
fast.
make 'em!

The diary of a beautiful girl...

2011-12-11T18:49:00.000-08:00

I read Emma's diary.
GASP!
Not really her diary.
It's her...well, it is a diary.
But it's not private.
She just uses it as a notebook.
She even took it to school when I kept
forgetting to replace her journal.
oops. I got that taken care of now.

Anyway, I flipped the pages and it was so cute and sweet.

I love her little drawings and stories.

I remember looking at some of my friend Tracey's little girls work when she

was in 1st grade (now in 2nd) and I just kept thinking how precious it all was.

And now Emma, in 1st grade, creates the same kind of things.

I love it.

Kids are so amazing and real.

Here's what I found:

*Good

I am so excited because we are going to the Christmas Parade
and right now Maddox is trying to drive his self.

I love you when you teach me Bible Verses and the Holy Bible.

This girl has a heart of gold!

Precious baby.

and that is the Diary of a beautiful girl.

Would you read your kids diary?
Like the real one?

photo friday

2011-12-09T09:57:00.000-08:00

Oh, while you are here would you mind clicking Follow over there?

I've been stuck at 81 for ages. Thanks to those 81!

Have a splendid weekend!

organizing freak

2011-12-08T18:24:00.000-08:00

Today, I ~~had so much fun~~ organized, sorted, cleaned, and trashed.
I needed to find Maddox's birth certificate and I knew it wasn't in the bathroom drawers,
but I started cleaning them out anyway.

while Tanner Wanner was in the tub behind.

After the bathroom drawers were done.

I pulled him out of the tub, cut his hair and put him back in.

Then I started looking for the birth certificate out here.

MaddyCakes wandered in and I took a break,

cut his hair and put him in the tub WITH Tanner.

Tanner took a really long bath.

I found what I was looking for and got all these drawers cleaned

out and organized. Ahhhh...

I then moved on to this mess of a cabinet that I keep my scrapbook supplies in.

This top drawer has become a junk drawer of party supplies, art scraps, glue sticks,

and other messes.

All the other drawers hold my scrapbook goodies and that all got a makeover as well.

I pulled out some things for Emma to make Christmas cards with and she had a blast doing that after school.

When cleaning I found pictures that I had just ~~thrown~~ tucked in

there for later. I took that massive mess up to Tanner's closet where

I keep all our keepsakes boxes. And then began to organize them!

I am still working on that project which will surely take me until I die.

I am making a box for each kid with their pictures, cards, and notes inside.

One box for Mark and I and one for extended family pictures.

And I am trashing ALOT. I would go ahead and throw away most birthday cards.

Yes. I would. But I remember as a young girl I would always pour over mine.

So I am saving the kid's birthday cards for them to look at if they want to.

After all this, I, of course, had no dinner ready.

We had our coats and shoes on when Mark got here and ate at Chinese Buffet.

Do you love organizing?
I do.
That and cleaning.
I like cleaning.
There. I said it.
I do.
Sometimes when people are telling me about their dirty messy houses,
I dream of cleaning and organizing them.
sick. I know.
Maybe not.

advent

2011-12-07T20:21:00.000-08:00

Advent:
The coming or arrival,
especially of something extremely important.

It's not Santa.
It's Jesus.
Our King.
Our Savior.

I like Santa.
We do Santa.
We talk about Santa.
We talk MORE about Jesus.

I love Christmas.
I love giving.
It's one of the reasons I am SO looking forward
to our family being debt free.
More Giving!
I have always loved giving.
My brother is the same way.
We didn't have much when we were growing up and
that ( I believe ) has led us to be compassionate people.
That and Jesus.

I am so happy that Christmas comes on a Sunday this year.
What better day?
I am looking forward to be in HIS house, HIS presence on the day
we celebrate his birth. I am looking forward to going with a thankful,
full, humble heart.

Next year, our advent will be different.
I already have the plan. (and the book)
More Scripture and teaching.
Still treats and lots of fun!

This is our Advent Calender for the year.

I found this one in Mark's grandpa's house when we were cleaning it out.

Here is a post of Advent Calender ideas that I did last year.

In the old one, I used to put the smaller treats right inside the drawers.
Emma was looking at these little drawers and asked,
"How are you going to put our stuff in there?"
She's just worried about the important stuff.
I put notes in all the drawers.
Too bad for Maddox.
He can't read yet.
hee hee

This year I wrote everything on the calender that is on those
little notes so I could remember, look ahead, and change things if I need to.
Like when my friend Janna told me about letting her kids sleep
in the play room together! Great idea. Hmmm..that should go on
yes! my girl's night out night.

Some days say, "treat day".
Here are some of the treat ideas for this year.

Games we can play together.
Crafts for the big kids.

(Tanner is kinda clueless to the whole thing.)

Matchbox cars and figurines.

(found at consignments sales)

Dry Erase Boards

Other ideas include:
Making an Eye Spy Jar
Sleeping in a tent indoors
Going to the parade
Story time at the library
Decorate a gingerbread house
Bowling

Do you have an advent calender?

Normal stuff

2011-12-07T11:17:00.000-08:00

Elfie was trapped in the t.v. console today.

Yesterday, the boys were playing quietly in the playroom.

Here's what they were doing.

Tanner came down to get me by the hand and show me how proud he was of their 'work'.

They even put their shoes in there! Funny boys.

After school, we set out to make our gingerbread ornaments for

our candy tree. The recipe is just applesauce, elmer's glue, and cinnamon.

It forgot to say LOTS and LOTS of cinnamon!!

I used 3 whole bottles and still not enough.

So we had to throw it all out.

The kids had fun mixing anyway! Ha!

Oh well, we will try it again.

After I clear the cinnamon shelves at Aldi!

Last night it was Emma's turn to do her Christmas show at school.

It was a Bugs Christmas, and oh.so.cute.

That's her with her friends; Lily and Gabby.

Look at all those kids!
Emma is right behind the girl in the front with the green tree shirt on.
She was hidden for most of it which was a little disappointing!
I will post a video of one of her cute songs later.
And the one of Madd that wasn't working.

Tanner and I went to the store today and then came back to clean.
Church tonight and the rest of the week will fly by!
Enjoy.

Tuesday Stuff

2011-12-06T06:08:00.000-08:00

I ordered my Christmas cards yesterday.
They are ready to pick up today.

I am feeling lazy today.
I need a project to work on.

The boys and I will probably hit the grocery store today.
Hopefully since I am feeling chill I won't freak out and get my blood pressure to the roof when they are running circles around my cart, climbing on and off, crying, yelling to each other, playing spy's, and asking for donuts and gummies. Hmmm....maybe I'll skip the store today. We have plenty.
Actually, 90 percent of the time they are not BAD at the store they are just kids. busy. curious. normal.

I am making a list of all the decorations I would like to get at the after-Christmas sales.

I need nets lights for the shrubs outside.
More garland. The stuff that looks real.
Ribbon.
Candy Tree Garland and Ornaments.
Wreaths for the windows.

Emma has her Christmas play at school tonight.

I worked last night so I could be off tonight.

The boys need haircuts.
Maybe tonight.
I cut Madd's before bath and Tanner's after his bath.

Tanner is talking a lot lately!

Well, that was all over the place.
I gotta run.
Sorry no pictures.

elf? santa? fun? yes!

2011-12-05T06:34:00.000-08:00

Today our elf dressed up like santa and brought the kids a small gift.
I knew I would make him fat and with a beard but
I could not resist the Barbie boots!
And of course I couldn't find matching ones!

I was cracking myself up at 10pm last night.
Which probably had something to do with me being too tired.

Emma got Cinnamon rudolph chapstick, Maddox a Poke'mon figure, and Tanner a matchbox car.

Don't tell the others but Tanner touched the elf!

GASP!

Happy Elfing!

elves, parades, and other christmas goodness

2011-12-04T20:17:00.000-08:00

Our elf has been naughty.

It's so fun, isn't it?

There he is up on the frame with the empty roll!

Tanner kept shaking his finger at him and saying,

"no, no, no!"

The next day called for some relaxing in a nice cozy marshmallow bubble bath.

Saturday Mark took the kids to the Christmas Parade while I was at work.

Tanner has kept that Curious George monkey close by him!

Friday Maddox had his Christmas Musical at school and it was SO very cute.

With him I never know what I may get. Sweet compliance or utter Defiance.

He was sweet. whew! It was adorable and I cried. Just a little to see my baby (and all those other precious little ones) up there singing for Jesus.

This picture is special to me because it's the first time that Tanner put his arm around Madd first.

I said, let's get a picture with bubba and he walked over, put his little arm around his bubba and said cheese! It was so cute and that's not just because I'm his mother. Ha!

I, of course, took lots of video of all this cute singing.

I wanted to share this one.

Maddox really gets into the Going to tell it on the Mountain!

(it's not working for me and it's after 10pm, I'll try later. sorry.)

Nana got to be here with us!

Oh, how I love my mom.

Golly, I wish like heck I would have realized the hard work and effort she put in to raising us.

And now she is a wonderful nana to my babies.

They love her. Lots.

And lastly,

THIS method of hiding gifts won't work for much longer.
hee hee.

The kids are back to school and
Tanner and I are off to look for Wii games!
woo hoo.

photo friday

2011-12-01T19:04:00.000-08:00

Oh, the imaginations!

I love it!

Christmas at our house

2011-12-01T04:58:00.000-08:00

Here's a few little and big touches of Christmas that I've been working on.

I went to the flea market on Saturday and found these vintage glass ornaments.

I love my scrabble letters! Ha.

Emma at 3 and Maddox at 1.

Time flies when you're having fun.

Remember my post about my granny's Santa she put on the door every year?

I got my own!

Yippee!

Tanner is saying Ho Ho Ho.

Ours is on the garage door.

Alot of years ago I saw a white tree that had all

candy ornaments on it and I have never forgotten it.

I finally got me a white one at clearance sales last year.

It's a slow start but this is my candy tree.

Sunday we are making TONS of gingerbread ornaments to hang on it.

Loaded with cinnamon so it will smell so good in here!

The peppermint lights I got at Target dollar spot last year on clearance.

They were on a green wire. I popped them off and hot glued them on my

colorful lights.

My musical, vintage'-y Santa that my granny gave me.

He is SO loud.

Here's our red tree.

The main one.

The one Santa visits.

$2 Santa.

And lastly, my center piece that I made from old Christmas ornaments,

mason jars, burlap, and pine branches cut from my yard.

Merry Christmas!

I'm off to see Junie B. Jones in Jingle Bells, Batman Smells!

Emma's field trip.

Mom will be here with the boys and supervising the cable guys

to not make a mess while they hook up the new t.v.

new lights and a book

2011-11-30T10:36:00.000-08:00

Reading lights.

In the bedroom.

I don't like lamps.

So these were perfect.

I love them.

Mark says it looks like a hotel.

Awesome. That's what I was going for.

really.

Who doesn't want to sleep in a hotelish room every night?

I do.

See that little Christmas tree?

We have 5 trees this year.

Counting the little bedroom ones too.

THIS one, up there, is my favorite.

It's so pretty in that container.

Right on my nightstand.

Speaking of what's on my nightstand,

I am reading this:

I'm only on chapter 2, but I love it.

Love the writing style.

Someone told me it was hard to read.

But I like it.

Happy Wednesday.

Tanner and I are putting up trees and more Christmas.

Show you tomorrow.

Tomorrow is December!

In the crockpot....

2011-11-29T10:25:00.000-08:00

Porkchops
Tomato Sauce
Brown Sugar
Lemon
In the crock pot.
I just put my in at 12:00 on low
and Mark will serve it at 5:30 this evening.
( I will be at work)
Yum!
Even the kids like it.

Elf on a Shelf

2011-11-28T06:38:00.000-08:00

We got our elf last year.

Emma named him "Elfey".

He is so much fun.

The kids loved finding him every morning.

I am anxious to see Tanner's reaction to him this year.

Elfey blew in from the North Pole Sunday morning and

brought the kids a big Christmas Breakfast.

White Powdered Donuts, Candy Canes, Marshmallows, and Christmas Cookies!!

The kids loved it.

We never have donuts! ha!

Do you have an elf?

They really are alot of fun!

Last year our elf just turned up in a different spot

each morning. But my sister in law had some naughty elves at

her house that did crazy things while her girls slept.

It looked so fun.

I think our elf might be a little mischievous this year!

I am off for a haircut today!

Happy Monday!

toys we love

2011-11-26T20:10:00.000-08:00

I always enjoy reading other people's posts about the toys and games that their children actually play with.
So here are some of our favorites that I would recommend to you for gift ideas.

We play alot of games.
I love games and feel it is a great way to spend time
with each other and get to know each other better.

Up to 8 people can play Zingo.

This year there is a new one called Zingo 1.2.3.

Santa will bringing that!

3 year olds can do this game.

Headbanz is worth the money.

It's a fun one. And the kids get it out and play alone.

Guess Who is fun, but sometimes still challenging for Madd.

He's 4.

Emma got this Princess Friends Forever Game for her birthday and we all love it.

Even Maddox. He and I play it often during Tanner's nap times.

Pretty much anything from Discovery Toys will be good.

Though they can be kind of pricey.

I lucked out on this one at a yard sale for $1.

Maddox gets it out at least 3 times a week.

This one they also play on their own!

This Dr. Seuss game taught Madd all his letters and sounds! No joke.

It's a lot of fun. And the kids can play it alone. The kids love it. It's kinda like twister except only one kid on the mat at at time.

If you're kids don't have a toy Nativity, get one.

Looks like we are missing a Wise Man this year, so I will probably look for one at the after Christmas sales.
My kids love playing with this. Singing "hallelujah" and made up songs about Jesus. It's really sweet.

Tanner got this tricycle when he turned 2.
It's the only one in the store that he could actually pedal.
He is more on the size of an 18 month old.
These are also a little pricey.
I got mine at a consignment sale for ...your going to die....FIVE dollars.
I know. So shop Craigslist. You may find one there.

Mighty Beanz track from Target.

If you have mighty beanz you will love this.

We have had lots of races on it! and it's easy for Maddox to snap together by himself.

The Batman Batcave.
It's worth it.

Magnetic dress up dolls.

There's even a boys set that I am getting Maddox for this year.

Lego Duplo's

We are not into little Lego's yet.

But Tanner (2) loves these and can do it by himself.

And last, this Fisher-Price Laugh and Learn Home has been hours of fun.
Emma got it for her 1st Christmas and they all have played with and still do!
It's definitely worth it for a little one!

Those are our favorites around here.
Here's a few things that Santa will be bringing this year....
Fijit Friend
BeyBlade Triple Battle
Jesus Calling Devotional for Kids
Our Generation Doll
Razor Scooters
Magna Tiles

I hope this might help you with your list making!

Christmas -y stuff

2011-11-23T06:43:00.000-08:00

I saw this idea on Pinterest.
Wrap your upside down tomato cage with lights.
I used globs of hot glue to make my cage stay put.
Then I wrapped my in burlap.
But I'm not sure if I'll keep it that way.
Can't decidee if I like it.
What do you think?
I still need to buy more lights for the other.

I did most of my outside decorations last week on a warm day.

Yesterday, I put up the 'red' tree.

(Actually it took me 3 days. We had stored it under the house and it smelled musky.

So I sprayed the whole thing over and over with Lysol and left it by the

open window. Don't store it under your house.)

It's our main tree downstairs.

The one Santa visits.

This is one of my most favorite decorations.

I need lots more. I don't have near enough for the size of this tree.

They are plastic icicles.
My mom and I got them YEARS ago at (I think) the Dollar General Store.
They add just the right sparkly to the tree.
If you find some, get them!
You will love them!

did you know this??

2011-11-23T06:32:00.000-08:00

You can store extra toilet paper in the back
of your pedestal sink! I don't recall how I figured this out, but it
was much needed in the powder room. I was desperate for some
kind of t.p. storage space in there!

I buy the regular rolls, not the double or jumbo ones.
And they fit like a glove!
Go try it.
Now you have more storage!

Your welcome.

With the boys...

2011-11-22T05:17:00.000-08:00

This is Emma's last day at school before the Thanksgiving break.

It's my stay home with the boys day!

You never know what may happen.

I let Tanner ride his 'beep beep' around down stairs on the hardwoods.

Madd is giving me rabbit ears.

So cute.

They really, really, really love each other.

Today we are taking out the recycling and Madd already asked...
"Can I get out of the van with you , Please mom."

Okay, sure.
I usually make them stay put.
It only takes 90 seconds there are lots of cars in and out.
Makes a momma nervous.

I will try to post again at nap..
my new reading lights in the bedroom!

our weekend

2011-11-21T10:15:00.000-08:00

We started the weekend off right!

And early.

I picked the kids up early from school and went to see the Rockettes show with our friends!

(Maddox was with us, but refused to take a picture.)

The weather on Saturday was so nice.

We had no plans!! I like those Saturdays.

I cleaned out my van and Mark's car.

The kids played outside all day with the neighbors.

Mark installed two reading lights in our bedroom!

They look so pretty.

I'll show you the before and after when I can get a good picture.

It's rainy and cloudy today.

Let's see.

What else?

Oh, yes. I started putting up the Christmas stuff.

Mostly just the outside things since it was a warm day.

Emma wore this wig all weekend.

Maddox snuck in the house several times to eat the icing off of the cupcakes.

I even found (almost stepped on) a de-iced cupcake by the back door!

Boys!!

Speaking of boys...

Last but not least I found the colander in the bathroom.

Don't ask.

It's always interesting over here.

Did you have a great weekend?

photo friday

2011-11-18T07:33:00.000-08:00

Mr. Freeze has struck again!!!!!!!!!!!

Madd loves when I do this to his batman and robin!

No Sew Burlap Banner

2011-11-17T11:30:00.000-08:00

I love these burlap banners that are everywhere now.
I've been wanting to try one and Thanksgiving crafts is the perfect time.
I bought my burlap at JoAnn's.
I had no idea there were so many different kinds and shades.
Anyway, get your burlap and decide on a banner shape.
If you have a two year old that ripped your halloween
banner then you may as well cut it up and use that as your template.
Just saying, IF that were to EVER happen.

I just used a sharpie to softly outline my shape and then I cut them out.

Next fold and iron down the top to make a seam for the string.

Remember to turn the pieces over so that any sharpie lines are on the back.

Because I am a NO sew kinda gal mainly because I don't know how to turn on my sewing machine,

I just ran a hotglue line in the seam and stuck my string in there.

Next I used the Cricuit to cut out some letter stencils.

Well, I used my friends Cricuit because, it's bigger and cuter and she left here.

Tape down the stencils and dab on your paint with a sponge brush.

Do this at naptime if at all possible.

And that's it!!

You have a beautiful fall banner!

I love it.

Go try it.

Today is Thursday

2011-11-17T05:38:00.000-08:00

It's my 'stay home with the boys day'.

I like those days.

Tanner has grown to an age ( and communication level ) that makes playing with him very fun.

They just play and play all day.

Upstairs and downstairs.

Madd talks to him like he's four and treats him so sweet.

I can get a lot done when they play like that.

And today...it's crafting.

I bought burlap last week to make a banner and it's still thrown on my laundry room shelf.

I have also made a pathetic attempt to cut and gather all the pieces for E's class to make

cute little paperbag turkeys. Gonna get that done today.

Yesterday Emma and I started covering her window seat thingy to make a nice cushy place

to sit. But I didn't calculate the amount of fabric needed the right way so now I have to go

get more. And do you know how much that thick green foamy padding is??! Geez!

What's so special about that stuff? I would love to finish that today as well, but that

means a run to JoAnn's with the boys.....we might.

I would definitely show you pictures of all these lovely things, BUT I think my camera is broke.

boo.

The boys poured water in my cup holders and without knowing I plopped my camera

right in there. Dang it! So it's acting all wonky. I'm charging the battery now.

Have a great Thursday.

Have you started Christmas shopping?

random things

2011-11-13T19:01:00.000-08:00

I have 4 big beautiful ferns hanging on my porch from April til November.

Every year.

I love them.

Today I had to take this batch down and toss them.

I know, I know I could try to save them but I tried that last year and for me it wasn't worth the hassle of keeping them warm and watered all winter so I'm okay with buying new ones every year.

Anyway, I took them down today and now the house seems naked.

I don't like it.

I will miss them until spring...

We took the kids for ice cream on Friday night after dinner.

Just for fun.

And I was dying for a hot fudge sundae with bananas!!!

It was a surprise.

They loved it.

We sat in a room by ourselves and answered the puzzles on Wheel of Fortune.

It was great.

I didn't do one.single.thing. from that Weekend To Do list.

Not. one. thing.

But in my (our) defense it was so cold and very windy.

So spray painting was out.

I've been watching ~~non-stop~~ the new season of the Duggars 19 Kids and Counting.

It's the only show that I like that I can watch in front of my kids.

The.only.show. We do not watch t.v. in front of our kids.

Michelle Duggar inspires me to be a better mom.

Can you imagine 19 kids??

Not me.

I'm stopping at 3.

But Momma Duggar, she ROCKS.

I am so excited for Black Friday Shopping!!!

Are you planning?

You either love it or hate it.

Me? I LOVE it. I'm a deals kinda girl.

BackFriday.net sends my all the ads as soon as they are released.

It's fantastic.

You can sign up for them too.

Our plan is Target and Walmart.

I knew it would happen, this year stores are opening on Thanksgiving Day.

I don't like that.

Thanksgiving should just be for the turkey!

Emma's birthday is 9 weeks away.
She will be 7.
I don't know what I think about that.
Somehow she (they) get older, but I don't.
Anyway, you won't be surprised that Ms. Birthday and I
have begun planning! She has decided on an Arts & Crafts Party.

I gotta run.
Next week is Thanksgiving!!
My brother with his family and my mom are coming.
We are excited.
I like having company.

Ta - Ta!

photo friday

2011-11-11T05:28:00.001-08:00

(pinterest idea)

Framed Mirror

2011-11-10T06:33:00.000-08:00

I wish I had told the builders to not put mirrors in our bathrooms.

I don't like those big ugly slab of mirror on the wall when there are so many beautiful ones to buy.

We thought about taking them down. Replacing them. We were scared. I was afraid of tearing up the drywall behind the mirror. So we did the next best thing.

Framed it!

There are tons of how-to's on this that are way better than I could give you.

I will tell you that we used as adhesive - hot glue.

Worked perfectly.

Hot glue dries really quickly so you will need to put in on in large globs and not a line of glue.

We also used MDF (fake wood) so that it would be light weight.

Worked perfectly.

before:

After:

Don't mind the kid. :)

I like it!

It took LESS than 30 minutes from 1st cut to done!

Really.

We will be doing this next week in our master bath.

Here are my tips:

Only put your adhesive on the outer edge of the trim. Otherwise you will see it in the reflection.
Use light weight MDF. Cheaper and easier to stay put!
Paint BOTH sides of your frame. The back side shows in the reflection.
Put your bottom piece on first. There's no wiggle room on that one. The others you can play with a little more.
Do it today!

Tuesday's To-Do List

2011-11-08T06:08:00.000-08:00

Vacuum steps and upstairs
Dust upstairs
Fix picture in Playroom
Mop floors
Clean tubs and shower
Redo my fall leaf tree craft that I broke
Put away Halloween for good
Clean out my van
Play with the boys
Order family pictures to hang
Measure bathroom window for new blinds
Glue molding back on the wall that got knocked off from kart wheel turning kids

Wednesday's List

Get map framed for playroom
Paint trim for framing the mirror
Wash sheets
Drop off and shop GW
Replace front porch mums?
Mark will frame the kids bathroom mirror

This weekend

Clean driveway and prep to seal
Paint dinning room table and chairs
Move the hallway shelf down

There's more but I hear the boys doing

something loud upstairs so I better go see.

Have a wonderful day.

I am so very thankful for this warm weather!

Sorry no pictures.

flea market find!!

2011-11-05T11:55:00.000-07:00

I got these at October's flea market...

sigh.

I love them.

I love the price too. $10 each!

I couldn't believe it when she said $10.

They are going in the kids bathroom over each sink.

photo friday

2011-11-04T04:35:00.000-07:00

Have a happy weekend!

I am so looking forward to this weekend.

Madd has his last soccer game at 11 on Saturday

and that.is.it! We are free agents. No obligations.

It's been a while since that has happened.

P.S. Mark and I went to see WICKED and it was so good!

P.S.S. The crown molding is finished. (The expert friend helped)

Terena posted this for me!

Velma and Shaggy.

I had to go to Dick's to get those socks!

The are softball socks or something.

The rest is from good ol' GW.

bye.

halloween night

2011-11-02T18:36:00.000-07:00

We love getting dressed up on Halloween.

We have always lived in great neighborhoods for trick or treating.

So we began this tradition of having Halloween at our house for family and friends

that don't have an ideal place for all that candy gathering.

I love have everyone here.

And costumes are a bonus!

I love when the adults dress up. It makes it so fun!

Mark and I went as Shaggy and Velma from Scooby Doo!

Only one person got a picture of us! I'm SO bummed that I didn't get one with

my own camera! More adults dressed up this year than ever before! It was fun!

Here's some of the food that I put out.

It was my first time to make cake pops.

They were delicious and easy to make.

I don't like candy melts so I coated my with icing.

Sausage balls are a staple at our Halloween parties!

Chris and I love them.
The food was a little eaten by this time. ha!

Green eyeball cake pops.

Emma and Halle

Wow. Halle looks so much taller than Emma.

Once Tanner got going, he loved trick or treating.

He was so cute.

Wanting to do it himself.

Kinda crappy pictures but it was night and you know I don't have a big girl camera.

The questionable scout leader and the

little old lady that lived in the shoe.

It was so fun.
I already have Mark's costume for next year!!
All of you reading this that come to my Halloween parties,
get your costumes ready for next year!

Halloween activities

2011-11-02T08:03:00.000-07:00

Halloween has been like a week long event.

Yes?

Treats, festivals, activities, school parties.

It was fun, but I'm glad it's over.

I didn't do real good taking pictures of everything.

Here's a few that I got.

I made these Martha Stewart Witch's Broom treat bags for Maddox's class.

I thought they were so cute.

I was going to try to make them myself but it was easier to just

get them on sale at Joann's.

Madd had a small fall festival at his school

but I didn't take my camera. The boys just played a few games

and got lots of treats! It was pouring the rain that day so the

festival got moved inside. We didn't stay very long.

Emma's fall festival was an ALL day event.

I was so exhausted.

Mark bought the kids 200 tickets!

You read that right. 200.

They did every game, ride, and activity offered.

Face Painting...

Hair painting...

And motorcycle rides!

Tanner loved this motorcycle.

While he was waiting in line for his turn,

the motorcycle would circle round and round.

Every time it went by him and didn't pick him up

he would start to cry.

Here's my prize booth for this year.

It was a MAD house over there!

After setting it up from 8 - 10, I worked from 10-11.

Then after Mark took the kids home I worked at the booth

again from 2-3:30. I was so tired.

Ran home to get everyone else and then

we headed straight to church at 4:30 for trunk or treating!

Emma wanted to wear her princess dress

because her face was painted like a princess.

They got so much candy at trunk or treating and
that was before Halloween! What do you do with all the candy?
Emma kept saying on the way home that I couldn't use it for
handing out at home!

The kids made monster mask one day while I was cooking dinner.

What do your kids do while you are busy in the kitchen?
That's always a challenging time for me.

photo friday

2011-10-28T04:52:00.000-07:00

masking tape road

2011-10-26T20:08:00.000-07:00

Another pinterest idea put to use!

I made this with the kids after school on .....monday?

Today is now Thursday and the bonus room still looks like this.

Anyone that comes over will tell you that we usually do

not have toys in the bonus room. But they loved it!

And the toys are still there.

But they are making me twitch a little.

I thought it was mostly going to be for the boys.

But even Emma loved it!

It's just masking tape.

$1.50 worth of fun.

Take it up and make a new one!

Fun fun!

ghost

2011-10-26T05:15:00.000-07:00

I copied Melissa at 320 Sycamore and made
these cute little ghost.
Took about 1 hr. Start to dry.
Just dip cheesecloth in a bucket of liquid starch.
Squeeze out excess and
drape over whatever you have.
I used paint cans and balls.

If I do these again I will cover the ball with
wax paper. It will help it peel off smoothly.
Once they were dry I just cut eyes out of
black construction paper.

Just for the record I like my little skinny one the best.
He looks more 'real'.
So to get skinny ones, stack skinny quart size cans
and use a small ball like the one in the picture.

Have fun!
Boo!

Prize Booth, Christmas, and Tile

2011-10-25T11:53:00.000-07:00

This is 109 necklaces that I have made for Emma's

Fall Carnival at school. I am 'in charge' of the Prize Booth.

I am making 300 more of these.

I've been working on sorting and labeling prizes today.

The boys loved! They got to play with everything.

This is my second year as Prize Booth President.

(kidding. I made that title up)

Here's the booth I created last year.

I took notes and made some improvements for this year!

I've also started to work on the kids

Christmas for Church.

And one more thing....

I'm thinking this tile for my backsplash with

a carmel colored grout and sealer.

yes?

no?

Have you tried these?

anyone?

What do you think?

crickets, crickets

More Family Pictures

2011-10-25T05:44:00.000-07:00

Here's the finish from yesterday's post.

Well, what do you think?
Pretty snazzy for amateurs!
I will framing lots of these!

Whooo! Whooo!!

2011-10-24T17:41:00.000-07:00

Are these the cuteset things ever!!!???

I know!

I love them.

Emma and I made them for all her teachers and Madd's teacher too.

We included her support teachers.

I feel like they get somewhat ignored.

They were quick and easy to make.

If you are letting your little one help with these, I would

suggest that you have everything pre-cut before you call

down the sweet, impatient, super excited 6 year old!

It makes things, well ....happier.

The little bottom note says,

Thanks for making me wiser.

cuteness.

I found this idea on Pinterest.

Whooot!

We filled them with 100 calorie chocolate snack packs,

gum, and York Peppermint Patties.

Fall crafts are my fav!

Family Pictures

2011-10-23T20:39:00.000-07:00

There are a million pictures on this post.
Or like 32! Seriously.
My bff and I took her mackdaddy camera
out for a spin Saturday!
She takes my family photos.
I take hers.
We take approx. 1 zillion and we are bound
to get a few good ones!
I love all of mine.
Here are 32 of my favorites.

Uh oh. Maybe there is a limit.
I will post my other favs tomorrow!

Fall Decorating

2011-10-22T14:22:00.000-07:00

I am finally posting my fall decor.
I think I did more last year.
It's been hot (not complaining) here which
has made it harder for me to think about pumpkins and such.
I did have the mums out for Tanner's party.
I just dragged the pumpkins out from under the house.
Which was a very funny sight unless you're me.

I made these leaf banners last year.

EDITED:

I wrote this post last week or the one before that..

Anyway, now that I am finally getting around to posting it

I wanted to show the *new pitures.

I added somethings and I bought some of that spiderweb from

Dollar General. I always liked the look of it but

could never get the hang of how to put it up.

Mine is far from perfect.

Once I started hanging it I couldn't stop.

I love it.

What do you think?

I made these last year.

Very easy .

Glass jars and paint.

I got this banner for $1 Halloween Clearance last year.

And more webs..

I love these on the bookshelf.

Hope no one needs a blanket before Halloween!

Okay. Enough.

I went a little crazy.

But it was fun.

photo friday

2011-10-20T20:36:00.001-07:00

crown moulding

2011-10-20T07:27:00.000-07:00

Mark is installing crown moulding (?) on the kitchen cabinets.

I love it but it's not finished.

He's stuck.

He needs his cabinet building expert friend to help him.

For real. He has one.

Mark hates crown moulding. The angles and the math are hard.

He finally figures it out and then waits so long between

projects that he forgets how again.

I think he should get lots of practice by installing it every.where.

Ha. He would kill me.

Oh yeah. He uses my kitchen chairs for ladders.

*Sigh*

Don't you just love crown moulding?

It really adds alot to a room.

Staining

2011-10-19T19:15:00.000-07:00

We've lived here 2 years.

Never stained the deck.

It was time.

I thought i wanted it dark.

Now I don't.

But it's dark anyway.

Oh well, in a couple of years you have to

do it again and I 'll pick a different color then. No biggie.

It was supposed to be dark brown it looks

redish sometimes. I don't like that.

I am just thankful that I have a deck attached to a house.

Seriously. No big deal.

See that mop looking thing up there?

It.was.awesome.

Use that next time.

It saved me so much time.

You can screw it onto a paint stick and stain the deck

floor boards so quickly. Plus you can do the spindels with it too.

Only around $8 at Lowe's!

Despite the color. It looks great.

And it's done.

Like my fancy deck furniture.

Only the best for us.

Maybe next spring??

I also did the kids playset.

Same color.

See on the right under the little window.

That is stained already.

Look at the roof! No stain yet.

It's done now.

I didn't realize how run down it looked.

But now it's good.

Staining anyone?

what I've been doing...

2011-10-19T08:57:00.000-07:00

Mark took took Emma and Maddox on the camping trip.

They loved it. But they were exhausted!

Emma came home from church, turned on her Nicole C. Mullen CD,

crawled into bed and fell asleep for 2 hours!

Emma has not taken a nap in years.

Tanner I did not go.

Camping that is.

We went to Goodwill instead!

Much better.

Tanner loves the sporting goods section.

Which is good for me because its right by the books!

We found quite a few deals.

Not the sippy cup!

I would not buy the sippy cup at GW.

Now I am reading this...

I just started.

Have you read it?

Is it good?

Remember weeks ago, I was making crafts with a friend.

This was one of them.

(Sorry for the crappy picture.)

Book page wreath.

I had been wanting to make one.

It was very easy.

And very cheap to do.

$1 wreath from Dollar Tree.

Cover in whatever cheap fabric you have.

Book from GW.

And get to work.

I love how it turn out.

I have more that I was going to share but

my pictures are taking t0o long to load.

I'll share more tomorrow.

photo friday

2011-10-14T11:59:00.000-07:00

I think this is the only I picture I took all week.
Mom was here and I always think I will get lots of blogging done when she is
but it never works out like that.
We talk too much.
Talk all day.
Talk to the kids.
Talk at night after the kids have gone to bed.
And then I'm too tired.

I finally finally finished painting the laundry room!
Finally. It's been months. Who cares? Now it's done and no one
would have known except I told all of you. All 5 of you.

And I power washed my deck.
I am staining it this weekend.
Yay!

You know how much a plantation shutter cost??
I didn't. I knew they were pricey but good grief.
Break the bank!
I want to put one in our master bath window.
I went to lowe's to check them out.
The guy tells me it will be $200-$300 for ONE.
uhhh??? what??? I said to him, "For ONE window blind?"
And he says to me, "Well, this is a shutter."
WhaaaaateveRRR!
So unless you guys clue me onto some great discount place I will
be on to my next idea.
Seriously, how do people afford them for their entire house? Roll it into the house payment?

I really didn't do anything with the kids for their second week of fall break.
We did go to the mall on Wednesday where I spent way too much money
on Emma alone! I don't go to the mall much. Of course, neither do the kids.
Remember my post about the escalators?? Emma and Maddox kept saying
'this is our first mall!' hahaha.

The kids are camping out tonight with Mark.
Not me.
I do NOT like sleeping in tents.
Pop Up campers?....oh yeah.
But tents and air mattresses are not my thing.
I will snap some camping pictures for you.

Have a great weekend!!

Halloween in the park

2011-10-11T06:34:00.000-07:00

I can't believe Emma went in that thing!!

The thing that looks a little scary!

Saturday we took the kids to Halloween in the Park.

It was huge.

Lots of people.

Lots of booths.

LOTS of candy.

All free!

Emma wore Red Riding Hood.
Isn't it so cute?!
I got it last year at Wal-mart Clearance for like $2.
Tanner has a gorilla for this year, but I would
love to find him a wolf!

Pony Rides for free!

(I'm thinking cowgirl party par'dner!)

Yee Haw!

Heeeeelp!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

HaHa.

Madd was the Incredible Hulk.

I got that at Target this year.

No Fall outing is complete without a HayRide.

They did the ride. I waited.

It was fun and very hot out there.

I'm hoping to get a pumpkin patch before Halloween.

Disney on Ice

2011-10-09T13:17:00.000-07:00

Thursday night we took the kids to Disney on Ice.
They had so much fun.
I don't know if it's sad or good to say
that our kids have not been alot and done alot of things.
But Mark and I were talking about how we have
always had a baby! Tanner is now 2 and there are
no.more.babies. (sorry Aunt Judy)
Now we feel like we can finally take them all places.
So being the home bodies that we are.
They had a great time going downtown, seeing everything.
Just to prove my point more. Maddox wanted to go up the
escalator that he had only seen on t.v. :)
So even though our seats were not up there, we went anyway.

But he was scared.

So he held on to me on the way down.

That's it for me.

We are still on fall break this week.

We have a few treats planned and my mom is coming!

I wish we were at the beach.

I wish that so so much.

On a side note....we meet some dogs at the Animal Shelter
that we fell in love with. Serious. We are figuring invisible fence.
What are we thinking??

photo friday

2011-10-07T19:46:00.001-07:00

Tanner at the carwash.

Staycation Day #3

2011-10-06T10:13:00.000-07:00

I took these 4 cuties to the Nashville Zoo!

They were fantabulous and I was exhausted when we got home.

But it was fun.

Tanner loves the zoo. Especially the monkeys and the turtles.

Yes. Turtles.

He showed me everyone.

Emma loves the ~~ugly~~ meerkats.

Grant loved the Red Panda and the LoraKeets.

One landed on him while he was feeding it nectar from a cup. He was beside himself.

Maddox loves the petting zoo!

He did not want to leave that place.

He had to brush every single goat in there.

We ate our lunch there and then headed home in time for Tanner to get a N.A.P.

Then we spent the afternoon hanging on the cul-de-sac with the neighbors!

Perfect.

Today is clean the house day.

At least for this morning.

We are going to make a run to the store and

then a special treat for the kids tonight!

I will share tomorrow.

Have a wonderful day.

home visit

2011-10-05T06:23:00.000-07:00

Me and the kids left Monday morning

to go see my family. Only a couple of hours away.

The kids were fabulous in the van.

Mark stayed here to work.

We went to my moms.

Where we completely wore out our welcome.

We visited my granny. I love her.

I have great memories of my granny and staying at her house when I was little.

I'm gonna write (type) those down one day soon.

Anyway, we went to my brothers and to see my Aunt Judy.

My aunt Judy loves me and my kids.

She calls me.

She sends my kids birthday cards.

She gave them candy and filled their pockets with pennies and nickels.

They loved it there.

And she had a cat to play with.

That's the kind of aunt I want to be.

We had a fun time getting away from the house for a day or two.

This is the only picture I took.

Regret that now.

Darn it!

Well, this is our staycation fall break.

We are off to the zoo today!

The kids are super excited.

I gotta run!

Fall Break!! and other stuff

2011-10-02T20:23:00.000-07:00

Yay for Fall Break!

I know I was a bad blogger last week.

Let's just skip over that, mmkay? kay!

But this week AND next week we are on Fall break!

Perfect.

Well one week would be perfect. Two is stretching it a little for me.

We are planning on staying busy.

Today we are off to Nana's to visit with her and the rest of the gang.

The kids are super excited.

It's been way too long and there are lots of visits and stops to make.

We are only staying one night.

I am planning on scooting off alone to get a pedicure while the kids entertain granny.

Mark will have a evening here home alone and I fought off my

strong temptation to give him a to-do list. I absolutely believe that he will be here eating

dip and watching guy movies.

Some of our plans include the zoo, Adventure Science Center, picnic at the park, putt putt golf, Cheekwood, possibly Disney on Ice and a day trip to Cool Springs! Fun Fun!

We did some flowerbed rearranging this last weekend.

Or was that 2 weeks ago. Yeah.

Anyway, it's much better now.

We took all those small burning bush shrubs from the front beds and just moved them back

here. I didn't like them in the front because they were right in front of my holly bushes. I like them much better here. That's an Althea bush that I got for the middle. I planned this bed and did most of the

digging myself. It was surprisingly not that hard. In the past, when it comes to digging, I just give up

because it's too hard.

I also planted a cherry tree in the front yard and a crepe myrtle (?) in the front bed.

Took out a big, out of place holly by the front porch and moved it around to the other

side of the house where I will add lots of Hydrangea bushes in the spring!!

One new shade tree, 2 scoops of black mulch and we are looking pretty.

Emma's last softball game was Saturday.

Fall ball went by fast.

Too fast.

However, the soccer season has just begun!

Goooo RockStars!!!

Maddox and Tanner made maps and

went treasure hunting in the woods out back.

Emma had a girls night out with Haily.

I was at the nearby table with my own 'girls'.

And last but not least.

Remember I told you I bought something big on Craigslist?

It was a piano.

I love it.

It makes me smile.

Emma has been taking lessons.

I have always wanted a piano even if no one could play it.

But if someone(s) can play it, then thats a bonus!

All the kids loved it.

Even the neighbors came in for a peak.

Okay, that's it for me.

My battery is almost dead.

And my computer one too!

Bedtime for me.

september flea market finds

2011-09-27T11:13:00.000-07:00

Me and some friends headed to the
Nashville Flea Market last Friday.
It's an addiciton.
I must go every month.
I was armed with consignment sale cash
and a list. I wanted wooden clothespins,
food scale, and boat oar(s).
2 outta 3 ain't bad!

Wooden Clothes pins - $4.
Tin washtub - $5 (future flower pot)

The possiblities are endless with this white

wooden tray. I put in my bathroom for now.

(see how that mirror has no frame around it? that will change soon!)

Kitchen Scale - $10

Snatched it up.

Industrial wire basket.

A large deep one!!

$5! Snatched it too.

Do you love shopping the flea market?

OH! I found a few boat oars that I wanted,

but I wasn't willing to pay the price.

The one that I have, I got at a yardsale for only $1.

And I love it so it's hard to pay $15 for one!

P.S. I sold my Dr. Suess Party! Yay! and

I'm still (like forever) looking for a dresser for my

family room. AND...I am buying something big from CL.

I'll show you soon!