{Ahh..the little things}

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!

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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

a day in the life

I decided to (at least try) to follow Jess' lead, and do "a week in my life" here on my blog.  I have been a very bad blogger, and I blame it all on facebook :)  But, I loved blogging - and I want to get back in the routine of it.  I know my family enjoyed the updates as well, and now that my grandparents have "gone south" again, I know they would love to see me blogging again.

If you read the title, you might have noticed that it says a DAY in the life instead of a WEEK.  Hey, I am starting small here so that hopefully I can keep up on it!  I guess we will start with this morning, and I will keep this open & add to it as the day progresses...

Today, we woke up at 7:15 AM before the alarm.  I say "we" because Ava & Ellie both ended up in our bed last night at different points through the night.  Ellie, because it stormed, and Ava because she still comes into our bed a few nights a week.  I hit the shower, then woke everyone up and started getting them breakfast....let the get ready for school chaos begin.  "I am sorry that you do not like the cereal choices, I will get to the store TODAY, I promise.  Did you brush your teeth?  Go wet your hair!  Hurry guys, it is almost time to go!   Find your shoes...it is time to go!  Do you want to be late?  Come on! "   Yes, this happens evey morning *sigh*  I do not mean to be such a nag, but I am most days. 

We left the house about 8:20 to go pick up another boy we take to school.  Drop Ellie off at school, then head across town to take they boys to school.  Today I decided to grab a cappuchinno since I have the slightest start of a sore throat :( 

Came home, and helped Zander find some missing puzzle box tops (??) and his little lego pirate guy he could not find.  While in the basement, I started some laundry.  Then, uploaded the pictures from our camping weekend.  Decided to check e-mail, facebook, blogs while the little two play.  This is a pretty normal morning around here, unless it is a MOPS or Bible study morning.  We love to hang out at home (probably in jammies!) and the kids play or watch Nick Jr. while I clean, read, or catch up on the computer. 

   

 

Around lunch time, I went looking for some new ideas for the little ones for lunch.  I am tired of the same old thing, and I know they are too.  Last week, I did alot of little snack style lunches and they ate really well.  I did not have very many choices, so I decided on a pkg of the pasta sides (broccoli & cheese) and apple slices.  Obviously it was a good choice because mid-way through lunch Ava came & hugged me, telling me I was the "best Mom lunch maker"  :)  How cute is that?  Soon after, we were rushing off to drop Zander at pre-K...and I realized I forgot my camera  :(  So much for pictures during our afternoon.

Ava & I had a record afternoon hitting Aldi, WalMart (for the yeast they did not have at Aldi), JCPenney, and a little candle store here in town.  She was an angel through it all, and I only had to bribe her once with candy :)  After all of our running it was time to get the kids from school - which is an adventure itself (three kids at three different schools), and then we are home.  Afterschool snacks & the kids checking out their new shirts (long-sleeve because of the FALL weather we are having now)!  Dinner is in the crockpot (chicken breasts in cr of chicken soup), and I think I will make some mashed potatoes to go with it, and I want to finally try out the bread machine my mother-in-law gave me.  Whew - what a busy day we've had so far!

 

I can't wait...

I am SO excited...

I am going away, overnight with my MOPS steering team on Friday.  I can hardly wait for an entire 24 hours away!  I am also excited about the company I will be in - 8 other Christian Moms, all in a similar stage of life.  We will be planning for the year (I am the craft lady or "creative activities" team member this year) and I am very excited about that too!  It should be a great year, I know I will enjoy planning the crafts for each meeting...that has always been one of my favorite parts of MOPS anyway :)

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Anyone planning to join NaBloPoMo in August?  I am considering it to get me back into posting again...

65

as in the number of pictures I took TODAY...

or as in the number of things I accomplished today...

or as in the number of things i need to pack for our camping/birthday/cookout out at the lake this weekend...

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Today is Zander's 5th birthday, and I did manage to take 65 pictures today.  I am not really sure how, because I also did 65 other things today, including make a cherry pie from scratch (!!!!) complete with a pretty lattice crust (which I did not think take a picture of).  Today is one of those days that make me feel like I am lazy most other days :)

So, here are just a couple of my favorite pictures of the day...

 

 

 

 

We had a fun-filled day & have even more planned for tomorrow where we will celebrate again with family and friends up at the lake.  The kids were filthy by the end of the night (see Ava in picture above) and completely exhausted...

 

Now that is one tired girl :)

Christmas in July

Today, I received an unexpected surprise...santa (aka my grandma) brought me an early Christmas gift - a new camera :)  Mine was ruined last week, along with my cell phone when Ava decided to throw my purse into the pool.  We needed to wait a while to replace it, but santa decided that this was a good time to make a special delivery. 

 I snapped a couple of pics tonight during VBA to try it out...

 

Thank you SOOO much Nanny & Papa :)