Chomp, Chomp....

Oh, hey there!

What's that you say?? ....Don't talk with your mouth full??? Oh, Sorry.....that is what happens when you have bitten off WAY more than you can chew!!

I don't know what is wrong with me, but I am trying to do it all again!
what happened to my "slothing into 2010..."???? I have a very full schedule this week and yet I have two VERY special birthdays next week, one of which requires (only by my requirement) that I craft like a crazy person...

Before Monday I am trying to make a custom outfit, a Birthday banner, party hats, table decorations and the most perfect invitations for the most adorable "already" 4 yr old. Luckily she only wants two little girls to come over but still...

She really isn't "already" four but one day about 3 weeks ago while i was getting ready for work she came into the bathroom and told me that she was "...tired of being 3 1/2" and wanted to be "this many...(holding up 4 fingers)"

I explained that she was going to be four in just a few short weeks, but she said she wanted to be four now. I said OK and wished her a Happy Birthday. From that moment forward she has been telling everyone that she is already four!

I have asked her several times since what type of party she would like to have for her birthday and she keeps telling me that she doesn't need a party, she is ..."already four...remember we had a bathroom birthday!" and then gives me the look like GEEZ MOM....

Another one for the books....


And, the other birthday is for the most amazing 11 yr old - soon to be 12 yr old who said he only wants to have 3 friends over, eat pizza and watch movies. He also said I could give him an IOU because he knows that the gift he wants is a little out of price range this week. Great Kid....like no other! THANK YOU! Love you Jacob!!
PS: I am thinking of changing my blog name because it is a little difficult to find me if you are not exact with your typing....and that is just not fun!

Sparkly but Frigid

Thursday we went to the Dr's for Jacob...he has been having a continuous asthma attack since Tuesday. NO fun! In the words of the Dr....this "Frigid" air and the dry heat of the houses and stores (or the gym in his case) has brought it on. I am hoping that he starts to feel and look a little better soon.

It has been so Frigid all week that my car battery has decided that it doesn't want to work anymore...thanks!

But....we got the most beautiful Sparkly Snowfall on Thursday night. It was beautiful on Friday morning!! The trees were covered with just the right amount of snow that when the sun hit them the glistened. That is the vision of winter that I want remember!

Almost made the car not starting for the 5th time this week OK...not quite, but almost!

I have gotten quite a bit done on a sweater that I have decided to make for Lily. I think she will be able to wear it before the end of the winter....as long as it stays Frigid!

Blessings

...Tuesday was Lily's first day back to school after she quit. Yes, she quit...a month-and-a-half of Preschool was just too much for her.

We tried lots of things........to name a few..

Upon being told that she should go to school to meet friends, she told her father..."I don't need any friends Big Guy.." She declared one of our 60+ year old customers her best friend and his dog too....

After being encouraged to go to school so she could attend her field trip to the Pumpkin Patch, she responded...."I have pumpkins in my backyard, and b'sides...I got one from the Hardware store!"

I met with the teacher and the director of school and they suggested all sorts of things...one included somebody with the preface of "Specialist", being told that her father and grandmother were not allowed to drop her off anymore because they both had tearful-puppy eyed goodbyes...not a confidence booster for the child...Bottom line is that I have a very intelligent, almost 4 year old who has a pretty strong case of separation anxiety and spends a better part of her life and day in her very own coffee shop with lots of gifts and fun things and customers who come in just to see what she is up to that day!

We took the month of November off and decided that "with no other option" we would return to school on the first Tuesday of December.

There were LOTS of tears....back packs were thrown into the trash can....refusal to eat and clothes being taken off.... but in the end....

We made it! It was a BEAUTIFUL day! The Sun was shining and in the end I walked out of preschool with a HAPPY, skipping little girl who tried to scale the fence when she saw my car coming around the turn.

Thank you to God and all the powers of the Universe! One more blessing to add to my list..

Being real...

My Life is Crazzy, it is chaotic, it is overwhelming...it is difficult, it is disappointing at times, it is a million other things that seem to pull on me... right now I feel like it is taking me down.

WARNING: The following post could be considered a RANT...but I needed a bit of soul cleansing and what better place to do it than here...

My life is not adventurous the way I would like it to be, it isn't FUN like I thought it would be. We work hard and don't get to play hard... When I was a little girl all I wanted to do was have children that I could bake cupcakes for, make crafts with, read stories to. That was my fairy tale...in reality, raising kids is hard, marriage is really hard, there is a lot more yelling than I ever thought there would be...I even told myself that I wouldn't yell at my kids or argue with my husband.... that seems all but impossible now. No matter what you do, there is a lot more month than $$, a lot more homework and talking from 4 kids than my brain can handle on most days at 4pm, a lot more heated discussions and sibling arguments than I know what to do with.

It is very full, it is very busy and i guess in it's own way it is very beautiful. But it is not beautiful every day the way I want it to be or thought it would be..in my fairy tale world. My blessings are abundant and don't get me wrong, there are few people that I would want to trade places with but I read blogs and see people around me, some that make me laugh, some that make me cry, some that make me feel inadequate as a mother at times and others that make me wonder what am i doing wrong , why isn't my life "that" peaceful and accomplished???

My life is a contradiction in terms....this month has been hard - really hard in so many ways and in so many other ways it has been fulfilling. Maybe this is the same for everyone and they don't share that??? I don't know...but I decided that no more of that crazy living that makes store clerks look at me and say things like....."oh, you look tired..." or "rough day???" and my all time favorite..."You look like you have a full plate..." NONE of these are good for a girls ego! I need to find the right balance...the right mix.

I am going to make a VERY conscious effort to make my life the most beautiful that it can be for myself, my kids and my husband. To do the things that I really love doing and not feel like I am struggling to do it.... I hate when cooking and crafting feel like work when really they are some of my most favorite things to do.

I have no time to give up, and I am too tired to feel defeated....besides that is not me. My life isn't horrible, it is by most standards a pretty good one. I just feel so overwhelmed, overworked, underpaid and out of control! Seems like I am missing the magic potion that all these other women have that keeps them smiling and beautiful all the time. One of my girlfriends says it has something to do with Prozac and alcohol.....I don't know, but I know that I am not willing to go that route. I know that I am blessed - I just need to look at it a little differently sometimes. I need to start a journey of daily gratitude and remind myself that in the midst of the chaos there really is peace. I just need to find it tucked in there (probably in the fetal position like I would like to be when it gets really chaotic in my life, but nonetheless it is there). I ending the month with a list of the blessings that I have been given and being thankful for them. Some hidden that needed to be uncovered and dusted off a bit but there there. Then I am going to rewrite it and carry it with me so when I am feeling like my head is going to explode from stress I can either read it or force myself to add to it......

1. Child 1 a genuine, beautiful, spirited child with a tremendous work ethic.

2. Child 2...blessed by his brains, his curiosity, his gentle heart

3. Child 3...blessed by his strength and courage and his stubbornness. Reminding me that giving up is not an option.

4. Child 4...my insanity and sanity rolled into one. The little sunshine at the end of our tunnel.

5. A husband that comes home to me every day

6. Working with my mother every day...even on those days where I think that I could pull my hair out

7. A roof over my head

8. A husband with a job

9. Healthy (for the most part) Kids

10. A husband that loves me.

11. Kids that have good manners and respect adults

12. Electricity and food

13. Making it through childhood

14. Customers that come to see us every day

15. a big beautiful back yard

16. creative genetics

17. having good role models when i was a child

18. living close enough to the water that I can see the sun rise or set over it any day I want

19. Being able to make decisions for myself

20. Health care options for my children

21. my blue eyes

22. child 3 is still with us after last February

23. A father that gave me nothing - ever - but made me a survivor

24. A mother that did what she could

25. God for giving me all that he has given me

26. the challenges that have been blessings in disguise

27. a beautiful turkey on Thanksgiving....(I know that was a stretch)

28.A strong southern woman for a grandmother

29. The friends that I have had and lost along the way.

30. the ability to make changes when I need to

Walking under the moonlight

Today or should I say tonight I took my walk under a full moon, and it was beautiful! So beautiful and peaceful.... I had been asking for a little peace in my life and luckily I am finding it seeping in here and there.

Tonight was a beautiful crisp evening, and the way that the moon reflected off the Bay brought peace and serenity to my day. I was able to remember and reflect on some of the things the kids said today. Hayden reminded me that today was the first day of September and asked if we could get apples from the "Apple Guy" and make homemade applesauce.. Lily told me not to talk to her with a "Sassy Mouth..."...my boys asked me to turn up a Chris Tomlin song on the way to Hayden's first soccer game....that was a good feeling, I like that they enjoy Christian music as much if not more than main stream rock & pop.

It was nice, and peaceful and I enjoyed it....

Hope your 1st day of September was as peaceful....

Mopey Dopey...

Do you ever have a day where you could cry if you gave yourself five minutes to stop and take in your surroundings?

That kind of day when nothing in particular goes wrong, but your just a bit sad?

I don't like being mopey and I certainly don't do it "in public", and yet here I am telling the world that I am sad...for no reason other than I am.

I love my kids, I love my husband, I love my job....I think I am just a tiny bit overwhelmed.


OK...now I am going to go pull myself together.

Another round..

Yesterday, I made another go-around and turned a year older. Last year I had the most WONDERFUL birthday EVER! Literally, it was simple and sweet and exactly what I wanted. I thought it was the best....my husband even had a fancy custom cake made for me that replicated a coffee cup with our shop's logo on it. It was so cute!

August 2008 Birthday

This year was very similar. Not quite as peaceful, but just as simple....My husband surprised me with all sorts of little things that I had mentioned along the way - because I never officially "ask" for any. I don't like that!!... So all my little statements like..."if anyone ever really wants to buy me something, buy me some new dishtowels......" or ..."I really need to buy a blender so I can make smoothies before I go to the shop..." ... and "I really like this magazine, I would love a subscription some time..."

So my presents consisted of a subscription to Clean Eating magazine! YEAH!!! New dishtowels, a new blender and one of the best......a new wedding ring! Not an official wedding ring, not a flashy big Cha-Cha ring....but a beautiful hammered sterling silver band with the word Love engraved on the front. You can see it here....it is called the "Love Triumphant" ring. The little card that comes with the ring made me a little teary eyed....

My daughter and brother made me this very lovely cake...isn't it beautiful?!?! It was barely edible....heaven help me if she ever reads this...Honey, it was a lovely thought, and very pretty...mommy just needed a bigger glass of water...or maybe some milk!.... but honestly it was one of those moments when we ONLY stomach it because one of our children made it!

But, the BEST of the BEST....I was given the gift of four beautiful children and a husband who truly loves me. I have made many a wish for frivolous things in my younger days, but now when I make my wish and blow out the candles - I wish for the REALLY BIG Things, like......

That this man makes it home to me every night....

That they only know the best of Life...and all their dreams come true...

And, that he NEVER has to feel another day of discomfort or pain again. He has been through enough for all of us.....

Happy Birthday all you August babies!! Enjoy it however it comes to you!

Full...

This past week I spent 5 days with my oldest and best friend. She lives 3000 miles away and even though we didn't meet until we were 17 and 18 I feel like I have spent every day since childhood with her. We live so far away that we aren't able to be a part of each others every day life, but I always feel like we just spent yesterday together, even when 8 long years have past.

So much has taken place since we last lived near one another....we have gotten married, had babies, had drama and trauma and still I feel as connected to her as I did when I lived right down the street from her.

I moved to California when I was 17 years old, 3000 miles away from everything that I had ever known and loved, moved in with a bunch of strangers that were supposed to be family and met some of the most wonderful people I have ever known.

We don't even remember the actual moment that we met...we just know that we connected and became fast friends. It was the beginning of a great friendship. Her family was my surrogate when I needed one, her shoulder was there when I needed to shed a tear, and believe me there were quite a few shed.

Not only do I love her, but I absolutely love her family ....probably more than my own (pre husband and kids)....I sucked in her family like they were my oxygen. Her mother and father whether they realized it or not, were like parents to me when I felt I had none. Her older sisters, who were building their families when we were in high school, were always accepting and loving. Her younger sister was an adorable reminder of my younger brother , and her younger brother is hysterical! He always makes me laugh and smile! I love them all!

She is the Godmother of my oldest daughter and if God were to take me tomorrow and she needed to step up and take my daughter, I know that she could raise her to be a strong, independent, smart beautiful woman that I would be proud of. I have never once thought twice about it....

So the last 5 days filled me with a TON of memories, both new and old.....and Carne Asada...I am pretty sure that I gained 10 pounds. My heart is overflowing with my love for her, my gratitude of friendship from her. Filled with renewed love for her family, and new love for her beautiful little boys that I finally had the pleasure of meeting. Filled FULL of experience with her friends that get to spend daily life with her, and new memories from our time together this visit. I left California with a FULL heart and a full belly.....the best combination! My soul was completely nourished!!!

I will never be able to fully express my feelings of love and gratitude to my best friend....and I almost believe that I don't need to because she already knows....

I love you....and you know it.....just don't forget me......

July in a Flash...

July....your passing me by so quickly, I don't know if I have had time to absorb you!! Can we please slow down?? Life is moving so quickly, I can't really remember what was so important about yesterday??

4th of July.... watched a few fireworks with friends. So low key that this day almost blended into the next!

A day trip of adventure and culture..... this was a great day..... a day sent to me from a loving God who knew I needed a break.

My boys with their Great-Grandfather. He is a piece of living history....his (my) family lived here on this waterfront property for over 100 years...seriously! When I was a little girl he used to fill my swimming pool with Minos and soft shell crabs....one of my most vivid childhood memories. I love this man.....

An AWESOME concert....in the words of my 13 year old...

Where will this month take us next???

Nature's Bounty

In a matter of a few short months our garden has gone from a blank plot of dirt and seeds to a Bountiful treasure chest. I have ton's of lettuce, beautiful purple beans that turn green when cooked, squash, zucchini and even potatoes!

Before....

After....

The tomatoes are growing fat and juicy but just haven't turned red yet! Notice the zucchini are starting to come out into the lawn.

And for some reason no matter what other flowers bloom, these are my favorite...every year. They have changed shades a few times, I think I love that surprise just as much.

Now, off to find more recipes for my squash. Time to break out the canning equipment.

Summer love

Some of my Many Loves of Summer....

Fresh Vegetables from our Garden...

"Fresh" Smelling Linens....

Picture Perfect Burgers from the Grill...

Fresh Flowers on the table from MY bushes and Gardens...

Fresh Fruit turned into a Yummy dessert!MMMMMM.....goood!

If Life could just slow down a bit so we could enjoy the long days of summer even more.

FULL....

I can't believe that I haven't posted in a MONTH!! A whole MONTH!! I love my blog and the blog world and yet I have sorely neglected both! Life has been so FULL over the past couple of weeks that there has been barely enough time to breathe much less create and or post about it!!

In fact I have just returned home from our second appointment in Philadelphia in 2 weeks. You can catch up on that progress over here. However, I warn you it won't be updated until tomorrow...what can I say, I am trying but I feel my time here is going to be cut short!
I hear the kids all rustling around in the next room, they are supposed to be sleeping...but you know "liter mates" just want to roll all over, cuddle and annoy each other. I have come to decide that my kids are like a liter of puppies...

I can happily say and will say, that after this week our weeks and weekends will no longer be packed FULL of baseball games...YIPPEEE!!!!

My camera is FULL of pictures to post to my blog....my blog has been on my mind you see!!

My garden is FULL of growing vegetables...and except for a few patches of bush beans that the Princess decided to wreak havoc on.

My Staff is FULL at the store leaving me with some free time to be home with my family...as soon as I get them all trained and feel like I can let "go" for a few minutes.

Life is a little stressful when it is FULL, but without a FULL life where would we be? BORED!

I can't wait to be bored....

Crazy...busy...and lots of dirt

I missed my little blog...life has been a little crazy, a little busy but overall just good ole LIFE!! The weather finally broke and we had a great weekend, that was awesome. I love being able to get out and "do stuff"! We had our first night of outdoor movies. So fun, we love them...big huge sky full of stars, warm cozy fire and of course hearing our kids crack-up at whatever we are watching!


My arch Nemesis of life when Spring springs....DIRT! I love that things grow from the dirt that will then feed us all year long...but I REALLY hate dirt being in my car, my house and my washing machine! ughhhh.... and with all the rain we have had lately we have lots of MUD which is just clumpy dirt. Being a compulsive sweeper, the dirt keeps me busy!

Saturday was an all day Baseball Bonanza, 4 baseball games, 3 of our kids playing, and only 2 parents to make this happen?? We ended up only having 2 kids able to play, so we made the best of it....I was able to make it to Bree's first game...they ROCKed! They ended up losing, which was not so great but they played really well. She pitched all but two innings and it was in those two innings that the four runs were scored that flipped the score book.

This girl can play some ball. She amazes me, so strong and beautiful at the same time! Her daddy taught her well and I am pretty sure that his genetics make her all that more athletic! The last inning she pitched, she had 3 up and 3 down. I acted very excited when she told me, and then when I figured out what she was talking about...I was very excited for her! And then she came home all dusty and dirty....lol.

She competed today in a Pitch, Hit and Run and is moving on to the Sectionals. I didn't see any other girls there and nobody would answer me about whether there were other girls competing...which usually means, NO. I have this weird thing about her competing with all the boys, because nobody likes to be beat by a Girl....and because I don't want her to be THAT girl that plays the boys sports...you know what I mean???? But in her defense she played boys baseball long before she was forced to play girls softball.

OK, bragging done...for now! Just kidding...

I missed the next game which was Jacobs game, I had to go to work...we were pretty busy at the shop - I HATE missing their games!

And today I was out and playing in the dirt myself! I got to plant 3/4 of my garden and moved some plants around in the backyard. I switch my plants around like I switch my wardrobes around....this frustrates my husband to no end! But I LOVE it.... The robins were following me around like I was their new BFF....I kept bringing all the big fat worms to the surface...sorry worms!

We played in the "poopy dirt" as Lily called it. She helped, hopefully they grow...hopefully there are still seeds in there...

See my handy little grid there....that is so my husband doesn't get all crazy with the tomatoes again this year!

If I am Lucky

This picture is from my birthday this year, which by far was the best birthday EVER!

I am 35 years old and if I am lucky, I have lived half my life so far. I feel like this half way marker is a great place to be. I have four incredible, beautiful, vivacious children. Each one unique in their own sense, each passionate about their own adventures and each still so in love with their mama that it fills my heart to just where it needs to be each day. I have a husband who adores me and loves me in his very own way. Don't get me wrong... we argue, we bicker, we disagree...we are human but in the end we still love each other.

If I am at my "mid life" portion of my life than I am very privileged! I feel like I finally have allowed myself to be who I really am, and the strength to be who I want to be and not who people think I should be. But also continuing to evolve into myself, and show my children that it is OK to evolve and become what they are meant and want to be. This year (birth year, not calender year) I have found myself content with so much more in life and yet requiring so much less "stuff" in life. I have had the most wonderful - simple holiday celebrations with just my husband and children, and even though I LOVE social settings and friends I have become more introspective and I really like that too!

I think I am having mid-life greatness and not a mid-life crisis. I think people freak out when they get to that halfway portion of life because they realize that they haven't been totally honest to themselves about what they wanted for themselves and for the people they love.

Last night I was knitting, laughing and having some really great girl talk with some friends and we all agreed that even with full plates, being overwhelmed sometimes by the "real" parts of life. You know..the laundry, the "mom, mom, mom......", the homework, dinner and etc. that we are all very lucky to have those things to overwhelm us. While we can't be perfect we can certainly work to be the best for ourselves, just ourselves! Not for someone else's opinion but in our own opinion.

The friends I have, the friends I have lost, the great accomplishments and the big mistakes have brought me here to who I am today and, I would do it all again to be right where I am today.

I like being half way there...means there is a lot more to go!

In my heart

Valentines day may be over, but I am totally realizing what a romantic I really am! I don't come across in my daily life as one, but in my heart I am totally a romantic! I was laying in bed last night- not falling asleep but refusing to get out of bed because that would break my routine of going to bed early!!! But there I was thinking of all the "dreams" I had when I was a little girl, even some that I had tucked pretty far back in the memory bank because somebody told me "that" wasn't realistic, and some that I still have as an adult. I realized that I am at heart a romantic!

I dreamt of a man sweeping me off my feet, living in a romantic-fairytale marriage, raising beautiful healthy children, staying home with them and baking cupcakes and cookies for them and my big strong husband. Literally I would cook, clean and bake for my family in a lovely swinging 40-50's style dress if that is all that life required of me. I am pretty sure that I would love every minute of it!!!

It started out pretty good...met and married my husband within six months, started a family right away, and then......

Life got in the way...so frustrating!!

Most people might not recognize this Romantic side in me...but they probably don't really "know" me like you do...kidding. If you came into our shop you might see it in my surroundings, but in my every day life of dropping off kids, working/running the shop, trying to get all the homework done, feed the family, blah-blah-blah you would not see it. I am pretty straight forward...I don't get lost in the romance of "taking care of my family" - I get caught up in process of "getting it all done"!! I guess I just get a little lost.....

I still dream of a fairytale marriage (don't get me wrong, I love my husband..but this is no fairytale...boys don't smell or grow hair in funny places in your dreams), I dream of moving somewhere "romantic" like a ranch in Utah or Montana or Northern California...or Southern California by the beach, wearing flowy dresses and educating my children using non-traditional methods, the list goes on and on! I pray that I am raising happy children...the healthy comes and goes...but happy and mentally healthy is good enough most days.

I realized all this laying there trying to sleep...I also realized that there is a reason I don't go to be too early, I end up laying there thinking too much and it takes me too long to fall asleep!!

I am going to buy myself something romantic and girly today....maybe something like these which can be found on Etsy from liliswan

Or maybe this...which I love! I even think her description of this piece slightly describes me...check it out here




And I think I need this pretty little pink tablecloth to feed my family on! Which is also found on Etsy from divinedebrisvintage.

OK...now I am good and tired, I think I can go to bed and fall asleep.

A lovely little Break

I have had a case of the blah's for the past week. Nothing in the Kingdom was aligning as we say when The Princess is having a bad day. I know that some of my problem was an anniversary of sorts that came to pass yesterday. But on top of that nothing else seemed to be coming together for me...not much luck on the Thrifting, and what I did find didn't do the trick to snap me out of the blahs....

I have not been able to complete any projects that I am working on and business has been slow at the shop.

I have determined that my camera flash is a piece of junk and it is making me a very unhappy mama, and my three year old has decided that she will sleep in any ones bed but her own.

The worst.....the kids are still passing the Chicken Pox around the house! Causing a BLAH atmosphere in general!

The COLD dreary weather was not helping to make any of these little annoyances easier! But - TODAY it is beautiful and sunny out! Not really warm, but beautiful to look at. I love seeing the sun streaming through the windows. And even though the back yard still has that pre-Spring funk going on - the sun coming through the tree's is beautiful and refreshing. Right now the sun is shining in on my shoulders and it feels like a warm hug...it feels heavenly!

A new day, a Day for ANEW....I am saying a little Thank You to God today for a break in the blahs....

Now..I am off to complete a project with half naked itchy kids...wish me luck. Bound to be a laugh in there somewhere!

Post Holiday Post..kinda long....

I am so happy to report a Wonderful holiday was had by all in our house!! There was a brief scare on Christmas Eve that the Princess and I would be spending Christmas in the hospital. Ironic that it is usually The Brawn and I in there together, I was soooo worried about him getting the darn stomach bug before Christmas, and who ended up getting it....The Princess!! My poor little Princess lost 4lbs, had two trips to the ER, then two trips to the Doctors, all during her 7 day bought with the stomach bug. After two hours in the Doctors on Christmas Eve, I was literally praying for one p-pee diaper and no throw up before 8 o'clock PM! The stress got to me a little and I had a meltdown that only George Bailey would be proud of and freaked out on my kids a bit.....I regretted it!! They understood.... The day was saved around 6:30 PM. Thank you! See, a Christmas Miracle comes in all forms...lol. After that we could all breath a little easier...she wasn't 100% but we knew we would be coming out of the woods very soon!

We had a wonderful Christmas Eve dinner....Cream of Crab Soup, Perogies (homemade...YUM! not by me, but by some cute little Ukrainian women who know what they are doing!) and Salad! All Delicious!

After dinner we had Cocoa, Popcorn and watched Fred Claus before bed.

Santa came....it was Grand....

As part of my "Handmade/Homemade Holiday"...I refused to buy any new wrapping paper, ribbon or tags. I used only things on hand...either new, recycled or re purposed. I was slightly shocked and scared at how much I had on hand! The kids also did the same for all of their wrapping.

Some of my supplies included:

For Inside the boxes: Newspaper, wax paper, paper bags, scrapbooking papers all shredded with my paper shredder. Shredded fabric also a great option...didn't use this one this year...maybe next!

Wrapping & Packaging:

* Lots of the same

* Chinese take-out boxes.

* Comics

* Toilet paper rolls, paper towel rolls

Decorating:

* Ribbon

* Yarn Pom-Poms

* Raffia & Twine

* Old Lace...this was especially pretty with a sparkly chipboard letter and some vintage buttons strung on a piece of sheer ribbon. I didn't get a chance to take a picture of it before giving it to my mom!

Wrapping is one of my favorite parts anyway so I could go on and on....! I even used a really pretty white milk glass dish that I had picked up at an antique store for Cookies to give to a friend.

This was one of my favorites...they were a set of Basketball tickets for my husband. He was completely surprised...it is a sold out game and he had no idea that I was trying to get them for him. I used the sports section, shredded some with my paper shredder, stuffed them underneath and wrapped them up inside the Sunday Sports section! The tissue paper underneath in this picture and the box I wrapped in....new, but unused as of yet. Apparently I like to save, not use.....

They exchanged their handmade gifts with each other at Christmas Dinner. That was a really special moment, to see them each give to one another truly from their heart. The Brain wrote poems for his brother and sisters, The Beauty made blankets, scarves and ditty bags for each of them, The Brawn made beaded bracelets and necklaces. We also allowed them to buy one thing for each sibling...it was sweet to see them pick something out for one another. I took them each shopping individually for those, so they even got some one on one time with Mom!!

Christmas dinner was excellent! Roast Beef, (or Beast as The Brain called it all day) Steamed Shrimp, Salad, Scalloped potatoes, Green Beans...

And for Dessert....Red Velvet cake with Cream Cheese Frosting and Coconut...YUM!!!

Now...I said it was an uneventful Christmas day, HOWEVER....see that lovely wreath with my yummy cake??? Well, it caught ON FIRE!!!! Yes, FLAMES....FLAMES SHOOTING UP FROM THE WREATH!!! I am not kidding. The only thing that saved us from the Fire Dept. was that The Brawn saw it as we were clearing the table. CRAZY!!!! All was fine after we put it out....my vintage table cloth....not so fine!

I woke up today after having a full nights sleep - I qualify a full nights sleep as being over four hours - and had so many ideas and thoughts going through my head that I didn't even need a cup of coffee to get me going today! I can't wait to share with you some of my upcoming projects!! I hope that you had a Wonderful Holiday ~ and that your New Year's is AWESOME!!!

Welcome to Whinerville

Welcome to Whinerville, where the residents all know you by name and frequently shout it out at you throughout the day. It is really lovely here, you can tell by the lack of room at the Inn. Always a warm meal to be had and plenty of activities to be done.

The Mayor of Whinerville has been on a true rampage today!! Please abide by all her two and three-quarter demands! The punishment for not following her directions is rather severe!

The Mayor posed momentarily for a picture before inspecting some fruit that was about to be recalled.

The Center for Disgusting Control has really been cracking down. Reports of Strep and The Stomach Bug abound! We say Bah-Humbug to them...please stay away!!

The towns maintenance crew is falling behind on the Holiday decorating! So much to be done before the Jolly Man's arrival, a bit overwhelming for the skeletal crew!

SEE....NO PICTURE!!!....

The Sassy Suds girl is rather overwhelmed...who needs clean panties to wear??

Amidst all the mess, the construction has not stopped. New Homes are still being built for the Happy Holiday around the corner!

Telecast is over, quick trip to the Tea Pot for an energy boost and a Nighty-Night Nap for The Mayor. We hope that you enjoyed your visit to Whinerville, please stop by for a visit anytime!

Tree's, Tree's more Tree's

"You call that a Christmas Tree??? "

A few days ago I was looking through old pictures..still working on the "handmade" Christmas gifts....I was trying to be creative with old photos. I came across quite a few pictures that had our trees in them....and I always thought the trees we had growing up were quite "perfect". However....looking back on them they were a little bit less than perfect. In fact, in the words of The Brain..."why would anyone cut that down...that looks like a bush, not a tree!! What were you guys thinking? Where do you find a tree like that??" But, I loved them. The Bigger the better....it is one of the best parts of my childhood. Going out and getting a tree. HUGE memories associated with that!! Last night I read this post over at C jane and I started laughing so hard thinking about all of our tree stories, that I had tears running down my face!

The Christmas tree has so many memories associated with it. There is ALWAYS a "tree story" in the recall list of holiday moments/memories. I know we have had our fair share!! Growing up, we lived on a big huge farm that was COVERED in trees so we never needed a "tree lot". We would all load ourselves onto the back of my Uncles tractor flat bed and go out into the woods to look for the "perfect" Christmas tree. I have wonderful Norman Rockwell memories of such events. I am not going to lie...there were some "moments" between my uncles over what was really the perfect tree and how was "that" going to be cut down...that wouldn't make it into a Hallmark Movie! Lots of cursing ...anyway...as you can see from the following pictures my idea of "perfect" might have been askew! We always wanted a very Full tree....I believe full is just the cover word for bush! Because truly, does that look like a Christmas tree to you?? A few examples of our "perfect tree".... and you know they always look smaller out there in the woods than in the house.

My mother in front of one of said "trees", she is in red

My grandfather being swallowed by the tree while he decorates...


My mother looking a little "tired" on Christmas morning. I think she is pregnant with me in this picture.

The Beauties first Christmas. Base housing....yuck!

UPDATE: As I am writing this The Brain just walked in and said "are you really going to post that picture?? That is a shrub, not a tree...that is a shrub from the wild!!"...He is mortified!

I loved those BIG FULL Trees!! That post last night coupled with the pictures of long ago reminded me of just how much. I am going to post some of my favorite Tree memories this week. Some of them are hysterical...stay tuned! I am off to look for the picture of our "first" tree as a married couple. I will never forget that one!! My poor husband had NO idea what he was really in store for all those years ago!

Potty....

MOUTH!!! It's official, Mommy has a Potty Mouth!! I admit it....

Even on my best day I don't claim to be a perfect Mom. I do try to be the best mom I can, but...sometimes the "S" word comes out....OK, maybe more than sometimes!

I know this because twice in the past week my darling has used the "S" word - very clearly - and very much in the right context!

The child won't use the potty...but she sure does know when to use the potty word!

Today on our way to Philadelphia there were Cops EVERYWHERE and as we passed one that had pulled someone over she exclaimed:

"SH*T....Some-pin Happn'd"

As I sat there in shock, the silence was broken by the rest of the kids BUSTING out laughing. I tried NOT to giggle....I KNOW that it isn't funny...but really it was....sorry....So I giggled, I did....

From now on I will be much more conscious about using the "S" word!

I am definitely going to work on this.....

But really, it was funny.....

It wasn't a proud Mommy moment, but it was a little funny....