Snowflake Party

Today I had some friends over for a "snowflake" cutting party.  I've been whining about how my house feels so "empty" now that the Christmas decor has been taken down.  What better to decorate with than SNOWFLAKES in January??? 

My friend Nicci and I set out all the supplies, got the glue and glitter ready, gathered plenty of scissors, and waited for the kids to come and create tiny masterpieces for us to proudly hang.  Then we waited some more.  Then we waited...then we decided to start without the kids (ya know, just to help them out!)...we cut paper, coffee filters, cupcake wrappers, lacey paper doilies, and even attempted to make pipe-cleaner snowflakes.  Before you know it, there were snowflakes everywhere.  Glitter sprinkled.  Glue globbed.  Oh yeah, and the kids were having a total BLAST too!  Not cutting and decorating snowflakes, but playing!  We asked them all throughout the day to come and join in the fun, but they were way too busy to make snowflakes! Oh well...us Mom's had fun cutting away!

After our friend had left, the crafts were packed away, the glitter swept up...my kids seriously say, "Hey, we never made snowflakes!"  Really????  After begging, I dug it all back out and let them cut and sprinkle away...silly kids :)

New Year's Hunting Trip

Billy ALWAYS takes Blake on a hunting trip out to Busch Wildlife Area on or around New Year's Day.  Several days ago, they started gearing up to go...digging out the hunting clothes, coats, gloves, binoculars, and packing jerky.  Taylor couldn't wait to try on Bubby's camo! 

For days now, both Blake and Taylor, have been playing, pretend hunt".  They are stalking poor Sophie, pretending she is a deer or an elk.  Even Taylor's rocking horse became a wild animal to shoot at.  They are carrying around a golf bag, packed with weapons.  Taylor also has an Easter basket that has become her "hunting basket" ?!?!?  Their imaginations are running wild!

The wii hunting has become Taylor's new fave...go figure, a princess gone hunter!  LOL

2011 Goals, or are they?

Over at,  Party of Five ,  April lists 101 goals to be completed in 1001 days.  I really got excited and started to think up "my" list, but it started to overwhelm me. I sooo wish I could have that kind of commitment but, I think I may have A.D.D.  And I am not kidding, my doc even said so...  the thought of coming up with that many goals and that many days away literally scares me, so I am doing a "baby" version of goals for the year.  These goals are things that NEED to be done (in no particular order of importance).  Things that would make my mind happy if completed, or even just an effort made.  It's the beginning of a new year so let's begin...

1.  FAMILY PHOTOS- I have several years photos on my pc.  Some have been printed and are in boxes, some have remained on the computer.  This is ridiculous, but I get lazy because I figure, "at least I have them, somewhere..."  I started on this project yesterday by organizing 2010 photos.  I have them all in a file ready to print.  I only selected a choice few from each event/holiday to print for the album.  Now I need to find the cheapest place to print 4x6's and an album to buy duplicates of, to store them in.  Plus....KEEP them organized by printing and cataloging at the end of the month, or at least each season!
                              (Do I need to make TWO sets of albums-one for each child?)

2.  Complete my Mom's recipe book.  When my Mom passed away, I started a cookbook with all of Mom's best recipes for each of us kids.  I found matching photo albums featuring a picture of Mom carving the turkey, and gave them the cookbook for Christmas, but it only contained a few of her best recipes. I planned on adding to them... this year I will continue the project and post more on it later.

3.  Clean our computers out!  They are full and running slow, enough said.

4.  Learn how to convert all our family videos to DVD.  And do it!!  I have a DVD burner, but have all these little mini DV tapes and SD cards and digital files to convert...YUCK!!

5.  Redo my fireplace.  I want to paint the mantle black, but I'm afraid!!

6.  Create a "family fun" calendar.  I want to designate days each week to crafts, movie night, or board game nights.  Kids should have something fun to look forward to!!

7.  Continue going to the gym and increase my workout productivity. 

8.  Save money...coupons, reduce energy usage, create income, be more frugal.  Vague, but a start.

9.  Eat healthier by incorporating more fresh fruits and veggies into the family diet. 

10.  Organize my home.  (cleaning, bill paying, school and activities, schedules)

11.  Simplify.  Minimize.  Get rid of unneeded items. 

 Actually, after reading my own list, I just realized that all but one (the fireplace), are not reachable "goals" but  more like ongoing commitments to make my life easier and happier...hmmmm...rewrite this entire post or STOP thinking about it and get started on my new commitments?????


Told you I have A.D.D !!!

Bringing in the New Year

We used to go out and do the whole party until midnight or often, I would photograph a wedding and Billy would assist so that we'd get to bring in the new year together, while we celebrated with a new couple.  Now, with the kids involved, we love to just put out a spread of appetizers and snack food, gather a few party supplies and "try" to stay awake to at least watch the ball drop in New York, before passing out next to the kids, who had given up hours ago!!! 

I know that sounds like we're duds...but when Blake was almost one year old, my sister came to babysit so that Billy and I could go out.  Around 10:30, after several calls home to check on them, we headed for home.  They were both awake and still playing, we packed up food and drinks and headed home to bring in the new year together, as a family...and it's been that way ever since!!!

Sore throat rememdy

Over Christmas I got strep throat.  For more than a week, I had been nursing Taylor back to health, she recovered but not without a trip to the doc and $65 in topical antibiotics.  Her rash may have been caused by strep bacteria...which I guess I got!! 

I had so much planned, people to see, and food to eat, but NO...after a visit to the Walgreen's clinic, antibiotics, and a sore-throat remedy that sounds disgusting...I'm starting to feel better. 

The sore throat remedy as listed on my treatment plan:

Mix equal parts of liquid (children's) Benadryl

and liquid Maalox or Mylanta antacid

plus a few drops of anbesol-

swish/gargle every 2-3 hrs as needed

Sounds terrible, but totally helped.  I must have been hurting to try something so weird, but it works!! 

packing away the memories

Well....today is the day....that I get sad.  I am packing away the Christmas stuff.  My home feels warm, inviting, decorated cheerfully, and when I pack up all the Christmas, it feels empty and plain.  PLUS, the excitement and anticipation of the season is over... I guess it's time to start thinking about a happy New Year!!! 

Earlier in the month, I wrote about  how we keep Christmas memories , we write about special moments/memories on a card to be put with this years new ornament, pack it away to read next year when we decorate the tree.  It might just be a sentence or a few words...but it ALWAYS brings back memories!

This year, Blake wrote a letter to Mom and Dad while in school.  It says:

 "Dear Mom and Dad. 

Santa may give you lots of Christmas presents, but I will give you my heart. 

 Love, Blake"  

AWWwwww!!  So, since he didn't get a Hallmark special ornament this year (part of the Christmas cut-backs! LOL!)  I let him decorate an envelope, enclose his letter, his 2010 memory card, and his hand-painted ornament.  We will get to unpack it next year!!  YAY!!

Blake's 2010 Christmas Memories

Taylor got to put her memory card in her 2010 ornament too!!  

Taylor's 2010 Christmas memory card

Christmas Morn

On Christmas morning, Blake wakes us up to tell us that it's time!!  I usually jump up, run to the video camera, hit record and then let him out of the bedroom...lol!  But this time, he slept upstairs with Aunt Sissy, so I literally didn't sleep at all, because I was afraid I would miss him running in to see if Santa had come yet.  So, somewhere between 5-6am I woke up, heard my sister up, we started coffee and it wasn't long before Blake came down too!  I had him go in my bedroom and wake Taylor too.  He tried, but she ran out and then fell back asleep on Daddy's lap.

The kids must have been good for Santa.  They both got everything on their lists.  Blake ran out to find Star Wars stuff!  The wii game, Legos, ships, and figures.  He was a happy camper!

Already checking out his star war guys :)

already put together a lego set!

Finally, Taylor wakes up and realizes that Santa has come for her too!!  He brought her a pillow pet, Max and Ruby dolls, and a rubber ducky....everything on her list!  She also got a pink princess piggy bank and a fold-out Maisy farm book!

Her little rubber ducky with a soap boat!

a piggy bank!

smiles and grins  :)

a tigger water baby was in her stocking!

Keep digging!!!

hugging the pillow pet

Sophie got a big knuckle bone, some treats, and a new toy in her stocking! She'd rather just cuddle with Aunt Sissy!

The day was spent just playing with the new toys..........

the candy coins in her stocking were a huge hit with Taylor

the spider droid?!?!?

more candy coins...

princess sippy cup

Maisy book with figures was a fave!

My favorite pic of all...notice the smile :)

Blake's been busy with LEGOs

We relaxed, fixed an awesome steak dinner with baked sweet potatoes, caramalized brussel sprouts, and fresh baked yeasty dinner rolls.  Even though I was feeling yucky...there was NO way to NOT enjoy this day!  Thanks to God, my family, and too many blessings to count!