whatever

decorations are going up all over the house.
i think i am close to finished.
did you notice my crazy reflection in the first photo?
i am wearing orange…how christmas-y…
and i was bending all crazy to get a straight shot.
i am goofy like that.

i have been searching for inspiration and ideas
for something different or whatever catches my eye.
i went through my magazine collection and pulled out every december issue.
from years and years back.
does anyone else do this?

i got the boys these shirts…
“my brother is the naughty one”
they were just too appropriate.

today was a good day.

i had a dentist appointment early.
i had no cavites.
that is a big deal.
so big.
it’s never happened in my 32 years.
woo-hoo!
so i could breathe a huge sigh of relief and leave without having cried.
i almost always cry at the dentist.

then i got to hang out with my friend jill and watch her make jewelry.
she even brought me a coffee…mmm.

our local bead store is so pretty.
the colors and details and big beautiful paintings.
it doesn’t feel (or look) small town at all.
and i like that.

melissa has me featured on her blog today for my craft space!
i do love that craft room.
it’s such a mess right now.
christmas gifts everywhere…
fabric pulled out of every box and thrown all around…
sewing stuff all over.
total mess.
but what a neat thing to be included in.
thanks melissa.
i’d love to hear from all the new visitors…leave me a comment!
do it for melissa.
we’re virtual BFF’s don’t you know?

i finished off my good day with a peppermint shake from sonic.
i am a sucker for seasonal drink items.
you should hear me order at starbucks.

and now my husband is home from his 2 day business trip.
all is right in my world.

i have been busy busy in the craft room the past few weeks.
and will be for a few more weeks.
3 years ago i made stockings for my family
and then i made them for my sister’s family.
since then she’s had another baby.
her baby maya is over 1 year old now…
so she needs a stocking.
this is what i sent.

sewed on lots of buttons…a jingle bell trim and a fluffy messy trim over that.
the back side is black & white polka dot with pea green pom pom trim.
the white velour cuff was made from my old navy hoodie
that i spilled coffee on too many times
and got too small…
because i shrunk it in the dryer.
yeah…that’s it…i shrunk it in the dryer…it had nothing to do with the sizing.
ha ha

i just love to get crafty.
i was so happy to be making that stocking because i was enjoying the process.
it feels good to work with your hands
and create something unique.
don’t you think?

sean and i realized at prayer time tonight
it is exactly 3 weeks till christmas today.
wow…i have a lot to do.

i am not one for ladies activities.
i don’t enjoy singing carols in a group
or skits or costumes….
but i do like to decorate.
this is my table at our church’s ladies tea.

and i like yummy food.

and tea is okay too.
(but it’s not coffee…or even close)

there were 27 tables.
all different.
all very pretty.

it was very girlie.
(as you can see…my table could win a prize for tallest table decoration…ha)
it was fun to get all that stuff together.
to finally use some of my red christmas dishes.
and finding enough santa mugs at the anitque store.
thanks mom for sending the vintage tablecloth….i hope you don’t want it back.
i like it too much.
i was remembering the last time i went to a ladies tea.
remember jenny?
talby was a teeny tiny baby.

and i was also cracking up during the program thinking
“Men would NEVER do this”
and that’s why i am glad i am not a man.
among many many other reasons.

one tradition we have…
picking a special ornament each year.
in the beginning…i would pick it.
something to represent a milestone in their life for that year.
but then we had 5 kids.
and i couldn’t think of good ones anymore
and they were hard to find.

now i just take them all into target and let them pick whatever they want.
only one.
and course they like this much better.

but now instead of pianos or bicycles or baby shoes
we have years of batman, disney princess and star wars.
and that’s okay.
i wish i had a care bears ornament from 1983.
or barbie or cabbage patch or rainbow brite.

here are some the picks for 2007

nothing says christmas like tie dye and spiderman.

love this one.

this was too fun.
not the fighting and arguing part…but the project itself.
so much fun.

i commissioned a friend who is known for her gingerbread making skills
to make the house pieces for me.
i wasn’t feeling brave enough to take that on this year.
she brought us the house in pieces…mmm…smelled so good.
while the kids were at school i built the house and tiled the roof with rice chex.
i could have easily sat and done the entire house
all by myself.
i was having a blast.

it’s a good craft for all ages.
but i think next time i will have more than one house
and everyone will have their own frosting.
sharing is a hard concept.
(at least for my kids)

it is pretty sweet.
literally.

friday night dinner with the family at our house this time.

just before they needed to hit the road the little girls jumped in the leaves.

these girls don’t get to do the trampoline leaf jumping at home…

the night set in.

we said goodbye.

we said goodnight to our kids.

and this is what we woke up to.

just 12 hours later.

isn’t a snowball fight more fun when you get to throw them at your grandma?

**edited..i know the color looks funky on the recent pictures.  it’s just that i am so used to my own computer and setting that everything else looks different.  i heard that my computer is fixed an should be home tonight.  i may give it a welcome home party.  i should start making it a cake right now.***

*edited…something with this OLD computer won’t let me type my normal way…so good luck reading this.  i can’t wait to get my Mac back.  enough already!!***

this thanksgiving we celebrated with my grandmother. she turned 90 years old last week. all she wanted as a gift was for the family to be together. thats not asking for much. and we all love her very much so almost everyone came that could.

people helped in the kitchen. uncle john brought the turkey…yummy. seriuosly the best turkey i have ever had. and this was such a familiar site… grandma’s china and these foods on it. she always makes the jello salads. and now that i am an adult…i like them. bravery comes with age i guess.

it was so nice to hear all the chatter coming from the dining room. the grandchildren (my generation) were remembering it being different when we were children. it’s much more relaxed now… i guess that too comes with age. especially when you are seeing family that lives in australia and minnesota. you have to enjoy every minute.

there was a surprise cake with 90 candles. i told grandma we need to check her smoke alarm batteries…not one of them went off. and they should have. i loved watching her smile so big when the entire family sang happy birthday.

she blew them all out. impressive. then she was covered with great grandchildren who felt the need to pull all the candles out of the cake for her… immediately.

and here we are. (not pictured…sean…he had a melt down seconds before the first picture) that’s real life right there. i am so glad this is what you asked for grandma. it was a wonderful day with so much to truly be thankful for.