winter wonder

Know why this boy is beaming?
Cause this is what it looked like outside. :)

And his mama promised him that when daddy got home he could go play in it.

He had a list of what he wanted to do:
build three "no" penguins
build a mama "no" man
build a daddy "no" man
build a baby Aaron "no" man
build a Moses "no" man
make "no" balls
no=snow
They did some of that...then pulled each other around on the snow shovel...
these photos were taken through the screen window. :)

Then he slid down the hill on his stomach...

Then yesterday had a fever. Hmmm.
No fever today so far but still a bit under the weather.

Come back tomorrow for another great handmade gift idea.

xo

well i could eat him...

just look at that sweet little face.

:)

Christmas 2009 house tour. :)

First of all...
sorry for 8 million photos.
this really should be 3 posts...but because a certain
nine month old hates my computer...
it will be one long one.
Ok?
Second, once again I am a slacker.
The winner of Jeanne Winters giveaway is:
YOU!
Contact Jeanne to claim your prize. :)
I also owe you the winner of November's cupcake! :)
I will let you know soon...I have to dig around to find the comment that won.
Click on the cupcake on the right to figure out what I am talking about. :)

Now on with the tour.
I am in love with my mantle this year.
We have to repaint the living room and dining room...
so we plan to do it in January...and add some crown molding too.
This is why I went all out...

Made those cute houses out of cardboard...
maybe once I have a saw I will make some longer lasting ones...

Our cute tree and santa sack. :)
I made this one...
we have another that has our last name on it but I wanted a second sack
...one for each boy.

That is our cute family...and my sweet advent. :)

Don't you love my mini-marshmallow snow?

My countdown sign from Julie...and Aaron's advent.

Fun snowflakes and pom-poms...

We also made krumkage a Norwegian cookie...our first of the season.

Last year we had a problem with abducted baby Jesus...
(from our non-child proof nativity)
...so we got Moses this one.
Both boys love it and play with it off and on all day.
Can you spot the two animals that seem out of place?

Here's the whole room...

And this serving piece is in the center of the table...
on the top are Christmas treats....
middle is Christmas cards...past and present...
bottom is Christmas books.
We get each boy a new Christmas book each year...
with them out like this we remember to read a few each day.

More pretty snowflakes...

The tree lit up...

A family portrait...

I love to find cute personalized ornaments for the boys.

TV top...blocks from Target...snowman from HERE...

My red bird trees...

Vintage cuteness...

Look how sweet he is...he would never try to eat Baby Jesus.

Nope...he is just too cute and sweet for that...

Except...what's that in his mouth?
Why it's the poor baby Jesus...
Baby Godzilla makes a bee line for it every chance he gets.

If you give a holiday tour of your home...be sure to leave me a comment so I can some see...I LOVE to see how other folks decorate.

Happy Christmas time!
xo

easy monogrammed candles.

Here is an easy, fast but cute gift.
You will need:
pillar candle
letter(s) of choice printed
I used 300 font on a six inch candle
tape
pencil
paint

Take your regular ol' candle.

Center your letter and tape it onto the candle...

Trace around the letter with your dull pencil...
hard enough to etch into the candle.

If you enlarge this photo you might be able to see the outline...I doubt it.
I suggest working in bright light.

Fill in the outline with paint...
You could even spell out words...
or give in a basket with a candle holder and matches.

One less gift you have to buy. :)

:)

coming soon.

Just as soon as we see some sun...

I'll show you all of our super duper Christmas decorations!

But for now here is MY son with the tree he put up in his room
and decorated all by himself.

Can you see how proud he is?

Come back tomorrow for a easy gift idea
AND

Be sure to stop by Janesays for her...
xo

let's chat.

I'm writing this post to beg you.

Beg.
I don't beg usually.
But I am begging on behalf of those you will never talk to in person.
But whose life you can touch.

Before you buy another THING for Christmas...
Buy water.
$10 will provide one person in Africa clean water for 10 years.

If you know me or my family personally...
Please consider buying us water for Christmas.
I am begging you to encourage your family to do the same.
My kids have food, clothes, toys, a home, a stay at home mom, a dad with a great job.
Clean water.

In all honesty we want for nothing but more time together.
We need not a thing.
Not. A. Thing.

I am not telling you all of this to brag.

I am telling you this to beg you.
If you are thinking of buying us something.
Please buy water instead.
Send us a card to share the great news.

You can go HERE to find out how.
Can I convince you to do the same?
If someone asks you what you want for Christmas...will you send them HERE?

They even have a great selection of gifts...if that is the route you want to go.

You really can make a difference.
How much better will it feel to say
"I got clean water for children"
than
"I got more stuff to take care of".

I am begging you to look at the photo above.
Be still and quite for a moment.
Now imagine YOUR child going to this water hole.
Dipping into the water.
Filling up his sippy cup.
And drinking.
Just typing that brings tears to my eyes.

I don't want that for my kids.
And they are Jesus' precious kids.
ALL kids are Jesus precious' kids.
So I don't want that for any kids.

Make sense?
So I am begging you to stop shopping now.
Buy water instead.

$10 will provide one person in Africa clean water for 10 years.
Real LIVE people.
Just like you and me.
Give hope.
Give joy.
Give clean water!

p.s. please share the good news if and when you BUY WATER!!

xo

highlights of lowkey

We had two sick boys and my husband is a Target exec.
So our Thanksgiving was very low key.
Very.
Moses started the morning by waking up at 4:30 am.
I woke up to him going
"psst...pssst...pssst..."standing at the top of the stairs.
Completely nude he was.
I put him back to bed. Doug was already at work.

I did make a full Thanksgiving dinner...complete with perfect rolls.

We tried to wear Moses out by playing wii...

Only Doug ended up more tired.

Stinkface showed up...

And turned nine months old. :)

Moses and I made a "crap" as he calls it.

I made some cakes for Doug to take to his team at work on Thanksgiving.

And worked on some new "crap" myself. :)

Overall...a good day.
Low key and laid back was just what we needed.

We have so much to be thankful for...truly.

Today I hope to decorate for Christmas...and NOT leave the house.
I was not made to shop on Black Friday...definitely not alone with two kids. :)

Did you?

xo