Busy

Hello World!

Sorry I've been absent.  Randy's on vacation this week and we're doing home improvement stuff.  (He's currently at Home Depot buying more supplies.)

So, while I'd love to catch up, I can't.

Hopefully when I do return, I'll have a few projects under my belt, a decluttered home and a family back to work and school.

Meanwhile, I'm thinking of my word for 2012.  I think I've got it already, but not giving it away until I can properly write about it.

For now... carry on and Happy New Year!

Wishing You a Very Merry Christmas!

Christmas Blogging Challenge

Wordless Wednesday

Christmas Blogging Challenge

The girls felt the need to "rearrange" the presents under the Christmas tree yesterday.  In other words... they wanted an accurate count of the number of presents they each had.

Just for the record, I was informed that Kyla has 12 and Elisan has 11.  (Ooops!)

Christmas Blogging Challenge

Let's have some fun!

Here's a Christmas "Meme" for you!

Wrapping paper or gift bags?
Wrapping paper. I'm sorry, but there is nothing fun about ripping into a gift bag!

Real tree or artificial?
Artificial

When do you put up the decoration and tree?
Weekend after Thanksgiving, but this year, I'll probably shoot for the first weekend in December.

When do you take the tree down?
The weekend after Christmas (or sooner!)

Do you have a nativity scene?
No, but I'd like to eventually get a really nice one.

Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate?
Hot chocolate, homemade variety is by far the best!

Colored lights on tree or white?
Colored lights

What is your favorite holiday dish (excluding dessert)?
My mother’s gumbo

What is your favorite Holiday Dessert or snack?
I love the homemade Texas trash

Favorite Holiday memory (or gift) as a child?
Santa bringing me a Honda 50 dirtbike when I was 7 years old.

When and how did you learn the truth about Santa?
Not sure…

Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve?
Never! Well, unless we’re gathering with extended family.

How do you decorate your Christmas tree?
Lots and lots of snowmen!  And stuff that the girls have made.

What’s the most important thing about the Holidays for you?
The true meaning of Christmas – the birth of Jesus Christ

What is your favorite tradition?
Spending Christmas Eve night with my Dad’s family when I was younger.

Which do you prefer, Giving or Receiving?
Both

What is your favorite Christmas Song?
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen by DMB

Candy Canes! Yuck or Yum?
I don’t care for them, but I wouldn’t go so far as to say “yuck”

Hardest person to buy for?
Randy, because he never wants anything.

Easiest person to buy for?
The girls

Mail or email Christmas cards?
Mail photo cards

Worst Christmas gift you ever received?
No comment!

Favorite Christmas Movie/Show?
Charlie Brown Christmas - I love the musical score.

When do you start shopping for Christmas?
Christmas shopping? Oh, yeah... I better get started!

Have you ever recycled a Christmas present?
Not that I know of.

Favorite Christmas song?
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen/We Three Kings - by Bare Naked Ladies w/Sarah MacLachlan

Travel at Christmas or stay home?
Travel for a day or two, but arrive back home before Christmas Day.

Can you name all of Santa's reindeers?
Only if I sing the song "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer"

Angel on the tree top or a star?
Neither. I use a big ol' ribbon bow

Most annoying thing about this time of year?
The crowds and "Happy Holidays"

Does Santa leave the gifts wrapped or unwrapped?
Unwrapped

Do you leave goodies for Santa on Christmas Eve?
Yes, cookies and milk of course.

Okay y'all!  Join in the fun!  Copy and paste this list of questions and answer them on your blog!  Leave a link in my comments section so we can all read about your Christmas traditions!
 

Christmas Blogging Challenge

As I was pulling into the parking lot to
bring Kyla to see Santa... she changed her mind.

Sigh...

Christmas Blogging Challenge

 

Finally!  Some decent pictures of the kids in front of the Christmas tree!

Christmas Blogging Challenge

 Last night, Elisan and I finished up the teacher gifts.  This year, I kept it simple and inexpensive.  I bought each teacher a metal tin (found at Hobby Lobby for 50% off) and filled it with dark chocolate kisses, chocolate mint patties and peppermints.

I also designed a set of four notecards (16 notecards per teacher) with each teacher's name on it.  I printed these up at Kinko's in black and white, using my own cardstock.

Cost breakdown:
Tins $10.00 ($1.00 each x10)
Printing at Kinkos: $8.00 (for 40 pages)
Candy: $7.00 (1 bag kisses, 1 bag of mint patties, 1 bag of peppermints)
Ribbon/Cardstock/Envelopes/Clear Gift Bags: From my personal stash
TOTAL: $25.00 (divided by 10 = $2.50/teacher)

Here are the personalized cards I designed for each teacher.  I used this design two years ago and it was so popular, I decided to update it a bit and use it again.

Custom "Motherisms" Notecards

Christmas Blogging Challenge

Here's a picture of my pup with my new prime lens.  I love the bokeh of the Christmas lights.

The second picture was taken at the indoor soccer game last night with my new telephoto lens.  I still need to read up on the best way to take indoor action shots (without a flash) to minimize blur... but aside from all of that... check out the picture.

The team was lined up for a penalty kick on our team.  The top picture shows the girls "suppossedly" getting ready to block the kick.  The bottom picture shows the girls' reaction to having a ball kicked at them. 

Now, check out  my girl... she's a natural goalie.  She's poised, ready to go and then tries to reach over the other girls to block the ball from going into the net.  I'm telling you... you cannot teach this.  You're born with it. 

You know what they say... even dynamite comes in small packages... I think we have our very own stick of dynamite on our hands! 

Christmas Blogging Challenge

It's the Christmas Blogging Challenge edition of Erica's Blog Brain Dump.

So, I've said it time and time again... I WILL NOT ever be a room mother for either of my children's classes. Never, ever, ever, ever!

Of course now because I used the word NEVER, I'm sure I'll sign up for it next year.  But, as it stands for now, I have no desire to hold the position of room mother.  Honestly, I just can't deal with the 1.) Hover parents; 2.) Parents who never contribute; 3.) Parents who think they can do a better job.

Unfortunately, I tend to fall into the 3rd category.  Don't get me wrong, I'm happy to help, pitch in, donate money, drive the field trip car pool... you name it.  But, it seems as if there is always some event (party or field trip) that goes awry for one reason or another.  I know, it's a thankless job and someone has to do it...yadda, yadda, yadda...  I'm just glad it ain't me.

So, for now, I'm minding my P's & Q's, and doing what is asked of me.  But, it's not without mild grumbling here and there.

Any room mother's out there that want to use my blog as an open forum to vent?  Feel free to comment!

I just ordered another new camera lens for my camera and I'm pretty excited about it.  It's all part of my birthday/anniversary present from Randy.  He basically gave me an allotment to spend however I wanted.  So, I chose camera lenses.  I ordered a AF-S Nikkor 50mm f/1.8G Lens (or Prime lens).  Last week, my AF-S NIKKOR 55-300mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR Zoom Lens arrived and I love it!

I ordered my camera and both lens from B&H Photo Video and I could not be more happy with them.  They are in New York, so everything I've purchased from them has been tax-free.  Plus, the shipping has been free as well. Their pricing is also very competitive.  If you are in the market for anything camera related and do not mind buying online, try B&H.

Our family doctor recently recommended some books for Elisan to read.  The books are "The Princess and the Goblin" and "The Princess and Curdie" by George MacDonald. Published in 1872, the books are fantasy books with a Christian message on faith for both children and adults alike.  (Think C.S. Lewis.)
I mention this because the books are free to download on Kindle. So far, she really likes it.  I'm so thankful for a Christian doctor!

Each year I have a set budget of what I spend on each girl for Christmas.  So far, I've found some really great deals and I'm happy with my purchases.  However, I still need to pick up a few more things, but I'm having a really hard time finding that perfect gift for them this year.  We are not doing a "big" Santa type present this year, so they are getting a lot of little things.  So ye old wise Internets... any suggestions for 8 & 10 year old girls?

That's all for now.  I need to get up from this computer and work on finishing the teacher gifts.  Hopefully I can upload a picture of the teacher gifts on tomorrow's blog installment.

Christmas Blogging Challenge

I realized I have yet to update my blog with our family vacation to Disney World!

We had an amazing time!  The girls are the perfect age for Disney and I feel blessed that we were able to bring them.  It was also a great time to go, because we were able to see Disney in full Christmas decor mode.

The biggest highlight of the trip was that both Kyla and Elisan were tall enough for ALL of the rides. It was so fun to see Kyla riding the BIG coasters for the first time... and LOVE it.

We stayed at the fabulous Port Orleans Riverside resort which is considered a "moderate" resort.  But, having previously stayed at a "deluxe" resort, I can without a doubt say that the Riverside resort was better than the deluxe resort (and about $1000.00 cheaper!) 

As with our last trip, everything was first class.  The food, the parks, the shows, the transportation, the accommodations.  It's almost a crime to admit it... but I'm ready to plan our next trip!  :)

Here are some of my favorite pictures from our trip.

 

Christmas Blogging Challege

The 4th and 5th graders had their annual Christmas program this month.

Christmas Blogging Challenge

We recently celebrated an anniversary around here.  Over Thanksgiving, we celebrated the 1 year anniversary of the arrival of T.J. into our home.

It's never been truly determined what type of breed T.J. actually is, but I'm pretty sure he's 95% Maltese.  I call him our Malti-Mutt (or dirty Maltese).

• He's a true lap dog . He shows no favoritism.  He just wants a warm body to snuggle up with.
• He is a smart dog.  He rings his bell to go outside to play or take care of business.
• He's a polite dog. He will hang out in his crate when we are eating our meals at the table... which means, there's no begging for food!
• He's our watch dog. At night, he sleeps at the top of the stairs between the master bedroom and the girls' bedroom. 
• He's an athletic dog.  (Here's video to prove it.)
• He's mild-mannered and sweet.  He dosen't bark, yelp, nip or bite. He loves strangers and his biggest crime is licking you to death.
• Randy even loves him.  (Go figure... men CAN love white fluffy dogs!)

Hands down, T.J. is the best dog we could have ever asked for. 

If you are considering a family pet, might I suggest a maltese or even a malti-mutt.  I don't think you'll be disappointed. 

My heart is heavy

Today while making a stop into Kinko's, I learned that Amy passed away.

You may remember Amy in this post, in which I wrote about how I met her for the first time.  Amy worked at Kinko's and she was battling her 3rd round of cancer.

In August, I saw Amy again, and she said her new (non-chemotherapy) cancer treatment was working and that her and her husband were applying to become foster parents.  She was happy and excited about this chapter of life.  She had just celebrated her 30th birthday.

Today, I learned that in October, Amy's doctor detected that the cancer had spread and because the chemotherapy had ravaged her body in years past, they were unable to give her additional chemotherapy to stop the growth of the new cancer.

She died two weeks later.

Amy was a Christian and she loved the Lord.  I'm saddened by this news, but thankful she is no longer in pain and is in the loving arms of our Savior.

Christmas Blogging Challenge

Just in time for school Christmas parties! A freebie goodie bag printable!  For best results, print on cardstock.

Christmas Fold-over Goodie Bag Tag.

Click on this link to download the .pdf version.

You can also right-click to save image and print directly via the web,
but you will have to tweek/adjust the printing size.

Use sandwich size or snack size resealable baggies!

Enjoy!

Christmas Blogging Challenge

For my birthday, Randy bought me a new camera lens!  I wanted a telephoto zoom lens, especially since I take a lot of outdoor action photos of the girls playing soccer.  The 55mm-300mm lens arrived yesterday and I'm already lovin' it!

Here's a picture, taken from across the room with two different focal points.  The top photo, I focused on the snowman.  The bottom picture, I focused on the light.  I love how crisp and clear each photo is!

Christmas Blogging Challenge

If you were to ask me, "Do Elisan and Kyla get along?"  My answer will unequivocally be and without hesitation a resounding, "YES!"  In fact, I often brag about how they consider each other to be their best friend.  That is... until today. 

The proof is in this note left in Elisan's room today.

For those who can't read Kyla's handwriting, the note reads,

 "Elisan smells like dog poop and rotin banana."

I'm impressed she spelled banana correctly!

This is definitely one for posterity. 

Have I mentioned I love my girls?  Even when they are little toots?

Oh MY! I've been remiss!

Okay, so it has come to my attention that I am an official slacker!  I totally forgot about my annual "25 Days of  Christmas Blogging Challenge" that I do Every. Single. Year.

Okay, so yeah, I suck.  Can I say that here?  And still be a family friendly blog?

So, starting TODAY, I'm going to revamp my 25 Days of Christmas Blogging Challenge and officially rename the challenge to the 20 Days of Christmas Blogging Challenge (or the more suitable Christmas Blogging Challenge).  Whatever... 

So, grab my banner and join me for the next 20 days as I attempt to blog everyday until Christmas.  (BTW, this one counts as one.)

And please, I just turned 39 yesterday, so cut me some slack will ya?  I'm getting old.