Holiday Madness!

It's always something around the holidays.. Tyler's out of school for 3 weeks, trying to decorate and organize the house (expecting new stuff, must clean out the old)... shopping, cooking, preschool parties, extra work to be done everywhere you turn!

I have to say I have enjoyed some much needed downtime.. snuggling up with the kids to watch countless hours of holiday movies and specials! Staying cozy with fuzzy slippers and hot cocoa. It's been nice. We kept the holidays relatively simple this year, forgoing most of the extensive decorating and such. Had Christmas dinner with Jared's parents, which made it relaxing not having to prepare to feed everyone myself.

Christmas morning the kids woke up at 6AM (ugh) and the bad parents that we are.. we convinced them that Mommy and Daddy needed at least another hour of sleep and they actually managed to keep calm until 7:15... then there was no more denying them the joy of running downstairs to see what Santa had left!
After the presents were tackled and new toys were opened, (and a small cat nap on the couch while the kids enjoyed a new movie) we made a hug brunch. Bacon, sausage, eggs, hashbrowns, toast, pancakes.. YUM!

So that's that.
I've been really good with my December Daily project.. I do have to admit that there were a couple of days that I simply forgot to take a photo, while other days were so typically boring that I had nothing to take a photo of! LOL But I have stuck with it, I only have 3 more pictures to print and wrap up on my journaling and it will be complete! Excited to share the pics with you... I think it turned out well!

I would love to get my hands on the new Project 365, on sale Jan. 1st! Which, I have to say $35 for a whole year long project (this kit even includes the album!) is a GREAT deal. I'm going to be slack and try and win one on some scrappers blogs first! :)
My sister is also doing her own version of Project 365... I think it's a very cool idea not matter what your approach! Huge discipline.. seeing as I had a hard time keeping up with the 25 days of Christmas... but it's a super fun way to document a year of you and your family's life.

Happy New Year to everyone.. we'll probably be laying low.. sticking to the house. Super excited about the playoffs starting up this weekend. Carolina gets to play on the 10th! GO PANTHERS! Really can't wait to see who gets into the Superbowl this year!!! Will for sure have a party for that one!

Fa La La La La

That's right.. Christmas has sneaked up on us again! Seriously don't know what happened to the year 2008.. as most years they go by quickly.

Thanksgiving was nice, cooked way too much food and ended up with more leftovers than one could eat. But overall, nice relaxing day.. spent with family and good food.

Trying really hard not to be BAH HUM BUG this year. We went out last night and got our tree from Lowe's. Going home to decorate it tonight and get some holiday lights in the house! It's like pulling my husbands right arm off to get him to agree to get all the totes for Xmas from the attic.. but this weekend it's happening! Wait much longer and you might as well not even bother (which, between you and me.. I think that's his goal! But I'm on to him!)

We won't be having our normal Clark Griswald display of lights this year, last year the icicle lights (just purchased that year) blew in a matter of a few days.. Jared was needless to say NOT HAPPY... went BACK up on the roof to take them all down and return them (after many attempts to repair) So.. we lack the majority of the lights we normally put up, being they weren't replaced last year, we simple can't afford to replace them this year. But we have plenty to put out.
I think that's one of my favorite parts of Christmas (thanks to those lovely timers) When my day is done and you're driving home in the dark I am greeted by dazzling, sparkling lights on my home when I pull in the drive! Warm and fuzzy!

So... what will I be doing this weekend? Having a Cookie Bake at Sheila's and then will probably head over to the local Xmas parade in town with a cup of Hot Cocoa and enjoy the sites. Sunday, I have planned to make Family Face Ornaments! Thanks to The Meanest Mom.. I no longer have to bore myself and children with mindless creations using self-adhesive foam. These little guys are simply adorable.. and affordable! So hoping to have fun whipping those up and it will make the kids happy to have made something to be able to give as gifts!

Still working hard everyday to keep up with my December Daily Album .. really just hoping that I can manage to pull off something worthy of documenting daily for a whole month! I'm really usually not that exciting! You can keep with Ali's daily as she documents hers. That's where this fabulous idea came from. Sorry to disappoint all of you.. but most of great ideas and knock offs! LOL

Hoping everyone is enjoying the start to this season.. ;)

ME? You're kidding right?

Going down the list of the blogs I check out daily.. got to Elizabeth Kartchner's Blog, and just look what I found...

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Winners!
Thanks for celebrating with me!! I'm excited to announce the winners...
Crop-A-Dile goes to anniekate
Superwoman Scrapper will be jamming to some new songs with her iTunes gift card!
Kay is gonna rock the Big Shot&
Liz wins the Cuddlebug!!! (click on the names to make sure you're the right Liz and Kay.)

And you can bet I clicked on the "Liz" to make sure I was the right one.. TADA! I'm the right Liz!!!
So super excited, I never win anything.. literally last time I have "won" anything was when I was seven... I entered a coloring contest at a local drug store and won a stuffed Bunny that was larger than I was!

Happy days! Whoo Hoo!

It's a Cuddlebug from Provo Craft.

Thanks Lizzy... ;)

SNOW?

OH YES FOLKS>>> this is what people in NC get excited about!!! Althought this appears to be sleet (pink) we actually had a downburst of snow fall for a good solid 10 minutes! Sticking to the grass.. the cars.. and ME! (yes, I had to go outside and dance and twirl in it real quick... this may be the last time it snows!)

Made my day! :)

Catching up...

Halloween night... my 'not so little' Devil and my little Frankenstein! All decked out and ready to hit the neighborhood in search of a good sugar rush!

The week prior, we went to Boo at the Zoo. Weather was great, not as crowded as I expected..turned out to be a great day!

Nathan was SUPER excited to spy Melmen (from Madagascar! LOL)

And no zoo trip is complete without baring witness to the baboon grooming! Ain't they sweet!...

Devil's unite!
Little Frank sat still long enough for a pose with his many collected leaves along the journey!
MY absolute total favorite animal to spy.. how adorable are they? Giving face rubs to the plants and playing with their pumpkin! :) Awwhh!

Howdy!

Okay, well... those were my promised pics. I've been really bad about taking pictures lately, I really do need to get better. Also, added the December Daily project for you guys to see. Can't wait until the Holiday season comes so that I can fill it up!

Seriously...

Where does time go? I'm always super excited to start my week on Monday and blink and it's Friday... but I seriously can not believe it's already Thursday! Not complaining..just hoping the weekend doesn't go by just as fast!

Well, my husband's been hogging my camera all week long... I will take charge and get it back this weekend (along with searching out a new cheap digi cam for him to use for business so that he DOESN'T hog mine!). Promise to get some pics uploaded to share.. boo at the zoo, Halloween.. etc.

Loving the weather today.. although I have to say, I am ready for winter in a weird way.. craving the thought of a glimmer of snow.. but I have to say being that's mid 70's in November.. my hopes and dreams will probably be crushed yet again and we will have an extremely mild winter. Ho hum..

Sheila might be joining me to scrap this weekend.. Yahoo! So ready to get some stuff done, and she's jumping on the bandwagon and tackling the December Daily project with me! YAY! (I'll have pics of that soon hopefully too!)

Happy Halloween!

It's FRIDAY!!! Whoo hoo!
Today could not have com faster for me!

So, it's official... I am pregnant, and with only ONE baby! Shwew! After having to go through 2 weeks plus of thinking we were pregnant with TWINS, seeing one was quite a site! I have to say, that somewhere...deep, deep inside of me, for a tiny millisecond thought "really, just one?" But that quickly faded! :)
I mean after all, I only have 2 hands.. one baby at one time is plenty to handle!
Tyler was rather disappointed, and now in her eyes, it can only be a girl. We'll see... have a while to go before we find that out!

We are all set to go trick-or-treating tonight!! Tyler is a Devil and Nathan is Frankenstein! Going to be chilly...

I've been really bad about getting pictures uploaded to share. I'll try and work on that this weekend.

I'm awaiting my 8x8 white D Reeves Acrylic album to come in the mail any day now. I've decided to join Ali in making a December Daily album this year. I just LOVED the one she completed last year and figured if I could get the album made PRIOR to December (which is key to completing the project) than I would give it a go!

Already thinking about what yummy food will be made up for Thanksgiving. I am SO into the holiday season this year... way ready to eat all the Turkey Day goodies and even MORE ready to start decorating for Christmas!!! :)