To You & Yours

Merry Christmas from me and mine.

Party Planning in the Works

My youngest just turned 3 yesterday...I don't want to talk about it. 
What I do want to talk about is his upcoming party (we decided to hold off on the party until after Christmas for obvious reasons).  My little guy LOVES all things CAR so what better way to celebrate him than to have a a RaCe CaR paRtY.  I've been busy with some of the decor, thought I would share a little...

invites

we're having a pinewood derby.  we handed out kits with the invites.

the rules...there are none.  this worries me a little. the adult boys have also been invited.

hats

cupcake toppers

food tray boxes

More posts to come...still lots of planning and prepping to be done!

The GifT giVinG

Not a lot of time to chat.  Christmas almost here.  A bit of what I've been doing.  The gifts I've been giving.  Hope you're all enjoying the season of gift giving. 

the Neighbor Gifts

Started with this...

Crushed these...

Melted this...

Rolled it around...

Came up with these...

Found some of these...

And these (thank you dollar spot!)...

Searched the world over for some of this...

Printed some of these...

Wrapped it all up...

Delivered it all out.

In hopes that all would...

Activity Day GirL's Gifts

A little hoLLy pin.

Teacher (and whatever extra) Gifts

A FrOstY tReat (they're candybars)

Edited to add:  These are also fun to do with Whoppers and Milk Duds...these will actually stand up on their own.







Merry Christmas to all, to all...good night.

QuicK aNd easY OrnaMenTs

Are ya in a pinch for a handmade gift for your neighbors or friends?  Looking for an easy craft for the kids?  Or perhaps you wanna make something handmade for yourself.  If so, I've got the craft for you.

All you need is a bit of this...

Some of these...

MiX, rOll, CuT and let dRy.  Then decorate with some of this...

Add a little ribbon...

 

And voila...AppleY, ciNNomOny, sMeLLy oRnamEnTs.

(Remember making these together Kel?  Almost forever ago. I still have mine AND they still smell!  Thanks for the fun idea.)

And did I mention...CheaP, cHeap, CheaP.  Tie them to your packages to add a little sPiCe :)

Or hang them on the tree.  Let them smell up your house.

I made a few of these with my activity days girls today, they were a hit. It's a great craft to do with the kids quick and easy.

Here's the recipe if you're interested:

1 cup Cinnamon

1 cup Apple Sauce

1 Tbs White Glue

Mix all ingredients until smooth.  Roll dough with rolling pin (use a piece of wax paper on top of the dough if sticky) to 1/4 inch thickness.  Cut with cookie cutters.  Using a straw, make a small hole in ornament.  Place on cookie sheet and let dry 24-48 hours (you can also bake them at 150 degrees for one hour...mine turned out better just letting them air dry).  Decorate with paint, candies, etc.  And you're finished.  Easy peasy.

BiG fan of Christmas

If I haven't told you before, I'm a BiG fan of Christmas. BiG. I love everything about it. Really. EverYthiNG. Can't get enough of the carols, the baking, the parties and get togethers...but most especially the decorations :) Every year I look forward to breaking out the lights and the tinsel and trimming the tree...or in our case, tReeS. I know, normal people have ONE tree and usually consider that enough to make it through the holidays. But here...well, frankly it's starting to look like a sparkly, twinkling forest.  Somehow we've managed to accumulate numerous Christmas trees over the years and because of that, more lights and more tinsel. So I wasn't surprised when my oldest woke up the other morning (after I had spent the previous evening setting up the trees and Christmas decorations), walked out and said to me, in awe of the excess sparkle, "Wow Momma, we have a tree in EVERY room!!"  I know son, it's a bit much...but did I tell you, I'm a really BiG fan of Christmas. Really. BiG.

Here's what you get hit in the face with when you walk in my front door this time of year (the family room)...

Want closer look?

Is it just me, or is it REALLY hard to get a good pic of the Christmas tree?

Found this sign this year, had to have it... 

There does seem to be some confusion about this point in our home sometimes (hence the time out chair above).  I do have a 2 (almost 3!) and 4 yr. old.

And in another room (the living room)...

And in yet, another room (the kids toy room)...

And let us not forget the REAL reason for this season...

Happy Birthday Jesus.