Christmas Eve Present

Christmas Jammies on Christmas Eve were the tradition at my house growing up.  I thought it was a fun tradition, and wanted to continue it with my little ones.  So, I purchased them both PJ's to open on Christmas Eve.  Ethan was excited to open his present on the night before Christmas.

 Well, they got them open, and Ethan tried on his jammies, and took them right off.  He hasn't put them on since, and I doubt will ever wear them.  Addy's had feet in them, and we put them on her, and she kept tugging at her feet and crying, so we took hers off too.  So, neither child slept in or wore their Christmas Pj's they opened on Christmas Eve.  Hopefully next year I'll pick out PJ's that they like. :)

Christmas Eve Party

This December has been a little hectic.  I was sick for almost the entire month with pneumonia, so I missed the Allen family Christmas party.  I'll get Andy's pictures another day and add them to the blog.  So, my festivities began Christmas Eve with my mom's side of the family.

When we got there, we played an unscramble the Christmas Song game, and had dinner.  Once dinner was over, the kids made crafts.  As you can see, Ethan is THRILLED beyond all possible imagination to be creating this bucket.

 So, I gave it to Addy, who decided that she'd just like to pull everything off of it.

 Well, then Aunt Connie pulled out all the stuffers for the buckets, and then Ethan decided he certainly needed a bucket, but didn't want any of the fluff on it.  So, he filled up a plain bucket with all sorts of treats and toys, and now he is a happy camper!

 I made miss Addy a cute little Christmas tree outfit for the party.  I wish I would have done a better job of getting a picture of her in it, but this is the best I found.

 After the crafts, we did the annual Christmas Nativity, and read about the birth of our Savior in the scriptures.  The kids all dressed up to play parts.  I asked Ethan if he wanted to be in the nativity and dress up like a shepherd or a wiseman.  He told me he wanted to dress up like the black spiderman, and that he wouldn't be a wiseman or shepherd.  So, he didn't participate this year.

Next we opened Christmas presents from Grandma and Grandpa Bateman.  As you can see, Ethan got a super cool dinosaur robot.  It moves and roars, and he was quite thrilled with it.  Addy got a really cute little blanket that rolls up to look like a kitty cat.  Andy and I got a $40 gift card to chili's!

 While waiting for everyone else to finish opening their gifts, miss Addy decided that the shoes and socks had to go.

 And then she found a little santa car and a screw driver, and did some fixing.  I'm glad she takes after her momma a little and isn't afraid to use tools! :)

 After presents, we played a game.  We had to blow up the balloons, and stuff them into a pair of nylons, and then wear them like antlers.  My team won!  Here is a picture of our little man in his "antlers".

We had a great time at the party, and best of all, we got to spend time with our extended family.

Family Pictures

Well, so far December has been one CRAZY month, with MANY doctor visits, trips to the pharmacy, and more tissue than you can possibly image.  We're bound to get better soon right?  Here is to hoping.  

In the meantime, we were able to make time to get our family pictures done.  Our last family picture was clear back when Ethan was 11 months, so we are long over due.  

 I absolutely love this picture of the two twits.  They did a great job, and I can't believe we got them both smiling at the camera at the same time. (they look cute and innocent right?  well, have they got you fooled! :))

 I also thought these pics were super fun of them looking through presents!  They were fascinated by these props, and spent a good deal of time pulling them out of the boxes.  The photographer was great and patient with them and managed to get some fun shots for Christmas.

I know that sometimes I loose my noodle and my patience with my little family, but I certainly do love them dearly, and pray that Andy and I can do the very best we can, with the Lord's help, to raise them up right. 

My New Website

I've just recently started a new website where I am selling some of my jewelry creations, and some of my sewing creations. Take a few minutes and check it out!

http://bobbinsnbeads.weebly.com

Deck the Halls - yes, I know it's early, but I LOVE christmas.

I decided that I wanted some new ornaments for my small Christmas tree this year, and since I LOVE Paris, I decided that should be the theme.  So, I made glittered Eiffel Towers and Fleur De Lis for the tree.  Silver glitter bulbs, and a silver garland came next.  With a silver and black tree, I also needed some new decorations for that room that matched.

 

So, I made the following items to match: 

I think this framed subway art below and the paper christmas trees are my favorite.  The paper trees only cost about $2.00 to make.  The picture frame was purchased from the DI for $2.00 and painted, and then I used scrapbook paper as a border. 

 More Christmas to come!  I got most of it put up this weekend, but still haven't conquered the main Christmas tree.  That just might have to wait until next weekend.  

Birthday Calendar

I am HORRIBLE at remembering birthdays.  Quite some time ago I even created a birthday binder, but who pulls out a binder all the time to look at birthdays?  Not me.  So, I was browsing the DI the other day (becoming my favorite hangout) when I came across this little gem. . .

Nice huh?  It was only $1.00, and I immediately thought birthday calendar! And, here is the finished product.  There is a page for each month with all the birthdays for the month listed.  With this on my counter every single day I am bound to notice and remember to send cards or gifts right?

One mans trash is another mans treasure just waiting to be refinished

I am in LOVE with the DI lately.  I've found all sorts of great items that I can use as bones for craft projects.  Last time I went I spotted this lamp for $2.00.  I wasn't sure if it worked our not, so I was super happy when I got home and plugged it in and there was light!  

I knew I wanted to put this in Addy's room, so I spray painted the base white, and then hot glued ribbon onto the shade.  It turned out super cute and really only took me about 30 minutes to make.  I LOVE IT!

Pumpkin Carving

Pumpkin carving this year was a little crazy.  I bought a teeny tiny pumpkin for Addy.  BIG MISTAKE.  It was so hard I could barely even get a knife in it.  So, no carving for her.  Ethan didn't want to even look at the guts once his pumpkin had been opened, so dad cleaned it out for him and helped him carve his pumpkin.  Ethan also wanted to help Dad carve his pumpkin, so really Andy should have waited a while to carve his pumpkin.   I didn't get mine carved until after Addy went to bed.  Anyway, it was fun, but the kids are still a little too young for this.  Maybe next year we'll paint the pumpkins.  Here are the results . . . 

 

 Andy's pumpkin

 Ethan's pumpkin

 My pumpkin

 The kids WILL NOT look at the camera for pictures.  It drives me crazy.  Here is the best I could do.

 Dad and Ethan carving pumpkins.

Dollar Store Crafting

I have become addicted to the dollar store lately!  Here are some of my creations from Dollar Store Items!

Christmas Bulb Wreath . . . From This . . . 

to This . . . for under $10.00

Fun Candy Corn Jars - $6.00

Three apothecary type jars filled with spooky stuff - $8.00

 Three plates and a marker - $3.00

Pumpkin' Patch

We've been trying to get to the pumpkin patch for a few days now, but . . . Ethan has been kind of a stinker and we've had to use not going to the pumpkin patch as a punishment. :(  Well, we finally had a good day, and so we loaded up and went.  Ethan went wearing his new transformers costume.  He's been spiderman for the last 355 days, so he's decided that his spiderman is no longer really a costume, it's just everyday clothing, and he needed an "actual" halloween costume.  We should have put little miss in her costume too, but it was a little warm on this day to wear her bulky costume.

 Ethan was super excited to pick out his own pumpkin, and to put it in the wheelbarrow "all by himself"

 I really couldn't get a great picture of the two of them, so here is the best attempt!

 My man, with little miss!  The expressions kill me :)

 This year they had a gun that you could shoot corn out of.  I thought Ethan would LOVE this, but really, not so much.

 Now this was more like it . . . you could sling shot apples.  That was more his style.

 We even got to go for a tractor ride.  Once again, the expressions on the kids faces are classic.  Why can't they just smile for pictures?

 Little miss LOVES apples.

 Ethan shaking hands with a guy escaping from the grave

Ethan not playing too nice with his little sister.  He's blocking her from getting up the stairs.  I guess we'll need to have a little chat about bullying.

Should I be worried?

Yikes!!!  Black hoodie, saggy pants, & underwear showing!  I think I need to be concerned.  And not to mention how CLOSE he is to the TV.  Flashbacks from when I was teaching middle schoolers! 

Ethan's Photography Skills

Ethan is notorious for picking up the camera if it is in reach and taking pictures.  I find funny stuff on my camera all the time . . . like my big old butt.  Anyway, here are a few of the pictures he's taken recently! (butt pics not included . . . you're welcome)

 Don't mind the messy bathroom.  It was Saturday, and I was getting the cleaning done!!

Super Hero Day

Tomorrow is Super Hero day at our day care center.  I thought this day would be an easy day for us considering that Ethan has worn his spiderman costume almost EVERY SINGLE DAY since Halloween last year.  So, I thought it would be a no brainer . . . Ethan would go to school as spiderman, and be in good company with all the other kids in costumes.

Well, tonight I decided that Addy needed a costume too, so I whipped her up this wonder woman shirt.  

Ethan asked what I was making for Addy, and I let him know that tomorrow was super hero day.  He told me he needed to decide what to wear, because Spiderman is not a super hero.  Are you kidding me???????  So, we argued about this for a while, and I decided this was pointless.  Luckily we have a few other costumes laying around the house like Superman, Batman, and Buzz light year.  I think he's decided to go as Buzz Light Year of all costumes.  Oh well.  We'll see what tomorrow brings.