Catch - up, Post #1

Okay - I know - I haven't posted in FOREVER!!  You'd think being at home in a snowstorm I could've blogged, but I just wasn't feeling it.  Actually mulling over being done with the blog - it's just that everytime I think about blogging I just can't imagine that anything I have to blog about is entertaining enough to read!

But, for now, I will continue................

Here's what I have been up to since my last post.........................since it's been so long, I will post a few times to catch up!

I got to go to Boise for 5 days to visit my BFF and her family! I LOVE LOVE visiting them!

Bowling night - I actually bowled over 100!!

Spencer and his friend Jasmine

I love to spend time with Hayley!

Judy and I have been BFF's for over 22 years!

I cook for them - and they just hassle me!! ♥

Making cinnamon rolls - a requirement when I visit!

We always have so much fun and the time always goes way to fast! I could totally move to Boise - I LOVE the weather! My husband informs me that it's too far away from the ocean for him.

We'll be making another trip to Boise in May when Spencer graduates!  

De-decorating (kind of like redecorating!)

It HAD to be done on Monday or I would have to wait until the middle of January - and that WASN'T going to happen.

I took ALL day and I dropped into bed about 10pm.  My hands were tired, I tweaked my back, the thought actually crossed my mind (this is total heresy so skip this part if you are weak stomached) - why would I decorate next year for Christmas!  SO. MUCH. WORK. 

But, just like giving birth.....the further away you get from the event, the more plausible it becomes that you would actually tackle it again!

Going to see my BFF in Idaho this week, only one more sleep.  Absolutely can not wait!!

Just like the good ol' days

Tuesday evening I sat down to make a gift for the girls at work.  I had been indecisive about what to make until I opened a cupboard in the laundry room and found a plastic shoe box full of paper pads and post its pads that I had forgotten about.  Decision made - I would make them all a post it pad for their purses.

I haven't stamped forever - it was so fun!

 A little velcro action

This picture keeps turning sideways - but this is the finished product.

All wrapped and ready to deliver...................

The tags were even fun to make.

I forget how much fun it is to sit and craft and play with stamps, punches, ink and cardstock.  I'm gonna need to do that again...............someday :(.

Lot's of fun and festivities here, Monday making almond stick with mom

and then dinner with the kids.   Tuesday was my crafting night.  Last night dinner with friends - I can't show the pic cuz' there are rebellious ones one in our group that don't like to their photo to be shared (I'm sure you're familiar with the FBI protection program :).  Tonight company for dinner.  Tomorrow Christmas with the in-laws, and then Christmas Eve and Christmas!  Just reading all that makes me want a nap - besides the fact I was up for 2 hours last night with cramps in my leg that just about killed me!! Is it too much partying or too much age?

A big sigh..............

That is what I did about 5pm Saturday evening!  Where have you been lately - you ask?  Why haven't you blogged yet in December - you ask?  Well this is why.............

Advent Calender I made for Emily

My friend Chris made me this wreath out of Music - it's PERFECT!!

Susan saw these on pinterest and Grandiflora carries the wire so we made these!

 

This is the garland on my tree - should've grabbed one more - I love it!

So happy with the tree!

I love the lighted branches - I keep them out year round!

The stockings were hung by the "stair rail" with care?

This was my Favorite new thing - I love this look!

Randy "whipped" out this table for me 2 weeks ago!

 

The votive cups were sprayed with adhesive and rolled in Epsom salts.

Gotta have an apothecary filled with ornaments!

We were asked to put our home in the "Home for the Holidays" Christmas Home Tour for Bethany Christian Services.  We've been busy at it and now I can enjoy all the decorations and the REALLY clean house!  But now - maybe I should start buying Christmas gifts?!?!  :)  My dear friend Susan helped me so much - she even cleaned a toilet or two!  this pic is not the greatest of either of us as we were in sweats - no makeup - cleaning mode, but I couldn't leave her out since I couldn't have done it without her!!

Upstairs will be another post- too many pics on this one already.

Are you taking pics for your Daily December?  :)

It's that time again!

Daily December is only 2 days away! Are you ready?  If you don't know what Daily December is................let me catch you up to speed!

You make a mini album and EVERY DAY in December you take a picture and your book can go through the 25th or the whole month - I have done both ways.

Here are my books from the last 2 years.

I am excited to do this again.  It's so fun to look back through each December.  It makes me take pictures of things I probably wouldn't otherwise.  Such as, coffee with a friend, the decorating process, baking, etc.

Here's my book for this year.

It doesn't have enough pages, so I am adding pages with my handy dandy punch....so fun!  I just can't decided if I should add more cream colored pages, kraft brown pages, or maybe be really daring and add patterned paper?!?!  Any thoughts?

 Are you going to DD?  You really should it's SO fun!  I'm going to start putting my pages together tonight so I can start adding pictures right away.  The last 2 years I did the pages as I added the pictures - there are NO rules - EXCEPT - take a picture for every day!  Hope you will join me!

Where oh where is the bear.....................

Every fall I bring out the fall bears my kids gave me years ago (aka: Boyds Bears era)........

Saturday night we had a group of about 30 people over for a dinner.  It was a great evening, lots of fun and laughter......AND MISCHIEF!!! 

All evening I was finding styrofoam cups upside down on plants, napkins wadded up behind picture frames..............you know the drill.  As I was accusing one person of interest said "you can't blame your lack of housekeeping on us"  - clearly a remark that hints of guilt.

Anywho - at the end of the evening Mr. Bear was M.I.A.  I looked everywhere -

I guess I just didn't occur to me that Mr. bear had stuffed himself (pun intended) on too much good food that his stomach just couldn't handle it ;)!!

Happy Tuesday - hope nothing important blew away last night!!!

Leaf time again!

Every year around November my friend Beth (who's an awesome photographer) takes Em's "Leaf Pictures".  We started when Em was 16 months old and haven't missed a year.

Here's a few from last week's shoot......................

It's always so fun, and Beth and Emily have fun working together!  I got kind of sad when Beth and I realized that next years pics will be Senior Pictures - so weird!

I am so thankful for my daughter............she  is full of life and beauty and keeps us on our toes :)  She makes me laugh, and when she hurts, my heart hurts!  I look forward to the years ahead with my beautiful daughter!