Wrapping up Christmas

This was the best gift of Christmas 2010. Meet Shadow, my youngest son's now constant companion.
I thought it would be fun to have a stuffed cat to chase C's rodents around. The funny thing is that Squeeky (the mouse) has been lost for a week or so. Did he know a cat was coming?

My boys were funny this year. They didn't stay in their jammies on Christmas morning. They got dressed right away so I don't have the traditional photos I wanted (of opening presents, posing by the presents, etc.)

I did manage to get one by the tree (with cheesy grins), taken at bedtime.
We had *such* a bushy tree this year! I actually had to prune it. A lot. We got it from Farmer Brown's Tree Farm in Arlington, if you are interested.
Another fantastic (because of the price) gift we gave the boys was a cardboard pirate ship, life size, well, kid-sized. I found an amazing deal and it was $5.00 including shipping. It arrived on December 24th.
My boys use it as a fort. It will be great to take outside in the Spring.

A family photo taken by Rene:
We always do Christmas crackers in our family. It is a British custom that my husband's family has as a tradition. This year we forgot but remembered on Boxing Day. Here are my parents in their crowns. My dad and A playing air hockey (the table was an early present that we found on Craigslist).
Here we are saying goodbye to my parents as they flew back home.
Now, I need to go back to bed. I've caught some nasty bug. Bronchitis? The flu? I'm not sure. I have a deep cough, a constant headache, and I feel achey. Thankfully, I'm the only one who is sick right now and my hubby is off work today. I have to get better for Monday since the kids go back to school and I'm back to my "job" as driver.

Happy New Year!Pin It

Creative and beautiful photos!

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Christmas goodies

I did some last minute baking on Christmas Eve. Well, it wasn't actually baking since I made "no bake" treats! These are sooooo easy.

These treats have wheat germ in them! Now, that *has* to make up for the chocolate, right? ;)

Mud Balls
1/4 cup peanut butter
1/4 cup honey
1/4 cup wheat germ
1/2 cup oatmeal
1/4 cup chocolate chips
1/4 cup wheat germ

Heat the peanut butter and honey over low heat until melted. Add the remaining ingredients. When cool enough to handle, roll into oohey gooey mud balls. Try not to eat too many!

I found this recipe on a lovely blog a few years ago but I can't remember which one. If it is yours, please accept my thanks and apology for not giving credit.Pin It

Pinata???

I luv glitter houses, especially glitter churches. This year I was on the hunt for the ultimate one. I found it at an unusual place - Yankee Candle. This beauty was in the window and I had to have it! :) So, I talked to hubby, found a great coupon, and voila! I had an early Christmas present! So, I put it on top of our old school TV - you know the kind that you can actually put thing on top of?
Well, what did my seven year old boy think of it? He said "it looks like a pinata!!" Bashing up my precious church? Oh, the horror!!

Ah, boys.Pin It

Christmas crayons - a handmade gift

Need an idea for a last minute gift for classmates?

My son's Kindergarten class has stockings hung up for every child and we parents were asked to bring a small item for each one. Now, even if I bought something at the dollar store, with 22 classmates, that would set me back 22 dollars! Um, no. :) So.... I brainstormed a bit, read some blogs, and I remembered that I made recycled crayons in heart shapes for my son's classmates earlier this year. Now, I confess that I get most of my good ideas from other people and these Christmas crayons are inspired by Sew Totally Smitten. She has a terrific tutorial so I'll just direct you there.

Recycled Crayons in Christmas shapes - I added a fun little poem (click on the photo to make it larger) so the kids wouldn't accidentally eat them!
Now I realize this post isn't exactly timely. Our school has its last day on Friday and I finished these up last weekend. It does take time and time's awastin! You can just file this away for next year or use it for a birthday party favor idea, OK? :) One tip: if you are making as many crayons as I did - you will need way more crayons that you think you need. :)

Another word to the wise: crayons melting in the oven smell pretty nasty.Pin It

I think it is in the genes.

Check out the Christmas ornament my youngest son made, completely unsolicited and on his own. He backed it with a small popsicle stick for sturdiness. I have a well-stocked craft cabinet. :)Pin It

Homemade glitter garland

I looooooove banners/garlands!

I have this spring banner
(boughten, not made) that I've kept up all year (in my room) because I love it so much. It was starting to annoy my family, so I decided to use it as inspiration to make my own, more seasonally appropriate banner. I found glittery letters at WalMart (of all places!), which were packaged as decorations for Christmas stockings, and that got me started.

Here is a tutorial. Sorry, limited photos.

Materials needed (if you want to make a similiar garland)
- WalMart glitter letters (warning: they will shed glitter. This may bother you, it may not! I have a story about this so keep reading!)
- patterned paper with a Christmas theme
- cardboard
- a good strong glue (I used Tombow Mono Aqua Liquid Glue)
- 1/8 inch hole punch (I used my CropaDile)
- 1/8 inch gold eyelets
- large jump rings - these can be hard to find. I'm sure a bead store would have a good selection. I found mine at JoAnn Fabrics.
- 2 kinds of ribbon. I used a cream organza ribbon and a red glittery ribbon.
- scissors with fine tips
- patience

Instructions:
1. Copy the letters on scrapbook paper, cut them out and then backed them on cardboard to make them stiff.
2. Glue the patterned letter on top of the glitter letter, slightly offset.3. Punch two very small holes in the tops, then attach eyelets for more sturdiness.4. Insert large jump rings to attach the letters to the ribbon. Hang up in your home or if you are really lucky - on your mantle!! My banner is hung above the entrance to my kitchen.

That dangling "A" bothers me a lot but I'm trying to relax about it! :)

Now, if you have one of those fancy die cut machines (Cricut, Silhouette, etc) this garland will be a snap to make (and a lot easier on the hands and wrists!). Hey Santa, I've been good!!! ;)

One funny story related to this craft: I was making this banner on my dining room table and my son was asked to get working his homework. He normally likes to do his homework at the same table but he protested (and wanted to work somewhere else) because the glitter was getting a little too close to his section! He is *such* a boy!

I'm linking to the Christmas Craft Link Party at Centsational Girl!Pin It