I blame the mailman for so many things!

At my house, it's totally the mailman's fault I haven't had pics uploaded anywhere in ages. Because I couldn't find that dang camera cord. And if my mailman hadn't brought so much junk mail it would have never happened! You see, all that junk kept getting stacked in the basket on the kitchen counter due to lack of time to rifle thru it all. Then the basket overflowed onto the counter and HID the camera cord - never mind the cord shouldn't have been left there. So, thank goodness, I found the camera cord yesterday, but the fact that it's been missing is all his fault. Totally his fault. Wouldn't you agree? I'm just sayin'. Maybe we'll get a dog now just to get back at him....the kids really want one ya know.

Anyway - now, to update with some eye candy....


Ella Grace worked so hard on this - her first time using a real needle on anything. And she LOVED IT! She had it done very quickly and moved on to another ornament for the tree. And begged for more after that!





E2's and my finished owls hanging proud.








Yes, and we had to forever mark them - for when we are senile and need a reminder of the who, what, and when's in life. It's coming people. Let this be your warning.






This would be the other felt ornament we made. Ella Grace is WAY more artsy than me, and chose a hot pink bird cage with a neon blue bird. Turned out fabulous! lol I mean, it really matches our crazy kid Christmas tree in so many ways. ;-) And Ehren is convinced that flipping them around turns them into Shrek heads.



Okay, and then I had to come up with a Christmas gift for my co-worker Judy. Cause the rest of the people around here are men and just aren't appreciative of anything that they can't either put in their mouths or their wallets. It's true! So, I'd had this blank wooden sign in my craft stash. For years. And I came across it recently knowing it was now or never. Use or purge. Some paint, scrapbook paper, mod podge, cut vinyl, and ribbon put on, and her present is finished in an hour. And the men you ask? Well, they each received a pan of handmade cinnamon rolls. I don't know if they took them home and shared or gorged in their pick-up trucks. Seriously, I do NOT want to know! But by the looks of their "kegs" they each carry around on the front of them, if I were a betting girl I think I'd win on my guess! lol




I know the lighting on all the Santa pics is horrible. I don't have photoshop on this computer to fix them and I guess my camera's white lighting wasn't set correctly for this setting. And, honestly, if I wait to add them here til I get to my computer that DOES have PS, then it might be Easter before I post them. Seriously. So, bad church gym lighting and all, here they are. I found it particularly funny how Ella Grace was sure that this wasn't the real Santa, only one of his representatives - and you can see that on her skeptical profile. And how Ethan totally considered not even stopping by, and let only about 20 other children go before him in line while he contemplated just turning around completely. But you see, his Webkinz account was expiring in 10 days. And if he didn't get a new Webkinz signed on before the 25th, he'd lose everything. So, as a last ditch effort, he stood within a pleasant proximity so that the "fake Santa" could report back to whomever and see if any magic would really happen. And in case you are wondering - it did. Timmy the Turtle came to Ethan from Santa. And the magic lasts yet another year. ;-)


Abby

My black index finger

Yes, that's right. The squishy pad of my right index finger is black. Has been for days really. Cause I can't go downstairs without grabbing a can of black spraypaint and adding yet another fresh layer onto whatever little project I have laying there today. On Sunday, I finally got to my little 3' shutter found at the Habitat for Humanity Re-Store place. Here's a pic of Ella Grace when we saved it from sure demise.....it was, afterall, the only one without a companion. And for an item sold as a "pair", that's a death sentence waiting to happen right there.

And then, a couple coats of paint later, here's what that unwanted shutter turned into be for us. Love being a little bit crafty sometimes!

Craftiest month of my life

Okay, now, I have a friend that's probably laughing out loud already. Cause I simply can't keep up with her princess tulle skirt tying, chicken wire using projects this year. ;-) Love you, girlfriend! But I HAVE completed more crafts this year than any other month in the last 4 years - hands down! Quick rundown below (skip if you don't care...).

12 school days of Christmas. Yep, my cute 3 little nerdies did what their momma told them to & took a "present" to their teachers and anonymously put one on the teacher's desk each day to count down the 12 days to Christmas break. Tomorrow counts the 3rd day left, btw. Okay, okay, so Ethan got busted on day 1. Wanna know how? His teacher said "Anyone know who put this on my desk?".



that's it.



how scary that must have sounded. So he raised his hand.



E1 is such a pushover sometime. E2 was absolutely angry with him when he told this story on the drive home that afternoon. She said, couldn't you just respond with "someone who likes you obviously!". (sarcastic voice in my head screamed "Like THAT wouldn't have been a dead give a way". lol)

Anyway, Eris was found out on approx day 8, but her teacher has kept her anonimity (sp?) from the rest of the class and they've had a ball with it and has sent me 2 emails thanking me for the fun treats & poems each day. And, you guessed it, Ella Grace is still the secret gift giver. Yes, she moves in stealth mode every day, like the butler in Mr. Deeds I can only presume. Very very sneaky indeed.

"For the 3rd school day of Christmas I give 3 binder clips. I'm sure it could be tempting to use these on my lips." lol Good times right there. lol

Other crafts of this month have included hand sewing felt ornaments with E2. We've completed an owl and a bird in a cage. Now she wants more. I don't know I have the patience for more! But the ones we made WERE fun and turned out darling!!

I made a 'Let's Celebrate' family chalkboard for the dining room wall - just to announce cool things the children have done that we'll recognize and celebrate each week. Like good test scores, clean rooms, super service noticed...things like that. Literally waiting for paint to dry right now to apply the vinyl and be done with it. I think Santa might actually leave it under the tree as a family gift actually.

Some Christmas presents that I can't show because they might see them, but we'll call them wedding blocks and leave it at that. I don't know if I have any family that reads this and doesn't comment or not!

Oh, and some seasonal word blocks, 3 sets of these babies made by painting 4" blocks and cutting and applying vinyl. Technically I painted these in Nov, so they may not count in this post. But I plan on giving the other 2 sets away for Christmas gifts, so I think they should count. Still have to create the word potential tag and package them properly, so I think they should count if that matters to ya.

By the way, I have pics of all this - and even steps of some. But until I run across my missing camera cord, I can't connect and upload. If someone offers to come help me search, I ACCEPT!! And I pay in baked goods!!

Lots of love,
Ab

I'm going to blog.

Today or tomorrow. I can totally feel it coming on. A post that is, nothing tacky or pertaining to a bathroom visit. Don't want you to think I'm being gross here. (My dad would appreciate that comment if he could read this. lol) But pictures are being taken for the occassion even. So be ready! ;-)