Decorating for Christmas!

Hey ya'll!  I have been a little sick, but pulling through.  I finally got an antibiotic today (since I was starting to have pain in my sinuses!), so I'm hoping to be all better in a few days.  I've slept a lot (yay!), but still got some stuff done.

I have decorated a little (got at least one room done enough, even though I gave up on ornaments!).  Unboxing and unwrapping each individual ornament got tiring...so I did all the kids' ornaments and easy stuff! : )

Here are some pictures of the hearth room!:

This would be Mama Bear's chair..and Baby Bear's chair!

..and Oh, Oh, Oh!! I got my new ivory slipcovers on!  But..now the windows need drapes. ; )

Oh.  You can't see any Christmas decorations in the dark of the shelves.  haha, oh well! : )

Well, the bottom is heavily decorated..but the top got to be too much for me!  ..And I got a few presents wrapped tonight! ; )

I also got a new tree on Black Friday!  We had given two away last year (one Ches hated putting together-but it was full and gorgeous, and the other was a 12' prelit, but the upper lights didn't work!).  It was an unbelievable deal (7 foot prelit tree for $39 at JoAnn!), and it was crazy how I got it (they were sold out, but it was returned..so Ta-Da!).  But, we got it home, set it up..And.  I knew why they took it back.  It was a Charlie Brown tree.  The small box should have been a huge clue.  Here it is before:

(sorry for the dark..it was just too much with the lights on!) (umm..I mean too Charlie-Brown-see-through-the-branches-like!)

But after layering tons of berry garlands, feather garlands, and ornaments from the inside to outside..it filled out nicely!  I'll keep it. ; )  Ches really wanted a tree in the front window since we really don't do outside Christmas lights, so this fit the bill.  (This will be the baby room in the future!)

And the last bit of decorating I managed?  A new wreath!  I don't know what I'll do with the old ones-it seems our attic is running out of wreath storage (according to the Facility Manager anyway).  The new thing (well, here anyway) is big wide (almost 2 foot!) ribbon/netting stuff to use as ribbon.  In fact, some wreaths are ALL netted ribbon stuff.  But..I had a new wreath, so I just added to it.  A big sign, some big red jingle bells, balls, red poinsettias, and a red bird finished it off.  Easy peasy.  Here it is now:

I prefer the Happy Holly Days spelling, but I love that it sounds like my name. ; )  I *love* Merry Christmas, but love to hear my name too. : )

Ok, that's as far as I've gotten.  I'll keep working..there are still so many Christmas tubs sitting all around.  I have to finish so we can have our floor space back! ; )

ps-Are you getting ready for Christmas?  Have you shopped?  Don't forget to buy for someone you don't know : )  There are families that need help, and food pantries need to be filled up!  There should be drop off locations at your church, and even at radio or tv stations, grocery stores, and your local schools! ; )

pps-And..don't forget to leave a comment for another chance to win the monogrammed kitchen hand towel giveaway!  I'll announce the winner tomorrow night after 9pm!  : ) I want to give something to YOU! ; ) Hugs!

Christmas Treat for YOU!

Last week we went to see Christmas lights!  ..and I'm SO glad we chose last week when it was still relatively warm-it's supposed to be 17 degrees here tonight!  Brr...

The Fayetteville Square always does a wonderful job decorating and filling us up with holiday spirit-there are ponies to ride (although I hesitate to let the big kids ride anymore!), camels to ride, carriage rides, holiday music, warm cocoa and coffee...and funnel cakes!  Fried bread with sugar.  Yum.

We visit every year, and try to take pictures in the same place.  I can't believe that next year..we'll be Plus One! ; )

Here are some of our pictures:

Don't you just *love* the abundance of lights?  Nothing like overdoing it!

She was a camera lover tonight-rare. ; )

At least he was on the right side of the railing at this point.

They loved the dog that was under the miniature ponies' tent!

He was also loving the camera attention!  (Maybe they actually missed mom taking pictures?)

..and again!

It is super hard to get three to smile (and sit up!)

But we do our best! : )

Aww...just the girls ; )

And the sign was on an opposite corner this year.  (The boys had already run off!)

I've been monogramming some of the most adorable stuff..but I seriously have taken NO pictures!  Boo. : (  I made Mary Claire a cute little Reindeer Peace Sign (with antlers!) with her name, and a snowflake with an initial, a tie bib with an initial..and I have more shirts to do!  I asked Clay about wearing something I've sewn (I really thought he'd tell me he's too big!), but he said he wanted one to match Ethan's!  I love that he still likes to dress like his brother. ; )


Today was Clay's big eleventh birthday.  He is getting so big so fast.  I still remember the day he was born..I guess that's how everyone's mom feels!  Just amazing how in the moment it is slow going-but it just flies by.  He had a birthday cheesecake on Thanksgiving, and he chose not to have a party this year.  This morning we sang Happy Birthday to him over cheesecake and a candle, then he had some things to open (he already got his big gifts last Friday!), and his cards.  (Ethan wrote his entire card himself!  ..I mean, with me spelling the words!)  And we let him choose a restaurant for dinner.  He picked PF Chang's (it was such a hard decision for him!).  He had wanted sushi too, but they don't have any. : (  He settled, and it was still a good dinner and dessert. ; )  I'm thankful he had a good day-he was very cheerful, and I love to see a happy child!


I did find out tonight that he found a big Christmas present of Mary Claire's in our closet today. : (  ..and he told her.  ..before he told me.  : (  I'm not sure what to do.  Instinct says to take it back, but it's hard.  It would punish her more than him for sneaking around.  It can be awful hard to be a parent.


5.5 days till I know what this sweet baby is..I'm getting really impatient!  We have a Carter's store in town now, and on Black Friday they had an amazing 50% off the entire store..so we had to go!  I got three outfits..for each.  Just in case.  I don't ever get to baby clothes shop with the big kids, so I let them pick out some clothes.  Of course, Clay picked the boy clothes, and Mary Claire chose the girl clothes.  I guess I'll have some returning to do Monday afternoon..we just couldn't let a sale go by.  (And they are as excited as I am, and I'm soo thankful)  : )

ps-I think we need a contest! : )  It is almost Christmas!  How about a Christmas towel with your monogram?  I have a sweet new design:

It's an ornament!  Precious.  And I love the red/lime! : )  ..but yours could be any color ; )

I also got this adorable one I can't wait to try!  It's called Shabby Wreath! : )  It has your monogram letter in the center also.

and don't you need a treat for your kitchen?  I'm totally thinking I need one!  : )  Leave a comment, and if you don't have a blog, leave your email address! : )  Hugs!  (oops..I'll announce the winner on Sunday night, Dec. 4th after 9pm!)

Full of Thanks!

Hey ya’ll!  I’m back, I’m back! : )  I’ve so missed you-and your lives too!  I’m trying to get back on top of things (heehee)..and I couldn’t sleep (even on the kids’ break..), so here I am. ; )  (I think I’m on a new schedule…called Early to Bed, Early to Rise!)

I got a new camera (yay!) (it’s a Canon SX40HS), and today I did the first upload-and it took a while..those videos take up SO much room!  I am really hoping to catch up here, move forward, and get to some *FUN* things!  I have bought some absolutely adorable new designs for my sewing machine..and I totally need to get in the Christmas spirit! ; )

..and I’m getting there!  I remembered that I’d promised Stephanie I’d make her daughter some American Girl bedding for her fancy white bunk beds…and I finally got it done. ; )  It turned out really cute.  I looked up Sydney’s bedding online at Pottery Barn, and tried to match the colors-then I added her dolls’ names to the pillows.  I mean, how PB is that? ; )

This is Kanani's bedding ; )

Ready to mail! ; )

Friday Ethan had his Thanksgiving play-and the kids were adorable!  Monday all the parents helped take them on a “field trip” to Chick-Fil-A to sing in their Indian outfits again…this time with an audience! : )  Chick-Fil-A even gave them free kids meals (and gave the parents ice cream while the kids played!).  They did really well-I think better than at the school.

His class after the play-he's at the back right!

Afterward.  Not great, but the only one I got!

His was better! : )

With his friend, Andrew and their turkeys! : )

Chick-Fil-A welcomed us Monday with a big sign!

He was ah-ah-ah-ah on his mouth (what do you call that anyway?)

And a great picture!  (after he saw the ice cream cones!)

And yesterday, Clay had Colonial Days!  Did I take a picture?  No. : (  I was busy helping all the kids in the class make pomander balls!  There were six centers for the kids, and I only did one..but I got really good at it! ; )  We used oranges, poked holes with a toothpick about a half inch apart, then rolled them on a napkin (to dry them), then in cinnamon (to show the holes), then poked cloves into the holes.  Afterward, we wrapped them in muslin that I’d precut, and tied them up.  They smell absolutely delicious!   (I totally got the best center!)  The kids wanted to lick the juice off the orange as it dripped, and then it made them all hungry.  (Good thing there was a butter-making center with fresh bread and hot cocoa!)  I wish I’d pulled out my camera for a picture, but I got too busy!  Here’s a picture I found online, courtesy of eons.com:

This one is rather perfect (and has tons more cloves than we used!) ; )

After school, we took the kids to see Happy Feet Two-it was so sweet!  The son, Eric, really was loving this “flying penguin” (you find out later it’s a puffin), but finally comes to see his father as the hero in the end.  So precious.  And the singing was awesome!

Today I’m making dressing for dinner tomorrow, and I’m debating making sweet potato casserole (because it’s so delish!), or some pumpkin chocolate chip muffins (they are EASY-three ingredients!!).  Don’t you just love a day to eat, oops I mean, be thankful?  And boy, do we have lots to be *thankful* for this year, despite all the rough stuff.

In fact..I should give you the recipe for the muffins-they are impressive (IMHO), but so simple. :o)

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Mini Muffins

Ingredients:

1 can pumpkin (15 oz)

1 box spice cake mix (I buy Duncan Hines)

1 bag mini chocolate chips (if you are making regular-size muffins, use regular chocolate chips)

Mix together pumpkin and cake mix well.  Stir in chocolate chips.  Put into mini muffin tins (makes about 48), and bake at 350 degrees for 12 minutes.

*Mini-muffins have about 13.8 grams of carbs each.*

As soon as I get the kids’ shirts done (Mary Claire got a peace sign with reindeer antlers!), I’ll set up a contest.  Maybe Black Friday?  Until then, may God bless you with a very thankful Thanksgiving! 

Ps-baby is fine, and I’m growing : )  Counting the days till December 5…whadaya think?  Boy or Girl?

 

Just Baby Stuff ; )

Oh, Jules!  What great questions! ; )

Umm..we have a feeling it's a girl (regardless of our crazy ultrasound doctor's "boy" determination!).  He told us that at 12 weeks and six days, and now we've read that the earliest you can tell the gender is 14.5 weeks.  So..we still think it's a girl, but not enough to call it a girl name yet!

Ethan is really dying for us to have a name for our baby, but we just can't yet.  He also REALLY wants it to have a room and some furniture..I think he's actually worried.  We are procrastinating since we are nervous to start buying stuff again, and have to return it.  We also emptied out a room before, and had to kinda put furniture back in (Not Fun.).  So..we thought we'd wait until we know what it is, and we're at the halfway point.  We are just really nervous, I guess.

We do still have a baby crib, in the attic.  It's the one we used with the other kids, but we think the side that goes up and down (that's now outlawed here!) is not fully-functioning. (It actually had a three child and/or a ten-year warranty, but we've outlasted both!) We are debating between buying a new one (with the little side that folds down), or just putting the crazy side to the wall.  We still have an armoire and changing table/dresser with drawers (that matches the baby bed) (and they are still in Ethan's room), so he'd have to have some new furniture!

We still have some really old stuff we've loaned out a few times (their exersaucer, a swing, a pack-and-play, and a Bumbo seat from Ethan), but after seeing the new comfy side-to-side swings with a big papasan of a seat, I think I need one! ; )  I still have onesies for a baby, some blankets and some clothes I couldn't part with!  I'll get a new baby bag (or I'll make one!), and we'll be fine.  Oh..but a car seat and stroller-we gave ours away, so I'll need those!  Maybe I will shop a little over Christmas break. ; )

Don't you worry..when I'm sure, and I know what it is..I'll be busy.  I can't wait to get a nursery ready!  We are going to use the office in our house for the baby's room, so there is no closet (!), but I'm hoping the storage in the furniture will be enough.  When the baby grows, we'll have to do something!  We've thought about adding on, or doing some construction to add a room, but I don't want to do it while I'm pregnant.  I don't need the stress!  Mary Claire's room is huge, and actually has a sitting room off of it, and she'd love to share her room with a baby girl...so we'll see.  I wouldn't do that at first, since she wouldn't sleep very well, but it could work in a year or so. : )

I had an orthodontist appointment today, and he asked about me being pregnant-I'm pretty much showing now.  He asked how long I was not telling, and I told him until I couldn't hide it anymore! ; )  I guess I'm past that?  I have Bunco tomorrow night, and I haven't officially told all of them, so I guess it's tomorrow!  I didn't mean to keep it "secret", I just didn't want to have to tell them if something happened.  And..as things come up, I'll have to share with a few more people!  I haven't said anything on Facebook either, for the same reason..it's hard if you've miscarried, it taints everything.  (You even feel like the little boy who cried wolf!  ..I'm pregnant..I'm not.  I'm pregnant, I'm not...)  I'm so thankful I had three untainted, joyful pregnancies before I knew that bad things could happen.

So, for today..I listen to the heartbeat and count the days until my next ultrasound.  Until I know what it is, and can finally get ready. ; )