A Visit To Santa

Tonight Earl, myself and part of my kids and grandkids met at the mall and went to visit Santa. It was a fun meeting and one full of excitement for the kids (well, some of them!)

Ezie, Mallory & Jace

Mallory was so excited she was about to burst, Jace was okay as long as he sat with Ezie and Ezie tried not to show how excited he really was.

Anthony was in awe

Jordan & T.J. were a little grumpy

and sweet little Austin just slept comfortably in Santa's arms.

PreThanksgiving Preparation & Fun!

As the Pumpkin Pies that Mallory & Jace made and I got to be a "helper" on, finished baking

Three little monkeys made Monkey Bread for the first time.

Mallory cut the dough balls into 4 pieces, Jace put the pieces into the bowl and Ezie tossed the cinnamon sugar around on the dough balls. Then they all had fun putting the little cinnamony balls into the "cool" pan. Jace added a couple of extra scoops of cinnamon onto the top of the monkey bread when no one was looking because he is a "helper". Oh well! He had fun!

Then for the goo and the fridge until morning.

Hopefully it turns out yummy!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL!!

Through the Eyes of Jace

This is my almost son-in-law Jake.

Jace loves Jake.

Jake and Lexie started dating a month before Jace was born

so Jake has always been a part of Jace's life.

We have a place mat that has pictures of all of the Presidents on it.

Over the last 2 days Jace will look at the place mat

and point to the picture of President Andrew Johnson

and say, "There's Jake!"

I'm not quite sure where Jace sees the resemblance but he consistently will look at the pictures and point to Andrew Johnson every time.

I just thought it was funny how a 2 1/2 year old sees things.

Do you see the resemblance???

I'm Still Here I've Just Been Busy!

I'm almost done with all my Christmas Swaps...... finally!! I've been so busy doing these I haven't had much time for anything else. I miss blogging and reading everyones blogs! I finally got to see my new grandson, Austin. He is so cute and tiny. He reminds me a lot of Jace when he was born. Here's Jace holding Austin. The way Jace would look at Austin was so cute!

The kids are on break now and Earl will have 4 days off of his main job and Thursday and Friday off from his second job. It will be nice to have him home a little bit!! We are going to be packing a lot this weekend so we can hopefully be moving soon!! I can't wait!

I hope everyone has a great day preparing for tomorrow!

Downtown Holiday Jacket and Pant GIVEAWAY!!!!

Downtown Holiday Jacket and Pant GIVEAWAY!!!!

More Swaps

I finally got my package sent to Angela for Lori's Fall Swap. I was so late in sending it. Angela sent me mine like a month ago. Sorry it was so late Angela!

I participated in an Ornament Swap hosted by Shannon and my partner was Angie.

Angie made me this beautiful red and silver beaded ornament and sent some mint candies and hand soap from Bathy and Body Works.

I sent Angie 2 Fabric Christmas Bags, 3 pouches of simmering potpourri and a crocheted stocking.


Then the Aqua & Red Swap that was hosted by Shannon was next. I love these colors. My partner was Lisa.Lisa sent me these 4 cool bowls and 4 cups, a super cute hotpad, 3 really neat containers with buttons, flowers and pom-pom trim in them, a red clip, a red helicopter, an aqua and blue little notepad, a cute little pin with a pinchushion on it, an aqua & red marker, some paper strawberries, some aqua cotton crochet thread and some beautiful red fabric. Wow!

I found some aqua and red scrapbook stuff, a hankie with red on it, a vintage aqua doily, a red star and some vintage Mr. & Mrs. Santa Claus salt & pepper shakers with aqua mittens on, a yo-yo picture thingy, and some red and aqua buttons and then
I bought this pretty little robin ceremic coaster from an Etsy Store, RobotCandy.

I'm finishing up my swaps. I only have Christmas ones left and then I'm done swapping for quite awhile and then on to Christmas!

Things That Make Me Remember

Today would have been my Grandpa's birthday. He died about 6 years ago and I don't think a day has gone by that I haven't thought of him. My Grandpa always had plants, lots of plants, indoors and out. I don't know the official name of this plant, but Grandpa had one that we called a Christmas Cactus and one was a Easter Cactus, thats when they bloomed for him. Mine is in sad shape. I had it outside and I think a bike or scooter handle squashed it a little bit. Still, about 3-4 weeks after bringing it in the house for the winter it bloomed reminding me of Grandpa.

This is my favorite piece of furniture that I have. My Grandpa made it when he was young out of little strips of wood. He shaped it and glued all these pieces together to make this wonderful little stand. It has a piece of wood on the top that comes off and there is a little storage place on the inside. I'm not sure why he gave it to me, but all of my older kids have already claimed it when I die. No pressure there! I am glad that they all love it as much as I do.

Thanks Grandpa for being such a wonderful man and giving all of us such wonderful memories!

Don't Forget About Me!!

I haven't been on the computer nearly as much lately as I used to be to visit other blogs. There are several reasons. I've been overwhelmed with swaps, I'm trying to catch up on housework, I have to share the computer and my legs really start to hurt when I sit in the computer chair.

I don't want any of my blogger friends to think I'm being rude or just brushing you off. It definitely isn't that!! So please don't think bad of me, I'll be back visiting everyone again as soon as I can see the light of day!

Happy Birthday Daniel!!

HAPPY 22nd BIRTHDAY DANIEL!!

Daniel is my 4th son. I can still remember the day he was born. I had wanted a girl so bad after having 3 boys already, but the second I saw him how could I not be ecstatic!! He was so precious! I had a miscarriage a year earlier and I has told Daniel the reason I lost that baby was because God wanted me to have him. I got pregnant with Daniel about 2 months after loosing the other baby. Having Daniel always reaffirmed one of my favorite quotes, "Behind every cloud there is a silver lining." Daniel was my silver lining after loosing a baby.

This was when Daniel was 3. We were at an outdoor wedding and he was stealing the attention away from the wedding ceremony!

This was on Daniel's First Communion day.

Isn't he handsome!!

This is Daniel and his family, Tedi, T.J. and Jordan last May.

Happy Birthday Daniel!! I'm so proud of you!

Gratitude, Cupcake Swap and Another Fall Swap

Melissa hosted a Gratitude Swap back in September and well the package that was sent to me

must have gotten lost in the mail and the package I sent out hasn't moved from the second postoffice on it's destination since Nov 6, according to the tracking information. I'm not quite sure what to do about that??? Anyway here's what I made

It has a section for 2 ink pens, cards, an address book or journal, stamps, a letter opener and some stationary.
This is some of the cards I made and sent.

Then for the Cupcake Swap hosted by Margy my partner Becky sent me a super cute cupcake hot pad, a cupcake, 2 dishcloths, some cupcake fabric, bookmarks a wooden cupcake, a package with beads and a cupcake.

Everything was so nice!! Thanks again Becky! I went on and made Becky the Gratitude Package but with the cupcake theme.

The inside with all of its compartments
Then I sent a crocheted cupcake and some cupcake postcards, cards and tags that I made.
The two tags in the front with the little cupcake in the corner I bought from Denise at Polka Dot Moon's Etsy Shop. They are so cute!!

Then for another fall swap my partner Katrina sent me this really cute scarecrow, a yummy smelling candle, some fall themed embellishments and a wooden scarecrow for the kids or grandkids to color. Thanks again Katrina!! I really like everything you sent!

Then my partner hasn't sent me her address yet so I have this package boxed up and ready to send out to her as soon as I know where it goes.

Nordic Bo Peep and Long Lost Sheep Costume GIVEAWAY!!!!

Nordic Bo Peep and Long Lost Sheep Costume GIVEAWAY!!!!

Commissioned Watercolor Portrait GIVEAWAY!!!!

Commissioned Watercolor Portrait GIVEAWAY!!!!

Computer Time Competition

As many of you have probably noticed I haven't been on the computer nearly as much lately. I've been busy with my over indulgence with swaps, but now that it's colder outside I'm in Computer Time Competition. The kids are in the house more and between a 17 year old being on MySpace and IMing her friends and my 8 & 9 year old with computer games I have to wait in line to use the computer. Well, last night the competition increased.

Ezie was playing a Reader rabbit game and Jace wanted to sit on his lap. Ezie got the Toddler Reader Rabbit game out and put it in for Jace. That was it. The fascination was on!! Jace loved playing the different games and was on for almost a half an hour. Then after the other kids went to bed last night he wanted to play more games. I set the game up for him and he was able to play a game and then go to the main menu and switch games all by himself. I was so amazed and impressed.........but at the same time realized that I had one more person to compete with, a 2 1/2 year old. Oh well, he had a blast!!

If you haven't heard about Reader Rabbit games they are really great computer games. I bought several of them a few years ago because I found them at The Christmas Tree Shoppe for $1.00 a piece. Yes, $1.00 a game. I bought everyone of them I could find in the bin. I have to say that was one of my better finds. Most of the games keep track of your child's progress and reward them at the end of each game. They are really educational and fun!

Fall Mini Swap and A Few New Things in My Etsy Shop

I participated in Emilie's Fall Mini Swap and my partner was Judy. Judy sent me some really nice fall things. She sent me a pumpkin jar, a candle, some fat quarters in fall colors and 2 gorgeous dish cloths. I love fall stuff and Judy definitely out did herself!

This is what I sent Judy. I sent her some homemade potpourri in apple/orange spice and cedar, some scrapbooking stuff, ribbon, fibers and 2 stuffed "grunged" pumpkins that smell like a baked cinnamon mixture. I learned how to make them from Sarah's blog. Thanks for the great idea Sarah! I loved making these.
Thanks Judy for a fun Mini Fall Swap!

Okay, now I'm shamelessly going to plug my Etsy Shop

I made some extra grunge pumpkins for my Etsy Shop and for the Etsy for Charity Shop.

I am selling them for $7.50 a set.

They smell really good!

Earl took me craft shopping on Saturday (which was so nice to get out of the house with Earl!) and we both liked this variegated fall color cotton crochet thread.

I couldn't wait to make a hat out of it.

This is for sell in my Etsy Shop for $6.00.

It fits adults too!

I have been so busy doing swaps that I haven't had time to put anything in my Etsy Shop so it felt good to finally get something new in there. I have a couple of other swaps ready to mail out as soon as Earl can get to the post office for me and a few more things almost done to put in my shop.

My Football Stars

I sent both of the kids to get their pictures taken with clean pants.

Check out who's pants are clean and who's are dirty.

That's my girl!!

Ezie and Mallory received their trophies yesterday for football.

They only won 2 games but they had fun and learned a lot.

Mallory said she is going back to cheerleading next year

But

the football coach told her "No Way!"

Baby & Shower Pictures

Yesterday my seventh grandchild was born and there was a shower for my 8th grandchild. I wanted to share some pictures.

My oldest son Jeremy and his daughter Sabrina and son Austin

ignore the date on the picture

Sabrina is a very proud big sister

My daughter-in-law Jenn and her mom at Jenn's baby shower

I made her a blanket out of vintage chenille bedspreads

Jenn with the bow hat on.

Baby Chad a month ago

I've Been "Thanksed"!

My niece Sophia has "Thanksed" me.

Here's what I need to do now.

1. Give this to at least three or more other blog friends.

2. On your blog, tell who you "thanksed" and why you are thankful for them as afriend or family.

3. Leave a comment on the people you "thanksed" so they know to visit your blog andfind out more.

4. Copy the rules onto your blog.

5. Copy and paste the "Happy Thanksgiving" photo in my sidebar on to your sidebar.

It's so hard to only pick 3 people because I am so thankful for having so many blogger friends and family now too!!

I would like to "THANKSED" the following people:

1. I am thankful for my daughter Mallory for being such a wonderful daughter and always being so creative, kind, generous and just being herself!!
2. I am thankful for new blogger friends like Saucy who stand up for what they believe in and for being so knowledgeable and concerned about not only her country but ours as well.
3. I am thankful for all my blogger friends and I can't just choose one of you. So all of you please take the award and show thanks to your blogger friends.

Grandson #7 is Here!

Grandson #7 or Austin Edward was born today. He weighs 5lbs 14 oz and was 20 inches long. Everyone is doing great! Hopefully I'll have pictures tomorrow.

Please Help With a Wonderful Cause

I found this really neat way for all of us to be creative and to be helpful at the same time on my blogger friend, Dawn's blog and she found it on Dan's blog.

The Holocaust Museum in Houston is planning a major exhibition in Spring 2012, to commemorate the 1.5 million children who died during the Holocaust.

And that's where you and I come in

- the exhibition will take the form of a breathtaking display of 1.5 million butterflies, 1 for each child that died needlessly.

The museum is asking for our help. They want crafters/scrapbookers/stampers like us to create the butterflies for them and send them to the museum. This is a wonderful opportunity to be a part of something that is so worthwhile and meaningful! There are no rules other than your butterflies can be no larger than 8" x 10" and must NOT have glitter, or food items on them. You can stamp, use patterned papers and embellishments, paint and inks, whatever is your style.

You can find more information about the project here: http://www.hmh.org/minisite/butterfly/index.html

Dan has some templates on his blog that you can use and the above site has all of the instructions for making and where to send your butterfly.

Thanks!