Family Rules

Ask me how long I've had this canvas...go on ask.

THREE YEARS. at least 3. I had a dark time of spending money and Michael's was a weak spot. It was on sale...I thought I'd paint...or something.

SIX MONTHS ago I found this fun paper that I thought I could decoupage onto the canvas and hang it as art. (Because let's be honest...I don't paint...at least not in the way that results in something worthy of a frame and a sincere compliment.)

ONE YEAR or so ago I saw somebody somewhere on the blogsosphere do something with a set of family rules to hang in their house.

SOMETIME in there I remembered all three of these moments and LAST WEEK I decided to finally do it.

I'm generally pleased. I keep thinking of things I wish I would of added...something about sharing, or putting others first, or serving your fellow man. However, I figure the first two rules blanket anything I missed.

Cutie Man is one year!

Cutie man being my nephew. He's a year and I was able to see him open some presents via skype. Thank you Jesus for skype! Here is what I've been working on for him for a while. I think he'll have to grow into playing w/ it. Perhaps it will entertain him when he's not sleeping on their 9+ hour drive home. Love you Knox!


The swing moves and the airplane travels.


Oops. On its side. BUT those little animals in the barn are finger puppets! And the tools come out too.



Rocket Travels, fruit snaps on and off.



Had to include the ocean!



After making a crown for miss Mia I had to try a boy one. Not perfect...but cute IMO. I think he wore it for 1/2 a second. He's one. I'll give him some grace on that. :)

*inspiration for some of the pages and the template for the tree trunk, barn & finger puppets was found HERE
*Also some inspiration (tools) found HERE

I'd really like to do this one someday...maybe I'll make something for my own kid! ha!

Filling Up the Day

What do you do when it's like this outside?


Well you can finish making Valentine cards,

Build a huge indoor fort,

Shoot some hoops,

And then finally go out into it! (21")

Of course, you must kick out the stowaways.

Then whip up some ice cream made from snow.

Then the day is done.

The next day you can admire the beautiful icicles.

Then say goodbye to them as daddy knocks down the deathtraps.

December Happenings

Besides getting ready for Christmas there have been a few other goings ons...


Like E losing her first tooth! May I say finally? She has had her bottom new teeth in for so long and we have just been waiting for the baby teeth to fall out. She was quite excited and we talked about putting it under her pillow and the tooth fairy. She asked if she was real. I decided to be consistent (since we've nixed the reality of santa, though thanks to her teacher she refuses to believe that he's not real) and say that the tooth fairy was just something fun we pretend. This would have been enough for her brother. However she then wanted to know who took her tooth in exchange for the money. I told her it was a secret. I wanted to keep some fun mystery going. Alas she would not let it go. Finally (and this is an hour later when I'm tucking her in) I tell her that perhaps I'm the tooth fairy. Her response, "no you're not." I can't win. BUT, at 4am I wake up to this face looking at mine, "mommy, i found money."



Last Friday was gingerbread house day in her school. She was mostly concerned with eating it rather than the design element. (there was also singing, see below for video)



It was my niece Ella's birthday celebration on Sunday and I made her this box. I love it. My E does not because it's black. She did approve of the jewelry that I put in it as did the birthday girl.


V became quite adept at saying the word "cake" with a smile, over and over.

Our first big snow!

They were so excited.

They love coming in for the hot chocolate.

It's not my favorite thing, but I can't deny it's beauty.

Today we had cousin's over. J was in a happy place.

We made ornaments. (thanks peggy!)

And tonight we celebrated the main man Dennis in our house. Happy Birthday love!

crayons!

attempted craft

SO I had this fabulous idea of trying out a craft that I saw on some other blog (this woman actually creates collage art). SO I have it all set up and my sweet son spills a whole cup of juice over most of the supplies. "I'm sorry mommy , I didn't mean to!", he cries with all sincerity. "I know honey, I know." If you know me, then you know that I DO know. SO I prepared some more heads grabbed some more paper and then I had to feed the baby, and by the time I got back to them E was over it and had already plastered her paper full with random magazine cuttings. I made her do another one with heads and she reluctantly obliged. J had left room for them and got quite into it. I think another time E might. I personally had fun!


J's


E's


Mine
(The blue sky and our limbs did not pick up on the scanner for some reason, oh well)