My favorites of 2011

Goodbye 2011.  My first year of blogging and it was such a ride.  I've learned so much and met some really great bloggers.  I'm looking forward to what 2012 will bring and what I will bring to it.  Everyone else is doing it...so,..I think I'll do a recap.

Here are some of my favorite posts in no particular order.  Thanks for reading!

1.  I reorganized my front room/gym. 

2.  I mistreated my windows in the kitchen.

3.  Hubby got a promotion and I made this banner to celebrate.

4.  We traveled to Yosemite National Park and San Francisco and it was awesome!

5.  I finally created my gallery wall.

6.  I decorated my mantel for the seasons.

7.  I shared with you how much we love walking as a family.

8.  And for some reason, a lot of you really liked my cotton ball wreath.

Here's to 2012!  

Winding down

I don't have any Christmas pictures.  My camera settings were all off and most of them are blurry.  We just hung out and played inside yesterday because it was cold and rainy here.

We had a blessed Christmas.  The kids got some major gifts but the winners were perler beads that you can melt and the $10 dollar weather station (-:  I can't wait to go to my 4 hour beginners mosaic glass class.  Thanks honey!

Today begins the tear down.  And although I won't miss most of the decorations, I will miss this:

I saw this nativity every night after checking on the kids.  

I will miss the gentle reminder of the reason for the season.

I am so excited for this new year.  Are you?

Merry Christmas!

Wrapping up the Christmas crafts

I thought it would be a good idea to wrap up the Christmas crafts before Christmas!  

Where does the time go?  

The kids had a good time doing a science experiment for a craft.  I used this tutorial for inspiration.  Let it be noted that Jman was totally skeptical and never thought it would work.  I'm just glad that it did!  The ornaments are so sparkly but my photo skills are not.  

Then on Friday after all of the parties and school fun we headed to the movie store.  I was amazed that, in a matter of 10 seconds, they both picked out movies.  Since it was right next door, we popped into Hallmark for a few more gifts.  I remember yelling telling the kids "Quit acting like I never take you anywhere-Oh, wait, I don't...."Then J-man really needed a hair cut and we only had to wait 5 minutes!  Upon leaving Sports Clips, I remembered that Roo had earned a free pizza coupon.   Since it took a while for the pizzas to be ready, we hopped on over to Pier One for some more shopping.  I got so much done and I had my kids!  They enjoyed looking at all of the Christmas decorations everywhere and helping me pick out gifts.  I realized that they really don't get out much and I'm going to try and do it more often.  

That same night we finally got to do gingerbread houses.

I hot glue the houses together so they don't fall apart.  

There was a whole lotta tasting going on.  I love looking at all of the detail.  

 My baby looks so tired!

Roo kept telling me that it was the best day ever!  I agree.

Christmas Craft #2-Styrofoam snowman

This one was all Roo's idea.  She knew she wanted to make a snowman and it HAD to be out of styrofoam balls.   I googled and then watched this video because I really wanted them to work and I was sure someone out there had it all figured out already.

I think they turned out pretty cute and she was thrilled to give it to her teacher.

Even J-man had a good time making these.  

I wonder how much longer I can do craft week with him?  

They are looking for twigs to make the arms for the snowman.  Notice the shorts and flip flops in December?  Love it!

I hope your Christmas preparation is going smoother than mine!  

Christmas craft week

We started Christmas craft week this week!    

For the first semester of last year, I was watching two extra kids after school.  By the time Christmas came around everyone was antsy in the afternoon and they also didn't have homework.  Thank goodness for Meg and her ideas.  Christmas crafts saved the day!  I'm doing different ones this year with just my kids and first up was the felt Christmas tree inspired by here.  

I've made it a point to not run all over town so when Walmart was out of the things we needed I had to improvise.  No styrofoam cones?  Make them out of cardboard.  (I had to refer to my friend Cyndy on how to make one!)  No felt (whatsoever)?  Use a $5.99 green XL sweatshirt.  I bought the little presents at the dollar store and had all of the other trimmings on hand.

I would love to say that as much as I love the one on the right, it wasn't going to happen with moody kids that day.  I should have had the strips already made.  Lesson learned.  So we opted for little squares hot glued on in a criss cross fashion.  All Roo wanted to do was the decorating anyway.  Mommy could do the hard part.

Not much went on yesterday since I had a small surgery on my gums.  It was more intense than expected.  I'm better now and hopefully will find some styrofoam balls for a craft that Roo has made up herself.  Wish me luck because I have no idea how to substitute for those!

Winter cotton ball wreath and a linky party

Nothing like a linky party to get your creative juices going with a deadline.  Thanks to Rhoda's at Southern Hospitality, my house is a wreck but my entryway mantel looks lovely.  

I really wanted to do a tablescape over at Layla's but let's face it, that's too fancy for me.  Just the other day Roo asked what napkin rings were.  She's never seen them at our house!  Hence the reason for no pictures at Thanksgiving.  I tried my best but I wasn't happy with it and I was a complete stress ball. 

Moving on.  I had fun creating a natural space for a Christmas mantel.  Since my cotton ball wreath has gotten so many looks on Pinterest,  I dolled her up and put her on display.   I love how she sparkles now.

The mini trees are real from Home Depot and lit up with battery operated lights.

The pine cone and seed pod things were free from the yards around here.  I sprayed the pine cones with fake snow last year and, don't tell my 6 yr old sweet toothed daughter, but the seed pods were dusted with powdered sugar this year!

One crazy fun week(last week!)

I'm finally getting to post about last week.  We've had great friends in town this past weekend and I can't believe I didn't take any pictures!  Even of their cute, adorable 3 month old here.  I'm terrible.  I will get better.  I keep saying that.
So anyway, last week started off with the final two days of the inline skating unit at the kids' school.  Our PE teacher rocks.  A company brings all of the skates and equipment and for 8 bucks every 3rd and fourth grader gets the opportunity to learn how to skate.  I would have never picked skating as an activity for Jman and I'm so glad he got the chance last year.  Santa brought him skates after the unit last year and now he is a pro.
The skating unit is my big volunteer boost of the year.  I'm not much of a "be at the school all of the time" mom but I go every afternoon
 for two weeks to help out the kids with their gear.  I also love getting to assist and encourage the kids that are having a hard time getting their rolling feet on.  It makes me feel like a young camp counselor again.

On the last day they are allowed to skate down the hallways!

Our boxes for the children of Operation Christmas Child was another activity for last week.  We shopped for all of the stuff over the weekend and one night assembled it all.  I'm not sure my kids got the idea that these children probably aren't going to get anything else but I will continue this on and they were happy to do good for someone their age.  I love Operation Christmas Child because it is something so easy to do with such a huge impact.  Go here to learn more! 

*Don't be fooled, it was not easy to go and buy a bunch of cool stuff and not get anything for yourselves.  I may have caved and bought everyone a pack of gum. 

And last but not least,  we were in full Thanksgiving swing with the 1st grade program and Friendship Feast.

{waiting for the big performance}

The Friendship Feast was really cute.  Every class brought their "bounty" to be shared with the whole grade and ours was orange slices.  They ate and ate and ate and then had to go to lunch?! 

So much for being a "not up at the school too much" kind of mom.  I was there everyday last week.  So now we are enjoying Thanksgiving break and hanging out.  

I hope that you all have a blessed Thanksgiving!