*My Little Elves*

I used to have to have every package wrapped just PERFECT!! Each seam was folded, every

package had a ribbon and bow. My how things change!!

I think the kids wrapped every present except their own.

They really got into it!

Ya, it may not look perfect, but, I love it more cause THEY did it!!

Ayden helped make star cookies for his concert!

Decorating cookies Christmas Eve!

She...ok, WE actually got really into it!

What an ornery look!!

Bowen thought it would be fun to open his present early! It was a mini football, he wasn't too

happy when I took it away to wrap it back up!

He knew exactly what present to back for on Christmas Day!! ;)

I actually became very good this Christmas at patchworking the wrapping back together on a couple of the presents!! Thanks to Bowen, of course!! :)

Visiting Santa

Waitin for Santa!

Takin' a peak!!

Bowen didn't want much to do with Santa!
He wanted daddy!!!

Some serious discussion!!

Bowen's reaction to Santa wasn't the greatest!! lol!!

Maybe next year he will like him?!

*S*N*O*W* *P*I*C*S*

~The pics used for our Christmas card~

~Playing in the snow~

~Josh helped them make a snowman~


~Christmas card 2009~

Hope everyone has a Merry Christmas!!!!

Christmas Concerts and Cookie Bake

Ayden had his concert last Thursday night...he was sooo excited!!

He couldn't quit grinning!!

Here he is afterwards having treats with his buddy, Jack!!

Olivia had hers last Tuesday night...she was also very excited!!

She was even all up for getting her hair curled!!

She posed for the camera!

All dolled up!!

I still remember how excited I used to get!!

It's the little things that excite them...and I LOVE that!!

Which brings me to this. The plan was to get the kids a Wii this year.

Well, one day I was talking with Olivia and she said that she didn't know what to ask Santa for for Christmas. She said that she has enough and she didn't know what else she needs.

Wow, I thought!!

Then, a couple days later talking with Ayden he said his favorite part was the stockings!

SO.......I thought, let's keep it simple as long as we can.

Therefor, no Wii this year...even though I kinda wanted one.

~The Cookie Bake~

Last Saturday was the Annual Cookie Bake! I actually was able to attend this year, usually schedules conflict and am unable to make it.

Well, I was only able to stay for an hour and a half, due to the weather and Josh was on call.

At least I can say I got to go and I got 2 pictures! ha!


.....and now i accidently just deleted the 2nd picture!!! grrrrrr!!! oh well...not going

to add it back, or else it will end up at the top of the post!

Call me CrAZy....but, here it is!!

Approval.......from the kids anyway!!!

I have yet to see what Josh thinks of it!!

Love the colors!!
Looks good with the wall colors!!

And that folks is my "Uncle Buck" chair!!

LOL!!!

My "Uncle Buck" Chair!!!

So, it doesn't take a whole lot to please me!!

I just got home from a trip to Wal Mart, I was by myself, which is RARE!!

So, I decided to make a quick run through Stuff!

I am looking for something to put in the kitchen for all the kids' craft supplies.

I didn't find anything that I had in mind.

BUT....

I found a chair and ottoman set that I LOVE!!!!

Let me just say that I am VERY PARTICULAR when it comes to buying stuff used!!

This set looks like it could have been on the set of "Uncle Buck"!!!

It's

DARK BROWN

LIGHT BROWN

RUST

BLUE

TAN

PLAID

!!!!!

It looks like something that could have belonged in my grandma's basement....if she had had a basement! ;)

BUT....my guess is it NEVER got used....CLEAN as can be!!!

THE BEST PART WAS THE PRICE!!

It was $80 for the set!!

BUT...

as I walked out I noticed a sign that said if I donated $1 to some cause, I could get 15% off!!!

So, I turned right back around, donated my $1....

and got $12 back!!

YIPPEEEE!!!

The thing is my van is full of Christmas presents, so I had to leave it. :(

I will be back in town tomarrow, so I will pick it up then!!

I was so excited when I got home, telling Josh all about it!

He didn't seem to enthused.

He gave me a look!

I think he thinks I'm CRAZY!!

LOL!!

I will post pics of it tomarrow, then you can tell me what you think

of it!!

The Kids and Their Gingerbread House

Ayden...who wanted to just eat the candy and the frosting!!

Olivia....she gets pretty particular!!

Bowen...notice Ayden's arm holding him back with a watchful eye on the candy!!

They did a good job and worked pretty well together!!
Some year I will have everyone do their own and see what everyone can come up with!!

Hardware Uplift

So, I wanted to change some of the hardware going on in the house!! Well, with the BR vanity and hallway built-in there would have been 21 knobs to replace!! And they are not the cheapest!

So, I had my eye on this and finally decided to try it. It worked just as I had wanted!!

This is a small project, but, I want to eventually try it on some patio chairs that we have! They have been sitting in the shed for a couple years and need some TLC!! Those may be a spring time project though!!

Left~after.....Right~before

It does give them a "hammered" look that I like, unfortunately it doesn't show up in the picture!!

Top knob~after

Bottom knob~before

*CHALKBOARD PAINT*

Does anyone that has used chalkboard paint have any pointers for me??? I have a table that I want to chalkboard paint the top of! I am thinking a furniture roller might work the best for me, but, I'm not sure????? Or is a regular ol' brush my best bet????? Do I need to prime the surface first?????

I think this is something I could possibly mess up!!!!! :)

Before and After...Bowen's Dresser

Soooo glad I had this, it actually worked and helped my finger from going completely numb!!

Not so pretty!

Love, love, love it!!!!!

Before and After...Ayden's Nightstand

My mom bought a bunch of pieces from the nursing home were she works, this was one of them, they are very STURDY and HEAVY!! They would have worked just as they were, but I wanted to have some fun with them, so I got to sanding, priming and spraying!!!

I love how Ayden's turned out!!!

Before and After...Olivia's Desk

It was a beautiful weekend to get some of "my" projects finished!! And now that harvest is done(THANK GOODNESS) Josh is around to help me carry the furniture where I need it!!


Olivia loves it!! She put her rocker there...it clearly doesn't work!! I found a chair on Overstock that would work, but my mom was over yesterday and thinks she has one in her shed full of treasures that will work....and it's white!!

I snapped a picture of these wicker beauties....my mom found these along side of the road one day with a "FREE" sign on them!! There is another square table in Ayden's room that came with!!

She spray painted them white and they work perfect!!

And yes, those are Olivia's tractors :)...a well rounded girl she is!!

When she was little she would call herself a "Tomboy Princess"!!

Still and ALWAYS Thankful!!!

Yes, I am still reflecting on Thanksgiving!

I think this year was a very special Thanksgiving!!

Mainly because we got to enjoy my mom's DELICIOUS traditional Thanksgiving meal!!

She had a ruff go a few months ago, but obviously God was by her side and for that I am

THANKFUL!!!

I also thought I should list what the kids were thankful for this year!!

~Olivia~

Cats and dog

Family

Food

Home

God

Friends

~Ayden~

Family

God

Horses

Grandpa's Skidloader

Sharks

~Bowen~

If he could talk, I'm sure it would be:

Family

Monkey

Animal Crackers

Football

@#$%#**% Computer!!

I AM GETTING BEHIND.....AGAIN!!!!

Once my computer starts being nice to me, and when I get time to mess with it, I will get working on some new post!!

I have some saved in draft and some post made up in my head!!

Hopefully soon I can get them out on my blog!!!

Taking a Break from the Harvest for Helicopter Rides!

Bowen with his cousin watching the helicopter!!

Josh took my camera, so no pics of him in the helicopter!!

This is a picture of our place!

I think this was Aunt Brenda!

The kids weren't able to actually get a ride, because the harness was way too big for them, but they got to sit in it and have their picture taken!!

Here is Ayden, he loved it!!

Olivia chose not to! :)