Ornaments and Cards....

Last month at church (as a Relief Society activity) we did a service auction. I was offering 10 Christmas cards...which somehow I seemed to keep putting off making. So finally I got to it and created these....

I used this kit and this kit from house of 3. And then of course I also used...

Making Memories - Vintage Findings Collection - Tickets , BRAND NEW
Scrapbook.com

and my favorite inks...some christmas stamps...and some bling!!

And then...

This year I was part of an ornament exchange. How it worked was everyone had to make 25 home made ornaments and each person got to take one of each persons home with them. So you end up with 25 home made ornaments! It was a really fun night...and so much fun to see what everyone created. I'll have to take some pictures cause there are some really impressive ornaments that I never would have thought of...people are so creative! :)

Here's what I made...

It's a count down to Christmas ornament inspired by Heidi of course :)

It would have been so helpful to have had these ones...but I started my ornaments before they were available. In photoshop I just changed some of the colors to red and shrunk them so they would be a better size for an ornament. I kept them super simple, but when you're making 25 it just has to be that way.

Okay...next task...set up my Christmas tree and decorations! I still have something I'm trying to put together for the boys before December 1st...ughh...that's next week....

:)

This year....

Every year at Christmas time I buy a Christmas book to add to our collection. This year while browsing through blogs (you know how you start to read a blog and then click on someone else and then click on another blog and another until you can't even remember how you came across it in the first place??!!) I came across this book and knew I wanted to check it out. It came highly recommended by the blog writer and I have to say that I really enjoyed it too. I think I love the illustrations just as much as the actual story.

The Christmas decorations have not made it out of the basement yet and the tree is not up, but I'm getting anxious to get everything out and get the house decorated. I'm also looking forward to have Ryker stop asking if we can decorate for Halloween. I keep telling him that Christmas is coming and we'll get to decorate the house for that...I guess he really enjoyed the halloween season...haha!! Hopefully Christmas won't disappoint him... :)

And I'm really excited to have my little basket of Christmas books sitting out by the tree that we can read. It's one of my favorite things. I have some fun stuff planned for the holiday season...lets hope I get everything done soon. And if it gets done...I'll share. Cody's leaving again this week, so maybe it will give me some time to myself...but maybe not. Haha!! It usually just means I'm more tired cause I'm doing everything on my own.

Any other Christmas books that I shouldn't be living without?

Please share...I'm always looking for recommendations :)

Every so often...

when I'm shopping I find something that I just have to have. And a couple of weeks ago it was this mirror. It hasn't found a home yet, but it's sitting above our fireplace until I decide on the right spot. I love it!! (I know it's a weird angle for the pic, but it was the only way I didn't get weird light reflecting from the kitchen...haha!)

Making cupcakes right now for the primary party...one thing to check off the list. Not too sure how the rest of the stuff is coming along. I'm planning on packing in as much as I can tomorrow. Wish me luck!

Have a great weekend!

:)

p.s. Did I mention that I watched New Moon last night.... :)

Wondering where I've been...

It's feeling like a really long time since I've posted anything. November seems to be a busy month for us. There's already a bunch of Christmas stuff going on and lots of church things I'm involved with which = Craziness. I've made my Christmas list and I've started my shopping...but there's still lots to do. I figure if I can get as much done as I can this month then next month I'll be able to enjoy the season. Is that how it works??? Haha!!

The boys are keeping us busy and providing us with never ending laughs. Cody and I managed to go on a date Friday night with NO KIDS! Amazing. That never seems to happen for us. We had Ryker asleep before we left, but I guess he woke up while we were gone. Alex said he came and gave her a hug not realizing who she was...he quickly did a double take and then asked "Are Mom and Dad safe?" He must of had a bad dream.

And today Maguire wiggled from the living room under his little play toy into the kitchen. He was making his way to the kitchen table. Ryker and I were quite impressed with how far he got wiggling on his tummy. He's growing so fast.

Goals for the week...

• finish my ornaments for an ornament exchange I'm doing (I have 25 I have to make and they're turning out super cute!)
• Make Christmas Cards
• Clean up Ryker's room and get it decorated. I finally got all his bedding and it's really cute. When I'm finished I'll have to share.
• Primary stuff...need I say more. We have our Primary Presentation in 2 weeks.
• Make cupcakes for the Primary Party Friday night
• And I'm sure a million other things

Really there's just too much going on.

K :)

Blessings of Adoption

November is National Adoption Month. It's a time in my life when I reflect on so many things...it was a month of busy preparation for me before Ryker came to our family...really before my life would change forever.

One of my greatest blessings of adoption has been to have Ryker in my life. He is the sweetest little boy and I truly love him more than anything. He always makes me smile and brings so much happiness to my day. We call him our little cheer leader cause he is always so positive and gives the best compliments.

Today I took the boys on a walk (it was so nice out...a little windy, but so nice). As I was climbing up this hill (it felt really big and I was working really hard to actually get up the hill without tiring out...haha!) I told Ryker to cheer me on. When we arrived at the top he said to me "I'm so proud of you Mum Mum!!"

Pure sweetness!

:)

Halloween!

This year I became that crazy mom who made halloween costumes...baked halloween treats...made halloween decorations and crafts...threw a halloween party...and added about 20 other things to the occasion.

We started Friday with a halloween party with some of our friends!

We had so much fun!! Ryker especially loved having everyone over...even if he wouldn't stay in his halloween costume. Haha!! I got him all dressed and by the time he walked out of our bedroom and down the stairs he had everything off. We ate yummy food, read a halloween story, visited, the kiddies played, the babies rolled around on the floor, and the older kids made little halloween crafts. I found later that Ryker had taken his glue stick and followed the lines of the floor in the kitchen...what a sticky mess!!! haha!!

more decorations....

I found this cute halloween card and thought it would make a cute decoration instead. I just added a few little embellishments!

Then on Saturday...

we wore cute halloween shirts!

delivered halloween treats...

carved pumpkins...

and enjoyed fun halloween food! I made "boo shakes" to go with our lunch. And for supper we had our traditional dinner in a pumpkin!

While the weather was still decent (a little on the cold side) we went down the street and took a couple of pictures of the boys in their costumes!

Maguire...was an owl! (thanks Shelda for making his costume!!)

And Ryker was Harry Potter!!

We ended the night by trick or treating and handing out candy!!

The best part was the big hug Ryker gave me before he went to bed :)

The Invite.

I used this and some of these. They're giving 25% off your order right now...so check it out. I've been using lots of their digital items and printables! Love them!!

The party is tomorrow...and there's still lots to do. I always plan a million things and then have time for nothing. haha. I'm excited though to do this for the boys. Ryker's been looking forward to it all week. I'm just hoping he'll actually want to wear his costume. Gotta get pictures of that too!

Last night we got the cutest little treats left at our house by a ghost! Ryker was quite excited. It came with the cutest poem that I'll have to remember for next year. Good thing Ryker and I have been making some halloween goodies we can drop off to someone else :)

Hope you're having a great Halloween!! I've really gotten into it this year and we're having so much fun.

K :)