Merry CHRISTmas...

Luke 2:1-7
[2:1] In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. [2] (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) [3] And everyone went to his own town to register.
[4] So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. [5] He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. [6] While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, [7] and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

May your Christmas be filled with little miracles!

Tragedy has struck & so has the camera fairy!

Let me begin my post on a tragic note...

R.I.P.

Kodak Easy Share Camera

(December 2006 - December 2008)

You were a good camera. We have had lots of good memories together. Births, birthday parties, holidays, soccer games. I am sad to see you slip out of my life. One day you are here, the next you are gone. (Tear...sniff...sniff)

Okay, good news....I GOT A NEW CAMERA!!! My poor family...they have been stalked for the past 2 days while I try to figure out my new slice of heaven. My Fuji Pinepix S1000 isn't your fancy-schmancy-high-dollar camera, but it sure takes purdy pictures. My sweet hubby saw my despair when the old one was terminally ill, and knew that I would just die without a real life camera. I had to begin our Christmas holdays with a ...gulp...disposable! Oh the humanity!!! I quickly realized that this wasn't going to work and was considering all of my money making options (you know, the regular stuff like plasma donation, surrogacy, celebrity blackmail, etc.) so that I could quickly buy the Easy Share's replacement. Lucky, T. pulled through and I have my newest form of torture (remember the stalking thing) in full swing. Okay, enough about that...

This was one of my gifts from my sis. You know what, this girl gets me. 7 rolls of gorgeous, drool-enducing, glorious wired ribbon are now in my possesion. I can hardly stand it. You see the really fat, oh, I mean "big boned" ribbon in the middle. It is fantabulously gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous!!! Have I ever told you that I am a ribbon whor*.

Okay Marge...if you are peeking at my blog...AVERT YOUR EYES!!!

This is my most favorite gift this season. I took a glass jar with that cute little black metal lid, put some vinyl letters on the front (this is their last name), sprinkled in some fake snow, and added some fun little goodies.

A little coffee...some Starbucks caramel sauce, and a few little treats for my coffee-addicted friend.

This one is for my in-laws. Same idea, a few different things. I made some cheese straws that taste like a really decadent goldfish cracker. I know, sounds like an oxymoron, but they are goooooood! I had something very similar from Neiman Marcus (or "Needless Markups" as my dear sweet Memom calls them) over 10 years ago and the memory of it stuck with me. Isn't it funny how food evokes memories from that far back?...maybe it is just me....I can't remember if I brushed my teeth this morning, but I can remember a snack I had 10 years ago...I smell a problem here....and it smells like cheese!!!! I digress....

Last, but by no means least, I have been waiting since October to get these canvases of my kids made and they are finally here! This is above my couch in the living room. I plan on "hanging" them with some pretty ribbon on some decorative hooks or picture hangers. I just couldn't stand not having them on the wall in the meantime...

Well, I hope that you all have a wonderful Christmas with many blessings and miracles all around you and in the lives of you and your families.

Blessings!

Blessed Mama

I have Christmas fever...but don't worry, I'm not contagious.

As I write, I can't help but realize 2 things. One, I have waaaaay to much to do to be sitting here typing away on my little ol' blog and B, my house looks like the Christmas fairy had a little too much nog and threw up all over my house. I have stuff everywhere! Boxes, random gifts, baking paraphernalia, glass jars (I am so pumped about my newest little crafy Christmas idea but I can't show you until next week because it might ruin the euphoric squeels that will happen when my giftees see their glorious homemade gift by yours truly), fake snow, ribbon, sacks, etc. are taking over our little house. HELP ME!!! I have to pull myself together and get to crack-a-lackin' on some wrapping & baking before I am swallowed in a sea of Christmas!
On another note, at E's school, we went to visit the Jolly One himself in person. I have to tell you, I think the one that was at said function was the real one. Seriously, take a looksie below and tell me what you think. Here is how the encounter with the Big "S" went down...
E. was off running around like a 6-year-old that had just eaten an entire gingerbread house, and couldn't care less about Santa, C. was terrified until he began reading "'Twas the Night Before Christmas". As he began to read, she crept closer and closer until she was practically in his lap. Okay, I am thinking, "Yes! I will actually get a picture with all three kids and SANTA!!! It truly is a Christmas miracle!!!". Well, what do you think happened? All three kids went up to the big guy, but C. would have none of it. Yes, she was within 1/2 inch of him 2 minutes earlier, but she wasn't going to get near that man unless he was made out of chocolate. W. and E. had no problem hopping up there...well...let me re-phrase that...W. had no problem hopping up there, but E. thought it was LAME, but did it to quiet his mother's desperate pleas to have at least one picture with Santa before he graduated from college. Anywho, here is the evidence that it actually happened...

Doesn't E. looked thrilled!

Don't worry, he is just getting a lump of coal this year...just kidding y'all. Have a merry week before Christmas! Remember, with enough caffeine and a few choice meds, we can all have a glorious Christmas!

I'll show you mine if you show me yours...

GARLAND PEOPLE, GARLAND! What do you think that I mean? Over at The Nesting Place, we were asked to share our garland. I typically, don't like to share...I mean, don't touch my friggin' chocolate!!! But...I don't mind sharing my decor. I can't say that my garland is one to be adored by millions, but I like it. I already have an idea of how I am going to "pump it up" next year! Here are some pics...

I may have to take more pics later. It is the middle of the day and you really can't tell how fantabulous it is. Well, maybe that is stretching it...I am afraid to visit the other blogs listed because theirs will blow mine out of the water, but, like I said, we have had the bubonic plaque the past week...we are much better, by the way...thanks for asking!

One of my precious little birdies...aren't they adorable?My dining room chandelier. Very simple, but I love it.

My husband hates this guy. Don't know why, but he claims that it looks like a worship roosters. Whatever, he is fun to dress up & if you can't have fun in your own house, then where can you? Oh, now that I am looking at this picture, I would like to send out a big "Thank You" to my dear husband for getting the newspaper off of the top of the fridge. Seriously...if it is you or the rooster...I am going to have to think really hard about this one...

Addendum to post...My family is doing amazingly well. Thanks so much for all of your prayers. E. and C. are back at school. Yes, E. is in school. No more homeschooling for us. More on that another day. W. is still a little cranky, but definitely on the mend. I'm free at last, free at last, thank God Almighty I am free at last!!!

Blog on speed...

Okay y'all. Yes, it looks as though I have fallen off of the face of the earth, but I am here. Here is my life in a nutshell since, well, Thanksgiving. MY WHOLE HOUSE HAS THE BUBONIC PLAGUE!!! Well, maybe not the actual plague, but it feels that way. Here is the rundown from the eldest to the youngest. The hubby has pink eye, or "conjunctivitis". I like pink eye better. I think it sounds cuter and less gagaphoric (medical term). Conjunctivitis sounds like he has conjuncted something, and that just sounds nasty. Come to think about it, have you ever seen pink eye? It's rather icky. After deliberation, I think conjunctivitis actually fits. The eldest of our brood has bronchitis, our little C has...okay, brace yourself...pneumonia, an ear infection, and pink eye. Bless her heart! She is miserable. Little W man has a double ear infection and bronchitis. That's all. Of course, I am fine and able to play nurse, chef, maid, snot wiper, eye drop giver, vomit cleaner (from all of the phlegm and coughing), medicine administrator, eye goo cleaner, Purell gustapo and, last but certainly not least, the funnel for all whining, wimpering & crying (the hubby included). So, that has been my life for the past 10-ish days. I have officially been on lockdown and held hostage in my own house. HELP!
Seriously, if you are reading this, please, for my sake, for the sake of my dear snotty headed little children and gooey-eyed husband, say a little prayer of healing. I'll be back soon my dear friends...Adieu!

Happy 24 days until Christmas!

So, did you all wear your stretchy pants at Thanksgiving? Darn that Jenny Craig! She wouldn't allow me to gorge myself into a semi food-induced coma like a normal person. I mean, you would think that Ms. Craig herself were stalking me the whole day. I mean, I had some serious restraint going on there! All of this to say that today is weigh-in day and, although I did well with my temptation, I still fear the scale. That horrible white piece of metal evil! I guess we will get a verdict here in about 5 hours...GULP!

Enough about that...lots to cover, so here is the Cliff's Notes version...and don't act like you don't know what Cliff's Notes are or that you didn't use them...I only wish they had them for more helpful things like cleaning, or cooking, or raising children...I digress...

Thanksgiving was great. The food was delish (what I got to eat anyway), our family had a great time, weather was AMAZING! The kids played outside all afternoon and we really enjoyed not having to listed to the moaning and yelling from our "guys" watching the football game with their bloated bellies.

My house is in mid-transformation for the holidays. No, I am not one of those people that throw everything up Thanksgiving night (I wish I were, but I am not). I string it out for at least a few weeks, then take it right down after New Years and wonder why I spend so many precious waking hours decking my halls with boughs of holly, fa la la la la la la la la la...It sure is purdy though!

I am still trying to figure out some fun little crafts and goodies to make over the next few weeks with my babies. That is my pre-New Year's resolution. Spend more time with my kids and less time doing everything else that doesn't really matter (see last entry for more on my small epiphany).

Well, when my halls are decked, I will post some pics. I am sure that BH&G will be ringing my doorbell. HA!

Blessings my peeps!

P.S. We all sat last night and watched this flick. Wouldn't you give anything to be a kid again...well, for one night anyway...