Workin the Elves

This year I had five elves. Five kids to do my bidding or they wouldn't be able to play xbox. The amount of productivity you can get out of kids is kinda amazing!

This evening the girls asked if they could help me cook Christmas dinner. I think it's good to show them that it takes effort to make something, teach them a recipe, and start a tradition. They loved it, but it made it ten times longer and harder! haha. It was well worth it.

While doing this I learned the oldest, Kyla, my stepdaughter, is extremely good at dicing parsley. Realllllly good at it. Emily, my daughter, is good at mixing and measuring.


I let them make the appetizers that have to be prepared ahead of time so Kyla and Emily made Sausage Balls and Hot Pepper Dip. We'll just toss them in the oven on Christmas and be done with it. I'm actually excited to try them. I pray that everyone makes a fuss over them cooking them. It took them FOREVER!

Kacey, my youngest stepdaughter wanted in on the action. I wanted her to make something simple and fast so it would keep her attention and still be fun. I literally let her do everything. I just told her what to do. She made a green bean casserole. She was more than happy about it and I can't wait til she sees people eating it.
Isn't she just adorable?

I love this! It was WAY more work than if I would have done it myself and twice the dishes, but it was well worth it. I know before long none of the kids will want me to do anything with them. I'm hoping they'll look back on their childhood and say regardless that there were five of them and they drove their mom crazy, I took the time to be there.

Ok, I'm going to go now before I get too sappy.

I'm not a sappy kind of person.....

Yes I am, but don't tell anyone.

I've been sewing after the kids go to bed every night and I'll post some pics later this week.

MERRY CHRISTMAS all. Remember Jesus Christ is the reason for the season! God bless you all.

Balls of Joy

We have decided to have a theme of a Frosty Christmas this year. This is my first year with a real "theme". Not that I won't throw in different things, but for the most part I reallly want to stick with royal blue, silver, and white. I want a snowman and snowflake Christmas. If I can get photos taken when the sun is out I'll repost them!

After decorating the tree with all the balls I wanted I had some left over. I decided to take the glass from this photo:
and make this for the holidays:

I'm not showing the whole stand yet, cause I'm slow and I'm not done yet. Don't laugh at my butter lid bottom, I will eventually change that.....eventually.

Anyways, I just took the extra ornaments and some wrapping ribbon and put them in the glass. I think it turned out really pretty. I am doing a lamp with snowflakes right now and it is SOOOO cute when I have it lit up. I can't wait to show the whole thing.
Though my nickname has been "the nutcracker" or sometimes even, "the nut" I couldn't resist buying this little guy. Reminds me of my husband:
There's just something about a man in uniform!! ;)
I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving and made it back unharmed from Black Friday shopping!

My front yard

Every year about this time I get amazed at the natural beauty that comes from my front yard. The rest of the year I can't stand trying to take care of all the trees and shrubs in the yard. I spent twenty minutes in about a ten foot area of my front yard this evening and this is what I got.

This is my favorite.

I don't know what kind of tree that is. I just know it has these cherries. I don't think it's a normal cherry tree though. I'm too afraid to try to eat them!

Threes

Has anyone else noticed how bad things happen in threes? I have. I always have. I'm waiting on my third right now.

Last week my Jeep broke down. Thankfully it ended up being the battery, but you wouldn't believe what a hassel a simple battery caused! Four hrs, let me repeat, FOUR hrs of back and forth to the local auto parts store to get it taken care of. Between me (yes, I'm semi mechanically inclined), my brother (mechanic), and the auto parts guy (unfortunately not all that mechanical), we got it fixed.

This week it turned cold so I decided it was time to turn the central heat on. Yep, it's not working. CRAP!! Ok, we can make it, we can bundle up til we can afford to get a repair man out here.....haha....As I sit and type this, I'm freezing my rapidly growing booty off! Thankfully, my brother came, took it apart and is going to try to get it fixed. I love my brother. I seriously don't know what I would do without him! Not only is he a friend when I need one, he's also always there to pick up the broke pieces of my Jeep, house, and life and put it back together.

So, two things down now and I'm terrified of next week. I've been sick so I hope that's the last third. I doubt it. It doesn't feel over yet. Lord, just please let it be cheap!!

BTW, I've finally started thinking about Thanksgiving this year..... Still don't know where we're going or what we're doing. All I know is I could really use some comfort food about now.

Haunted House

As I said on the prior post, Halloween is my second favorite holiday. It's a bit ironic that it is. I'm not a fan of scary movies and I HATE being scared. Though, I do love scaring others (usually unsuspecting childern). Nikolas, my sweet oldest, hates this halloween with a passion......I'm sorry son.

It never fails when halloween comes around I get at least five calls to go to one of our small towns haunted houses. Everyone thinks it's fun to go with me because I turn into a blithering (is that a real word) idiot. I'm a tall girl. I'm 5'11", put I will hide behind my 5'4" friend and throw her infront of any scary thing coming my way. I have scrapped arms, screamed, twisted ankles, and even peed my pants a little once or twice.

Yes, I seriously get that scared. I know it's ridiculous and I think it stems from my older brothers torturing me as a child. They would have me watch Freddy on Nightmare on Elm Street then make me go to bed and later wake me up with butter knifes taped to their fingers. If I had more money I would see a psychiatrist.

Anyways, I didn't get to go to a haunted house this year. I was way too busy with party planning and kids sports and I missed it. I did get to decorate the house though!!

BOO

Whoopie Cushion and a Blind SEC Referee

This has been a fun and crazy busy time for my family. Halloween is my 2nd favorite holiday(July 4th is my first). I decorated as much as I could on a budget and then we had a bonfire/chilli cookout with all our friends and some family. I have been running around like a crazy lady trying to get ready for the party and when Saturday finally got here and it was time I threw my hands in the air and said, "That's enough" and stopped cleaning and decorating. I figured since it's my second favorite holiday of the year I might as well enjoy it.

Halloween Quilt in August

It's been the hottest and craziest summer I think I've ever had. Thats saying alot considering I've had three newborns in the summer. This summer....this summer I want to forget! So, to get me in a better state of mind I've been crafty. I've been writing like crazy and sewing nonstop for the past two days. It's been fun and time consuming and I'm loving it. I made a halloween quilt. I know that it's odd since it's only August. I'm trying to be ahead of the game this year and not let halloween sneak up on me. All I have to do is bind it, but I'm very happy with how it turned out. It's so bright and cheery. My kiddos love it.






So, now that school is back in and I have "free days" I will be back in business. What are your back to school plans?