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Tuesday, December 21, 2010

A Visit to the American Girl Doll Store, Cookies, and More!

 We had such a super fantastic day yesterday!  First we went to mom's and made Christmas cookies:)

 Then we had reservations here...we have been waiting to go until Kinsley mentioned it herself, we wanted to do the whole experience but we wanted her to remember it:)!!!  This was the year!

 Getting a snack at the bistro:)  Sweet Kaden was such a good sport on this ultra girly day!

 Guess what Santa is bringing this year?:)  This was just one she borrowed to sit with us in the doll highchair at the table, hers will look much more like her with brown hair, brown eyes:)!

 Afterwards we went to eat dinner with mom, Kaden lost his first front tooth - tooth fairy brought him $5:)

Another fun part about our day is that my cousin Millie, Uncle Bub, and their families were in town at mom's!  Kinsley had a blast with Averi playing "Makeover":)  They did a little fashion show for us before we had to leave:)!  Aren't they precious?!

Thursday, December 16, 2010

Tidings of Comfort and Joy!!!!

 Kelly at Kelly's Korner always does such a fun house tour on her blog each year, so I thought I'd join in!  Grab a cup of hot cocoa and enjoy!  Welcome...this is the wreath on our front door - it has an ornament on it that says "JOY" - I love it!!!

 As you enter, if you look up you will see some of our garland above!

 These cute little bottles have been a part of every holiday:)  Right now they sit in a window in the office;)

 As you enter our house, and pass the dining room, this is what you see.  What's Christmas without the most important decoration of all - our Manger scene!

 This is one of my faves - I think I won it during a pretty heated game of Chinese gift exchange one year - ha!!

 On to the living room where you will find our tree (it is a monster:)), and mantle!

 Close up of the mantle - those little tubes are "Letters to Santa" holders:)

 Close up of fireplace garland

This is a little basket of goodies that sits on the coffee table
 The kitchen seems to be the place all the other decor goes when I don't know where to put it:)  Just fun!

 These little friends are vintage - they were my Grandmothers - I have many happy memories of sitting at her dining room table, eating breakfast, opening stockings, and admiring these little treasures!

 More vintage friends

 two more friends - the little girl bell on the right has been mine since I was a very small girl!

 Under the tree you will see how I am wrapping some of my packages this year - butcher paper, green ribbon, and then I found these precious Christmas jewel words at Michaels last year in the dollar bins - I LOVE THEM!

 Leaving the dining room, looking into the kitchen you see my kiddos Santa pics every year up to this point:)  The crying ones are some of my faves - hee hee!

 Even the stairs get decorated!

Head on up and you find my daughter's pink tree - I could clap my hands and squeal it's so cute!
The End!!!  Hope you enjoyed your tour!  Come back and visit again soon!

Saturday, November 20, 2010

Thanksgiving Feast at School 2010

 Kinsley had a Thanksgiving Feast at school this past week!  She earned the most feathers in her headdress and therefore got to be the "chief" of her class for the day - which meant she was the line leader and the one who got to beat on the drum all the way to the feast!  It was so cute - she was sooooo proud and we were proud of her:)!

 Enjoying the food:)

 My cute little Indian "chief":)  Her Indian name was "Princess Beauty" - quite fitting if you ask me:)!!

 Poor Kaden...all of First Grade's activities were cancelled - such a bummer, I still don't know why but I thought it was pretty sad:(

We made these little photo boxes for their teachers with pictures and messages of "Thanks"!

Hope you all have an incredible Thanksgiving!  Be mindful of all you have to be thankful for!!!

Leaf Crunchin' 2010







Friday, November 12, 2010

Weekend Projects!

 So, I LOVE a project!!!  Especially when I have a whole weekend of nothing else going on except the chance to do projects;)!!!  This little chalkboard sits on the counter in my kitchen and usually has a bible verse on it - it was NOT a project - I bought it at Kirklands, but, as a project...right now I am reminding my family this month to be thankful of something each day - the kids answers are so funny sometimes - you can see who forgets most of the time:)


 These next two projects are some I just completed with my new fave - chalkboard paint!  I found this apple crate after a neighborhood garage sale the other day - the people who owned it had it sitting out for the trash to pick up - what were they thinking????:)  I painted the whole thing with chalkboard paint and we are using it for books for now:)


 This is just one of those $1 wood frames from Michael's and I painted it with chalkboard paint - now I can change out what it says, and the picture inside for each month - just a little thing that makes me so happy!!!


And here's my project for this weekend - I found this on the curb at the same house that was getting rid of the apple crate with a sign that said "Free" - seriously?  I think they just didn't want to deal with it, but THANK YOU VERY MUCH, I'll kindly take it off your hands:)???  Anyway, it is going in our little craft room as a craft table but I am wanting to paint it a dark chocolate brown - and keep the silver legs - I will post pics when its finished:) 

Happy Weekend!!!

Monday, November 8, 2010

Carving Pumpkins 2010

 How to carve a pumpkin by Kinsley Downs:  1.  Cut off the top
2.  Try to get the goo out

 3.  If you can't get it with your hands, you get it with your scooper...

 4.  If that doesn't work...you put your hands in again and grab the other seeds...

 5.  It looks GROSS!!!

6.  Then you carve it and it is just right!!!

Another Spooktacular Halloween Party!!!

Clone Trooper and Little Red Riding Hood got ready for another night on the town...

 Little Red Riding Hood was happy to find her good friend Katie at the party!

 Some other friends showed up and soon it was time to chow...

 After dinner there was enough time for recreation - a little pumpkin bowling hit the spot!

 And of course, boys will be boys, swords and all...

Until it was time to say goodbye to all our Halloween friends!!!

Thanks to the Peterson's for being fabulous hosts!  We had a spooktacular time:)!