Home Made Christmas Cards

Every year, I am shocked at how much Christmas cards cost. I have been known to buy up Christmas cards in the days after Christmas sales, but last year, as I pulled down all the Christmas cards we received from friends and family, I had an epiphany.

I mean, they were SO CUTE but I wasn't really going to keep them all, was I?

And then I thought I would keep them all. And use them to scrap together Christmas cards for this year.

I KNOW! Let's all praise my brilliance! And thriftyness! And creativity!

Okay you can stop now. Now I am just getting all blushy.

All you have to do is these simple steps, and YOU will have unique Christmas cards too!

Step 1: Save last years Christmas cards TO you.
Step 2: Cut out the cutest parts of said cards.
Step 3: (This one has variations.)
************use an old pack of blanks greeting cards laying around the house, or
************buy a package of blank (inside and out) cards with envelopes from a craft store, or
************use cards stock to make and fold your own to fit envelopes you have or buy.

Step 4: Find colorful scrap paper for backgrounds.
Step 5: Cut some more.

(An aside...I love cutting with scissors. Like, LOVE IT. I love the tension and the sound and the motion and the cutting. I could cut paper all day long. The first time I had time alone with scissors, I also cut my sweater and a chunk out of the middle of my bangs. This was 3rd grade or so. I was shocked that people noticed. I guess it wasn't so subtle. P.S. I still have issues hacking at my own hair with scissors. Also? My best friend is also my hairdresser and she has a 6th sense and calls if I bring those scissors towards my hair. It kinda creeps me out.)


Step 6: Tape or glue pieces on papers on cards until you have something that resembles a card.
Step 7: Pat yourself on the back. You just did something special and creative and EVERYBODY knows that home made for the holidays is SPECIAL.

Now let's googoo over my adorable cards...

PRETTY FRIGGY FESTIVE, NO?

Now all I have to do is add some words of holiday cheer! Leave me a comment of what you would write as a message on your Christmas cards. I will pen it out and send them out the door!

Thanksgiving Stuff (ing)

Its been a looooooong time since I got to spend Thanksgiving with my family. In fact? I am pretty sure I was sick in bed at my own house the last Thanksgiving I lived here, so ::bleh:: EVEN LONGER.

My family has a tradition of running the Turkey Trot first thing in the morning Thanksgiving morning.

Here we all are on Thursday. (Boom Boom is looking down right behind me.) My sisters are holding my babies, and my Mom is on the far right.

Who is that guy on the far left? Some random guy named "Ham Pants".

My Dad is taking the photo.

I am the one in pants. (I don't even OWN running shorts.)

I am also (CLEARLY) the fastest one in the family.


After the race we went to a long time family friend's house for a HUGE dinner.
Here is the oldest of my sisters with the youngest of my offspring.

I can't tell you how thankful I am for all of THAT.

Fwends.

Fwends of ALL ages!


My younger sister. I may have never seen so much texting going on at a Thanksgiving before, with 6 single(ish) young ladies in the house!

The table is set.

The appetizers out.

The candles lit.
The anticipation great.

The turkey carved.


The little ones CUTE.

The conversation good.

The love being felt.

The glasses raised.

The tryptophan winning.


The sweetness sweeter than ever.
I am SO THANKFUL for so many things this year, but this? This picture right here takes the cake - no - it takes the whole dessert table.

Love.

Wordless Wednesday

And here I thought it went without being said. Much less turned into a permanent sign.

Garage Sale Find

Last weekend's garage sales were full of all sorts of stuff. But one of our favorite finds was this killer Melissa and Doug Farm Animals Wooden Puzzle.

For 50 cents.

Because our old puzzles are a little too easy for little Miss Madee any more.

How My Garden Grows

It's kind of a BIG THING around here. Walk in the door and Madee will take you by the hand to go show off our garden.

Am I the only one who had never grown stuff (much less kept plants ALIVE) but dreamed of sharing the beauty of cultivation and nurturing and harvesting with their kids?

Because watering these little guys with my kids makes my heart melt all over the back yard.



And I have totally gotten to know each one of these little plants as they have struggled to establish themselves.

The heirloom tomato (Mr. Stripey) that has always been strong. The cherry tomatoes I bought in a group of 4. The 1 of those 4 that is so much smaller than the others but continues to fight for his little life.

My banging brussel sprouts because DUH the veggie everybody else seems to complain about is the heartiest.

Ha.


The lavender that is really only for making me happy.
The _______ I am growing especially for someone special's Christmas or birthday present.

I love my garden. like really really love it.
It is an extension of my motherhood.
I help things grow.

Bigger Than Me

I broke down last night. Like, heaving sobbing can't breathe through my nose and can't stop all the emotions broke down.

It was very wet and not too pretty.

My kids are growing up.

We took down Eden's crib yesterday, and she is officially a big girl. And if THAT isn't bad enough? She went pee pee in the potty 2 times yesterday.

I may need to sit down.

Change isn't easy for anyone in this house, and last night when we decided to try and let Eden "cry it out" in her new big girl room, I was angry. Like badger angry. I cannot stand to hear my babies suffering in the least.

It was awful.

I ended up laying with her until she fell asleep (after she puked because she was so upset) and her little still sobbing body heaved next to me, and I fell apart.

These are the moments I am so thankful for Boom Boom. He did his best to make me feel better. To reassure me that I am building their independence and character as young ladies, that we are doing the best we can, that I am doing my best.

He talks me off the limb I climb out on. He holds me and my stuffed up nose and watery eyes until I fall asleep.

Both of the girls slept in their big girl beds last night. Without waking. Until 8:15 this morning.

And although it is a success, (YAY girls!) it is also hard for me to handle.

They used to be so dependent on me. They used to be inside of me. And it seems so sudden that they are just out here experiencing and taking over the world.

They are big girls. They are bigger than me, because they don't even know they are accomplishing so much in so little time. Because they don't fall apart worrying what will happen next.

Because they don't see how fast things change.

OH. Here come the tears again.

Weekend Stuff

It was an awesome garage sale weekend. And by awesome, I mean gorgeous outside. I have several things on my "want this second hand" list, and a bedframe for Eden is loosely on that list.

Madee loves her bedframe, and since we took the slats out and put the mattress on the floor, she still feels the safety of being "in" something while she sleeps.

We took down her crib today because she doesn't stay in it anymore. And as funny as her flipping out of it is, it probably isn't safe.

Oh, and after going pee pee in the potty 2 times this morning? This little girl is just ready for a big girl room.

This is the only bed I found. Needless to say, it doesn't fit her style, but WOAH. If I had a boy, this could have been his throne.


I also found some super cute dresses this weekend. 2 of them are all 50's housewifey and polka dotted. One of them (not pictures) makes me feel all Lucille Ball.

But this one?

Might get me a spot on Mad Men.

And the girls and I pulled out the Christmas stuff this weekend to at least get started on our Christmas cards and wrap our heads around what else we can do to get a jump start on the holidays.

Then we ran to Michaels, where Madee picked out all the pieces for our holiday wreath. And the kid has great taste if I do say so myself.



What are you doing to get ready for the upcoming holidays?

Are you making your cards? Crafting presents for people? Have creative ideas for the kids to make decorations?

KIggy and Mista Puddeh

I don't think I realized how cute kittens and babies together could be when we got cats for the kids. And as they have grown? The cute is all exponential and stuff.

These cats are practically as big as Eden now.

Best thing is? Everybody gets their own kitty.


I mean just look at this face. That? Is supreme SATISFACTION, yall.

And it looks like Eden is enjoying herself too!

Who Knew? A Little Organization Does Go A Long Way!

If I had a dollar for every childless jerkhole that has ever told me what they would do to address whatever situation I have with my kids I don't know how much money I'd have but I would still probably just shove it into the mouth of said jerkhole to shut their face up.

I am not angry.

I am just saying.

Hey, JERKHOLE, my (or any other) kids haven't been wearing and weighing and waking YOU for the last 3 years. So you DON'T actually know what you would do, because you have never had your body/mind/emotions endure the stress of infancy, and toddlerhood, with an extra helping of infancy and toddlerhood on top.

If you really were sporting my flip flops, dragging ass, trying to see the forest for the trees, you'd stop telling me what you'd do, and actually try to do something helpful. Like get me a Starbucks or something.

I mean, until the kids are 2, a mom is just trying to survive with a little of her dignity/individuality/style in tact, much less make it look appealing for others to consider procreation.

Yesterday, when some Edward Jones advisor came to the door (old school, hunh) and was greeted with my braless, half asleep, mostly agitated demeanor, and then 2 crazy half naked marker covered children come running out followed by 2 crazy loud barking dogs who then proceeded to run the circle from the front door to the carport door back through the house playing some sort of cave-child "Cowboys and Indians" (can you SAY that anymore?) hooting and hollering and barking and circling and....

I start tapping my foot when I get anxious/nervous/irritable and during a good tapppa tappa tapping yesterday, Boom Boom was all "PULL YOURSELF TOGETHER WOMAN!" but not quite like that.

And I was all ::stink eye:: and ::silent treatment:: because I am a negotiator.

And then I pulled out that last stretch of the race after you hit the wall. The peaceful, methodic, prepared for the inevitable pace that gets you to the finish line.

The kids got fed and washed and put to bed.

I went to get a movie from the redbox. 1 for us to enjoy and 1 for the kids in the morning. I unloaded and reloaded the dishwasher, put away EVERYTHING in the kitchen, made sandwiches and snacks for an outing and cut up 2 blocks of cheese to shave time off of later cheese cravings. Boom Boom got the trash and recycles out, I prepped some bottles and midnite water for the kids, got the coffee set and ready to go.

I cleaned and prepped and organized until I couldn't even find anything left to do and the whole time I just felt lighter and lighter and lighter because people?

I AM NOT A MORNING PERSON.

But this morning? Coffee ready, kids watching "Horton Hears a Who" on the couch with milks and blankies and no screaming or fighting or general ruckus making?

FEEL that Thursday. I made you my girlfriend. Like in the prison girlfriend sense of the word.

Wordless Wednesday

Christmas is Coming

And Target has the cutest little dresses for little girls.
I was walking around the other day wondering what we should wear for Christmas pictures and these two made me want them.
BAD.

I would totally wear this one myself if only it came in my size.

But truthfully? I doubt we will be doing anything so fancy and formal when they are growing so fast they barely have enough clothes to fit them anyway.

And with it actually being COLD here in Florida?
Well, let's just say that means even more clothes that must be searched for, found and purchased.

::sigh::


Oh but what joy I had when I ran into these beauties?

Um, yes they are for adult women.
Move over yoga pants. Mama's got a new uniform NOW!

First Date

I mean, c'mon, she is almost 3! (3! GAAAH!)
And of course we have been places together, just the 2 of us, of course we have had outings and lunch or whatever.

But Saturday night? Madee and I went on our first little date to eat pizza at a restaurant and watch Megamind on the big screen. It was her 1st big screen movie. And now I feel a trend coming on.

First of all, I slept ALOT this weekend. And as I woke up from my super slumberous afternoon nap on Saturday, Boom Boom was all, "Why don't you take Madee to a movie?"

I looked up the best options, times, and locations, made mental notes and we were out the door.


Here we are driving to the Mellow Mushroom and singing "Let's Go To the Movies" from Annie.
My hair is a hot mess that must go in to the salon for some taming.


We were actually on this "alligator" (how Madee says escalator) earlier in the day, but how cute are our toes together?


Madee wanted pizza for her date dinner and what a yummy cheesy choice that turned out to be. Let us pause for a moment as I copy down some of the things I was thinking as she colored her kid's menu and I wrote in my spiral notebook.

"Do you remember ever saying, "One day, when I have my own kids..." I recall, but not specifically. In fact, I don't think I have been doing child appropriate events/outings/activities for quite some time. I mean, when you wait until your 30's to have a baby (or two) I think you kind of move away from doing child related things. Or even "family friendly" things.

Things I didn't realize about having kids:

#1 I look WAY older than I expected. Even though even my own parents only looked really young in the WAY young pictures of me, I just never considered myself looking like an "old mom".

#2 I don't do everything different than my parents did. I remember being "up in arms" and writing lists to my older self of things I would let my kids do because I wanted to do that, but wasn't allowed. NEWSFLASH. My parents were often right.

#3 My "inner child" became my "outer child" when I had kids. I get so much joy from watching and participating in their "firsts", and remembering what it is like to have raw experiences. Like right now, my "inner child" is sitting right in front of me eating pizza and getting excited for her first "big girl" movie and freaking cool and sweet and well behaved and fun is she?

Even if she repeats a sentence 8 times in a row or spills her Sprite EVERYWHERE or, drunk on Sprite and a Movie Date, laughs a little too loudly a little too often? This is the best date ever and I can't wait until next week when she gets to do it with her Dad.

I took her to the Aloma Cinema and Grill, an old drafthouse that you used to go see movies and drink beer and smoke cigarettes and I have seen like 100 movies there. I thought it was going to be way cooler than a regular theater, and boy was I right. not only do they have ice cream and chairs and tables, but 100 other kids and parents were there too, so it was like the hugest party out Madee has EVER been to.

And Megamind? Adorable. I mean, I LOVE Tina Fey and Will Ferrel so that was a given, but Madee loved it too, and she watched the whole thing without 1 freak out.

It was AWESOME. Can't wait until it is my turn again!

Wordless Wednesday

Seriously folks, Wordless Wednesday? I think not. This kid has me speechless.

This kid can talk. She will repeat back to you anything you say. With conviction and perfection. She says so many words and strings them together to make up to 4 or 5 word sentences. She knows what it is. WHATEVER it is. And it will leave you in awe. I know this because I go around picking people's jaws up off the floor every other minute.

She is clearly brilliant.
But she doesn't yet reason.

In fact? She gets unreasonably mad. She throws herself to the floor. The theatrics with this one? Good Lord get your trophies out, people, because this little girl is going home with every one of them.

Also? I can't keep a diaper on her self proclaimed "POOPBOTT". And every time I turn around she is butt naked, saying "POOPBUTT" and I am all, "EDEN! WHERE IS YOUR DIAPER?!" and she goes and gets it, and I say, "But you gotta wear it on your POOPBOTT!" And she holds it up to her waist all, "Like this?"

YES LIKE THAT EDEN.

Sometimes I put these kids down at the same time and try to take a nap. And yesterday I am drifting off to sleep and then I hear "POOPBOTT POOPBOTT POOPBOTT" coming down the hall, and I am all, "I just put her down, that's not funny Boom Boom." And then I am all, "Boom Boom?"

::cue freaky scary movie music::

"Duh? Am I still dreaming?"

But no, not dreaming, Eden is standing right in front of me. And Boom Boom hasn't moved from inside his office, ear glued to the phone.

Scary, right?

Hold me.

I Know What You Are Thinking...

Somebody went grocery shopping!
Alas, no, I have recycled all of the grocery boxes and bins for the last few weeks and taped them back shut and thrown them on the shelves for my kids to do their own grocery shopping!

They love it!

AND since I found two little plastic grocery carts at a garage sale? We play $500 Shopping SPREE!
Something I love about Florida? You can see a rainbow almost EVERY day!

Hey slider!



Same face.
My gorgeous.
Too pretty.

AAAAND out!

Halloween Sunday

Trick or Treating is serious business. Short skirts, sneakers. Whatever keeps them from tripping all over themselves for the candy hunt.

Garden variety fairy.

Flapper Fairy

Somebody may have found her calling. This collecting candy door to door thing?
She's got it DOWN.

Trick or Treat!

Yummy treats!

Spookalicious

Boom Boom's Trick or Treating gear: Mad Hatter. He wasn't sure what his character sounded or acted like. So I told him "I think he sounds most like the Swedish Chef."

Um, people just leave candy on the front porch? YES!

Scary houses?

NO PROBLEM!

Oh look! The elusive MOM sighting! We got lots of nice words from candy dispensers for dressing up with the kids.

Spook-o-lantern
Boom Boom dresses like this every time he goes out on the town.

That mustache really got around.




We have a good time. Thank goodness Halloween is over, but all of the sudden I am feeling stressed about Christmas!