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?