Baby Oliver

Introducing Oliver. Oliver Olinger to be exact. He was brought into our world by this stunning creature (my daughter) as a homework assignment. For the weekend she got to care for this baby who cries and fusses and coos like (or almost like) a real baby.
She got to learn what it is like to be the Mom of a new born. She was awakened at night (a million times) and had to answer his cries with patience and speed. She was graded on how fast she soothed him and how well the over-all care was for precious Oliver.
I was impressed with her nurturing skills. She did get frustrated and she was definitely ready for some real sleep but she kept her cool and was a very responsible caregiver.
So in five or ten years, I'd say she's definitely be ready to give it a shot for real. (Gasp...that really did give me heart palpitations just to say!!)

Bunk Beds

Just so everyone knows what a good Mom I am.....I am posting this picture of the doggie bunk beds I purchased for the sole use of my dogs. Aren't I the best Mom EVER!!!
I guess we won't tell Jim that his favorite chair is not longer his own. The things we do for our fur babies!!!

A Few Nights Ago

A few nights ago my family (except for Kevin. He was at work...YAY!! Yay that he has a job...not that he wasn't with us....anyhoo) decided that for Family Home Beating Evening we would decorate gingerbread cookies. I had about 5 or 6 that weren't going to be used for a church activity so why not, right? Straight off Jo decided she was not photo ready and would NOT let me get a shot of her face....so here is the best I could get.
I think this is a thinly veiled threat.....
My sweetie decorating his cookie. I thought he would poopoo the idea, but I think he actually had fun.
"Oh, honey, you made the cookie pretty. Now smile. No, smile for real. Please. Come on. Just smile with your teeth."
Yep. Man of my dreams....right there. I do love him.
Our little cookie family.
I made a banner.....thingie...for the mantle. I LOVE how it turned out.
I know...the picture needs to be lower. I'm working on it :)
And my sweet Darla. She likes to lay there and take in all our craziness. Out of harms way.
Have you been enjoying every second of this wonderful season of love and joy?? I sure have.

Who Does That?

I do. That's who!! My MN sisters and I met in the exotic location of Sioux Falls, SD for a weekend of shopping, laughing and fun. Heather brought a beautiful subway art print for us to frame (instant craft gratification). They turned out so beautiful.
Then we pulled out the big guns! Yes. We brought a sander to the hotel!!
We had a hankerin' to make this oh-so-cute craft that we saw on Pinterest. I used my trusty saw to cut the wood before I left and brought some paint and paper and other paraphernalia to get it all done.

(source)

We painted and laughed.

We sanded...and LAUGHED!
We mod podged AND LAUGHED!!
Then we let it all dry....over night.
In the morning we put the vinyl letters on and sat back to asses our genius.
We are such different women, it makes sense that our projects would turn out so differently. We had such an amazing time. There was so much more to the weekend than this....I will fill you in on that later. Let's just say that we laughed until we triggered Renae's asthma (more than once) and talked until we were hoarse. It was some much needed therapy. I love these girls.
Joy x 3 was born. More on that later. I hope you are able to find some joy in your life. Happy Thanksgiving everyone!!!

My Tree

It's that time of year again. I know some of you are more traditional and wait to spring your Christmas decorations from their place in the storage room until after Thanksgiving. But as you may know...I adore Christmas. I love the music, the lights and especially the Nativities. Last year I couldn't find a box filled with some of my favorites and I was in a panic! I eventually found it (hiding in plain sight) in January....but I was so sad. This year we decided to retire our old, faithful, well used artificial tree. It was getting pretty sad. I bought a new tree from Hobby Lobby (half off!!) It's a 9' slim design tree....no lights. LOVE!!
It was so easy to set up. We have two strings of our favorite twinkling lights. These lights have eight different twinkle settings. I am always on the hunt for more strands. My kids love them too.
We all have our favorite ornaments and my kids get their own ornament every year so when they move out they will have something to start their own trees.
My Mom has given me a few ornaments over the years. They are so precious to me. Mostly they reflect her love of me and also her devotion to the after Christmas sales!!
This pic isn't great (at all) but it shows a few of Kevin's s'mores snowman ornaments. He loves them all.
Kevin made this in kindergarten. It is a little sad. He is missing a few parts, but he is a treasure.
I think Miss Jo had some help with her first grade ornament.
So stinkin' cute!! Ah, my baby!!
So there is our tree this year. Is yours up??

A Quick Rant

We have come full circle, my Mom and I. Many of you know that she is no longer with us...but here we are. Full circle anyway. Have you ever heard the phrase, "Not yet, but I'm going to." Chances are is was uttered by a teenager who was just asked if their homework was done. Or maybe the question was, "Did you clean your room?" NOT YET, BUT I'M GOING TO A seemingly harmless reply...but one that (as a Mother) I am finding very frustrating. My Mom hated it as well. I know she did. When I was older and out of the house we would joke about it. And when my pre-teen children started using it I am sure she smiled (to herself...because my Mom never took the opportunity to say I TOLD YOU SO...and she had many chances to use that on me). I have one child that uses it a little more than the other, but they both do it. Today I'd like to punch NOT YET, BUT I'M GOING TO in the neck.

Thank you for listening. I will post pictures of my tree all decked out and pretty. I am very happy to say all my Christmas stuff is out and shinning!!

A New Way

I am quite fond of giving gifts. I love to find that perfect something to give to a family member or friend. I was at T.J. Maxx the other day and found the most perfect something....and there was three of them. You know what that means....SISTER GIFT!! Now that I have to ship presents to my sisters I am always looking for new ways to pack them for the bumpy 1000 mile ride to Idaho.
I'd like to introduce you to my paper shredder. Now I realize that she is a little dusty....but she is a workhorse all the same. I ran some packing paper through her grinding teeth first. That will go on the bottom to protect the precious cargo. Then I shredded some Christmas scrap book paper (double sided really would work better, but I used what I had).
I put the packing paper in the bottom of these really cute boxes. Two will be going in the mail. The other two will just need to withstand being under the tree for six and a half weeks!! (Yes, I am setting up my tree TOMORROW!!!)
Then the fragile gift and the shredded pretty paper go into the box.....I'd show you what it is but my sisters will read this (at least it's in their "Good Sister" contract....so they'd better) and I don't want to spoil the surprise.
Here it is....all covered with pretty paper bits. I hope it is enough cushion. I put them (and a few other things) in a big box and added some of those air-filled plastic pouches that I get with some of the things I order through the mail. That ought to do the trick.
A pretty way to pack this gift. That makes me happy. I hope the girls like what's inside as much as I liked finding it, packing it and imagining their faces when they open it!!