My Reflection

Another year has come and gone.  So much happens in a year.  Good and bad.  Happy and sad.  Sometimes it's nice to look back and reflect on things (sometimes, it isn't). 

Dad

Blizzard of 2011

We made it to Graceland

Sun Studios

Bella got to meet Elvis

(well, not really)

Ballet/Tap recital

He did it!  Done with 8th grade

(and it was signed!)

First day of High School

First day of Junior High

First day of Kindergarten

First bus ride (sniff, sniff)

Nick's Confirmation

Halloween

Christmas with Nona and cousins

Happy New Year!

Tooth Fairy

We just had a visit from the tooth fairy last night.  She left Bella a $1.00 coin.

I still don't know how the tooth fairy gets in the house.  And, what does she do with all of those teeth?  Bella thinks the tooth fairy is really small.  If she is so small, how does she carry all of these teeth?

When Nick first had a loose tooth, I remember RT trying the string and door knob trick (tie it to the tooth, other end on the door knob, then shut the door).  That didn't work.  Then RT got his pliers (yes, his pliers) (no, not clean ones) and yanked the tooth out. (I was never around to see this - by choice)  Nick didn't care.  He just wanted to tooth out.

Bella, on the other hand, cried when it was time for her first tooth to come out.  She was excited when it was loose, but that all changed when it was time to come out.  RT had to tell her that he just wanted to see how loose it was (I think it was just set there, because he pulled it out with no effort)  I should mention that he did bring out the pliers.  Bella took one look and said "No."   (I can't blame her.  I wouldn't want those pliers near my mouth!)

So, with every loose tooth, Bella is excited, but, will not wiggle the tooth or help the process go quickly.  She leaves the tooth in her mouth until it hurts and just needs to come out.

Luckily the tooth fairy wasn't busy (and had all of her brain cells) last night and remembered to swing on by for a little pickup.  (she has forgotten numerous times in the past.  She's not very reliable.  Hey, she's busy!)  Bella was quite pleased this morning at breakfast.

Thank you, Tooth Fairy!

Very Puzzling

So, Newton gave RT a new puzzle for a Christmas gift.  Newton knows how much RT loves puzzles.  I think that Newton forgot how involved RT gets with them.  How he throws himself into a puzzle.  His whole world revolves around the puzzle.  I bet he even dreams about the puzzle.  (Newton would have thought twice about this if he knew that his daily walk would be cancelled due to "the puzzle")

Bella and I have been helping him.  Bella said that the puzzle has too many pieces (1000).  I worked on the houses while Bella worked on the boat.  Bella finished putting the boat together (except for one piece).  We looked all over for this piece (table and floor) and could not find it.  We were going a little crazy trying to figure out what happened to this piece.  Maybe they didn't add it so you go crazy trying to find it?  Maybe you have to order the extra piece (a little money making scheme of sorts.  just send $99.95 and we will send you the missing piece to your puzzle)  Just as we were finishing the puzzle, we looked under the chair Bella was using (under the foot) and found the missing piece. 

The sky was the hardest part of this puzzle.  Light blue with some touches of grey and white.  That's when you sit for a few minutes and start trying pieces here and there.  Eventually it gets done.

Here is the finished product.  Thought I would share it with you. 

No matter how many times I take the picture, there is some sort of glare.  That's another house right there.

Well, I'd love to chat more, but, I'm off to buy another puzzle for RT.  :)

A Lost Art

Tonight I asked the kids to write some thank you notes.  It was like I asked them to do something out of the ordinary.  Something never before heard of, something very, very strange.

When I was growing up (you can hear Nick in the background yelling, "Back in the Stone Ages"), Thank You note writing was MANDATORY.  No questions, no ifs, ands or but's.  You just did it and did not complain about it.  (my mom was not going to hear about it)  A couple of days after Christmas, on the kitchen table, there were 3 place settings.  At each setting you would find a pen and a list.  The list consisted of names and gifts that were given.  At the top was a name.  In the middle of the table was  a stack of thank you cards and envelopes and an address book.  The key was to sit at the appropriate spot and start cranking out thank you cards.  You were not allowed to get up until they were all done.  There was no instruction given.  You just sat and started writing.  My brothers were very quick about this process.  They scribbled something down and were done in a short amount of time. Who knows what they wrote?  Probably "Thanks for the gift."   I never knew what to write.  My notes asked  how they are doing, about the family dog and anything else I could think to add.  I eventually got to the gift part. 

I always bring up this story whenever they have to write thank you notes.  I'm not sure if they listen or not.   I'm sure all they hear is, "Blah-blah-blah-blah, Blah, blah-blah-blah."

Tonight they cranked out 4 notes each.  I made the boys address envelopes (again, something they have never done).  

I'm now realizing what a lost art the Thank You note is and think that it is something that should be kept alive.  I'm sure I'm not the only one out there that feels this way.  (Ok, I know my mom is probably one of the major supporters of the Pro-Thank You Movement) (Yea, I'm sure it's named)  It's a nice personal way to show your gratitude to the person(s).  Thank them for a gift, their time, kind thoughts or just being there.  (and to ask about your dog)  And, to the receiver of the note, it's nice to know that your time or gift was received and appreciated.  And, most of all, who doesn't like to get mail?

I think we should all stop and take a few moments and write a little note to someone.  Thank them for a gift, for their time, for listening, caring or sharing.  You will feel good and you will put a smile on someone elses face.

Gone Missing

This time of year brings out strange things in my children.  Usually it is the excitement, which then leads to the lack of sleep, and then, eventually, extreme crabbiness.

This year, it has severely affected the youngest child.  Well, she is the one that is really into Santa Claus and presents and decorating and reindeer and Christmas carols and cookies and more presents and the sugar and wrapping presents and a little more sugar and the trimmings and trappings and the waiting and waiting (patiently?) for Christmas Day to arrive.

I thought we had successfully made it through Christmas without any problems.  But, alas, they all started a couple of days ago when Bella went to play with a friend.  She was quite excited about this playdate with 2 of her friends (one of these friends is moving and going to another school).  We finally get to the house and... she starts clinging to me and crying.  And, it starts.  45 minutes later (yes, I'm still at the house trying to figure out if she wants to stay or go home) I am finally released.  The short walk home (they live a couple blocks away) I am wondering what happened to my happy child?

When I picked her up, a couple hours later, all was fine (like this incident never happened).  We talked about how this won't be repeated.  Of course, the next day, at another playdate, the same thing happens.  (minus the crying.  remember?  she said she wouldn't cry next time)

I think it boils down to the excitement and lack of sleep.  (well, that is my educated guess)  I will try to have her catch up on some sleep and not have any more playdates for awhile.  Case solved.

You are probably wondering about the title to this post.  I'm getting to that part.  Hang in there.

I was working in the basement and overheard Bella tell Alex that my (yes, me, my) underwear are in her hamper.  She then tells him that she thinks they are dirty and doesn't know how they got there.  I'm thinking that this is just something funny she is saying.  Maybe the lack of sleep is getting to her and she's making things up about undergarments?  (that's one of the signs of being tired, isn't it?  telling people that someone else's dirty underwear are in your hamper)  That evening while putting her to bed, and after mentioning this story several more times, I thought I would check it out.  Sure enough,  guess what I found?  Several pairs of my underwear!  Bella has  no idea how they got there.  She has no idea who has been wearing them.  (certainly not me) (and of course, certainly not Bella)  My conclusion:  There is an underwear burglar out there stealing people's underwear and wearing them and putting them in someone else's hamper.  Good thing I didn't come in contact with this burglar.  They might steal the underwear I'm wearing! 

Bella had her night time melt down and then finally fell asleep.  I'm hoping she gets the rest that she needs.  The holidays are hard on some people.  Especially the little ones.  I hope my sweet little girl returns and, I hope that the underwear burglar stays away.

Merry Christmas

"Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night.  And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid.  Then the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people.  For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.  And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger."

And suddenly, there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:
"Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!"   Luke 2:8-14
                                                                          

Baking Frenzy

So, I'm on this baking frenzy today.  Mixing up cookie batches.  Decided to make a zucchini bread for a neighbor.  I had a batch of cookie dough I made the other day in the refrigerator and decided to bake those.  I then decided to try making fudge (it was a REAL EASY recipe!).  And then, the hair brain idea for our craft today (soap).   As if I didn't do enough today!

I did learn one important thing.  While I was in college, I should have taken a basic Plastic Wrap 101 class.  How in the world does that stuff work?   I can never get it off the roll and onto a bowl straight in the first try.  And, which is the correct side to use?  One of the important messages in the class would be how to breathe if you accidently mummify yourself with plastic wrap.   It happens, I'm sure of it!

I think I am going to wind down now with the kids and watch the movie, "Elf."  One of my all time Christmas favorites.

Merry Christmas!

I better go and make sure the cookies all don't get eaten by my children.  I'm trying to save a few for Santa. (I'm still trying to get on the "nice" list)

Homemade Soap

Today we made homemade soap.  It makes a great last minute gift for those really smelly people on your list.  Yea, you know who I'm talking about!  We use the melt and pour soap and add some oils/fragrance to our mix.  We are making peppermint soap and lemongrass soap.

we got our supplies out

Alex is helping us today

First we weigh the soap.  We need 20oz (that is the total amount of the four soap molds)

we are using goats milk soap base

Put in a glass container and cover with plastic

microwave for 20 second increments

mixing in between

This has clumps so it still needs more time

keep doing this until the soap mixture is smooth

next add in your fragrance and mix with your whisk

then pour into your soap molds

and let cool

it takes a few hours, so while we wait we made a second batch

we used olive oil soap base

all clear, time to add our lemongrass oil

and pour into molds

That was pretty easy!  Once these have cooled, we will pop them out and wrap them up for gifts.  It's nice to put a thin layer of plastic wrap around them to hold in the scent.  Then you can make a paper wrapping with the scent and soap brand name.  I think we might have put a little too much peppermint in our soap.  It will tingle when you use it.  We'll have to come up with a special name: pepper tingle?  Tingly Mint?  Jolly Minty Tingle?

I hope you had fun these last 24 days.  I had fun and I sure learned a lot.  For instance, don't have your child do a craft late at night when they are tired :)  I learned that one the hard way.   Also, make sure they are fed prior to doing a craft.  Another learning experience.  :) 

See you later

Santa Time

We had our annual visit to the North Pole and got to see good Ole Saint Nick.  Snow.  Reindeer.  Santa.  How can you not be excited?  Of course, there were a couple people involved that weren't THAT excited, but told that they have to be, OR ELSE!  (one of them crabbed all the way there)  (that one was given a pep talk and changed his tune) 

Its nice of Santa to take time out before the BIG DAY to see us.  We really appreciate his time.  I'm sure there are lots of things he should have been doing to prepare for his ride.   We'll just have to reward him with some extra cookies and milk!

Here is a sampling of our trip.  Sorry there are no pictures of our ride up there.  Maybe next time.

lots of people at the North Pole today, so we had to wait in line

Looks like the reindeer likes Alex

Alex isn't sure what he wants for Christmas

Nick wants a pony, but, Santa says that he is too young

Bella waited patiently for her turn and told Santa what she wanted for Christmas.

Thanks, Santa!  We enjoyed out trip up to the North Pole!

We'll see you in a couple of days!

Suncatcher

Today's post is a little late.  We have this packaged suncatcher that we have been waiting to make.  Thought today would be a good time to make it.  It's sunny out today (cold, but, sunny).

Our package has all items needed.  We are making a puppy sun catcher.

Aluminum foil on a cookie sheet

start putting beads in our puppy

Bella is doing a good job decorating

And, our finished puppy!

We have to let him cool, thread some fishing line through the top and hang him up!

I like the sun, but, sure hope we get some snow before Christmas!

See you tomorrow!

Christmas Sing-a-long

We had our annual Christmas Sing-a-long in our town.  This is the third year and, I think there were actually about 40 people there!  We do this in our downtown area, some of the shops are open.  Sometimes we get people who walk by and just join in and sing.  It's nice because it's quiet (well, except for the singing).  But, it makes you focus on the words and the true meaning of the season.  It's nice to stop, take a deep breath and take it all in.

 

Jingle Bell Bracelet

Bella is going to make a Jingle Bell Bracelet today.  Something she can wear when she dances and sings Christmas songs. 

Supplies:
Beads: green and red
jingle bells
stretchy cord for bracelet (7"-9" long)
piece of tape
clear nail polish

First I have to play with the supplies

It's best to place a piece of tape at the end of your cord so the beads do not fall off

Let's start beading

Bella insists on a pattern

lots of thought going into making this bracelet

after several beads go on, she puts a bella on, oops!  I mean  a bell!

the pattern and the bracelet are done

Time to tie them together and place a small amount of clear nail polish on the knot  and let it dry.

The nail polish should hold it together

Looks like a Christmas tree!

Once it is dry, we will snip off the ends and start singing and dancing throughout the house!

Only 3 more days till Christmas!  I think someone is excited!

Laundry Detergent

Laundry detergent as a Christmas craft?  It's the gift that keeps on giving!  How about the gift that keeps on cleaning?  It's a clean gift.  How about, I need some laundry detergent and thought this would be fun to write about?  Works for me.

Supplies needed:
Fels Naptha soap bar
1 cup Arm & Hammer Washing Soda*
1 cup Borax (20 Mule Team)
grater
bowl

*Yes, Washing Soda, not Baking Soda.  We are cleaning clothes, not baking them.  :)

I use Fels Naptha soap.  You can purchase all these products at your local WalMart. It really isn't expensive to make.  I believe 1 bar of soap, 1 box of  washing soda and Borax runs about $5.  That's to start.  You can make several loads with the washing soda and Borax.  You will have to purchase other bars of soap (about $1 each)  By the way, you can use any bar of soap.  I have to be careful with what I use because Nick has sensitive skin. 

This isn't a huge batch.  If you do a lot of laundry (like me) then you might want to make a double or triple batch.  Making detergent is a little time consuming, but, it's well worth it and will save you money in the long run.

Let's start with grating the bar of soap.  If you plan on making this laundry detergent, open up the bar of soap and leave out for a few days before making it into laundry detergent.  This makes it a little easier for grating.  If using a food processor, see the bottom update before throwing this soap into the food processor.

This takes awhile.  It's good therapy for you.  Builds character (and muscle)

This last bit is going to kill me! 

Ok, ok, I'll finish it

Looks good, doesn't it?

Mix in your Washing Soda and Borax

A little lumpy?  Have to break them down

Once mixed, find a container to put your detergent into.  You can always make this a gift!  Put it into a fancy

 jar, make a pretty label with the instructions, tie onto a jar (add a clothes pin for effect)

Who wouldn't like laundry detergent for Christmas?

I have a plain container.  I'll work on getting something fancier.  

2 tablespoons per load and you are good to go!

I add 1/2 cup of white vinegar to the load (I can't use fabric softener).  It actually helps with static cling (meaning there is none).   Laundry detergent without tons of chemicals.  Also, adding vinegar is NOT going to make your clothes smell like vinegar.

Happy Laundry Day!

Update:  Once I have grated the soap, I run it through the food processor with a cup of either the Borax or washing soda to make it more of a fine powder.  I put the soap with something else so it doesn't become clay- like, more of a powder.  I then put all three ingredients into the processor to mix them thoroughly.  Just make sure that you let it settle for a few minutes in your food processor before opening the lid or you will be inhaling soap (washing soda or borax) fumes.  cough, cough.  I find that putting this in the food processor eliminates the dried up soap dots on clothing that I was experiencing by making this detergent into a finer powder that is easier to dissolve in the washing machine.  I use this in my HE washer and it works wonderfully.

Christmas Card

I know, we did a card already, but, Bella wanted to draw a few to give out (teacher and bus drivers).  Today's craft is brought to you by Bella.  This one is pretty simple.

Supplies:  Paper and markers

Take it away, Bella!

Fold your paper in half and decorate.  Bella decided to write Merry Christmas, since it is going to be a Christmas card.  Please note the pattern of colors:  Green, Red, Green, Red.  Bella is big on patterns.  Something they like to do in kindergarten. 

Next, a little Christmas scene (we're big on scenes here).  A tree with a beautifully wrapped present, and a plate with some cookies on it (waiting for Santa to visit). 

You did great, Bella!  Love the card!

Mitten Gift Tags

Do you have all of your presents wrapped yet?  I haven't started yet!  Yikes!  I'm not even finished shopping!  I think Santa finished.   He has elves to help him out.  I could use a few elves around here to help out!  Maybe Santa can send a few over.

In the meantime, let's make some gift tags for all of those gifts that you have so beautifully wrapped.

Supplie List:
Holiday paper
red, green, white construction paper
scissors
pencil

I'm making mitten gift tags.  I drew an outline of a mitten and cut it out.  This is going to be my template.  I cut the template out and then drew another one.  Before cutting that one out, I drew a smaller one inside and cut it out .

Trace your larger template onto your holiday paper

cut out

trace the smaller mitten onto your red, green or white paper and cut out

glue onto the printed holiday paper

don't forget a hole punch for the ribbon!

after you fill out your mitten gift tag

using a ribbon, tie your tag onto your gift!

Fun, easy and makes the gift a little more personal :)

I better go wrap those presents since I have the gift tags made!

Thanks for stopping by!