cool gift, but what should I do with it?

Have you ever gotten one of those gifts? You know...really cool...obviously really well thought out...definitely your style...but, what do you do with it? Well, I got a couple of cool gifts for Christmas from my niece Robynn.

It's this really cool printer paper that's 100% compostable and even better you can plant it and it has seeds in it and it'll grow into flowers or some such. A really cool idea and I DO LOVE paper! She also got me this beautiful hemlock twine.

SO COOL! But, what do I do with it? I think this may have inadvertantly shown on my face...I hope not though. So, all through Christmas Eve I thought and thought and thought, what can I do with this? I was afraid that if I didn't use it for something quickly it would get burried with all of my other 'cool paper' and I would have wasted her lovely, thoughtful gift. So, it took me a couple of days but until I finally came up with it. I made a gratitude journal.

I found wonderful, simple, detailed instructions on how to do a journal with Japanese binding on Little Birdie Secrets and I followed them as close as I could. I think the journal turned out quite cute!

I may have to fix the binding eventually since this hemlock twine has a tendency to break

but until then I'll leave as much of gift in tact as possible. I've dabbled in book making to various success before and this is my favorite result ever!! When I have to replace the binding I think I'll use a small rope or twine to keep the natural look.

it's snowing- boo!!!!!!!

So, we've got a nice winter snow. It's pretty, it's fluffy, it's been coming down all day. There's only about 6 or 7 inches. So, why am I not thrilled? my darling hubby is stuck in traffic on I-5. It's almost 10 o'clock @ night and he still can't get home. This is ridunculous. It wasn't this bad last year when we had several FEET of snow! Every minute he's not home I worry about him. I know he's a good driver but others around him are not guaranteed to be as good and the night time changes the driving conditions. right now I'm just sitting here with my daughter. she tried a new style on my hair. quite hip, quite stylized, not quite me......but, she's really loving learning more about hair styling. hope all's well with you and that your near and dear are close to you.

more christmas crafting

I'm posting a few more pics of my Christmas crafting spree.

This first craft are necklaces that I made for my Activity Girls. I have 22 girls so I needed an inexpensive idea as well as I wanted something somewhat religious to give them. So, I made them 'washer' necklaces. I used metal washers from Home Depot in 2 different sizes and then used a metal stamp set that I found @ harbor freight tools (for only about $8.00) and with a lot of hammering I eventually ended up with 22 of these necklaces. I whacked my hand a lot! My thumb still bears one pretty decent whack. This is a tricky but inexpensive gift to make and I had a lot of fun. Sarah was so intrigued that she made some for her friends. I found the idea here but I didn't follow their instructions exactly. If I were to do these again I would follow these instructions to darken the lettering so it's easy to see. I think I want to experiment some more. With the exception of nearly taking off my thumb it was a lot of fun. I think before I do it again I want to get a small anvil to work on. I used a larger hammer with a flat area to whack against but it was such a small area. I would have worked outside but it's been sooooo cold. You really do need a very hard surface to whack against. I also found another cute 'washer' idea that's not nearly as deadly but it is quite inexpensive. I want to try this one next with all of my 'mistake' washers. Oh, and in case you're wondering what the necklaces say? the small one says CTR and the larger one has their names on it. They actually turned out really clear and quite cute, you just can't see them clearly in this picture. On the Sunday after Christmas I saw that several of my girls were wearing their necklaces.

So, my last little 'crafty' idea....(I did lots of others but I don't know if I want to blog about them...I want to keep some secrets to myself...he, he, he). My favorite part of our holiday season is Johnny and my gift tags. John's not big on love letters or even sweet talk. He's quiet self contained but when he gives me my Christmas gifts he writes silly/sweet little things like 'to my sweetie pie, from your honey bun'...goofy but cute! I always keep his tags (except this year, they disappeared and I grieve)...anywhooo...I made his tags this year using my handy dandy little cricut machine. The one I'm showing you here was almost 5" square so it was a big tag (it was a coat, that didn't fit him, that we returned and got him some clothes...). This is a simple tag but there is something so precious to me about being able to make something for my honey, even if it's just a tag. (oh, and the tag says 'to Johnny Baby from Santa's favorite helper...this is the more PG of the tags....LOVE THAT MAN!!)

a home made christmas

Something about this year has stirred my creativity. I think it's a combination of wanting to be a bit more frugal (and hand made makes you think it's cheaper....it usually isn't!! but, it's fun!!. I also think that I've been feeling slightly more in control in my life and that stirs my creativity rather than leaving me frozen. I don't know how many pictures this blog will let me share so I may share in stages. I'm doing this less to brag as much to document for later so I can say "OH, yeah, I remember when I did that!!)

For Sarah's birthday I made her a cute little scissor and tool holder.

I found this idea on the Idea room (one of my favorite blogs!! lots of my ideas came from here this year!)
I purchased 1/2 yard (and that's waaaay...too...much!) of a really pretty double sided pre-quilted material. I cut one piece 9 inches by 18 inches and the second 6 inches by 18 inches.

I found a pretty contrasting 1/2 inch ribbon and folded it over the top exposed edge on the 6"x18" fabric and sewed it in place. easy peasy.

Then, on the larger piece I sewed a 18" piece of contrasting ribbon. I folded the ribbon in half to find the middle and then sewed it about 6 inches down and 2 inches in from one of the edges. Make sure you sew the middle of the ribbon and then don't re-sew over top. I also zig-zagged the ribbon so it looked kinda purty.

to finish up I sewed the bottom of the short piece to the long piece, matching edges. Then, I marked different pocket sizes, some are 3" wide, some are 1" wide, depending on what will be stored, hers stores combs and scissors. I sewed up the marked lines using a straight stitch (I used contrasting thread so it was decorative). I started with the center line and then worked outward. It was super quick. When done I finished with a simple ribbon border on the edges as binding.

I'm rather proud of it and Sarah's delighted. Note: if I do it again I would probably make the ribbon 'tie' a couple of inches longer, maybe 6-8 Inches longer .

for friend gifts I wanted to do something cute! soooo....

John makes these darling little wooden baskets every year. He makes them in small batches of 2-3 so I used them as my gathering point for all of my cute stuff.
Once again I found this darling little idea on The Idea Room for using a safe edged can opener to create a neat little package. Then, I filled my clean cans with different treats, like cookies and fudge and brittle. Several of the cans I filled with chocolate dipped fortune cookies with a tag that said "I'm so fortunate to know you!" on it. I found this cute little free download @ http://lauriefurnell.blogspot.com/ and so I was able to cover my cans with this darling little snowman! I think he turned out cute!! I want to do this again next year.

So, here's my last idea for now! This one was super fast and super popular. The chocolate wasn't cheap so next year I'll prepare better and buy chocolate ahead of time. I found this cute little idea for hot chocolate on a stick @ www.giverslog.com . I had some silicone forms for making 'brownie bites' and they worked perfect because you could pop the cooled chocolate out.

next time I'll know better how to pour the chocolate in before it cools (it does cool quickly!!)

All wrapped up they look super adorable. I gave them to my activity girls and my AG assistant leaders and then I also bought inexpensive dollar store mugs and gave them hot chocolate with a stick. Such an inexpensive idea but suuuuper cute! It went over really well. Hope I haven't bored you!

updating!

I'm finally posting pictures of our Grand Nephew Lincoln. He was born in September!

Also, Here are pics from Christmas and Christmas Eve and Boo's birthday.

Boo is 14!

So, Boo is officially 14! I'm a little shell shocked myself! She's looking so grown up! I can not believe how fast time has flown. For her birthday we had a quiet day @ home. Quiet mainly because she spent the afternoon with her friend Britney. Once home she begged and pestered and begged some more until we agreed it was 'time to open' her presents. (Mom, was I this obnoxious?? I know you were pretty fed up with me about the time I turned 14! Soooooooooooo sorry!!)

For her birthday we did a 'salon' theme. She got thinning shears and lots of clips, pins, etc. for everything from cutting to styling hair. she got a cape for her 'clients' and an apron for herself, a spray bottle... and I made her a little carrier to hold all of her scissors and combs (I'll show more of that later...I
MADE IT ANDIT AND IT TURNED OUT PRETTY STINKIN' CUTE!) Within a very short time of getting all of her 'beauty' supplies she'd cut my hair (promised a trim but it's much shorter than when we started) and her hair has undergone some metamorphosis.

Since she had a beautifully made cake as a birthday gift from one of her friends I didn't feel that I needed to worry about a cake so she got cupcakes instead!

However, I couldn't help but do something 'cute' with the cupcakes! I REALLY love my Cricut machine. I made all sorts of cute things including my 'toppers' for her cupcakes!

Her BFF Kyrena dropped by and gave her some earrings that she'd made along with this old cokacola mug and a blanket with Sarah's nickname (Jack) on it. (Don't ask why her nickname's jack, I don't get it....all of the girl's have wierd little nicknames!!)

All in all it was an invigorating day. Teenagers are a lot of work!!

KJ's dance recital

An interesting thing about teenagers is their intense bond. Peekaboo's two BFF's have been in and out of our home for YEARS but as the teenage years have become more of a reality so has the presence of her friends. Where they once came over for a few hours to play, they now 'hang out' whenever they can. Where they used to politely ask what they could eat, they now open refrigerators and pantrys and tell me what I'm out of and what they'd prefer I'd stock and what's gone bad. These added girl's are a huge part of all of our lives. Obviously they are dear to our daughter's heart and thus it endears them to us, but we are also legitimately attached to all of her satelites ourselves. When opportunities arise to attend concerts or sporting events or recitals we try to go and be a support. Tonight we went to KJ's dance recital at the Alpenrose Dairy's Opera house in Portland/Beaverton. I know I've been there before but I can't recall why or how... The opera house is this darling little 19th century reproduction of an old opera theater. It's ornate and beautiful and a bit shabby in places. Kyrena's dance school is located here in Newberg and her recital only included Newbergians so it was quite a drive for all of us. This was a cute little homespun recital. the kind where they delayed the start of the recital for 20 minutes because people (family members) still weren't there and then they started and paused while one of their youngest jingle bell girls had to make a run to the bathroom. It was the kind of a recital where the young ones stopped in the middle of their performance to wave @ Grandma and children stood in awe and confusion in the middle of the stage, forgetting to leave after performing. In short, it was darling if completely chaotic. Kyrena did a lovely job. Last year we went and saw her in a production of 'The Nutcracker' and it was starteling to see how much she'd grown since then. Last year she was a cute little girl. this year she was a young woman. It's amazing what can happen in a year!!

Boo's 14th birthday party

Last year boo had a big birthday bash! We went to the ice skating rink with 12 of her closest friends and had an evening to remember...but, big birthday parties are special and not an every year type of a thing so this year we scaled things way back. We told her she could have a 'friends' party here in our home with up to 5 of her nearest and dearest and some pizza and movies. She invited her BFF's Kyrena and Symphony and Britney and a friend from our homeschooling group named Jonah. All of her freinds made her gifts this year, wich I thought was really cool because it's so personal. Symphony drew her a picture of a penguin and Kyrena made her penguin earrings, Jonah is a gifted artist and he drew her a beautiful picture and then Britney made a darling cake for her. Check it out in the pictures... I don't have pics of all of the kids together because Kyrena had to arrive late because of rehersals for a christmas dance recital she's in (today, we're on our way in 10 minutes!) and Symphony had to go home early. It was a very late evening for all of us and even the kids were falling asleep at points in the evening.
I uploaded pictures for those of you (grandma's) who want to grab them off of here.

check this out!

you've got to check this out! Make sure your speakers are on!

some more pages to share

I love to share my scrapbook pages. I finally had time tonight (while Boo works on her Crater Lake project that's due tomorrow!!! and I stop periodically to be editor.) So, I'm getting close to done with my yearbook! I can't wait to publish it.

our grand nephew Braedyn's adoption was finalized!

JJ visited this December!

J returns from Brazil

Hymns of Praise

I feel kind of blown out a bit this evening. I feel like I've literally spent the whole day singing and I probably am fairly accurate! This morning (bright & early) I performed with 6 other women in a women's song called "All the Stars shone down".... a lovely piece that integrates 'What child is this' with a lovely descant. Then, this afternoon I went to choir and we practiced hard for next week (our christmas sunday music extravaganza!!!). Then, this evening I was privileged to sing in our Stake music program, in the Stake Choir ( a lovely accapella song titled 'Messenger of Peace' ) and then I sang in a sweet and simple women's choir with flute and violin accompaniment (the song was 'Infant Holy, Infant Lowly), and then finally I again sang with the women's ensemble that I sang with this morning (All the stars shone down!). I feel privileged to be able to sing these lovely hymns of praise and for those who graciously share their musical talents with me and allow me to sing with them.

Our Christmas Tree

Every year we go cut down our own Christmas tree. We try to go on the First Saturday in December. For the past 5 or 6 years we've gone to a place near Yamhill called Jorgensen's tree farm. It's a cute little family farm with friendly people who remember us! This year we continued our little tradition (of course). WE trudged up the hill with our little hand saw (John misses using his gas powered one:( , I don't, it's noisy). I usually find one I like right away while Sarah runs around finding a whole bunch. This year was no exception, it just took our 'teen' a little longer to get in the spirit. Once she got into it she kept finding the 'biggest' trees she could. Seeing how our ceiling is NOT 10 feet tall we chose not to get them. We ended up getting the tree I found (in the first 5 minutes), a pretty little 7 footer that is perfectly proportioned and blessedly straight! We usually get our tree and decorate our house all in the same day but we ended up having one of those out of control days where we couldn't get it all done, so instead we decorated our tree on Monday (after Sarah's all day field trip!). i think it's darling and it totally reflects us! I love having a live christmas tree. I listened recently while a bunch of people kvetched about how much of a hassle a real tree is and they don't like them and I just don't get it. I love the smell, I love the feel, I love the colors!

pajama party!

Sarah got new pajamas for her birthday from Aunt Barb. She was soooo excited because she really needed new p.j.'s and these are super cute! We were both tickled to discover that one of the pairs of p.j.'s have feet!!!!!!!! Sarah tried them on and realized they were a bit large on her so she dared me to try them on and they fit me too with room to spare! They're cute! They're fun! They're warm!!!

This is so much fun!!

I've been finishing up our family's yearbook! I just have Christmas a few other things to round up! I enjoy digital scrapbooking. It's so much fun and it's so easy to share with everyone!! And, just because I can I'm sharing it here.

Sarah's recital

Tonight was Sarah's 'piano' recital. She played the 19 songs in her most recent book. I knew the grandma's would want to see it so I posted some of it here. She was really, really, really nervous so it's not seamless but she has worked awfully hard to get through this book. Her BFF's Kyrena and Symphony came to cheer her on! Twas fun! So, fun facts about the evening....Sarah needed to play her 'recital' without her book and so she wrote all of the songs on her hand to keep herself on track. Periodically you'll see her sneek a peek at her hand. Also, you can't see her feet but Sarah not only keeps time with her feet but almost seems to dance a bit under the piano. Her feet are as involved in her music as her hands. It's quite lovely actually.

Apparently John's a Jungle gym??

Sarah's very patient piano teacher, Lendie

the whole happy group!!

concentration

thanksgiving!

Wow! What a weekend! I'm so bushed!
Thursday was Thanksgiving (of course!!) We started off the day with exercise (to work up that appetite). I went to the track and John and Sarah went to the annual 'Turkey Bowl' that John actually started years ago but luckily others have taken up the job. It was raining but not very much. A very mild Thanksgiving weatherwise. Then, we went to my Uncle Lynn's for dinner and then John's sister's for desert. At my Uncle's there were (I think 17) of us so it was a pretty tiny group but still pretty lively. John and all the guys watched football (Dallas cowboys against I think Oakland). Personally, I just don't 'get' football. John's tried and tried to explain it but it just won't sink in. After a lovely and very filling meal (including red cabbage...YUM) we went to John's sister's. She lives in troutdale so it was an additional 45 minutes away. When we got there it became apparent that the game for the evening was 'rockband'. Our nephew Erik obviously loves this game and is quite skilled on the drums and our other nephews had joined him. It was a mini concert. Now, honestly, this is not my preferred type of game. I don't feel like people interact and it's a bit loud for me. But, it was fun seeing Erik and the boys having such a good time and sharing it with everyone. Then, they gave Sarah the sticks to the drums and little Braedyn our grandnephew was the 'singer'. I really enjoyed that show. I'm posting a video of Braedyn. Watch how he starts out singing quite enthusiastically but not moving much but by the end he's doing some 'moves' that are just adorable. his dad, our nephew Joe, sweetly leans over his shoulder to help him out for a few minutes. It's precious! Joe's such a good dad!


So, Friday was John and my 16th Wedding Anniversary. We spent the day in Lincoln City with our friend's the Barnards and their son and his friend and Dickson's and Sarah and her friend Britney. We had a Thanksgiving part 2! It was delicious! My favorite part of the day was a girl's outing to JoAnne Fabrics! It was black friday but we went late enough that it wasn't too bad AND we still had our fabulous coupons!!

Saturday we went to the lovely wedding our good friend's eldest daughter, ran a few errands and then went to a baptism and then the wedding reception for our friend's daughter.

Sunday was church, choir in AMITY, John driving to McMinnville...It was nuts!! I'm soooooooooo glad the weekend's over. It was wonderful and filled with wonderful things but I'm DONE!