The Clayton Christmas Parade

My girls got to be shepherds in the Clayton Christmas Parade this year.

I whipped the costumes up in a few days and bundled them up.  They were petty warm and comfy.

We got a call the next day and they took first place in the children's division.  Whoo hoo!  I must admit they were darn cute!

raffia dolls

Emmy and I are reading the Little House books.  Laura has a corn-husk doll and we decided to try to make one.  My mom made one with me and it hung around for a LONG time but unfortunately it is gone now.  I specifically remember soaking the husks and using a needle to rip pieces for hair.  It was fun.  I didn't have any corn-husk but I did have raffia paper and directions so we took a morning and made a raffia paper doll.  It looks very similar to corn-husk.  Emmy LOVES it and has barely put it down!

Patriot's Pen winner

 

Georgia was one of the areas winners for the Patriot's Pen essay writing contest this past weekend.  It is really funny...she had me read it and all the while I was saying to myself this stinks!  I was telling the story to some dear friends of ours and a very wise man told me you know she will NEVER live up to your standards because you are her mother.  Yep! 

Halloween 2012

  Almost to Grandma's!

Well we had a prairie girl and Jessie from Toy Story.

Margie thought she was super cool in her costume.  It was cute.

 

salt dough bugs

Early one morning while I still had some gumption we made some salt dough bugs.  The girls have been learning about insects so we made a whole bunch of different kinds to display and talk about.  Josie made some pretty neat ones that included an ant, a grasshopper, a ladybug, a stickbug and a stinkbug!

Here is Emmy's

Margie's has compound eyes!  Way to go Margie!

The Little People person is meeting the butterfly.

What shall I make now?  I think Margie ate a lot of her dough!  I even found some little teeth marks in her bug after it was all done and had been sitting on her shelf!  She is a spunky girl!!!!

crayon resist leaf rubbings

We took our typical leaf rubbing and turned it into something a little more this year.  We used bright crayons and brown paint ot make the colors pop.  The pictures do them no justice.  They are really pretty.  Thank you Kaboose!

Mummy Cakes

The kids had fun decorating some Mummy Cakes!

 

Brendan's 5th birthday carnival!

While we were singing!!  :)

Stacy had an awesome carnival theme to Brendan's party!  Here she is making balloon animals while the big girl helpers were face painting!

Bowling.  Come one Emmy knock 'em down!

"Ghost Lollipop Tree"  If you get a mark on your stick you get 2 tickets!

Look at all the games she had planned. 

They collected tickets and turned them in for prizes at the end.  Stacy you are a great party planner!  We sieh Brendan a wonderful 5th year!!!

My Emeline is a Kindergartener!

My little Emeline is now in Kindergarten.  She is so proud of herself.  Reach for the stars Emmy!

crafting binge

Theresa this one's for you.  I recently went crazy checking things off my wish list as far as home decorating goes.  I had too.  I just recently hosted Ben and Tracie's party.  A lot of those people will never be in my house again!!  Here are some chair cushions I whipped up after trying to find some toile cushions and finding none or some that were outrageously expensive I decided to give it a go myself.  Our bums are most appreciative.  :)

Then I finally refurbished the tables in my living room.  I searched and searched for something to go "in" the panels on the side.  I had searched for weeks!  While walking through a dollar store I came upon this contact paper and it is pretty much exactly what I was looking for. 

The big job was tackling the cupboards.  I have always wanted white cupboards and it has been on my "wish list" for about 7 years.  Well I went for it and after many sleepless nights it came out really nice.

I just LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE white and bright.

 

Theresa I'm waiting for your next project!!!  ;)

Ben and Tracie's shower

Now how could I have overlooked these flattering pictures from the newlywed's wedding shower?!!

 

Tracie was a good sport!

I tried to make her piggy tails at least!

With the cake.

Game time!

I loved that cake!

Little Emmy just loves parties and she was so excited to have Elsie over to play.