Homemade Dress

Here's one of the dresses I made for Gianna out of a tee-shirt and some leftover material.

Just Another Day

We survived the Mayan, ha ha, end of the world.  How did you fare??  Life went on as normal around here.  The kids fought, like normal.  There was dirty dishes and laundry to do, like normal.  I watched a movie on my computer while I folded clothes, like normal.  We said prayers, like normal.  It was just like any other day.

So my dust-proof, freeze-proof, everything-proof camera took crappy pictures so we took it back.  I am now the owner of a Nikon CoolPix L610 that takes much better pictures.  Its not orange, which is a disappointment, but at least it is functional.

Upon further inspection, the window was an easy fix and only cost $8 for the glass instead of $150 for a new setup.  I still think the boys should still owe their dad 10 hours each hard labor.  Darren told Stephen he still owes him an hour and a half.  Stephen, being Stephen as only Stephen can be, offered to just pay him the $8 and save himself the hard labor.  Not an option sonny!!

 We added some window decorations.  A cute nativity scene downstairs...

and a Christmas tree complete with presents and candy canes upstairs in the school room.

We wrapped presents.  We made our Christmas meal plans (if you want to come we are having pasties for the adults and hot dogs, baked beans, and macaroni and cheese for the kids).  I caught up on some mending projects and managed to sew Gianna two dresses from leftover material and tee-shirts.  I guess we are having a somewhat productive weekend.

Successful Ice Fishing

Darren took the only boy who is not sick, CORMAC, ice fishing today.  

They had a great time and caught a TON of fish.

 The longest was 25 inches.  If only Cormac could clean the fish.

This is our new fish - Kitty.  Darren bought a bunch of minnows yesterday.  Brech was looking and the minnows in the bag and said "Dare is a tatfish!"  We didn't believe him at first, but sure enough - a cute little bullhead.  Darren decided we should try to keep it or it would become fish bait.  So it has survived in the fish tank for 24 hours now.  Darren is going to keep some fish guts from those he caught today to see if it will eat them.  Kitty most likely won't last long, but it will be a fun experiment while it lasts.  The super cute thing about this whole situation is hearing Gianna say "Titty, Titty!" and Darren say "Here kitty, kitty, kitty."  Even now Gianna is pointing to the screen and saying "Titty!"  Yes, we are a strange bunch, but you know you love us anyway!  

Blase's School Project

Blase's woodworking school project for this first half of the year was to refinish this gun stock.  I wish we had thought to get a "before" picture.  It wasn't pretty by any means.  Great job Blase!

Directions for Christmas Prep

FOR CHRISTMAS TO COME IN STYLE YOU SHOULD............

Start with a tree. 

 Add some lights here....

 and here....

 here....

 and over the nativity scene.

 Add some "Thankful" tags and a few decorations.

 Put out some fun decorations.

 Put out some "Reason for the Season" decorations.

 Put out some cute decorations....and some gingerbread decorations too.

Finish up our Old Testment part of the Jesse Tree.  (It is starting to look beautiful and less awkward.)

Snowball Excitement

Sometimes snowballs just go the wrong way...right?  That's our story and we are sticking to it.

Three boys were informed that they owed their dad 10 hours each of hard work to pay for the window.

Snowballs just go the wrong way and sometimes you still have to pay for it.

That's Dad's story and he's sticking to it!!!

Birthday WHO?

Whose birthday is it??

They got a skin brush.... 

and chocolate 

 and socks.

Could it be the Grinch??  Is it the Grinch's birthday?? 

 If it was, he got a cupcake pan....

 and a new pair of shoes.

 WAIT...it was ME!  It was my birthday!  Oh, oh new books!!  Yippee!

 I also received a camera.  A water-proof, shock-proof, dust-proof, freeze-proof camera.  Darren said it was almost boy proof!!  Its my favorite color (matches my i-Pod) and just about perfect for me.  The only thing missing was a SD card so I can take more than 28 pictures at a time.

 Here is my photographer and his assistant.

 There are the cupcakes.

 Oh, yah and me too (thanks Blase)!

 This is my expression after Stephen blew out half my candles while I was taking a breathe to blow.

 This is said boy laughing and laughing and laughing.

 Take two!

Hope my wish comes true!!!

I'm 34 years old.  I feel old and young.  I am old and young.

Thanks Mom for going through labor and delivery 34 years ago.  Thanks Dad and Mom for 34 years of love, support, and butt-chewings.  Thanks to everyone else for helping mold me into the fine, upstanding (cough, cough, roll the eyes) woman I am.

Thank you to everyone for the gifts and phone calls, cards and emails.  Its always nice to feel special for a day.