Christmas Morning

We hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas! We have spent the last two weeks living in our p.j.'s, cuddling, eating junk, watching tons of movies, having the stomach flu (yuck), and visiting with family. Right now we're all feeling a little burnt out and are ready for another two week vacation just to recoup from Christmas:) We love and miss all our family and friends back home, you were in our thoughts daily.

Got a new flip camera for Christmas, so here's our first test . . . a cute one at that!

Merry Christmas!

Squeal!!!

Are you as excited as I am?

Urgent Request

Hey everyone I just wanted to post this really quick. Ever Since I saw sweet little Cliff, these orphans have been very dear to my heart and I frequently check in on them to see if they have found a forever family yet. Through Reece's Rainbow I have found Adeye's blog and have been able to see the Lord work through many people who have chosen to adopt these sweet children! I don't have a huge following but I know God can use my tiny blog for His good. If nothing more than to help spread the word for an orphan who is on the verge of never being able to be adopted. This thirteen year old boy only has TWENTY days to find a family, after that he will never have the opportunity to be adopted again! Please join me in spreading the word, I encourage you to check out Adeye's blog for more information and please go to Reece's Rainbow and give to the Angel tree fund. There's still time!!! My children got together and gave all the money from their piggy banks to little Cliff, a whopping $12.00! They inspire me:) Merry Christmas!!

Coolest Mom Ever

Did you know you can reach "coolest mom ever" status if you make sandwiches with Skittles smiley faces?

On a side note I got my new glasses today, I've never had glasses before so this is definitely something I'm going to have to get used to. Not sure I picked the right frames, oh well:( It's overwhelming when you see all the choices and you're nervous about having glasses in the first place.

Make Christmas count for Cliff

I just want to take a moment to post about this sweet little boy. Cliff was born with Down Syndrome and lives in an orphanage in Eastern Europe in awful conditions. Children born with disabilities in other countries are often placed in orphanages because they think their is no hope for them and if not adopted in the first few years of life they are placed in asylums never to leave. My heart is aching right now, I want to bring this little guy home so badly. If you feel led please click on the picture above and read his story, you can also donate to a fund that was provided for him to help a family adopt him. There are also links to the adoption website where you can check out his profile and learn more about adopting children with disabilities. Please pray for him, his face has forever been imprinted on my heart and mind.

Posy pins

Here's another project I am teaching for the craft night. I made this one today, these look cute on jackets, blouses, scarves, purses, hats, and pillows. There are so many possibilities and I'm excited to teach this class. And I know the women will be too when they see how easy they are to make. I have a feeling I'm going to see these a lot at our church:)

So the meatloaf cupcakes didn't go as well as I thought they would. First, let me just say the recipe was delicious, I made gravy as well, yum! So now for those of you that don't know me I'm all about details and presentation. I love to make things look pretty but apparently my kids could care less that their food looks pretty or that it looks like an adorable cupcake. I was all set to take pictures of my culinary masterpieces ( I actually did but the picture was all fuzzy) when my kids started complaining about their food touching. They wanted nothing to do with having their mashed potatoes on top of their meatloaf, actually that's not true, Prestin could care less and just shovels it all in. I have to worry more about him choking on his food than my 16 month old. And they definitely didn't want peas in their mashed potatoes, even when I told them to think of them like sprinkles, NOPE, not happening. Bummed I sat down to eat my lonely meatloaf cupcake. Oh well they ate everything on their plates minus the peas and were very satisfied, Prestin had three helpings! So if anything make the recipe and if you have a growing boy like me make a double batch! And God forbid don't let the food touch each other. So what do you guys think is this a keeper?

On a side note here is a craft that I just finished, it's a coffee filter wreath. It costs less than $5.00 to make! I'm putting together a few crafts for a women's event at our church the day after Thanksgiving. I'm still working on the others but will post them when I finish. What do you think? I'm working on my mantle for Christmas as well and will show those pics when I"m done.

Funny things kids say

This was my conversation with Madi my four year old yesterday.

Madi: Mommy, I want to have as many kids as you have when I grow up.

Me: Really, you want to have six kids?!

Madi: You have six kids?!

Me: lol

I love my kids they're awesome! I'm making the meatloaf cupcakes tonight, should be fun. I'll let you know how they turned out.

I'm totally trying this

Is this not the cutest thing ever! What kid would not want to eat this, check out Livvy Loo Who for the recipe. And A Thoughtful Place had this creative idea for a Thanksgiving kids table, this really would work for any event where kids are attending.

Check out Under the Table for more recipes like the pumpkin pie shake and other creative ideas.

I know we are still in November but I have Christmas on the brain always. If you are into crafting head on over to inspireco. she has a new Christmas inspired magazine!

Many bloggers came together and shared some awesome crafts. My favorites were the Peace on Earth wreath, the village houses, which I think I will have ready for my kids to do Thanksgiving night. The snowman gift tins and the muffin tin advent. I made something similar out of a cookie sheet and scrapbook paper two years ago.

I thought this was hilarious, some of you know my annoyance with my dog:) I don't wish him dead but this still made me chuckle:) I saw this over at the Cottage Gals.

Happy Crafting!

White November

I think it's pretty obvious that I like to decorate with whites, creams and neutrals. Here are some pics I'm drawing inspiration from this month and hope to incorporate into my home.

Love the old rakes and the planked wall.

I love this farm table and the different white painted chairs! Someday:)

I made something similar a couple years ago, super easy! I will be making this one for sure.

Simple, yet elegant.

Cover your table in blankets, throws or quilts, very inviting. Imagine sitting here with a cup of coffee or tea on those cold November mornings. We can all do this one, easy peasy.

Sweet and simple, and again so easy to incorporate into our own homes.

So pretty.

All the pictures above are courtesy of Better Homes and Gardens.

And look at these adorable prints. Jessica over at Craftily Ever After lets you print them for free. She has a ton more designs that are just as wonderful, I printed the "Gather Here with Grateful Hearts".

Halloween

We had a great Halloween this year! We did another B.Y.O.P. ( Bring Your Own Pumpkin) party and it was a huge success. We went to "Trunk or Treat" at our church again this year and had a blast! The kids have so much candy, it will last them until Summer. I am also adding some pics I've already posted for a linky party. Enjoy the pics!

Decor

B.Y.O.P.

White chocolate covered pretzel rods and almond slivers is what made up these creepy fingers. Ash suggested making lines in the chocolate to make knuckles, totally made them more realistic. They were super easy to make and delicious! Ash let me cut up an old shirt of his and I found that wine glasses are the easiest to use when trying to button the cuff, then I just taped the excess material to the bottom.

I also made chocolate covered apples drizzled with caramel, super easy to make as well.

You just melon ball apples( Thank you Ash:) insert a lollipop stick and cover in chocolate. Then when they are dry drizzle caramel over them. And yummy pumpkin cupcakes with cream cheese frosting, you can get the recipe here.

We set up the carving station in the garage.

Cute kiddos:)

Avery with her butterfly pumpkin.

Sadie our little monster.

Sweet Little Lucy, our friends' daughter.

The lineup, from left to right, a wolf howling at the moon, ghost, butterfly, sideways bats and the one on the end is Prestin's. It says #1 Dad.

Ash made this one, it say's The Farley's.

Awww!

Trunk or Treat

Our family, princesses, Bumble bee transformer and a pumpkin.

These are pics of our church family, awesome people and awesome costumes!

Bye!