Monday, December 10, 2012

Our 3rd “Ugly Christmas Sweater” Party

This past Saturday, we hosted our 3rd “Ugly Christmas Sweater” Party.  We always have so much fun and love seeing everyone’s sweaters.  They get more creative each year.

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I can’t tell you how many people told me that my sweater WASN’T ugly!  Really people?!  It came complete with a fur collar.  It was horrible.

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Steve, the guy in the skirt, won the contest.  He won a gift card to Cracker Barrel, where all ugly sweaters are accepted.

Tuesday, December 4, 2012

Advent House & “Twist” Update

Every November 30, “Twist” comes to the house, with candy in hand, to fill up Kelsie and Kyle’s Advent House.  They try to sweet talk me every morning into letting them have the candy with their breakfast!

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What has “Twist” been up to lately??

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Monday, December 3, 2012

Pinterest Christmas Craft

When I saw this on Pinterest, I knew I had to make one…
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I couldn’t find the exact supplies they used (Tulip brand glue and glitter), so I used Martha Stewart Glitter Glue and Fine Glitter (color – Bronze).  I found a black canvas at Michaels, which saved me lots of time since I didn’t have to paint the canvas.  Here’s how mine turned out…
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I just love how it turned out!  

Friday, November 30, 2012

“Twist”, The Jokester & Thankful For (Day 30)

The kids love a funny joke.  Their favorite – What’s brown and sticky?… A stick!

“Twist” decided to leave them some funny Christmas jokes all over the house.

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Printable kids Christmas jokes can be found here.  This site also has a “Magic Recovery Kit” for when your elf is intentionally accidentally touched by the brats kids.

November 30 – Today, as I look back on November, I realize that I am completely blessed.  There are so many things in my life that I am thankful for that I could not fit into 30 days.  I have a wonderful husband, healthy children and a crazy, but amazing family.  I couldn’t ask for anything more.

Thursday, November 29, 2012

Don’t Do Drugs & Thankful For (Day 29)

Why you shouldn’t do drugs, according to Kelsie…

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November 29 – Today I am thankful for my sweet, sensitive little boy, who is hugging on his mama as I type this.  I hope he never gets tired of huggin’ on me!

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Wordless Wednesday & Thankful For (Day 28)

This is where Duke has been hiding when the sun is shining…

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November 28 – Today I am thankful for Duke.  Yes, I am thankful for my dog.  He was mine and Dave’s first purchase together before we were married.  He has brought us lots of joy and laughs and lots of tears (especially after having to pay $600 to have his eye fixed or $500 to have the carpet replaced).   We love him and can’t imagine what our family would be like without him.

Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Where is “Twist”? & Thankful For (Day 27)

“Twist” has been all over the place lately.  His new thing is leaving notes for the kids.  Kyle enjoys reading them; Kelsie wants to know who has the sloppy handwriting.

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November 27 – Today I am thankful for a daughter with a vivid imagination and great memory.  Now that she knows the secret about “Twist”, she has been moving him each night (because Dave and I have forgotten to move him in the past.  We called him the lazy elf when he didn’t move for a few nights in a row!).  She came up with the idea of “Twist” wearing a bikini.

Monday, November 26, 2012

Not The Thanksgiving I Planned & Thankful For (Days 21 to 26)

We were all packed up and ready for a great Thanksgiving in Pittsburgh, PA.  We had planned on leaving bright and early Thursday morning.  Instead, we were stuck in MD with a sick little boy.  This is how I spent my Thanksgiving…

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Curled up on the couch with my sweet boy.

Kelsie and Dave had dinner with my family.  Kelsie was excited to spend lots of time with Aunt Denni.

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Hope y’all had a wonderful Thanksgiving!

November 21 – Today I am thankful for a husband who is great about keeping in touch with his friends.  Tonight we got together with some of them, including their wives and children.  I’m so bad about keeping in touch with old friends.

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November 22 – Today I am thankful for all of my family members, MD and PA (and a few in TN and CA)!

November 23 – Today I am thankful for leftovers!  Dave made me a turkey (so sweet!) because I wasn’t able to attend T’giving dinner.  There’s nothing like a fresh turkey sandwich!  I just wish I had some of Aunt Vanessa’s sweet potatoes to go with it!

November 24 – Today I am thankful for my two sleepy kids who made the drive from MD to NC so peaceful.

November 25 – Today I am thankful for the “Talk-to-Text” app that makes my children laugh so hard, they think they are going to get sick.  I love hearing them laugh and get along.

November 26 – Today I am thankful for the gym.  A combination of eating poorly and not getting any exercise has made me GRUMPY!  Today I’m back to the gym and feeling good.  I’m hoping to keep this up through the holidays, so I can eat whatever I want!!!

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

“Twist” & Thankful For (Day 20)

“Twist” gave Santa a good report on his first day back.  Here’s his hiding spot for the day…

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Kyle drew a picture for “Twist” to take back to the North Pole with him.

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Yes, those are hearts above Kyle and Twist.  He loves him!

 

November 20 – Today I am thankful for wireless headsets.  Without them, we’d have to hear “I’M BORED!  I’M BORED!” during the entire trip from NC to PA.

Monday, November 19, 2012

He’s Baaaccckkkk & Thankful For (Days 17 to 19)

“Twist”, our family Elf, is back in town!  We purchased “Twist” on November 18, 2009, so Kyle thinks he needs to reappear every year on November 18, to celebrate his birthday with us.  Another party I have to plan.  This year he brought his “North Pole Breakfast” with him.  We had “Powdered Snowballs” (mini powdered doughnuts), “Sugary Snowflakes” (snowflake-shaped, white chocolate pretzels), “Reindeer Kisses” (white chocolate chips), and “Santa’s Cocoa” (chocolate milk).  I found the “North Pole Breakfast” party idea on Pinterest… shocker!

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Santa left them a note reminding them to be good and to take care of “Twist”.  I found the coolest “From the Desk of Santa Claus” stationary, so it looked official!

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“Twist” also brought them each a pair of Christmas socks.

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November 17 – Today I am thankful for the wonderful community we live in.  There are hundreds (maybe thousands!) of kids in this hood.  Kelsie and Kyle have made some wonderful friends here.

November 18 – Today I’m thankful that Kyle still believes in “Twist”.  Kelsie found out a few weeks ago that he’s not real and it broke my heart.  Kyle is so excited to get up each morning to see where “Twist” is hiding.

November 19 – Today I’m thankful for Kelsie’s “Drama Queen” act.  She was in a play this morning and her drama skills were put to good use.  She was a fantastic TV reporter!