Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Teamwork!

Every once in awhile I come across a project that I want to do and Reed jumps in is forced to help me out.
This was one of those projects.
I've been wanting a shelf for my living room for awhile but I didn't want to spend the money to buy one and if I was going to make it, it had to be super easy or it wouldn't get finished.
Confession: I sometimes think I'm more awesome than I really am and take on projects I can't figure out.
But I found this shelf here.
It has awesome instructions and it really wasn't hard at all.
We did tweek it a little.
We didn't put the trim on the bottom and I think we used smaller crown molding then they used.
Reed and I are seriously beginners at this type of stuff so I'm sure you can do it too.
We hung it up and I LOVE IT!!!!
The pictures of my cute kids don't hurt either.
I don't have all of my pictures yet and I'm going to paint some of the frames but I'm pretty impressed with me and my hubby.
Now I need to come up with a saying to put across the bottom in vinyl.
I've got some ideas but I'm not sure yet.
Feel free to give me some imput!
Now excuse me I have to get back to looking at my shelf :)

Sunday, November 27, 2011

Advent Ideas

Once Thanksgiving is over it doesn't take me very long to jump right into Christmas.
We stay pretty busy with activities, baking, crafts and lots of other holiday fun.
One thing that we started last year was an advent calendar and it was a blast.
We had a different Christmas related activity every night and it really brought our family closer together and provided a lot of fun, quality time together.
So I thought I would share some of the things we have planned for this year.
There are a lot of different ways you could set it up.
You could put everything in a jar and pull on out each day or plan the activities around your schedule.
I took a cookie sheet and covered it with Christmas scrapbooking paper.
Then I cut out 24 rectangles and folded them in half.
On the inside I wrote the activity and on the outside I wrote the date.
Then I taped them on the cookie sheet.
I had put magnets on the back of the cookie sheet to hang on the fridge but they weren't quite strong enough to hold it up.
So this year I think I will tie some ribbon on the back and hang it on the wall.
Once I get it hung up I'll take a picture for you to see.
Anyway here's what we'll be doing in December.

Learn a new Christmas song
Make homemade marshmallows and cocoa mix
Make a snowman
Make garland
Make reindeer cookies
Make a nativity
Drive around and look at Christmas lights
Do a service for someone
Have a Christmas music dance party
Watch Elf
Read the Christmas story
Write letters to Santa
Make Christmas cards
Make a ornament
Visit a friend
Watch a Christmas movie
Have someone over for dinner
Make Christmas goodies and deliver to someone
Write letters to family that's not around
Take kids to get gifts for each other
Make gift tags
Sing Christmas songs
Play a Christmas game
Make reindeer food and cookies

So that's what's on our advent calendar.
We also read a Christmas book every night
and incorporate Christ and scriptures into our activities as much as possible.
Hopefully this gives you some ideas of fun things you can do with your family during the special month of December

Saturday, November 26, 2011

Thanksgiving Fun

I have had so much fun the last few days.
It would have been a perfect few days but my little mad has been sick.
I started with Thanksgiving at my grandparents house.
I went to my families while Reed watched Mason, then he went to his Dad's while I snuggled with my little man.
Then I ended the day and started the next morning with some black friday shopping.
I didn't have a lot on my list but my competitive side can't pass up fighting people for things.
The long night of shopping was followed by a long nap on Friday
then we headed out to the Mad Ants game.

The Mad Ants are the D Leauge basketball team in Fort Wayne
and lucky for us Reed's company has second row seats that no one was using.
I LOVE basketball but mostly just college basketball.
GO DUKE!
The game was pretty good but I can't stand all the whining from the players.
The players questions and complained about every. single. play.
That's a litle pet peeve of mine.
But I won't get one that soap box right now.
The best part of the night was the halftime show.
They had Quick Change for America's Got Talent!

It was so awesome!
I thought that maybe sitting so close we would be able to see something to get an idea how they do it but nothing. Everyone was left in awe.
Seriously awesome.
And today we had Thanksgiving at my Dad's house.
Crazy crazy fun happening around here.
I hope you all had a great holiday weekend and now it's time to go back to normal mode.
Wait Christmas is next month!!!
I guess it's time to start making gifts!
I'll have some to show you soon.

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Day of Thanks

Last week our computer died.
It's been a long hard battle for all of us involved.
We thought we had lost him for good but then he came back to us for awhile.
Then last week he finally stopped fighting.
It was for the best though.
And on Monday we brought a new baby home!
I can now type with two hands because I don't have to hold the power cord in place every minute that it's on.
And it stays on for more than 10 minutes at a time.
We are all still getting used to the change but I'm sure it won't take us long.
Ok now for the real post :)
With Thanksgiving being tomorrow I wanted to write about a few things that I'm thankful for.
It's kind of hard to pick out just a few because I have been so blessed.
So to start off I am thankful for my amazing family, especially Reed.
I am so lucky to have married the most amazing man.
He is so understanding, loving, and patient.
He loves me with all his heart no matter what and I know this because he is so good at showing me.
He is the perfect father to our children and my best friend.
My children are my world.
They make me laugh every day and I can't even describe how blessed I am to have such happy, healthy children.
I am also grateful for my Mother.
She is one of my best friends.
We talk almost every single day and I love it.
She listens without judgement and knows exactly when to give input.
She is such a blessing to my life.
I'm grateful that I have a sister.
Everyone needs a sister.
I'm so thankful that even though she is 10 years younger we can hang out and have a blast.
And it doesn't matter what mood I'm in if she comes around she brightens my day.
There are so many blessing in my life but I would be so ungrateful if I didn't express my gratitude for my Savior.
I'm so thankful for the gospel of Jesus Christ and the guidance it gives me.
I can't imagine going through life without my Savior to help me every step of the way.
I hope everyone has a safe and happy Thanksgiving
and takes this opportunity to take a day to think of the blessings in our lives.