June 14, 2010
February 03, 2010
December 22, 2009
December 21, 2009
A Few Christmas Decorations
I know! I haven't posted in like forevah! I have lots to talk about, I've just been super busy. I was also sick for a couple of weeks and that just threw me behind in an already busy time. I'll save the big posts about Thanksgiving, Steven coming home, and Christmas for next week.
For now, a fluff post about some of the decorations around my house this year. I think it's fun to look back at old pictures to see the way the house was decorated- especially pictures from my childhood. One day Ash and Samuel will look at these pictures and "pshaw!" at the awful way Mom decorated! Ha!
Apothecary jars on the dining room table filled with green ornaments and snow, red beads, and little candy canes. I have a thing for jars and ribbons.
See! More jars and ribbons. I made the "Ho Ho Ho" picture from a Dollar Tree frame, some scrapbooking paper I already had, and a $1 ornament from Wal-mart. The little jingle bells at the top came off a gift bag and cover the adhesive holding the ornament on. I think I'm going to spray paint it with a different, shiny green. It'll work for now, though. I think it's pretty cute for $2.
I also made this big candy cane holder. Cute, huh?
I wanted something tall because the canes are so tall, so I took an 89 cent glass and used a little Gorilla Glue to stick a candle holder I had on hand to the bottom. I love me some Gorilla Glue!
I wanted to show this little jar because I love the jingle bells. They came from Dollar Tree- my new favorite store!! There were...oh, I don't know...about a dozen in a package for $1. Some of them were a little tarnished. If you look closely you can see the discoloration. (You can also see crumbs on the counter! Ha!) For $1, though, I don't mind. I just stuck the yucky ones on the bottom.
I found this little picture at Kirklands on clearance and I think it's too cute! I love that it says peace with a dove and the earth. I also love Santa's furry mustache! The candle holder was bought at Hob Lob last year after Christmas for like 80% off or something crazy like that! And I got the giant red jingle bell from...where else? Dollar Tree. It's actually a door hanger thing, but I like it there.
A "joy" sign from Hobby Lobby clearance last year (with a little ribbon, of course), a Dollar Tree tree, and a little present candy dish from Kirklands. I had planned to paint the sign, I just never got around to it.
This apothecary jar is totally "Dollar Tree'd" out! The silver ornaments came 3 for $1 from the Tree, you already know about the jingle bells, and the snow flake came in a package of 2 for $1. Just throw in a little fake snow and you've got cute and cheap!
This is a little table in the dining area. I just filled my cloche with red and gold ornaments and slapped a plate under them. The reindeer ornament is...bet you can't guess!...from Dollar Tree- 2 for $1. (I promise ya Dollar Tree is not compensating me in any way for mentioning their name over and over and over again. I wish!! We could play a drinking game with the number of times I've said Dollar Tree in this post, though! Dollar Tree! Dollar Tree! Dollar Tree!) I thought the little lamp shade needed some color so I wrapped tiny beads that came from the decorations the kids put on their little trees. It looks a little funny, but... oh well, good enough! The picture is from Kirkland's after Christmas clearance last year.
Ok. This is a work in progress. I wanted to do something cute with the other little reindeer ornament in the pack. I took a $1 frame from the Tree (I sound cool when I say "the Tree", huh?), spray painted it and added some scrapbooking paper. I just couldn't seem to find the right paper in my stash, though. I'll look for some later and get 'er fixed up just right by the time Christmas rolls around next year! Ha! Yes, it'll probably take me that long to find the right paper. I'm a tad indecisive when it comes to scrapbooking paper! That's why I NEVER get scrapbook pages done. Well, one reason anyway. But I digress!
This looks kinda funny too, but I'll get it fixed. I love this sign and wanted it somewhere sort of prominent so I put it on the lampshade. :) I'm going to take the pipe cleaner hanger thing off and add some pretty ribbon. It won't look so strange then. Or, I don't know...it may still look strange! :)
This tray full of ornaments with a red candle holder is probably my favorite thing out this year. (I know the picture is horrible. I took it last night. It was too dark without the candle lit, too bright with it lit. Also, I don't have a pillar candle in there because I didn't want the mess. Plus, I had a really nice smelling Christmas jar candle so I just used it. It really does look good in real life!) The candle holder and tray were both things I had around the house. I just threw in some red and green ornaments and...voila! Free Christmas cuteness!
Well, that's all I've got time for right now. I've got to boogie! Lots left to do.
If I don't get a chance to post again soon, I hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas and remember the reason... Jesus is the Gift!
Blessings to all,
xoxo
SDoo
November 17, 2009
10 on Tuesday
1. Steven leaves Iraq in 9 days. Woohoo! I'll be so happy when he's back on American soil. He'll be back at Ft. Hood for a few weeks, then he'll be able to come home to Oklahoma for a pretty good visit. Can't wait.
2. James found this picture of Steven online last week. Poor thing, sitting in a tent in the desert eating a Vienna sausage with mustard! I can't help it, though, every time I see this picture I laugh a little! I think it's the camera angle and the way it's all focused on his hands and the Vienna sausage that's funny to me.
3. Samuel's soccer team had their final game of the season Saturday and won. They finished 10-0! A perfect season! After the game the boys had a surprise for their coach- instead of dousing him in Gatorade, they threw water balloons at him!
Samuel told Mamaw Judy that his team won all their games and were "undefeatable" this season. And they were undefeatable! Way to go Rockets! And thanks, Coach Chris, for all the time, effort, and patience you put into the team!
4. Ashlynn's soccer season ended the Saturday before Samuel's. Unfortunately they were very defeatable. :-( They did do much, much better toward the end of the season. Their second to last game, they not only won, but Ashlynn scored 4 goals and made the opposing goalie cry. Bless her heart! She started crying and said something along the lines of, "I can't stop #8!" I felt sorry for the little girl, but I was pretty darn proud of my kid. Way to go #8!
5. Saturday night Mom had "Grandkids Night" at her house. She had Samuel, Samantha, and James over (Ashlynn wasn't there. See #6.). She had lots of games, a treasure hunt, pizza, and a sleepover. I stayed too. It really was fun. Thanks for having us Mom.
Here are the kids playing one of the games- a roll the ball with your nose race. :)
6. Ashlynn went to see Little House on the Prairie with Stephanie, Madalyn, and Blake Saturday. As soon as they started advertising this play she wanted to go and begged me to take her. When I went online to check out the tickets, though, all the good seats were taken. We would have ended up paying $50 each for really lousy seats. She was disappointed and I felt bad, but we decided we'd just try to see something next year (the Wizard of Oz is coming to Tulsa soon). Then Steph called Friday and had a ticket for her. Stephanie's sister was going to go with them but decided to pass. The seats were awesome- orchestra, center- and Ashlynn said the show was really good. "Way better than Annie!", she said. Thanks so much for taking her Steph!
7. Saturday before Grandkids Night and Little House, the kids and I raked our front yard and bagged up the leaves. We had 33 bags of leaves when all was said and done! 33! Of course they were just regular trash bags and not lawn and garden bags, but still! Here's the kicker though... I don't even have a tree in my front yard. All the leaves are from the trees in the neighbors' yards on both sides of me. It stinks. If I have to go through the trouble of raking and bagging that many leaves I'd at least like to have my own tree. This weekend we do the back yard. Oh yippee!
8. I was pretty sore Sunday from all the leaf raking along with a workout I did on Saturday. I have my own little personal trainer in my friend Robin-the fitness freak. She's been a great help and motivator in my quest to get into shape. I've decided I'm going to splurge and buy myself a pair of really nice jeans for my birthday in March. I'm talking really nice, like maybe True Religion nice. I never spend money on myself like that because, well... I'm tight. I was looking at my wardrobe recently, though, and realized how yucky it is. I want to be cool and hip, especially after I get back down to the size I want with the figure I want. So that's the goal I've set for myself- getting into good enough shape that I'd be willing to part with some money for a pair of jeans. Now that Robin's on the scene, I'm pretty confident that I'll be struttin' my stuff by March. Of course, being in shape won't change my tight-waddedness so I'll be in the cheapest pair of expensive jeans out there. :) Thanks for all your help Robin!
9. The Christmas Train will be starting soon. They closed for a few years for remodeling and finally reopened last year, but the tickets sold out super fast and we weren't able to get any. This year we are definitely going. Samuel's never been there and Ashlynn hasn't since she was two. I can't wait!!
10. Last but definitely not least, the kids and I recently signed up to sponsored a child through Compassion International. Several of my favorite bloggers (Kelly, Angie, and Pioneer Woman) have been involved in mission trips through Compassion and speak very, very highly of the organization and the work they do. Last week Kelly was in El Salvador and, after reading her blog posts, I decided to check out Compassion's website. We are now the proud sponsors of a little boy in El Salvador. :) We're excited. I have lots to say about it, but I'll do have to do it in another post.
Until next time, have a blessed week!
xo
SDoo
November 11, 2009
Thank a veteran!
All the most important men in my life- my granddad, my dad, my brothers- are veterans, so to say I have a special place in my heart for vets is an understatement. I grew up an army brat, so a love of our country and an appreciation for our military men and women is something that was instilled in me at an early age. It's something that is so deep in my core, it's part of what makes me me. That being said, take a moment today to stop and think about how blessed we are to live in this country. Thank the Lord and thank a veteran!
It is the VETERAN, not the preacher,
who has given us freedom of religion.
It is the VETERAN, not the reporter,
who has given us freedom of the press.
It is the VETERAN, not the poet,
who has given us freedom of speech.
It is the VETERAN, not the campus organizer,
who has given us freedom to assemble.
It is the VETERAN, not the lawyer,
who has given us the right to a fair trial.
It is the VETERAN, not the politician,
Who has given us the right to vote.
Thank you, veterans, for everything you do and everything we have because of you.
November 01, 2009
Halloween Recap
Halloween 2009 started for us with a party at Stephanie's house on Friday. (I don't have any pictures, though. Ugh!) We were outside most of the time, sitting around a bonfire. We fixed s'mores, played games, and there was a pinata for the kids. The kids also played hide-and-seek in the dark and had a dance contest. Fun time!
Saturday Samuel had a soccer game. As a sign of unity and a way to intimidate the opponent, the boys all colored their hair for the game.
Here they are saying, "The Rockets are #1!"
The hair color worked too because they won 17-5 or something like that. (To be honest I lost count of their goals.) They're still undefeated. Two games to go for a perfect season.
After the game we headed to Grandma Judy's to get ready.
Have you ever seen a cuter vampire?
Miss America carries a bucket that matches her dress! :)
October 30, 2009
It's beginning to look a lot like fall around the house.
I've mentioned before that I love the fall. It's my favorite time of year.
Just for kicks I thought I'd show a few pictures of some decorations that are up around the house. (I know Steven can't wait to read this post from the hot, stinky desert of Iraq. Sorry Bub! Don't mean to rub it in. Less than six weeks! Less than six weeks!!)
The dining room table.
I like cute Halloween stuff as opposed to scary stuff. This little vampire is one of my favorite Halloween decorations. Cute, isn't he?
There's more, but that's all I've got time for right now. Gotta go pick my babies up from school and then rush down to Mom's to finish up their Halloween costumes. We've got a big Halloween party at Steph's tonight. Speaking of Boomer Sooner, check back in a day or two to see my costume.
xo,
SDoo
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