Happy Birthday Seth. I Give You the World

Today is Seth's 7th birthday. Seth has changed so much this year and has also been through alot. Another seizure in March, new struggles at school and a short stay in the hospital recently has added to his change. He is definetly a different and unique child and Duane and I have learned so much from him. All in all things are better than they were last year. I feel more hopeful and open to what God has in store for his life.A couple of weeks ago I found this globe at goodwill. I had been wanting one for quite some time and I knew Seth would love it. It was only $3.99 and when I went to pay for it some guy offered me $10 for it! But I kept it because I had great plans for the globe, just like God has great plans for Seth. So Seth, here you are. Happy Birthday my man. I give you the world.

Countdown to Christmas

With Christmas only three days away I wanted to remind everyone what Christmas is really about. It's not about Santa or presents as most people tend to believe. But about the celebration of the birth of Christ Jesus. It is way too easy to forget this, especially with the media's never ending ploy to try and exclude the use of Christmas from our vocabulary. With the increasingly popular use of Holiday instead of Christmas more and more people are forgetting what Christmas is really about. So take a pledge not to forget and don't be afraid to say "Merry Christmas!" instead of "Happy Holiday"

Handmade for Teacher Too

In keeping with my Handmade efforts I wanted to make handmade gifts for the boys teachers too. It took me till the night before to figure out what I wanted to make them. I had already made the Spiced Pecans and Savory Oyster Crackers but it just didn't seem like enough. I decided to try my hand at fabric coasters and they turned out so cute! I used coordinating Flea Market Fancy fabrics (my fav!) some fleece I had on hand and went to work. I made eight, four for each teacher, and it took me no more than an hour to make them all. Best of all since I already had all the supplies it cost me NOTHING! When I was done I didn't want to give them away! Then I tied each set up with yellow ric-rac and I REALLY didn't want to give them away. Good thing I have more fabric to make my own set! I will so be making these again VERY soon. I think some of my friends can expect to be getting a set of these for Christmas!

How Many Years HAS It Been?

Today Duane and I decided it was time to clean our room. I'll admit I am TERRIBLE at keeping my room picked up. There were three large baskets of clean clothes that we have all been picking through for the last two or three weeks because I just haven't gotten around to putting them away. And that is just part of the mess. Seth walked in while we were cleaning and asked "What are you doing?" Okay, you know it has been a long time if your six almost seven year old has to ask what you are doing.

Me: "Cleaning our room."

Seth: "Why?"

Me: "Because it has been a long time since I have cleaned it and it needs it."

Seth: "How many years has it been?"

Ouch.

Handmade for Christmas

I wanted to try & make as many of our gifts this year as possible. I ended up with only a few being handmade but I thought it was a good start. I won't reveal my favorite because it is a gift for my sister, Chubby Baby, and I don't want her to know what it is (obviously) but I will share another one of my favorites. My first quilt! (Transformers made from kinex are guarding the quilt while it is on the floor should anyone DARE step on it while I was taking a picture).

I have been wanting to make a quilt for a couple of years and just wasn't sure if I could pull it off & honestly didn't think I would have the time. But for some strange reason I thought it would be a good (and feasible) idea to make a T-shirt quilt for my grandpa & grandma for Christmas. I collected a t-shirt from each of their grandkids and great-grandkids, seventeen in all, and made my first quilt. The colors are scarlet on the front & gray on the back for what else but the Buckeyes! I also took a small piece from each shirt and made a strip down the back of the quilt. I decided to tie it instead of getting it quilted as this was a MUCH cheaper option for me. I still have some learning to do but all in all I think it turned out pretty well. I can't wait to see my grandparents faces when they open this on Christmas morning!

This is so true

I saw this on my friend Jenny's blog Mommin It Up & I laughed out loud. This is so true. I give you The Man Cold.

Fatty, Fatty, Two by Four...

Can't fit through the kitchen door.

That's our tree. I love big FAT Christmas trees. Last year I went for one a little skinnier and well it just didn't satisfy my Christmas tree itch. So this year I had to make up for what was lacking last year.

I also love hunting for the perfect FAT Christmas tree. My kids love it too. My husband not so much. But I have to drag him along because although I can cut the tree myself I am unable to lift it onto the top of the explorer myself. This year he grudgingly tagged along. I told him he could wait in the truck while we searched for the perfect tree but he came along with us. Once we found the tree he wouldn't let me cut it down! I think he secretly likes Christmas tree hunting and just doesn't want to admit it.

Elijah insisted on pulling the tree back to the barn. You can't see him here but see that BIG bushy tree in between the two rows of trees. That's our tree and he is in front of it pulling the cart.

He is working so hard!

The only thing missing was the snow.

Going Vintage

I have recently fallen in love with most things vintage. Blame it on Etsy and the plethora of beautiful vintage things you will find on there. Part of me loves vintage because of the nostalgia associated with it. I have told my husband numerous times that I was born in the wrong decade. I should have been born in the thirties or forties. Buying vintage allows be to tap into that feeling of having missed it the first time around. But I also love vintage because it means I can be green without really being green. I really can't stand this whole green thing. It has become such a PC thing to do and well I am not PC. I do believe in taking care of what God has given us and being good stewards of the earth, but I do not buy into the media, democratic agenda, global warming thing. It just isn't happening for the reasons that they tell you it is and well basically people are not intelligent enough to do the research and find out the truth for themselves. Ok enough about that moving back to the whole vintage thing.

Here is what I have scored so far. A few, alright ALOT of vintage ornaments which I LOVE and only wish I had more little containers to put them in. The glass apothecary jar on the right was a vintage find from Salvation Army for $1.99! Score!

They even look cute in thier little boxes!

I did manage to add some to this wreath. I stole the idea from Sis Boom, but only because I couldn't buy the one she has.

The other day I found a little something for Seth's birthday at Goodwill, which I will show you later. I stopped at the Salvation Army yesterday and there was the cutes little vintage blue suitcase/hat box or something. For some stupid reason I didn't buy it. I am going back tomorrow all the while praying that it is still there. I have plans for it for a Christmas gift for Kate.

Ooh, ooh! I also bought a set of vintage Anchor Hocking red and white salt and pepper shakers. They are so awesome and they will go great in my red kitchen that I will have, someday, sigh.