in the end it was merry and bright!

I've got a blog? Say what! I know...I've neglected. To be honest, quite honest, I haven't really cared. I've had lots to say but no energy to put the words out there. Life has happened, I've been there. Life has jetted by tooting it's horn, trying to get me to laugh. I sometimes acted like a 2 year old...huffing, puffing, and wanting to prove that I could win. I finally gave up all the while waving the white flag. I could either crumble or enjoy what was around me.

I'm a rather grand planner but when it comes right down to it I run, fail, or give up. When I do succeed I really don't realize it because I'm constantly looking at the negative. My patience was seriously tested this Holiday season. If it wasn't one thing it was another. Another trial, another failure, another child testing my string of patience.

I had so many projects to accomplish but instead my sewing machine decided to act squirrly, supplies decided to not show up in the mail, people decided to tick me off (I mean really, really tick me off), and my patience decided to go haywire. I was defeated. I was mad. I cried. Then I put my happy face on and moved on. I had no picture perfect Christmas. I took 2 pictures, yes...2. But I was loved beyond measure and had those I love around me. We were together. We laughed. We laughed some more. We drank. We were merry. After all was said and done we made it through the hectic Holiday craze. I hope you and yours had a happy, love filled Christmas and healthy, exciting New Year!

P.S. I'm ready to get crafty, start painting, and make (and succeed) at the boy's new shower curtain and valance.

goodbye perfectionism

I have grand plans when it comes to the Advent calendar. I was just picturing my family making memories, enjoying each other, and serving others. It was picture perfect. Day 1 & 2 were a huge success so Day 3 was to follow in their footsteps. The 3rd day was to color a picture and mail it to someone you love. I found these cute, little wooden postcards at Michael's that the boys could paint so I snatched them up...for 50 cents a piece on top of that. Gotta love 50% off.

After school the boys ran to the calendar to see what the day had in store. Tristan read the paper and both of them got super excited. Tristan has to finish his homework immediately after school or it is meltdown after meltdown. So, he got to work on that and I let Tanner start his postcard.

Since his favorite color is blue he got to

painting the sky and ground blue.

Tip: if you have never used Q-tips for painting,

they are great! I always let the kids use these

when they are painting because it's almost like a little

crayon. Plus, having a brush for the 10,000

colors they want just ain't gonna happen.

As Tanner and I were busy at work, Tristan was lolly gagging (you've used those words before, right?). The homework buzz was wearing off and his little meltdown was starting. I tried to ignore the whining, begging, pleading but my patience was wearing thin. We talked, I explained, he pitched one.

Poor Tanner didn't have a clue to what was going on. He was just painting away, so proud of what he was doing. As he was finishing up, he decided to add some more blue (he would love a Smurf). I gently instructed him to not cover up the words because you wouldn't be able to read what the postcard said. That is when it happened. My perfectionism broke his heart. As he burst into tears, my heart left my body then and there. My sin had destroyed his masterpiece. My want to try and make everything perfect had ruined my perfect scene. My child's heart was beaten along with his sweet spirit. As I ran to him to embrace and hug him, my hurt and pain came roaring to the surface. I was in tears for hurting my child. I did this. As I apologized a thousand times, thinking he would remember this for the rest of his life, he simply wiped his tears and said "that's okay mommy". Oh, boy...I couldn't hold it in. He forgave me so easily. Without question...just like my Savior. I gave myself a minute to gather myself and we went right back to our perfect memory. Sometimes our idea of perfect isn't so perfect after all is said and done. There is only One perfect thing. God used this moment to show me just how damaging my sin can be. As much as I hate that I hurt my sweet boy, I am grateful for his forgiveness.

(yes, it was after school time and we were in our jammies)

Usually I would see imperfection in this but this

time, oh this time, is see utter perfection.

Nothing could be more brilliant.

advent-day 2

Advent calendar day 2 was writing Santa a letter with your wish list. I almost dreaded this because I get nervous that they will ask for something so ridiculous or unattainable. Mom and dad are pretty safe this year....or so we thought.

What is up with Mr. Crazy Eyes?

"Tanner, where did you get all those stickers?"

"From my teaaaachers...I love dem."
"Your stickers?"

"Mommy...I loved my teaaaachers."

Tanner moved on to drawing Santa a picture.

Being a boy, he decided to draw a snowman peeing.

Classic sweetness. Only moms of boys will be rolling

their eyes right now instead of laughing.

Tanner's Dear Santa...

word for word. Never change a young child's words.

Writing our name. He's so proud! and I am too!!!!

This is serious business with Tristan.

He did not want to be photographed.

Oh, wait. Dad and I thought we were in the

clear this year. Is that a DSi and an iPhone

that you think you want?

Sorry sport...

After I told him Santa had a budget this year he

decided to add less expensive

things. Glad he's thinking of the old jolly guy!

Of course, I was not allowed to take another picture

of the finished product.

This might just be our last year

mailing off letters to Santa and the

kid would not even smile.

Oh how I hope he still believes.

Maybe, just maybe...a smile. But of

course we can't be caught dead

looking at the camera.

wordless wednesday-advent day 1

stop...and listen

Two posts without a picture...what is wrong? I love a good post that has a cherry on top. A picture is always the cherry on top. It grabs my attention. Having ADD is not a good thing when it comes to reading.

This Christmas I am busy making lots and lots of things. I decided to go handmade or recycled. Not recycled as in regifting...I would never, ever! Well, maybe once. Twice. This new found burst of greatness has also brought a weight on my shoulders. Will I get it done? Will they like it? Will it come out the way I think it will? Then I realized....the people I'm giving gifts to are people I love. I know them. I care about them. I cherish them. Of course they'll like it, it's from the depths of my heart. I've been so worried about all these things I've gotten swept up in the commercial aspect of just giving a gift. This year though, I'm rethinking everything and giving not only a gift but my spirit of thanks. Thanks for letting me be part of their lives, thanks for a greater reason this holiday season than just Santa, thanks for sweet memories that last a lifetime. A gift of purpose. A gift I hope they will hold dear to them. Sometimes you have to stop and listen to the One who gives us everything to truly know what Christmas means.

I'm linking up to Kimba's DIY Day so check out all the creative gals over there!

advent calendar events

Advent calendars take planning. Something I try to be good at but with the hustle and bustle of the Holidays it is hard to plan your next 25 days and actually stick to each and every day. My plan...write out all our events and service projects and drop them in the calendar the day of. So far here is what I have:

~WRITE SANTA A LETTER AND GO MAIL IT AT THE POST OFFICE.

~GO SEE THE REINDEER AND DROP OFF A TOY FOR CHILDREN LESS FORTUNATE.

~GO SEE SANTA AND TELL HIM ALL YOUR WISHES.

~DRAW A CHRISTMAS PICTURE FOR SOMEONE YOU LOVE AND MAIL IT TO THEM.

~MAKE POPCORN GARLAND FOR THE BIRDS.

~CALL SOMEONE YOU LOVE AND TELL THEM HOW SPECIAL THEY ARE TO YOU.

~BAKE CHRISTMAS COOKIES AND TAKE THEM TO OUR NEIGHBORS.

~MAKE YOUR TEACHER A CHRISTMAS CARD.

~DECORATE THE TREE WHILE LISTENING TO CHRISTMAS MUSIC.

~DRIVE AROUND AND LOOK AT CHRISTMAS LIGHTS.

~MAKE A CHRISTMAS ORNAMENT.

~MAKE A SNOWMAN TO PUT BY YOUR BED.

~WATCH ELF AND DRINK HOT CHOCOLATE WITH EXTRA MARSHMALLOWS.

~TAKE SOME CANNED GOODS TO THE FOOD BANK.

~READ CHRISTMAS STORIES TOGETHER AS A FAMILY.

~HAVE A BIRTHDAY PARTY FOR JESUS AND READ OF HIS BIRTH.

~MAKE REINDEER FOOD.

~GO TO ALPINE VILLAGE AND PLAY IN THE SNOW.

~MAKE MONKEYBREAD FOR DINNER.

~GO SEE ZOO LIGHTS.

~GO TO STARRY NIGHTS.

~GO TO A CHRISTMAS PARADE.

~GO SEE THE LIVE NATIVITY.

~GO TO THE SINGING CHRISTMAS TREE.

What are you putting in your calendars this year?

advent calendar & christmas banner

I'm going homemade this Christmas, from decor to gifts. I'll probably change my mind on Christmas Eve when I'm still up finishing up last minute touches but for now, I'm so excited to see the finished products.

I have a few friends that have been making Advent calendars so I decided to try my hand at it. One thing I knew for sure was I didn't want to spend a fortune on this. I used a scrap piece of lattice my father-in-law gave me for the base of my calendar. Now, this is not how I want it. I envision it framed out, painted antique white, and then roughed up to all it's glory. Getting that done around here before December 1st just wasn't going to happen so, here it is.

I purchased these little white boxes/bags from the Dollar Tree. To string the boxes on I used ribbon and tied them on each side.

Thanks to my new birthday present, a Cricut!!!!!!!, I cut my numbers, the circles, and squares out. Add some little stickers and other embellishments and viola! This whole project cost me under $10 to make....gotta love that.

Remember that Halloween banner I made? Reverse it, add new ribbon, and now it's a Christmas banner for the amoire.

Don't you just love when your ink pad decides to come lose and smear dark, dark ink on your lovely creations? I guess it's time to rough it up some. At first I didn't think I wanted to but now seeing in pictures I think an antiquing will do it good.