Santa's been ironed

I ironed my sheet, but couldn't get him to look at the camera. He is looking at his big brother wtih that big smile. See his one tooth? Still haven't bought a toothbrush for him!! Maybe Santa will bring him one for Christmas.

Santa Baby #3

Don't be surprised if you see new ones later. I'm irritated at myself for not ironing that sheet first. I tried editing it in photoshop, but it was just taking too long. Would have been faster to pull out the iron. I'll have to post some Baby Santas from Christmas pasts, too.

Snow Day

You're Invited!

What: Kid's Christmas Party
When: Sat, Dec 5
Time: 3:30 - 5pm
Where: my house

It'll be geared towards pre-schoolers and kindergarteners, but everyone is welcome. We'll be reading the Christmas story, doing some sort of Christmas craft, and a gift exchange (kids only), plus just time to enjoy each other. We wanted for each child to receive one nice gift instead of everyone having to spend a lot of money for each child to get a lot of trashy little gifts. So if you come, please bring one gift for a child ($5 -$10) per the number of kids you bring and a snacky food to share. We'll fill up on snacks and then go to the fort afterwards. We'd love for anyone who wants to come. It'd be nice to see everyone. Please let me know if you're planning on coming so that we can have enough crafts for all. Oh, and Daddys can come, too.

B is for . . .

Old lady has moved out from the bathroom. Before, the light minty green on all the walls and don't forget, the ceiling, was just not my thing.

Before. . . .

 

After . . .

I painted the walls a simple beige (called "reality beige - can't get more boring than that) because the shower curtain (you can see the reflection in the mirror) had too many bright colors to try to match. So then I felt that I needed to add the colors of the curain to the rest of the room, so out comes the scrapbooking paper and decoupage.

Project cost about $1.50. Chris had our hunter green towels from before we got married so they were old. Mom got me new brown towels for my birthday. Ooo, they are nice. I'm just sad that they are for the kids and not for my bathroom.

We are eventually and hopefully going to gut the bathroom. We might even put a cabinet above the toilet. But for now, this is how it'll be. I'm so much more happy with it.

Baby Bella

A friend of mine's baby was turning 3 months and I offered to take some pictures of the baby instead of her taking her to Sears. I figured, if none of them turned out, she could always take her to Sears afterwards. Really, I just wanted a chance to play. I love playing with my camera. I need to get some photography 101 lessons, but until that day happens, it's still fun. I set up a photo studio in my computer room by the window. I'm wishing I had used a different blanket. Wasn't thinking about off-white blanket, white pinky baby, pink clothes. I'm used to blue. She brings this little baby bonnet with her. One that SHE wore as a baby. She knows I have 3 BOYS! Bella and Ben. That's cute together, isn't it?

Back Porch

The back of our house is an add-on and the porch that was added was awful! The aluminum roof was barely holding & slanted so badly, dh had to duck to get under it. Instead of a concrete slab, it had these concrete tiles with no grout, just sitting on top of the dirt. It was small and just about useless. The wild thing is that the add on was added in the late 60's. It's been like this for 40 years!

But not anymore. . .

We had to move it to the right side of the back door because of a tree, but I told Chris, make it as big as we can afford it. It's awesome. The kids finally have something to do outside, a big slab to ride their bikes, scooters, cars, ahhhh.  It's so nice!! I feel like I'm at a resort cabin in the woods, sitting outside, taking in the view (granted, my view is 3 little boys at play, but I've got a big imagination). Chris still has to drywall the underside and add . . .get this. . .a ceiling fan/light (so excited). Don't you just want to come over and have a cup of coffee with me on my new back porch? (To a certain sister who is about to move into a brand new house with a view of the actual mountains, don't answer that question.)

Thanksgiving Plans or Lack There of

This is the first year were we have had no plans for Thanksgiving. It looks like either I cook a Thanksgiving meal (which I never have} for my kids and dh or we order pizza. I wouldn't mind making a meal, but wouldn't want to do all that just for us. There's a possibility that my mil and bil might come over, but even that's uncertain.  Is there any other family out there that has no plans that would like to have Thanksgiving with us?

M-I-C-K-E-Y

I made these plaques this weekend for Ca's Mickey Mouse room. I thought of the idea months ago. They were unfinished wood plaques from hobby lobby. I painted the edges black then decoupaged the scrapbooking paper on them. Then I made Mickey silhouette from Mickey pictures that I found on the internet. The Mickeys are glued on foam (white) so that they stand out a bit. White only shows when you're looking from the far side. I could have painted the foam, too, but hey, that would have taken another 20 minutes.The Mickey gloves are from a friend who used to work at Disney. The whole project costs me about $6. I'm not into kid colors and obnoxious kiddie decor, so I thought this was a nice compromise of a kid theme, but with adult taste. You like?

Us Right Now

Who can resist?Looks so grown up!

In this pictures, I told Ca NOT to hug me. Works every time.

Cheeky grin

Playing Around

I've been playing around with photoshop. The background is a fake. Just wanted to see if I could make it look realistic.

Pumpkins

We went to the pumpkin patch a couple of weeks ago. I was by myself with all three kids, but managed to get a few pictures. If you're wondering why there are more of Z than of the others, it's because he's my favorite - NO, it's because he was cooperating - which actually does make him my favorite when I'm trying to take pictures.

Over the Top?

I put this clock up yesterday. It's in our foyer. It's so huge: 36 inches across. I'm not totally in love with it, but I think I like it. I need a few reactions. Like if someone comes over and see it, I'm sure they'll say "wow" but not sure if it will be good one or a bad one. It might be a little over the top. Too late now, though. The numbers may seem a little off centered but it's because they are all different sizes.

I'm REALLY blogging. I PROMISE!

I keep checking my blog for a little comment here or there, but there is always a disappointing "0" before "comments." Are my blog friends really that busy? They can't say a little hello? Then I noticed something. On your blog lists, mine is not updating. You don't know I'm blogging. Blog of mine, why are you hiding from everyone? WHAT"S WRONG WITH MY BLOG?? Does anyone know how to fix this? Is anyone going to know I posted this? HELLOOOOOOO?!?!?!?

Some Bragging

• Zane (4yrs) can now write his name without any help
• Caedon (2 1/2) told me today that he was going to draw an E, a triangle, and an A. He did.
• Z can almost count to 20 by himself
• C counts to 12 or 13
• Dh fixed Ben's closet so that it has a door & took down that gross glass shower door.
• Both boys are in their rooms for quiet time. Ben's eating my arm
• Ben can crawl, pull up to stand, and now, he's cruising. Just turned 7 mths on Friday. (This is more of a prayer request.)
• Dh raised my clothing bar in our closet & put up a shoe rack for my pile of shoes, all while I was in San Antonio.
• He also hired guys to pour us a porch. The kids LOVE it!
• Ben's now upset and I hear doors opening early from quiet time.

New Site

My latest project . . .http://gracephotodesigns.blogspot.com/

More Favorites

Ok, ok, fine. I'll put some more of my favorites. But only because of all the begging.