Christmas Decorations

We were seriously lacking in the Christmas decoration department this year. Last year I got it all done so quickly, and it looked great. This year I had a lot going on, decorations were misplaced, and time was getting short. So, I borrowed a good friend's circle cutter and went to town on these super simple decorations {Christmas style of course!}

Merry Christmas!

Mr. Wonderful

He was way cooler than me in high school, but he didn't know it. That's one of the things I love about him. The first time we ever talked, he proposed. It was for a class, but 4 years later it was for real. He loves me in a way I never knew possible. Our girls are going to have a hard time finding a man who measures up to the way he loves them. We fight, but when it's all over I never feel defeated, I feel more loved and understood than before. He makes me coffee every morning before he leaves, and he holds me close each night. He'll probably never read this, but now you know... I married Mr. Wonderful!

what we've been up to...

Christmas is always a busy time for our family, here is a little bit of what we've been up to:

Here's a {shortened} list of what we've done in the last 3 weeks:

family photos

ashlyn's birthday party

disneyland

gingerbread house fundraiser for church

women's tea

craft fair

Christmas Play for church

Christmas play for preschool

Christmas tree shopping

and now we've all gotten sick!

but we're on the mend and we'll see you soon

Crafts gone awry

There are usually two schools of thought on Halloween candy.

1- let them eat as much as they want the night of and then toss the rest

2 - slowly portion it out over the next several days {or weeks, or months!}

Usually I'm in the first boat. I want it all GONE or I'll end up eating half of it. This year though, Emma was actually old enough to protest to all of her left over candy being tossed in the trash.

So, I had to come up with something else. It had to be a way to divide up the candy over time and in a way that they wouldn't be begging me all day for another piece.

I saw this idea on Martha Stewart years ago and decided to give it a try... I couldn't find any pictures of the original project which turned out much cuter. I am trying to give up perfection in crafts so that my kids can help. In this instance I wanted to make a rainbow but they just wanted all purple...

Sort out the candy {if there are siblings make sure there's enough for each kid!}

cut out tissue paper about the size of the mouth of the cup

i decided if it couldn't be cute it should be educational. It was going to be a calendar... you'll see later why that didn't work out {several reasons why}

glue the tissue paper on top

here's my sideways picture of the finished product.

{yes we are in a constant state of remodel... and we need a light switch cover}

It's not exactly what I was hoping for but I let the kids do it themselves and they loved it.

Since I used this frame it couldn't be a calendar b/c it's only 5 across. And then there's the fact that it's low to the ground and the little one helps herself to a cup of candy anytime my back is turned!

Oh well, at least we had a fun afternoon!

Rewards

Awhile back, it became apparent that our older daughter needed a reward chart of some sort... a way to earn toys or privelidges without always having them handed to her. I cringed at the thought of the poster board full of stickers hanging on the wall - my dear husband will tell you, one of my pet peeves is primary colors - and along came my good friend Kerry, with the shell jar. It's so simple really, Emma earns shells {or sea glass, or starfish}, and when she has enough she gets the pre-determined reward... but the best part is that the jar just looks like a part of the decor!

I'm sure this could work a million different ways with different styles of homes!

Basic

Not much today... drove in the rain a lot {worth it to see my dear mom}, did very few chores, and I actually fed my family grilled cheese and top ramen for dinner {sadly, they weren't surprised by this!},

Also, washed the pups too many times because rain + dirt = muddy pups

In an attempt to give you something for taking the time to check on me: The new Basic. film came out this week. It's a video series that challenges what has become the church's view of, well, church. The videos are done by our old pastor from before we came to San Diego... Francis Chan. Super solid guy. It's free to watch online until Thursday, please do!

http://premiere.basicseries.com/

pumpkins, ponies, and soup

It was a l o n g day. Some fun, some rough.

pumpkin patch

ponies

giant slide

hay ride

tears

nap

poop {on a pillow}

fighting

chalk board

butternut squash soup

bike ride

bath

quiet!

Here are some pictures of the fun parts!

simple skirt

While I was catching up on blogs yesterday I stumbled upon this SUPER easy diy skirt. i love that her daughter's name is ashlyn too!Seriously people, it took me maybe 10 minutes... and only minimal sewing skills are needed {very minimal} I only glanced at her pictures and went from there.. I know she used a serger around the edges, but I don't have one - jealous - and didn't want to spend the time to hem all around. If you use a knit {tshirt type material} you do not have to finish the edges because it really doesn't fray. I pretty much always take the easy way out ;) have fun!

did i forget to mention that i made it during naptime, and actually made it so long she pulled it up to be a dress? {below}

We've lived in our house almost a year now, and I have a confession to make... there is almost nothing on the walls. Maybe it's because of our time in college dorms or apartments, but I always think twice {or 3 or 4 times} about putting something up. Probably, it also has something to do with my fickleness (a word?) I am constantly changing it up in here! Well I've decided it's far past time to get some things up on the walls, and so, slowly but surely I will be posting my DIY art here. Today I tackled a small project in the kitchen. There's not much wall space in our narrow galley style kitchen, and we're planning to remodel this summer, so I needed something easy, and cheap that I could change when the mood struck me. Just like most of my projects, this DIY was not my own idea - but I cannot remember where it came from in order to give credit. As soon as I figure it out I'll post the site.

I decided to paint the word l o v e above my kitchen entryway...

to remind myself, when I look up {from cooking, scrubbing dishes, mopping floors}

of the reason I'm doing these things!

But I might want to change it, right? So I used a chalk pen instead!

First, I printed out the letters in the size I'd want them (above)

next, I cut them down to size... not perfectly, just smaller

then, color the back of the letters with regular chalk

tape in place

press firmly to trace over the letters. it works better with a pencil, a pen's tip is too fine.

remove the paper and you will have a faint outline like this one

then just fill it in with your amazing Chalk Ink pen and you have this...

sure, if you have great penmanship you can just write it without all the hassle, but mine's atrocious!

fireplace

When we first moved into our house I wanted to paint the fireplace white. When we got to Lowe's to buy the paint, the paint guy talked me out of it {actually, he bullied me out of it... but that's another story}. Almost a year later I finally did it... and love the results!

before...

after...

sweet graphics (and they're free)

I've been trying to figure out a way to scrapbook for my kids without actually having to buy all the scrapbook supplies and spend hours upon hours putting it together. I just don't have the time... This took me 10 minutes to put together

thanks to this talented lady via Ashley Ann

Good bye dear friend!

Before we bought our home, David and I were fortunate enough to live in an apartment complex owned by the University we graduated from. Everyone there was a recent graduate, newly married, and there were many young families. We liked to think of it as the "married dorms". We'd share stories of marriage & parenthood, and play board games late into the night with our baby monitors lined up in the courtyard. Some of our best friends came from that time in our lives, and now one of these families is moving to Idaho. The Newberys have become some of our closest friends. Emma introduces their son as, "my Brody." We met them at the park today {probably for the last time}, and Kate put her awesome photography skills to work on my girls. We love you guys... and can't wait to visit Idaho!

let's hear it for the boys!

It is so easy to come across DIY's for my girls... anything that turns out pink, shiny, or "fancy" and they are enthralled. But little boys are much more difficult. I stumbled across this one - Genius!

check out the creator at her blog, homemade by jill.

pray

I first read the story of Daisy Love several months back. She's the pastor's daughter at a church up in Santa Barbara. Daisy has a form of cancer called a Wilm's Tumor. Maybe it was Ashlyn's time in the hospital {which in NO way could compare to the gravity of this situation}, but I have felt absolutely compelled to pray for her over the last several days, and ask that you would do the same... and ask any friends who would be willing to as well. God is so big and so great, he is able to do what we couldn't possibly dream.

joy

I've always loved summertime. It's especially nice because my DH gets to spend it with us.

The last few weeks have been rough {we're overhauling our only bathroom}

but the joy of summer is shining through...

{joy is her middle name!}

i adore those baby feet on the deck!

Design Studio

While working on my "extreme makeover" {it's not what you'r thinking} I came across this awesome graphic design studio. Adorable graphics, reasonable prices, perfect for invites, cards, or anything else!

find them all here at Cocoa Studio

more pom poms

I just can't get away from these things! How sweet... I just can't believe I didn't think of this, and now my girls are too big for it.

buy it here {on etsy of course}

Pneumonia

I'm sitting in the window seat of the Pediatric ICU at Children's Hospital, doing what? Writing a blog. They have some strange rules here, like, two parents can stay but only one can sleep. Hmmm some sort of sleep deprivation torture? Not sure. Anyway, while Dave's snoozing, I needed to so something to keep myself awake. Lucky you, getting to read all about it! We came in to the Dr. just thinking Ashlyn had an ear infection. Well, she did, but LONG story short, she also has pneumonia. Earlier tonight, after she wasn't responding to treatment downstairs, they moved us up here to the PICU. Thankfully the little one is finally getting some rest {for now, until they come in to do something else to her}. Several times we've been asked by the staff if we're in the medical field because of how calm we are. Much of that peace is because we know the Great Physician and that it is He who is in control. We so LOVE that you all are praying for us, and are very much hoping to make it home in time for Easter!

food fight

Once upon a time my kids were great eaters. Emma would tell people her favorite food was broccoli. These days things are a bit different, and I've been searching for ways to get her to try different foods {other than letting her put sprinkles on her chicken!} Just look at these "food face dinner plates" over at perpetual kid. As a matter of fact, the whole site is pretty awesome.

itch

soooo i admit it. i've disappeared off the blogging radar and i can't say for sure how often i'll be back. we've been sick, busy, distracted... and lately i have been frustrated by the quality of every crafty or creative thing i've attempted. it almost feels as if i'm missing something important or like i'm anticipating something coming up {although i'm not sure what exactly that is}. for sure, i've been in a funky mood. i wonder if it has to do with not being able to hear out of my right ear still ?! just joking. anyway kids, i'll be back but i can't say when. have a lovely beginning of spring. i'm off to wander inspiring blogs. see you soon{ish}.

a PINK bedroom

When we moved into our new house, Emma had only two requests. First, she wanted a puppy {done}, and next, she wanted a pink room. I tried to convince her that pink accessories make a "pink" room. She wouldn't buy it, and so her room is a lovely shade of light pink with aqua colored accents {turns out, I love it}, but now what? Ashlyn has moved into her own room and there's this HUGE empty space forcing me to make a decision! Below is some inspiration I found around the blog world... will update soon!

{if you have any ideas or pics to share, I need all the help I can get}

I've always liked hanging lanterns and these tissue paper balls, but I couldn't hang them in a way I loved... until I saw this!

{all photos are from ohdeedoh.com}

A little bit of rain

So, this week we've had the biggest storms they've seen in San Diego for 10 years! I love the rain. More accurately I love having a fire in our fireplace, wearing cozy clothes, and the way the weather can make things slow down! Tonight my dear husband had a class and the baby went to sleep early, so Emma and I had a hot chocolate and movie date. We tried out a chocolate filigree topping I saw in this month's Martha Stewart. It was SO easy! Just melt the chocolate chips, and pipe out onto a piece of wax paper in the pattern you like. We just did hearts and a few letters. We also put them in the freezer to make them harden faster {about 5 min}. It made the hot cocoa a bit more special!

finally!

It's been a long summer {and fall, and half of winter}, but I'm finally back in the blogging world! I've missed it, but with a new house, walking baby, and a puppy, the family has had a lot going on. I'll be posting not only the coolest kid/baby ideas, but also lots of do-it-yourself projects for home {as ours is old and in need of heaps of TLC}. Can't wait to see you around here more often!