Henry Antics...

Henry was busy last week!

 He created a toilet paper snowman in my scrap room.

 He got into the band-aids.

 He tucked himself in beside our Christmas moose!

Took a picture of himself and made it Sam's home screen.

Sam had to change it...it was a bit creepy.

Sleeping

These two slept in on Saturday!

And sleeping in means until 8:00 am!

Creepy!!

All this sleeping in the living room...

Sam on the couch, Jack on the floor and Moose not far away!

 

Is all because of this guy...

Yep. Henry. Our Elf.

Henry is back and has been up to his mischievous ways again!

 Such a TPing Jack's bedroom!

 So what is all the fuss about?

Well, a girl at school told Jack that she heard about an elf that was thrown on the floor and now only comes back for Halloween! He turned into an evil elf! That did Sam in!

Then she went on to share how she heard her elf walk right past her and then jumped on her brother's bed. That did Jack in!

Both boys ended up sleeping in the living room together that night. 

Sam ended up sleeping with me that night because he couldn't fall asleep. Nothing was wrong, just having one of those nights. Though later he said, no evil elf was going to get him! Then at 4:45 in the morning I feel a light tap on my arm. "Mom. Mom." I woke up to see Jack at my bedside shaking. "Mom. I just heard Henry walk past my face. It creeped me out!" So, got him tucked in on the couch and finally got a little shut eye myself.

Th next morning, the boys found Henry in Sam's bathroom cupboard along with a note.

 

Wow...Sam must smell real good with all the Axe in his cupboard! (The green syringe is one of my old teeth whitener appliers! Which I never noticed until looking at this picture!) 

The note was a little reassurance from Henry (and Santa) that an evil elf was NOT one of Santa's elves, that Henry would NOT turn evil and not to worry about Henry moving around. He waits until the boys are SOUND ASLEEP! 

"Does that make you feel better, Jack."

"Uh...YES!"

Needless to say we all slept like logs that night! Thank goodness! And we all love Henry once again.

All Cleaned Up...

PHEW!

I did it! I am done creating/making/kitting/teaching classes for the rest of the year. Now I can focus on my albums and crafts for a bit and I am so excited!! So I headed to my craft space and thought "Wow. I need to get this place cleaned up and organized!"

I also took advantage of this clean up to throw some items into my purge box! Items I looked at and knew instanty, "This has got to go!" After a few good hours of cleaning, organizing and windexing, I was in a much better spot to start creating.

 Sam said, "WOW, Mom! Good job!"

Jason said, "I didn't know you had such a large table in here."

Such support is good for the soul!

 I really enjoy the hour or two that my space stays clean. As soon as I start to create, I will be back to the only clean place to scrap...a 12x12 square right in front of me with all my "stuff" in a circle around me!  It was wonderful while it lasted!

New Hair!

Who's the new dude with the new do?

Right back at ya, Mr. Rico Suave !

December Daily...

HERE WE GO AGAIN!!

I am starting to think about my next MINI book, a December Daily. 

What is that? 

Another scrapbook idea that I have failed at terribly. 

The concept is to take a picture every day during the month of December to put in an album of your choice. Why December? Because that is such a busy month that you have tons going on so plenty of opportunities to snap a photo. Not to mention all that   extra time to scrap a picture a day in the busiest month of the year!! 

So, why in the world would I EVER do this again? 

Well, I am going for something TOTALLY different this year.

 I hope.

First, I have already picked out my album.

 

It is a 6x8 Sn@p red burlap album. 

I already have an idea for the cover, but time will tell.

(OK...obviously I need a new attitude and make some decisions!!) 

 

Idea: Wrapping ribbon around the front like this shows. But I won't be doing the sequins!

I have explored several options and versions of the December Daily. I have  tried to make it a December Journal, without daily dates/numbers, just keep track of things that happen in December.

But I still get very overwhelmed and have yet to fully complete an album. So, this year I am going to take my ideas from the "Photo a Day" challenge. 

WHAT??

A photo a day..didn't you just day that did NOT work for you?

The thing is, I don't have to think of what to take a picture of! The "Photo a Day" list tells me exactly what I need to do!

Here is the list that I am going to be using during December from Fat Mum Slim.

 So, on the first day I am to take a picture of something red..anything that is red! Easy!! What I really like, is the little explanation/inspiration that the blogger includes for each day!

1. Red: Find something red, snap it and share it. This is also our charity prompt for the month.
2. Where I stood: Where ever you are, we want to see it.
3. Silver: Just like there’s a lot of red around, perhaps you’re seeing more silver too. Snap and share it.
4. Tiny: Take a photo of something tiny, or perhaps go back to our perspective technique and make something LOOK tiny.
5. In the cupboard: Perhaps you’ve hidden presents in the cupboard or want to show off your pantry. Any cupboard will do. Be creative. How can you make something so ordinary look more interesting?
6. Shadow: Take a photo of a shadow.
7. 6 o’clock: 6am or 6pm, take a photo of whatever you’re doing at that time.
8. I shop here: Whether you’re buying gifts, or groceries – share where you shop.
9. This is the weather today: What a fun way to see how the weather differs around the world. How’s the weather where you are today?
10. R is for…: Find something starting with R and share it.
11. Green: Find something green today and share a photo of it.
12. Joy is…: What creates joy in your life? Share it.
13. Composition: This is our photography technique post. Stay tuned for a post with details on how to achieve it!
14. Drink: This time of year is all about eating, drinking and being merry, right? Share a drink photo.
15. Lights: Share a photo of some lights.
16. Makes you feel merry: What makes you feel happy? We want to see it.
17. Tree: Whether it’s a Christmas tree, or a part of nature – we’d love to see your tree today.
18. Big: Earlier in the month we shot tiny, now find something BIG to capture in a photo.
19. ‘Tis the season to…: Dance? Eat? Give? Love? Laugh? What do you think?
20. I’m listening to…: What can you hear right now?
21. On the door: Take a photo of something on a door.
22. Sparkly: Twinkle, twinkle… can you show sparkly in a photo?
23. Tradition: Show a tradition, whether it’s new or old, part of what your family does or something else.
24. Wrapped: Take a photo of something wrapped. It could be a burrito or a gift {or something else}. Easy!
25. Best bit of your day: Merry Christmas to you {if that’s how you celebrate!}. Show me the best bit of your day today.
26. Where you slept: At this time of year lots of people travel or stay with family, so I thought it would be cool to see where everyone slept last night.
27. What you’re doing now: What are you doing today? Or even right now? Share it.
28. Something awesome: Share something completely awesome.
29. Reflect: Best bit of 2013: When you look back at the year gone by, what’s one of the best bits that happened? How can you share that in a photo?
30. You: Let’s see one of your last selfies for 2014! Go on.
31. Celebrate: Hopefully you’re celebrating the end of a fab year and bringing in a new one. Show us how you’re celebrating.

I am still thinking through creating the album. Several gals I work with, create the album before December and just add pictures during the month.  This is my control weirdness coming out...what if I want the picture for that day to be a 6x8, but  I have already prepped and designated a 3x4 pocket for that day?  Yea...I know...get over it.  

I have several options when it comes to album pages for the 6x8 size. But, I think I am going to limit it to 6x8 and 4x6 refill pages. These pocket pages can be easily sewn to create any size that I am needing. I am also planning on stocking up on these little life savers: Photo Flips!

 

This will give me the ability to put pictures or memorabilia anywhere in the album. 

Now for the pieces to use in the album.

I purchased a packet of 3x4 December Journaling cards at Memory Bound. Actually, I purchased everything in this post from Memory Bound.

 

For the majority of my album I am going to use the Simple Stories DIY Christmas packs.

 

 

I will be using the Sn@p 'tis the season stickers and 3x4, 4x6 cards along with the insta squares and pieces. The above product will blend nicely with this more colorful items.

 

 

 

So, how can I possibly fail this year? I have the product, album and exactly what I am to do all laid out. I can do this. Now off to take a photo of something red! I KNOW...a cup of coffee from Starbucks! 

Let the Festivities Begin!

It's officially up!

Well, to be honest, it's been up for a week!

This is the first time ever we have put up our tree before Thanksgiving and..... I actually like it! It's not decorated, but I get to enjoy the lights at night!

#TBT

Throw Back Thanksgiving!

These are pictures from our Thanksgiving in 2010. I first posted this in 2011, but I think the pictures capture the boys personalites perfectly! I cannot remember exactly what was happening, but it might have gone something like this....


"Boys, I would like to show you the things that are inside the turkey. First, is the heart."

Sam is suddenly having flashbacks to the movie Indian Jones and the Temple of Doom where the guy takes the heart out of a live person! My mom is digging for the next specimen to share.

"Oh Nanny! Do I have to learn about that?!?!?  Was the turkey alive when you did that?" Yes, that would be a statement from Sam...sometimes his logic leaves him at times of stress.

Sam in the background, "Oh Mom!! Is Nanny going to take out my heart?!?!?"

Mom continues, "Now I would like you to see the neck of the turkey. Do you know you can make a soup from the neck?"  Jack is starting to get a bit interested in all of this...  

Sam has about three more seconds before he will have to run to the bathroom. Hey! Where's Jack?  

 

I should have known!!

Happy Thanksgiving!!

#TBT

#TBW
(throwing back today since tomorrow is a holiday!)

This was the boy's first attempt at a lemonade stand!

 It was a warm afternoon and Sam thought this would be great thing to do and an easy way to get LOADS of money!

Unfortunately, we didn't live on a busy street. We had a few "local" customers and one car that stopped.

(Jack doesn't even have shoes on!)

 Jack was drinking the product and Sam was getting bored.

And about 15 minutes later.

They were done.

The Season has Begun...

Basketball season is upon us and I love it! (And not just because I am an ISU fan and they are ranked number 13...just had to point that out!) Sam had his first tournament in Ames and let's just say that his team has a few things to work on!

 Sam has been working hard at his basketball skills and was super excited to have the season begin,but also had beginning of the season butterflies!

 And wouldn't you know it. 4 minutes into the first game and JAM! It was his right had this time...not the thumb he chipped in September. He continued to play and was pretty sore by the end.

 

Sam plays post due to his size, which really isn't all that big compared to the guy he had to guard! Yep, he guarded the guy in white..Sam is number 53 tucked behind on the right.

 I really enjoy watching him play. He had four games and in this one, the boys played so hard and were in a rhythm. Unfortunately, that isn't going to get us any taller! The other kiddo just had a height advantage and made it loo so easy!

 Yep, Sam gets to tip off the ball each game. Our tall guy from last year went to play for another team and so it's up to Sam!

 Sam got it! It's all about the timing and he was good to go on this one! Or did the other guy give him a little boost?