SOCIAL MEDIA

Some Crafty Goodness...

12.30.2014

This past weekend I was blessed with having some time to play in my craft room. It's been awhile to say the least. I relished every minute! And now when I talk to my dad on the phone and he asks me if I've been working on any creative projects I can finally answer with a YES! I love how he always makes a point to ask me that...he knows how important it is to me!

I pulled out my Silhouette machine as you can probably tell. I used it for every single one of these projects. I've also been getting a subscription to Scrapbook Circle again and most of the papers were used from previous kits from them. Love their kits!


The apron card might be my favorite card made ever...it's so cute! I think it would be cute using red and an aqua blue too...with a bit of white. I just might have to make some more!


 And this little bear is Zoey's favorite card...I have to admit, it did turn out pretty cute!


I had fun creating these two little thank-you cards for my mother-in-law and sister-in-law. (If you are reading this Ann or Serena please know they are in the mail to you!).


And then the last card was this little simple one for my dad. The photo is a bit off in color (the red is more red and not so much of a tomato red in real life) as I was taking photos at night but you get the idea.


It felt so good to create again! Makes me want to make a point to carve out some creative time every week...to make a point of it. After I clean up my craft room that is!

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And...it was Merry!

12.26.2014

Santa came! Albeit after 1:00 a.m. sometime (I'm guessing here) because someone would NOT go to sleep!!!

Zoey woke up at 5:00 a.m. and I told her that I needed to sleep in some more...she waited in the living room with Leo, doing some investigating I am sure.


When Ethan and I finally woke up and were "up for the long haul" Zoey started in on opening her stocking right away. We gave Leo his present right away too so that he would be out of the way of all the wrapping paper and bows...he likes to get involved when there is unwrapping to be done.





Lucky dog...a gluten free, organic, healthy bacon bone! It must have been healthy too because he didn't throw up this Christmas!! A first for a couple years now!


Zoey got a special gift from the fairies again this year...



And something that she has been wanting for awhile now...the full complete season of Boy Meets World! She has been enjoying watching the new T.V. show Girl Meets World and we discovered that it's a continuation of the program Boy Meets World which originally aired when my youngest sister was Z's age. We've been enjoying watching the shows by requesting past seasons from the library...well, I've been re-requesting them so many times that I don't think any other patrons have been getting to watch them so I knew it would make a good gift for Zoey. She was thrilled!


A gift that she asked Santa for was a retired American Girl doll named Nellie. Santa didn't disappoint! She's a pretty cute doll and has a somewhat mischievous and playful nature about her.




A gift from me to Zoey this year was some kinetic sand...so awesome! I played with some at the toy store that's local and knew I had to get some. Ethan, Zoey and I all are enjoying playing with it. It's like a solid but not...it's amazing and so relaxing to play with and it doesn't stick to your hands which is amazing as well...there is no mess! We just have to be careful to keep it away from Leo because he tries to eat it. :) Of course!


Here is a picture of Leo post Christmas bone. Can you tell he is a full puppy?


And this was Leo's gift to Zoey this year...


Santa brought a really cool building set that also includes the ability to wire as well as build, design and more! It's soooo cool! In my opinion it offers more in the way of creativity than Lego's do. It's truly unique and I can tell she's going to create and re-create with it already. With Lego's she would create whatever the "recipe" was for the set and that was it. Love there is no "recipe" for this and that the combinations of what you can create are endless truly!


Here is Zoey's first creation...without the wiring.


And a break from gift photos for a shot of sleepy puppy...once again. Perhaps his 22nd Christmas nap?



A gift to Zoey from both Ethan and I was a Fujifilm Instax camera...it's pink! Zoey loves it and I am quickly realizing that we will probably be running out of film pretty quickly! She has been snapping pictures non-stop!


She loves to take pictures and this means that I don't have to hook up her camera to my laptop and print pictures for her now...she can do it all herself because it's instantaneous!


The mini prints are so cute too!



Zoey got a fuzzy new larger sleeping bag (she's growing out of her old one) along with a matching pillow. I'm not going to lie, I've been using this already too! It's soooooooo soft!


Here is another picture of Zoey and Nellie...two cuties!


We think that Santa's elves made this doll stand for Zoey's dolls...she's so excited to make it a bakery, a vet or a store for the dolls! Since it's generic there is so much possibility! There is even a hanging chalkboard sign so she can write or draw on it. So fun!



My favorite part of the day may have been the fire we enjoyed the evening of Christmas day. It was mild out and the perfect evening for a fire. We may have enjoyed a snowball fight too...




It was a happy Christmas...we were relaxed, healthy, and together which hasn't been the case for a long while with our crazy schedules and responsibilities to work and school. It was nice to be in a place where there was no expectation other than that of taking time to enjoy one another.

Feeling especially thankful.

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Snapshots from December

12.24.2014

It's been a wild and crazy ride with a bit of sickness thrown in for good measure but we're here and ready for Christmas!

I know that this year...working more for me has meant that I treasure that time that I do have to spend with Zoey and at home even more. So thankful for the days that I have off that Ethan and Zoey are home as well. Blessed.

Coming home and seeing this greet me helps. Love our little home in our big woods.


Baking has been happening...gluten free all the way AND they taste good! YAY!

So happy that I found some GF recipes that fit the bill. So thankful for my kitchen helper as usual. Ethan even stepped in at the end to help frost a couple of cookies. 







So happy that I have my favorite Peanut Butter Blossom cookies available to eat this year too!! Hooray for small victories in the kitchen!


After all that baking some cuddling was due...love these two.


Zoey has been sure to spend some time outdoors playing in the snow. We've had a couple of days recently when it's been packing snow which sure beats last year when there were like just two!



I love Zoey's gift to us that's under the tree this year. She wrapped it all herself. Such a happy little package!


Today we slept in and once awake we enjoyed pancakes and strawberries (Zoey may have enjoyed some chocolate chips with hers) and watched the movie Eloise at Christmastime in our pajamas. This afternoon we hope to get outside and play in the snow a bit...thinking snowshoeing in the woods would be fun. This evening we will enjoy a candlelight service at church and come home for a simple and cozy dinner as a family. Early to bed this evening since it will be an early morning tomorrow!

We can't wait!

Merry Christmas!


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