Crunch!

Yesterday I pulled my car out and parked it in the turnaround part of the driveway so that Natalie could drive her Jeep. A couple hours later, Jack came and picked her up. Now, I NEVER leave my car in the driveway, but I did this time. Well, Natalie and I were waving and blowing kisses; Jack forgot my car was there and backed right into it! He was barely even moving but it still caused a bit of damage. I will say that he sits up so much higher in his truck and he is so use to me not having the car in the driveway so I'll give him that (today that is...I wasn't too happy about it yesterday) Well, his insurance covers it all and the car goes in on Tuesday to get fixed. I'll get a rental car, too. I am sure that the rental car will make me want a newer car even more. So, I thought that this would be a good time to tell Jack that I scratched the brand new floor in the living room....Nah! The scratch is barely noticable but it is long and I KNOW Jack will see it right away so I have "conveniently" had something there anytime he comes over. This Christmas tree tote is going to have to go in the basement sooner or later...but it's doing such a good job covering up the scratch. I guess that I can always remind him about my car! LOL

Wonderful Christmas!

We had a wonderful Christmas! We went to Christmas Eve Mass...this was the busiest I have ever seen in my life. We were actually sitting in the side hallway watching Mass on the TV. We hung out at my parents' house for a few before we came home and crashed in bed at about 8:30! We opened gifts up around 6am. I couldn't wait another second for Natalie to open everythng! Natalie is so excited about all of her gifts! The ONE thing she wanted was her Little Mommy Gotta Go Doll. Santa was kind enough to get it for her. This doll has so many phrases and of course the best part....she goes potty in the toilet. But the good part for me is that there is no water and no mess. Natalie and I were laughing so hard today while playing with this doll...she says the funniest things.

My Mom got Natalie one a doll and horse from Target...kinda reminds me of American Girl dolls.


We also have a Fur real monkey in the house now, too.

My brother got Natalie her own camera.

I was so glad when I heard this because she loves to use mine. Well, now I know who Natalie feels about me always having my camera in her face. She has been taking pictures of me nonstop. She is having a BLAST with it though...that's the important thing! So, these are just a few of Natalie new things and hopefully she'll be enjoying it all for quite a while.
My parents absolutley LOVED the snapfish 81/2x11 photo album I made for them. It was filled with pictures of when they took Natalie to Mackinaw Island in August. I recieved some beautiful clothes and jewelry just to mention a few things. Honestly, the best part was watching Natalie's excitement and also seeing how happy the album made my parents. You can't put a price tag on happiness! Hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas!!!

Merry Christmas!

Christmas Party

Natalie's preschool Christmas party was today. Even though she didn't go to school we still go and I help out. The kids made cards, candy cane reindeer, had a jingle bell toss and painted in snow. I had a blast helping out! I got the cutest picture of Natalie and Adam...her "boy" friend. They are best buds and really help each other out. Natalie has had a hard time going back to school after a long summer off with me. So, they have grown by helping each other!
Well, over the last month the kids have been making gifts for parents. Today, we brought home the gift bag. I saw there was a recipe book. At first I was disappointed becasue I thought all the families contributed a recipe to the book and that I didn't. I opened it up to find it was recipes as interpreted by the kids. This recipe book is so darn cute!

Here are a couple examples of what the kids had to say
Pizza by Natalie
Directions:Order from the pizza place a pepperoni pizza snd some breadsticks.
I will eat one piece of pizza and two breatdsticks.
Mom will eat one piece of pizza and one breadstick.

Pizza by Adam
Directions: Call the pizza man and ask for just cheese.
Drink root beer with your pizza. (Mom likes salad, too)

Pizza by Ryan
Directions: Order it and Dad goes to Pizza Hut to get it, and Mom goes to Burger King to get me a toy.

Mac and Cheese by Ryan
Ingredients:
Noodles (cuz we ran out)
Directions:
Put it in the oven, you don't need cheese.
When it takes so long, it is done.

Pumkpin Pie by Hailey
Ingredients: Find pie in desset section at store.
Directions: Mix together
Put in oven for 50 cents
Eat while hot-with whipped cream
Buy more stuff

These are just a few examples. Arent' they just adorable!

Early Winter Break!

I had a feeling we would get dumped with snow on Friday! I saw that the schools had planned their holiday parties for Thursday, and they did this weeks in advance. I thought it was a great idea, just in case there was a snow day on Thursday then the party could be on Friday. Well, we got dumped with a ton of heavy snow and sleet over Thursday night. No school for any of the kids in this part of the state. I don't have a "school" age child, but I sub and Natalie goes to preschool. Even Natalie's preschool was closed. Such a bummer! With the Mattawan SChools being closed, that meant no Kiddie U Christmas Program! I have been looking forward to Natalie's preschool program all month. I even bought her a necklace, bracelet, earrings and new hair bows that I was going to give her before her program. I am sure that Kiddie U will come up with an alternative, but I am not good at waiting. I wanted to give Natalie all that stuff Sunday when I bought it!LOL. So, we went outside and I shoveled a path in the backyard so the dogs can go potty. I have an amazing friend that plows my driveway so he came over in the afternoon and did that. Seriously, Craig is such a great friend. The first time he plowed the driveway I had no clue who did it. Jack and I finally figured it out and Craig has been plowing it ever since, that's been 6 or 7 years ago! I thought he may quit plowing my driveway when Jack and I separated since he was more of a friend of Jacks. Nope, he continued. And, he doesn't charge a penny. He just asks if he can store the plow in the garage over the summer! Of course! I have more than enough room and it's the least I can do for a friend like him!

December fun

Well, we have been having some fun lately. Last Saturday we made our Rudolph and Santa cookies. I should have done one on Saturday and the other on Sunday becasue by the time we finished the Rudolph cookies and started Santa, Natalie had enough. But, she did keep telling me that hse only wanted to make Rudolph. She did help make 1/2 a dozen or so of the Santa cookies. I frosted the cookes and then Natalie put on the antlers for Rudolph, eyes and nose for both, and Santa's beard. It was so fun to make them!



On Wedensday I didn't have to sub so Natalie asked to go sledding. I thought that was such a good idea. We headed over to my Mom and Dad's. The snow was perfect for sledding. It wasn't deep or thick so it was easy to get the sled moving down the hill. Natalie was laughing and having so much fun!
Getting ready to go!




While we were sledding, we saw deer tracks all over their yard...you can see the tracks around this tree where the deer were trying to eat the berries. Then the tracks head off to and around back to the open field.



I have also excited to announce that I have made the Creative Scrappers DT. I really like this site and they have so much inspiration and awesome sketches.

Simply Obsessed reveal

I have been so busy and tired the past couple days that I almost forgot to post my layouts from my December kit for Simply Obsessed. I love the colors and decorative edges on the papers.

Scrapbook Heaven's December kit reveal

Today is reveal day at Scrapbook Heaven. I really loved working with this kit. I literally got it on a Saturday afternoon and had four layouts done by the time I went to bed that night. It was so fun to work with! Here is what I did with the Snow Angels kit.

You can see what other DT members did with their kits by clicking here. Each DT member has their own thread for reveal. There are 2 kits available!

Crazy cold!!! Brr!

It is crazy cold already! It is currently 14 degrees but it feels like 1 below! My Mom and Dad watched Natalie tonight while we finished working on the living room. When I walked outside to get her I felt the coldest blast of air. It feels more like the middle of February around here. This is going to be one very long winter if it stays this cold. I was thinking today about how there are people that have never seen snow before. I remember one time at Universal Studios an older man stuck up conversation with us. He asked us where we were from and then he asked how we get the snow moved around and if it is difficult. He was from Louisiana and had never seen snow before. I guess it could be compaired to people who have never seen a palm tree. I'm such a dork when traveling South and always have to point out the first Palm tree that I see...I have been known to take a picture of it, too. LOL

Well, Tomorrow is the Christmas parade in Paw Paw...not sure if we'll go or not. I really want to but I don't feel like becoming a human icicle either. LOL.