Merry Christmas to Kameron
4 months late.
This monkey (Mikey Monkey from Larissa Holland) was meant to be a gift for Kameron Christmas 2009. I kept putting it off because it looked difficult and even though I really wanted to make it I just didn’t have the time during December of last year. Finally on Christmas Eve I cut out the pieces and then was too tired to go any further and since he was just 15 months he wouldn’t notice, right? Babies always get jipped because they won’t notice or care… So the pieces have been sitting on my desk since then and today I decided to go for it and start…and I finished, because Larissa’s pattern is totally awesome! The pattern is so well written and it looks like a lot, but it is pretty simple. She has it all there for you so you won’t make mistakes. :) I am so glad I finally made Kameron his pirate monkey. I decided that his name will be Jolly Bean. Kameron just happened to be eating Jelly Bellys when I finished sewing him up. I just finished the pirate pieces five minutes ago though, so he hasn’t seen those. I am so happy with this monkey! I hope he becomes a family heirloom and that he isplayed with and loved and hugged millions of times. I really think this might be the coolest thing I’ve made so far. Can you tell I love it?! Have a beautiful week everyone!
Filed under Creations, Holidays, Sewing | Comments (4)Easter Baskets
When I pulled the Easter stuff out this year I realized that Kameron didn’t have a fabric covered pail yet, like I had made the other two a few years ago. I wasn’t planning to be somewhere I could buy a metal pail, so I started looking for other ideas. I found this cute tutorial via How About Orange (a favorite blog for ideas!) and got to work. At first I was just going to use these as Easter baskets and put them away, but I’ve decided that they’re so cute that the kids can just use them to hold toys on their shelves. Taylor’s matches her toddler bed quilt that I made and the boys’ baskets are made with Michael Miller’s Bot Camp line of fabric. Taylor’s wasn’t finished until Monday morning, but they are all pleased with their little baskets. :)
We had a wonderful Easter day and a beautiful weekend! We were able to get a lot accomplished in our yard (though there’s still much more to go!) and had fun as a family. Then on Easter we went to church and then waited in town for my mother in law who came and purchased a wooden swingset for the kids. We are all very excited about that – hopefully we can put it together this weekend. Thank you, Gram & Grandaddy! After that we went on to their house and had our annual egg hunt and huge meal. We cooked the ham that Kody got for part of his Christmas bonus from work and it was so good. We got home around midnight I think. Perfect weekend. Here are some pictures from Sunday. Eventually, I’ll try to get my facebook page updated. A family photo was not taken again this year – big surprise. I am never in any Easter pictures. I manage to get in at least one from all the other holidays, but never Easter… Hope your day was happy and filled with Christ’s love for you. I’ve said before we only celebrate “Easter” because everyone else does, but we celebrate Jesus and what he’s done for us everyday and will continue to do so forever!
2009 in Review
I wanted to highlight some of my favorite moments of 2009 for posterity and I saw a few others blog in this manner this week, so I’m going to copy. I’ve never been one to come up with my own ideas, but I really enjoy taking others!! ;)
January – We celebrated Kristopher and Kody’s birthday quietly with dinner and some cake. Kristopher didn’t get to have a party this year. At the end of the month Western KY was hit by a huge ice storm and we were without electricity and water for almost a week. Our gas fireplace kept us warm and we had to find non-electronical things to occupy our time with. The nights were long since it got dark earlier and we sat around playing cards by candlelight and went to bed pretty early. It was nice to spend so much time together, but we were glad when we could take showers again!
February – Kristopher participated in his first Cub Scout Pinewood Derby. He built his car with some help from Kody, to look like a green pickup truck. It won the prize for most realistic vehicle. Unfortunately it didn’t win in the speed category. We still had a lot of fun with it and the whole family was able to be there:)
March – We started working outside a lot in March, trying to clean up and clear some of our property. The first thing to go was this little old shed. There were two of them right behind our house and we decided to only keep the bigger, nicer one.
April – We had a great Easter, but looking back through my pictures these are some of my favorite memories. The first is of our very dear friends. We hung out with them too many times to count over the year, this is just one of them. Kody found many turtles when he was out clearing the yard or mowing and this is one of them. We thought afterward when we found others that we should have tagged him so we could count how many we actually had. A few we were able to tell some differences. I also have to include this picture of Kameron. He was toted to many soccer games in the spring and he enjoyed playing on the blanket and discovering grass!
May – We bought a new refrigerator this month because we were tired of the old one leaking onto our new floor and ruining it. We really like the new one! Taylor played her first season of soccer this spring and she loves it. I hope she continues to like it or some form of physical activity. She really enjoys being outside and running though, so I think she’ll keep it up for awhile. We also finished Taylor’s room this month.
June – The only memorable thing I could see in pictures this month is that we went to Kody’s cousin Amy and her new husband Jim’s wedding reception. We all had a lot of fun there. Oh yeah…I celebrated my birthday this month too, don’t really remember it though…I think I was getting things ready to teach a week of VBS at church:)
July – So many beautiful memories this month, I took hundreds of pictures! We went to the Independence Day parade and Kristopher walked in it and threw candy with his cubscout pack. We made a trip to Louisville and visited with Grandpa and got to do many things. We spent many days at my in law’s house playing oustide in the garden. But my most favorite memories from this month are of my sweet boy and his cute chubby little hands and feet. I want to remember this forever…
August – This month we started a new adventure…Homeschool. We were unsure of ourselves and wondered if we made the right decision, especially with some of the people we had questioning us. After the last few months of living the homeschooling life, even with the hard days, I wouldn’t trade it back for anything. I really am glad we dove in and tried this and I’m so glad that it is working for our family. I am also very thankful for our support network of families doing the same thing!
September – We celebrated Kameron’s first birthday and Taylor’s fourth all in the same week. It was a busy week that dominated the month in time, energy and pictures!
October – Kristopher learned to ride his bike around the end of August and one of our favorite things to do this fall has been to take a walk/bike ride. The kids hop on their bikes (Taylor’s in a tricycle), Kameron is in the stroller and Kody and I walk. Our street is perfect for family time like this and we all enjoy it. I just love looking at this picture of my “big kids” on their “bikes”. It makes me smile inside!
November – Kristopher and Taylor were outside playing so much at the beginning of this month because it was still so warm. This particular day they decided, on their own, to have a picnic. They covered this old stone well with a picnic blanket, got their little chairs set up and then came and ordered some food. It was fun to watch them with their own ideas:) This month I also participated in a Craft Bazaar at my church – I had a table set up with my handmade things and one for the Usborne books I started selling in August. I really like the books and it has been fun selling them.
December – Christmas was lots of fun and I have so many pictures of decorations and presents being unwrapped, but I don’t think those things will be the ones my mind remembers. The homeschool group that I am in had a birthday party for Jesus (I helped a bit with the organization of it) that the kids all enjoyed. We had crafts, food, cake, bible story, games; what more could you want? We also started tearing up our little bathroom (the kids/guest bathroom) so that we can make it bigger and nicer. It will probably be a work in progress for sometime, but at least it got started! Kristopher was in the older kids musical at church this year and he played the part of a man who lost all his belongings in a fire. He didn’t have any lines to remember, so it waas pretty easy. He did a great job singing too! Taylor also sang before the big kids with the preschool choir. She loves to sing, but I’m not so sure about the being in front of people. Her face is fun to watch.
It was a great year and I feel like we got a lot accomplished not only in our “needs work house”, but in our lives. I feel like we all have grown in our walk with Christ this year and that we have grown closer as a family as well. We still have our issues (doesn’t everybody?) but we’re headed in the right direction. I hope 2009 was the same way for you! Happy 2010 everyone!
Filed under Holidays, Homeschool, House Remodel, Kids, News | Comment (0)Christmas in my kitchen
I don’t know about you, but it doesn’t really feel like it’s really Christmas-time until I have baked some cookies. To be exact there is one cookie and one candy that really make it work for me. I’ve baked cookies a couple of times this month, but I started the serious baking lasst night and I’m sure it will continue for a the next couple of days. First, I cleaned my kitchen, so now you can see it (if you’re still interested from yesterday’s post.)
I have my favorite plates on the cabinet tops. The bowls were out last night for our vegetable soup, which is one of my favorite things to eat. Those bowls are from my Aunt Gayle a few Christmases ago. I still need to add a bowl and mug set for Kameron. I just love the snowmen and how heavy the dishes are! On my small shelf (that Kody hung for me to display things on – yay!) I have the house I’ve had for several years and the platter that I bought this year to take to a Chinese auction and then promptly came home with. I have a towel that matches and bought a second towel to cut in half and make two small aprons. They’ll be perfect for wearing when cooking to wipe hands:) I pretty much feel like I live in the kitchen and when it looks like this I enjoy being in there. BTW – navy, white and gray just make me so happy together and the kitchen is possibly my favorite room in the house all year:)
I also promised cookies yesterday, if you came back later. I have finished 3 kinds so far and have 3 to go. I ruined one batch of candy as well and have one to go…not ruin! The Eastport Sugar cookies make it Christmas to me and hopefully I will get my favorite candy, cream cheese mints, done soon. Here’s what I’ve finished and the recipes to go with them if you want:)
Eastport Sugar Cookies: My mom made these every year (that I remember) and now so do I. They are such a good simple sugar cookie.
1/2 C butter
1 egg
1/3 C milk
1 1/2 C flour
1 C sugar
1/2 t cream of tartar
1/2 t baking soda
1/2 t nutmeg
1/4 t cinnamon
Cream butter and sugar. Add beaten egg and milk. Sift dry ingredients together and work into the batter. Let stand overnight or 4-6 hours. Roll thin onto a floured board. Cut into shapes and place on a greased cookie sheet. Brush with egg white and sprinkle with sugar. Bake at 400 for about 12 minutes. (I find that my oven finishes them in about 5 minutes though, so be careful!)
Brickle Blond Brownies: I’m not sure where this recipe came from, maybe someone can remind me, but I could eat the whole pan. They are so good and simple!
1 1/2 C flour
1/2 t salt
1 C sugar
2 eggs
1 t vanilla
6 oz Bits ‘O Brickle
1 t baking powder
1/2 C butter
1/2 C brown sugar, packed
Cream butter with sugars. Add eggs and vanilla. Beat until fluffy. Blend in dry ingredients. Stir in Bits o Brickle. Spread in a greased 9×13 pan. Bake at 350 for 30 minutes. (again, mine needed slightly less time)
Peanut Blossoms: I know everyone makes these or a very similar version, but they are a favorite! How can you not like a crunchy peanut buttery cookie with a bit hershy kiss on top?! I usually make a double batch because if I don’t they don’t last very long…
1 3/4 C flour
1/2 t salt
1 t baking soda
1/2 C butter
1 t vanilla
1/3 C peanut butter
1/2 C sugar
1/2 C brown sugar, packed
1 beaten egg
Sift dry ingredients. Cream butter and peanut butter. Add the sugars. Then add the egg and vanilla. Mix all ingredients together well. Shape dough into blls using rounded teaspoon. Roll balls in sugar and place on greased cookie sheet. Bake at 375 for 8 minutes. Remove from the oven and top each with a hershey kiss (the cookie should crack.) Return them to the oven for 2-5 minutes. With these I find that it helps to le them cool for a long time before trying to stack them in the tin because the chocolate takes a long time to re-harden (is that a word?), but if you don’t care how they look just throw them in as soon as the cookie part is cool!
My Penuche that I’ve never made before didn’t work…it turned out more like caramels and I don’t know what happened. I still have Chocolate iced cookies, Sand Tarts (a family recipe), Iced Sugar cookies and Cream cheese mints to go. I hope to have a good variety for the next couple of weeks!
Usually, I make a coffee cake on Christmas morning, but I think this year I will try to make some homemade cinnamon rolls…can’t remember what recipe I was planning to use though.
Just in case you thought I was baking all alone, let me show you my little helper –
I hope you have a blessed Christmas and that your kitchen is filled with warmth, love, family and wonderful baked goods!
Filed under Food, Holidays, News | Comment (0)Welcome!
Welcome to our home. I hope you’ll enjoy your stay!
As you come up our front steps you’ll be greeted by these cute snowmen that my husband’s Aunt Regina painted for us. I just love them and although they saw a rough winter last year they are still standing.
Well, don’t stand there all day! Come inside:) As you walk inside you’ll be greeted by our fireplace. I framed the entryway to the kitchen in tinsel to hang our Christmas cards. I have to have some sparkle!
The living room also houses our Christmas tree. I decided to keep it simple this year and just do lights and my favorite ornaments. No tinsel, no ribbon and no topper… The top of the tree is my favorite; that is where I always put our “First Christmas” ornament and each of our children’s “First Christmas” ornaments. Having our family ornaments up there all together makes me happy.
You’ll also see my “new” decoration of pine cones, twigs & candles that I put together. Simple things make the best decorations sometimes, don’t you think? I put my nativity up on a shelf so that it wouldn’t get broken. I’d been wanting this willow tree one for a while and my mom bought it for my last year. As I was taking it out of the box it said to be very careful with Joseph so his arm would stay intact; I didn’t think my kids needed to be able to reach him!
Come into the kitchen – I’m not going to show you the whole thing, because it’s messy! I’ve got more baking to do today on the bottom half, but look up at my favorite plates:) I’m so excited that in this house I can put things up on my cabinets and hang garland there. I’ve not been able to do that in our other homes.
The only place I had for my old but cute wreath is on the door to our sunroom. Go on out there…
This is my current workspace (one of them – I’m sure Kody thinks the whole house is my workspace). I had to decorate it a little bit too:)
If you go upstairs, you’ll be in the kids domain. They have decorations all over their rooms, but here is the tree that they set up and decorated themselves. Kody did help a little with the tree set up, but we didn’t give other instruction. They had a lot of fun decorating:) The books under the tree are all of our Christmas books – really most of them are just winter books, I guess we need a few good ones. And of course no home with children would be complete without a few Christmas-y stuffed animals!
I hope you’ve enjoyed your visit. :) Our decorations are simple, but make us happy. There are many small things you didn’t see, but I thought it best not to take pictures of everything. If you stop back by later, I’ll have some cookies for you!
From our home to yours – Have a Very Merry Christmas!
*This post if linked to on The Nester’s Christmas Tour of Homes. Go there to see many more blogs with inspiration for your decorations! Also, please excuse all our unfinished bits that you see in the photos – our home is a work in progress and we have much more to do before it is “finished.”
Filed under Blogalongs, Creations, Fun, Holidays, News | Comments (4)