Hello again.

I'm back. Hopefully I'll be able to get back on track and write a couple times a week on here. Even if it's not every day. I'm finding that keeping up with my Violet girl and everything I want to do and need to do, doesn't always go hand in hand.

Since I wrote last...I didn't knock on wood hard enough. The flu raged through our house again. It took me down for almost two whole days and did my system in for a week. Took out the girls again in varying degrees but the hubby didn't get it again. He instead cleaned the entire house...and cleaned is an understatement. It was quite wonderful for the most part. The smells while I was nauseous wasn't so wonderful.

We celebrated Christmas inbetween all of the fluing. The girls all got something that they REALLY wanted which is always a good thing. I think my favorite one (besides the new coat) might be the family trip to the hotel with waterpark. Instead of things...an adventure to remember.

We did a homemade Christmas with my dad and stepmom and assorted children. I had a blast trying to figure out what to give them that we could make and wouldn't automatically go in the trash...not that they would ever do that but I didn't want to burden them with something I would want to throw out.

First up the giant brandy snifters that lived in my cupboard for probably close to 5 years. I found them together on the same shelf and I knew someday that I would create something to this effect with them. 

To hold the small glass in place, I colored some salt red (a little love and to give it a patriotic flair) and placed some white on top of that to make it a winter wonderland. The girls helped me place enough Christmas trees in the snow for each grandkid.

The small glass has dried blue glitter glue and some chestnut snowmen painted white. I imagine that the snowmen jumped in together and created a big splash.

 This is the plastic top of a pie plate with an unknown number of girlie hand prints glued to it to make a frame. We added the heart in the middle because this girlie and grandpa have a special gift exchange going that has to do with hearts. And because I ran out of hands.

A few Radtke Customs SO bookmarks.

A Radtke Customs jingle bell bracelet.

An advent wreath painted by the monkey circus. Plastic cups with flameless candles to make them glow. Forgot to print off the instructions and prayers that I had found to go with. Eh.

I think these were my favorite to make. I found the plastic ornaments for a fantastic deal and had always wanted to do this with the monkey circus. I decided this was going to be the year. We dug out the craft bin that the receivers of this gift gave the girls before my Violet girl was a part of the family yet. We went digging through and started placing an assortment of goodies in each one. Word of warning...dump excess paint out before packaging. The one ornament's paint leaked because it wasn't fully dry yet (bad planning time wise on my part) and it mixed to look like someone poo'd in the bag.

 

 

My Violet girl found a game like this in a Christmas craft book and she was bound and determined to make it. Only the sample in the book was throwing things in Santa's mouth. Good thing I found this picture.

This was a fun one for the girls to do. The body of the angel is their foot and the wings are their hands. Then they each drew a head to attach to the body. They flew around our house for an entire day before I hid them so they wouldn't get ruined.

And lastly, the tree skirt. My Violet girl and I worked on this one together. She picked out the colors for each of her cousins. Amazingly, she picked their favorite colors (I think for all of them) and she had so much fun picking their eye colors and putting on their mittens and buttons. The monkey circus insisted on creating some gingerbread men for my mom as well and she got a set of chestnut snowmen because she was the one who helped them collect the giant bag of chestnuts this fall.

So, that what has been keeping me busy inbetween all of the fluing that's been going through my house. Now to get past the back pain or find a place in the house to sit and create comfortably. May start interviewing this Violet girl of mine for here because some of the things she says is amazing. She's having a green lunch today...key lime yogurt and pickles...not mixed together, just at the same meal.

Hope you all had a fantastic Christmas and new year. I finally get to put all of the presents away and start decluttering my house. Hoping to get Christmas down before Valentine's day. Praying I talk to you all again soon.

Recycled Project - Doggy Bed

This one is brought to you courtesy of the hubby. At least the idea is all his. (so was getting the dog)

 

Not quite sure if you can see it well in either picture and I completely forgot to take pics as he was creating it.

The girls have all grown out of their toddler beds and we don't know anyone who needs one yet. Therefore, we have two fabulous toddler beds waiting for a good use (yes, he is actually holding on to them and not me). The hubby would like to use one for the dog as a bed instead of the large not so beautiful couch that he now sleeps on.

The hubby was afraid that the dog might get injured from the springs in the toddler mattress. We cleaned out the storage room (and refilled it again *sigh*) and found extra carpet cushion. A lot of it actually and some of it was come pretty cool colors. The hubby wanted to do something for the girls with it but couldn't imagine what it would be (those of you who know him should be amazed right now). After that moment passed he thought about making a dog bed out of it. Which evolved into just using it to cushion the worrisome mattress.

I got my sewing machine up and running again (yeah! and it only took a half hour). The hubby trimmed the quilt I had bought for the dog and sewed two of the three sides on the machine. He hand stitched the last side; this way we can pull out the couple stitches to toss it into the machine and then stitch it back together.

The girls love it. The dog loves it. And the hubby is starting to understand the joy I get out of my recycling projects.

Recycled Project - Advent Calendar

I loved advent calendars growing up. Raised in a Catholic family we did the advent calendars, lit the advent wreath, and had St Nick come to visit. I am trying to keep some of those traditions alive for my kids. Since today is the first of December, I thought I would share my advent calendar with you.

It has morphed to this as my kids have grown. The first year was little toys wrapped in paper and tucked into an old popcorn tin. A new little toy every day. Then I stuck the toys into old socks because wrapping 50 little toys was just too much for me. Then I decided to put little candies in Easter eggs and tucked them into the same original tin. 75 eggs was easier than 75 toys every year.

This year, I looked at my stack of recyclables and decided to do something with them for advent instead of the usual. Still stuck with the candy idea instead of toys. Almost went to the picture idea because we've been having issues with sneaking candy. May need to work on that idea for next year.

First I tore off the top of 6 egg cartons and painted them while the girls did random art projects of their own. Thought I had pictures of the painting part, guess I was having too much fun. Then I glued two bottoms together to make a set. Was going to try and make it closeable but then all the candy would fall out of the top half. Eh...the girls will love it this way as well.

Then I spent last night tracing a plastic egg to make 72 circles to cover each pocket full of candy. Cut them all out and put them somewhere safe until this morning. (Yes, did this last part all before 5am and washed the floors and did the dishes.)

I chose for our selection some mint chocolate M&Ms, some mint truffle kisses, mini Tootsie Pop Drops, and mini Blow Pops. I was just going to do the chocolate mint but then I saw the Tootsies and the Blow Pops and knew the girls would enjoy those as well.

And this is how they wait on my counter for the girls to wake up. Which the alarm has just rang for me to go and do. Another filled day awaits...but I so need a nap. Glad today is Thursday and I know the day will end with the hubby taking me out for our weekly date. Wonder where it will be tonight.

I also wonder how many of you celebrate Advent and if you do calendars. Would love to see them.

Recycled Projects - Angry Birds

ItDecided to break down and let the girls take a shot at Angry Birds. They always want to play a game on my computer and most of the ones that they ask to play have timers and the girls don't want to have to race the clock.

These girls are amazing at this game. The figured out the physics of it without me having to explain it to them. I don't even know if I showed them how to play before they took off with it.

With all of the Christmas adds coming out we started spying the physical, at home versions.


I just know my girls and these games would play for a limited time and then they would get shelved.

While we were at the store the other day, we spied some Angry Bird stickers. I got the typical, "Mom, can I please?!" I asked if she would play a game with them and she told me yes. I knew that if I didn't get the qualifier before we bought them, that they would become another thing collected in her stuff.

We pulled out the milk caps and started sticking.

 

Then we started playing and coming up with some rules to the game.

 

It turned out to be a good time. A board is in the works. So far the game is playing like old-fashioned marbles. That is alright by me.