413 Visiting Santa

Monday after we gathered Katie up from school we headed up to Wolfchase to visit Santa. They had been looking forward to it for a while, and Katie had her list ready to go. She had made a list for Connor, but she forgot to bring it with her. We got lucky, and there was absolutely no one waiting to see Santa. We waltzed right on over and the kids hopped into his lap. Katie started right in on her list. I need to scan it, but it included..
Bendaroos
Dolphin Pillow Pet
American Girl clothes
Franky Stein doll
Zhu Zhu pets
And then she just sat there until I prompted her to help Connor tell Santa what he would like.Connor started with the all encompassing request of "TOYS!" but he narrowed it down to Thomas after a little help. I don't care what he was asking for ... the interaction between Connor and Santa was adorable!This is my very favorite pic! HOW CUTE IS THIS?!The only problem I had was that they require a minimum purchase in order to take you own pictures. A MINIMUM purchase is $23 for 4 wallets and 2 3x5s. I wouldn't care so much if I was paying for a quality picture, but what I got was barely worth the paper it was printed on. This was the best of three... and that isn't saying a lot since Connor looked drugged in one of them. Why on Earth would half the picture be of the background? And why are they shoved off to the left of the picture? And I know it would be asking for a Christmas miracle to have both kids smiling, but how hard would it have been for the girl to suggest we pull Connor's shirt over that cute, tubby belly? Its not as though anyone else was waiting to take our place on Santa's lap. They do this all day. You would think they would have gotten a little better at it than this.
The Santa WAS wonderful. The kids WERE happy. So I guess it is all okay, but it irks me to pay for sub-par work in order to take my own pictures. Even my phone took a better picture.We had to cruise the mall. The kids made a beeline for the ride-ons. Too bad we didn't have any quarters.A short sojourn in the ladies room of Macy's. I just think Connor is too cute here.We stopped for a little dinner before we left. Connor was being feisty, but my camera seemed to amuse him for a while...or maybe it was his subject that was so amusing.We did get the kids some new pajamas at The Disney Store (buy one, get one). I am hoping that one day Katie will learn how to take a picture with Connor without choking him.

321 Santa Wears a Bulletproof Vest

I know I took a shot at him, but the Big Guy is very forgiving. He didn't bat an eyelash when he saw me walking towards him. He smiled and waved. In truth, I felt kind of bad. Just a few days ago I was railing against him, and here I was bringing my kids to talk his ear off and snap a picture. Its not like I expected to be on the Nice List anyway. I think of it as doing Santa a favor, lightening his load. If I was a good girl all year then he would have to come up with something to bring me. I am too old for Cabbage Patch Kids and My Little Pony. Maybe if Santa worked at Best Buy we could work something out. A Flip Video camera would be superb.

But this visit was about the kids ... (and to assuage my guilt). Katie had written up her list, and we told her over and over that she should pick out the top three things she wanted to tell Santa about. Instead she whipped out the whole list. Santa was a little confused about what "AG" stood for, but Katie was quick to inform him that it stood for American Girl. Connor did pretty good, too. He was distracted by people walking around on the second floor. All the pretty lights helped also. Not that it helped him smile at the camera.
He did try to tell Santa what he wanted, but I hope Santa is fluent in baby talk!And here is the bought picture ... meh ....Afterwords we ran into Sears, and the kids geeked out looking at video games after we checked out the refrigerator selection. And the highlight of all mall trips... the smoothie. Katie had her fingers crossed that her blood sugar would be low enough for a treat. She wasn't "low" but she popped her nighttime pill and we let her get one anyway.

Now we just have to wait and see if Santa decides to bring anything off her list. Guess it will all depend on where she ended up, Naughty or Nice.

.... but seriously Santa, I have been AWFUL good this year!

134 I Felt Like Playing

har har har ...
I decided to try to make some of the felt ornaments tonight. I was making it up as I went, so there was some trial and error. Well, no real errors, just different results (so far). For my first ornament I tried a bell.
Pretty straight forward. I glued the felt to a piece of cardstock. Cut out the pattern, then trimmed away the clapper. I cut and oval and place it behind the first piece. Then I decided I needed to cover both sides (you know, just in case someone was inspecting my tree for inferior ornaments), so I cut another bell shape and glued it to the back of the first. And then I decided that it looked too plain. I had to add something to it, and what better to add than those stereotypical holly leaves and berries. That got glued on there too. I was starting to feel like I should do something that did not require a gluestick.
So I tried something else. I made one of Martha Stewart's stocking ornaments. My stitching is terrible, and the buttons were an afterthought, but Katie thinks it is great. Probably just because it is big enough to put lip gloss into.
And at that point I decided, what the hell, I should just dive right in. I saw a picture of a wreath on Thompson Family Life and decided to freehand a pattern for a bird ornament. I did print out a pattern for a bird, but I wanted on ethat was beyond simple. Then I just cut it with a bit of a seam allowance and sewed it up, just stopping for the stuffing. The first one is pink and blue. The second is a nice dark red.

And of course I could not wait to get them in the tree.

I did try to get a picture of the kidlets for Christmas, but Connor was being a bit of a fuss-bot. Guess I will just have to try again tomorrow. Katie was worn out from school and Connor is growing even MORE teeth, so I should have known it would turn bad FAST!

Oh well, it was almost worth it to see how darn cute they are together!!

And this picture ... how awesome is that??? I think it is adorable!

So, that pretty much covers my crafty day. I would make a tutorial, but if you can't figure out felt ornaments than you probably should not even attempt it. You have to use a sharp pointy needle ... be very careful :)

129 Christmas Doin's

We got the tree up and decorated. Well, most of the tree is decorated. The bottom two and a half feet keep being stripped bare. I find ornaments scattered all over the downstairs, and if Connor sees me hang them back up they are automatically pulled down again. But, he has not messed with the tree itself. I was afraid he would yank on a branch and the whole tree would fall on his wee punkin' head. And, for the first time in a while, Chip was with us when we decorated the tree. It was a family experience. Connor was totally into pulling all the ornaments out of the box. He even tried to hang some himself. Katie was gung-ho to decorate the tree, for about 5 minutes. Then she was content to hand us the ornaments.

About half way through decorating we had to stop to go to the Family Math Night at Katie's school. Chip stayed home with little fusspot (who was actually napping at the time) so Katie and I could go. I was surprised. It was pretty fun. Each group got a little kit of stuff. There were little plastic bears, a little spinny clock, foam dice, and plastic coins. We spent the hour learning ways to help our kids add 3 numbers, tell time on a clock with actual hands, and count change. It helped that Katie's teacher was there, too. She loves her teacher! There were not that many people there. Maybe 15 family groups. It probably worked out better that way. We wizzed right through all the little sections, and then they had a little snack. It is a healthy school, so snack was a veggie tray. Katie was in heaven. That girl LOVES her veggies.



I am trying to figure out what I want to make for our ornament this year. We have a little tradition of making ornaments each year. One year it was dough ornaments, and one year glass ornaments. I have been printing out templates for making felt ornaments. Cute felt stockings from Martha. Or these cute button ornaments from Martha, too. Really love Martha's button wreath ornament. Or I have a Sculpy Christmas kit. Or maybe I could just snip-n-sew some fabric candycanes. Or I saw some adorable patterns for birds. You know, the possibilities are endless. I do know that I have to make my Mom a denim stocking to go with all of ours. MY MOMMY IS COMING TO OUR HOUSE FOR CHRISTMAS!!! I hope she already told my brothers ... I am planning on following her back to Atlanta so that I can visit with my brothers and their families. And a friend or two :) Or maybe those cinnamon/applesauce ornaments ... I also went a little crazy printing up patterns for crocheted hats. I just think they are so darn cute! I crocheted a Santa hat a few years back, and I love it. I always see these adorable pics of babies in funky hats, or any kidlets for that matter. Besides, it gets chilly out and I want to pick up my yarn.

Saturday we went to the Southaven Christmas Parade. Sadly it took place at 7pm so all of my pictures are horrid. On a happier note, the kids had a great time. We picked up Katie's boyfriend, uh friend, Jacob and then met up with Toya, Jaclyn, and Chase. The funny thing is, taken bit by bit the night would seem like a disaster. Jacob felt like the girls were leaving him out and treating him "like a piece of dirt under their feet". They were paying too much attention to Connor. Jaclyn got bonked in the head (which I later learned was from Katie's camera). Then Jacob was hip-checking the girls out of the way to get to the candy!! I am sure he did not mean to, totally ... he just would bend over to get a piece and they were all so close that he bumped them a bit. Doesn't matter. They all ended up with plenty of candy. They got to see Santa, drawn by a John Deere of course. And, I think it must have been the real Santa because I could NOT get my flash to fire when you could see his face. I got a picture of him from far away, and then from the back. It was frigid cold, but it was worth it. The kids are ready for the Horn Lake Parade next Saturday ... Maybe I will do a little better taking pictures in the dark.

I let Katie use my old camera, here are a few shots.

Today we left the kiddos at home and escaped for lunch to celebrate Toya's birthday. Well, I thought it was just for lunch. We ended up shopping. I should have taken more of my hubby's money! We hit all the high dollar spots :) Big Lots, Tuesday Morning, and the Linens'n'Things Going out of Business Sale (which completely sucked, and the stuff was still overpriced). We did manage to squeeze in lunch at Mi Pueblo's which was totally yummy. But back to the shopping! We went to Books A Million for a moment. Toya was wanting to get a new calendar, so I was wandering the calendar aisle while they visited the facilities. On the way in I had noticed a nun walking around, maybe not a strange sight to some people but it is in Mississippi. Then I saw a calendar titled "Nuns Having Fun". And it gets better. The nun came back to the calendar aisle, and picked it up!

It was too cute. She ended up buying a calendar with puppies though. I bet it was funnier if you had actually been there. I know they think I am crazy, but I really missed my babies! I am not used to being away from them for that long. I think that is why Charity insisted on picking me up. She knew if I had my own car I would have run back home.
Oh, and did I mention that Katie talked Chip into buying the Gingerbread House Kit. Looks like we have our next project ...
AND THE MOST EXCITING NEWS! It looks like Connor will be getting his two front teeth for Christmas. They have just now broken the surface. I am inordinately proud of his adorable little teeth. I know all kids grow them, but I just think his are the cutest little boy teeth I have ever seen. I know, you are overwhelmed with excitement.


And, not to overload you in cuteness ... Connor snatched my donut. I gave him the regular, glazed one, but he was not satisfied. He had to have my chocolate donut. Can't blame him! They are YUM!