Meet Charlie Bliss

Santa, I have a bone to pick with you...

It's a good thing she's cute.

Just Dance

If you don't already own Just Dance for Wii, you must get it! I promise it's as much fun to watch as it is to play!

Merry Christmas

May your holidays be bright

and may the new year bring many blessings.

Love,
Kim, Tony, Tristan, Tyler, Allie, Kellen and Ammy

Dear Santa

For the past two years, Tony has left work early and taken the twins to see Santa.

This year, Ammy brought her list along. The child has many wants. I love the real-live hamster request. Last year, she asked for a monkey and Santa brought a sock monkey. She did not find Santa funny in the least after that and wanted to be sure that they were on the same page this year.

Is it me or is this Santa a little creepy? And what's with the bling on the Santa belt?

Okay, maybe I do like him! Plus, he told the twins that if they didn't clean up their messes that the smurfs would come and get them. Kellen played along with it until he got off of Santa's lap and then asked Tony what a smurf was!

Enjoy your Christmas Eve!

I Am Done!

At least I think I am! I finished a scarf (my first one that is totally finished) the other day. I added fringe and washed it and now it's ready to be given to my BFF, Alden. It's a little long and she's a little short, but I hope she will like it!

I heart these clear "paint" cans from Michaels.

A lot of the cousins love gift cards and they are so boring to wrap. I try to come up with something creative to pair with the gift cards. Here is an example of one for my nephew who is in college.

NOTE: Grandparents (if you are reading) STOP!

These photo ornaments are my absolute favorite thing to make. I used 2 inch wood cubes that I got at Michaels for $1 a piece. Then I printed out 6 pictures (thank you Lidia). I used photoshop to make 1.8 inch by 1.8 inch prints. I then ran them through my Xyron machine and made them into stickers. I placed them on the cube and then I put a screw eye in the top of the wood block. A piece of ribbon and a charm finished the ornament.

I used a chipboard box from AC Moore to store a set of ornaments of each child for the grandparents.

I covered each of the boxes with scrapbooking paper and then covered them with Triple Thick. A ribbon and a handmade tag finished the gift.

Now I just need to clean my house. I'd rather be making something else!

We've Been Busy

Last week, I came across this website and thought it would be fun to make one of these wreaths. (I hate when that happens because then I become obsessed and must finish the latest project while all the other things I need to do, mainly clean, go by the wayside.)

When the girls were not busy doing this,

They were busy doing this...

hot gluing the tops onto the ornaments. (This is a must do!)

We took a hanger and twisted it into a circular shape. This is not super easy and I would suggest that you have a tool to twist the ends of the circle together when you are finished threading the ornaments.

In the works....

The finished wreath hanging in my front window. I love it and the colors make me happy every time I see it!

I've also finished a scarf, a garland and some killer photo ornaments. Check back soon for the pics!

Go here for other ornament wreath pics.

Digging Out

I'm free!

21 Inches

The view from my living room window...

The view from my front door. The driveway has been plowed once...I might have to venture out for more craft supplies!

There's No End In Sight!

7 Inches and Counting

The view from our driveway this morning...

Scenes from Round One of sledding....

This storm could be the largest one in the history of snowstorms in Baltimore. We could get up to 30 inches. We'll be sledding for days!

P.S. We had to nix the snow surfing due to the fact that Ammy smacked her head...not the best day to have to go to the ER.

Dear Mom and Dad

Last night, Ammy presented us with this "persuasive letter" that she wrote in school...

Boy is she going to be disappointed!

Gift Tags

I'm hosting a dinner party tonight after I attend a basketball game, so I needed a quick craft for Crafting with Oona. I loved the Christmas trees on the village so I decided gift tags using the trees would fit the bill.

Cut triangle-shaped trees out of green card stock. Then cut out a trunk using brown card stock. Glue your tree onto a pre-made tag (I bought them at Michaels, but you can make your own out of card stock by going here.)

Add a button star and embellish with stickers or buttons.

Attach tag to your gift using ribbon.

You could also add snowflakes in the sky and packages underneath the tree depending on how long your children are willing to sit and create.

Happy Crafting!

Charlie Brown Christmas Trees

A week ago I was in my favorite store in Hampden, Red Tree, and saw awesome decorations that I just had to copy. They had taken all different size mason jars and hurricanes and planted fir tree seedlings in them. They were placed in groups of 3 and 5 all over the store and they were really fun! I asked where to get the seedlings, and they directed me to www.nurseryman.com. I ordered Douglas Fir seedlings, tracked down mason jars (harder than you think!) and put the twins to work on the coldest day this past week. (read, lots of complaining!)

They finished the task for me--do you think I have enough?

I thought something was missing, so I added burlap around the jars and attached a charm with a sheer ribbon bow.

Now, I have them all over my house and plan to give them to everyone who visits over the holidays. One of my favorite things about these gifts is that the seedlings can be planted in the yard once you tire of using them as a decoration.

14

I can't believe that you are entering your second year as a teenager! Where has the time gone?

You make us very proud and you are a great big sister. We love how compassionate you are and that you are always thinking of others before yourself.

Enjoy this last year of middle school. Before you know it, the year will be over and you will be a freshman in high school. (Scary to think that I will have 3 kids in high school)

All photos of Allie taken by Lidia

We love you very much and hope that you have a very Happy Birthday!