Collections

I know, I still haven't posted ANYTHING from Christmas.  I'm procrastinating getting pictures off my camera.  I'm not sure why.  I need to.

While checking Design Mom I saw this photo of a collection of vintage erasers.  It gives me warm fuzzies.  I think they would look cool mounted in a shadow box hung on the wall of my some-day studio.  This is getting my thoughts going.  Check A Collection a Day, 2010 for more interesting collections.  The scissors one gives me the creeps for some reason.

Missing You

Can't you just smell them?  I love gardenias.  They ALWAYS remind me of Grammy (my 90 year old grandmother).  She has a gardenia bush along her from porch.  I haven't been to her house in years (unfortunately) but I can still smell them.  I'm sad they don't grow well in Utah, but maybe that's ok.  It keeps them special, and uncommon.  I have a strong desire to jump in the car and head to the Bay Area for a good visit with Gram.  Mom, are you going anytime soon?  I know you just went, but I'll hitch a ride with you if you happen to be going that way.  :)

Happy New Year!

I'm not a big fan of New Years Eve, but I do like the thought of a new start.  I've never been big at making resolutions.  This probably has to do with the fact that I don't keep them.  I decided this year (2010) would be a little different with a year of learning/trying new things.  On my list so far:

1~Learn to play the guitar (thanks to my m-i-l for lending me her guitar)

2~Learn to knit (this actually started a few weeks ago)

3~Learn bookbinding (took one class and loved it)
4~I hesitate to add this one, because I'm not convinced I'll be able to do it...
Make something (and finish it) every month, and post about it.

Sorry to all my food friends, but trying new foods is not, and never will be on my list.

What are your wants for 2010?

NZ Christ(church)mas

Does that title make sense?  Not really, other than we were in Christchurch, New Zealand the week before Christmas.  While visiting the Christchurch cathedral there was a mens/boys choir practicing for thier Christmas Concert.  These are a few of my favorite pics from inside the cathedral.

Cuteness

I added a little section to the right with Ava Cuteness and Jimmy-isms.  Ava has always talked A LOT, but now we can really understand more and more of it.  She says some cute things. 

Jimmy is always saying the funniest, random things.  I thought I would share them every once in a while.  His prayers are the best.

Ian's First Lost Tooth

Yes, you read right.  Ian's FIRST lost tooth.  He's 7.  He was late to get teeth as a baby, so that has lead to loosing teeth later.  Yesterday he said his tooth was SO loose, "Look!" (I couldn't look) as he folded it down.  He said he wished it would just come out because it hurt.  I do not do well with gross, so I called his uncle (who is also a dentist).  He had just gotten home.  Since they only live 5 minutes away, we stopped by for a little visit.  In a matter of seconds it was out.  His uncle offered to pull the other bottom tooth (which is really loose), but Ian wasn't ready for that.  I noticed one of his top teeth has shifted down a little and is getting loose.  Thank goodness.  His front top teeth are so LITTLE and worn down.  They look a little funny.

Festival of Trees

Every year the 2nd grade classes at our school decorate and donate a tree to the Festival of Trees.  Ian helped make frog ornaments for a "Hoppy Holidays" tree.  Thursday afternoon Mom/Grandma and I took the kids up to see his tree and all the others (or as many as we could in 2 hours).  It's a lot of trees and A LOT of people, but it was fun to see Ian's tree. 

Printable Advent Calendar

Here is a printable advent calendar.  I was thinking about designing my own, but found this one to print instead.  It's not exactly what I had in mind, but it's cute, and works, and I don't have to design it myself.  Maybe next year I come up with my own.  Or maybe in January or February, when I'm not bogged down with other stuff, and it's too cold and snowy to go out much.  I thought this would be fun for the kids (particulary Eliza) so they (she) will stop asking me how many days or weeks until Christmas.  I wasn't able to down load it from the site, but had to email them, and they sent it right over.  Found via How About Orange.

Why Bangs?

One of my friends onced asked my why I gave Ava bangs.  Well, there are a few reasons.  She has a big forehead (thanks to the Broding genes).  Her hair line was not filled in, which just accentuated the big forehead.  But the biggest reason is the head konks.  She is ALWAYS hitting her head into something.  The corner of the wall.  The cabinets.  The bar stools.  The stair railing.  The beauty in this picture is actually two different konks on the same day.  The first was on the stair railing.  The second... I'm not sure.  I heard it, but I'm really not sure what she hit.  It might have been the railing again.  We've got to keep the bangs to hide the bruises.  Otherwise we would probably get child protective services called on us.  She's still dang cute, in my oppinion!

Halloween & Thanksgiving

So, I FINALLY got my pictures off the camera.  I know it's after Thanksgiving, but here is out Halloween picture.  Eliza was a kangaroo.  She has a webkinz kangaroo and decided she could be the mom kangaroo and that could be her baby.  I was able to find a kangaroo pattern and some fleece that was a pretty close match to the baby.  It wasn't too hard to make, thank goodness.  Ian was something from G.I. Joe.  I'm not sure who, but it was off the rack at the store and inexpensive, so...  Eliza wanted him to go along with the Australian animal theme and be a koala, but I told them I can only handle making one costume this year.  Ian was fine with that.  I don't think he really wanted to be a koala anyway.  Jimmy and Ava got to pick their costumes from Halloween's past.  Jimmy was thrilled to be Spider Man, even though we couldn't find the mask.  Ava was a moth butterfly.  She looked so cute, and she loved wearing it.  She wore that hat all night!  After a little trick-or-treating in our neighborhood we went to my sister-in-law's house for a family party.  They put together an awsome spook alley in thier basement.  The kids were really spooked.  It was a fun night.

On to Thanksgiving!  This year was James' parent turn not to cook (send everyone to the in-laws).  Well, it was the same situation for my parents.  We had no where to go, so we invited both of them to our house.  It was great.  James made a wonderful Turkey.  I was told it tasted great.  I don't do turkey.  He and his parents also made a lot of stuffing.  A LOT.  The rest of us pitched in with the remainder of the feast.  After stuffing ourselves we hauled off to the movie, then came back for the yummy pie (thanks mom & dad!).  It was a nice day.  Sorry, no pictures of T-day.  Too busy hosting to get out the camera I guess.