whatever

gingerbread house 2011

i forgot to share these!

my friend GB makes gingerbread houses that you can purchase.

i tend to burn things.....
i do.
and i thought if i wanted a memory of the house with the kids....
it would be best if i don't try to bake it AND cut it AND decorate it.

so i asked GB for a big house that i could decorate with my family.






the three youngest were the only ones who wanted to help.
no surprise there.

everyone got one side ..... and me too.

:)

that was my side..... i like candy.
it's fun to craft with.

and snack on too. 

talby covered the roof with fish and gumdrops.


sean covered his roof with licorice and wrote fish in fish.
so funny.

so sean.

and i didn't get a picture of annie's side.
???

i just missed it.

i know it's past christmas....
BUT
if you would like a gingerbread house made by my friend GB to decorate with your kids over the school break
send me an email and i will get you her contact info.

 

 

so far...

we had our christmas.  :)



new jammies....the kids loved theirs and i bought some for me too...thanks aunt jan for the gift card!!


family gifts... we give one gift for each of our kids to open that is for the whole family.

 

 
the sandwich maker is a HIT.
they were so excited about it.

the headphones are to stay attached to the desktop computer and no one is allowed to take them off.
this way there is always a pair of headphones when i say "turn the sound off your game" or "i don't want to hear your music turn it off please" and so now they can listen to their game and i keep my sanity.


sibling gifts....they each got each other little things this year with their own money.
that was really cute.
they got us gifts too.
 

annie made these personalized travel mugs for me and craig.  i could not love them any more!!! they are perfect!


talby gave me these sweet birds. 
and scott picked a starbucks gift card for me.

sean got me a neck massager pillow but i couldn't find it to take a picture.
i think one of the kids confiscated it already!

then we gave our gift to them.
we give ONE gift to each one of them.
we started this three years ago? i think.
it was to the point of ridiculous with all the gifts they were receiving.
we knew we could not control what others would do so we changed what we could do.
buying less.
they have ENOUGH already.  
they have TOO MUCH already.
so they get one gift and they have been fine with that...it's just the way it is.

annie got a keyboard.  (my friend suggested the headphones...best idea ever!)

talby got an iPod dock/clock.

 
scott wanted strength shoes....for basketball....muscle building shoes.


sean got a 3DS that we found a fabulous deal on.
and lauren got an iPod classic that we got through craigslist.

we don't get them whatever they want....but we try to get them something nice that would enjoy...
but that we can afford.
and we do not do gift cards.
or money.

it has helped cut back on the excess.

AND their stocking (gift bags) are filled with little goodies that are picked just for them...
like basketball socks, saxophone reeds, lipstick, squinky sets and candy.


we had a chirstmas dinner.
IN THE DINING ROOM.
craig made a ham...so good!!
i made cheesy potatoes and cream corn and fruit salad.

and cream puff for dessert.

we went to my parents house and had another BIG dinner there.

 

my mom made all the little girls matching fur vests...super cute!


17 people in one room opening gifts....chaos.


my dad had this shirt made for me.
:)

he is so silly.
i LOVE IT!

and today
i am sitting in a quiet house because scott is at basketball with craig, sean and talby stayed with their grandma and aunt, annie is playing with our neighbor and lauren is asleep.
so i frosted cookies peacefully.
and i will make some gingersnaps now.

then we are onto craig's mom's for christmas there.

how is your holiday going?
everyone getting along?


 

boom....my kitchen exploded.

i baked ALL day yesterday.
craig was off work and i was able to just be in the kitchen.

i did have to throw out one batch on cinnamon rolls...expired yeast.
so disappointing.
but we are stocked with sugar for christmas.

merry christmas eve.

...............................................

 

WINNER OF MY FAVORITE THINGS GIVEAWAY FOR PROJECT 320 is.....

Entry #4

Posted by: Anne | December 18, 2011 at 12:34 PM

congratulations!!! 
send me an email at cdduerksen @ yahoo . com with your mailing address.

THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO DONATED!!
clean water is awesome. 

...............................................

please enjoy this beautiful christmas baby.

he was dreamy.




 

 

 

 

 
oh those lips!!!
did you just try to kiss your screen?
i want to. 

 
newborn babies are my absolute favorite thing in the WHOLE WIDE WORLD.
not kidding.

now.....we are off for a very different christmas eve.
we are going to church and out to dinner....that never happens with five kids.
and looking at lights...with starbucks for mama.
and home for new jammies and charlie brown christmas.

i am really excited.

have a wonderful CHRISTMAS!

i truly appreciate each one of you.
thanks for reading.

 

****** sparkly sparkles ******

it's almost midnight.
my computer is almost out of power.
and i am almost out of power.
:)

here are some shots from around our house this christmas.
enjoy.

i think christmas came EXTRA fast this year.
what's up with that?

my kids are out of school after wednesday.
i am hoping for some serious chillin' in our jammies the rest of the week.

how about you?
are you ready to chill or are you still in the thick of the christmas craziness?
 
i promised myself that i WILL NOT have a christmas crash & burn meltdown like i always do.
i hope i can keep my promise. 

 

december?

really? 
already?

oh boy.
i am not sure if i am ready....maybe today is the day to get moving. 

we did get our tree up.
since we have a fake tree it's pretty easy to just get it out and put it up....no cold weather to fight or finding the perfect tree. (i didn't get out the tree so i can't technically say it's easy...but i tlooks easy)

i let the kids do ALL the ornaments.
i gave in last year and realized it was the best idea... they are able and i can relax.
no ornaments broke this year!




we start with the family ornaments first....all different random ornaments i have collected since i got married.

scott was at the gym and lauren was dying her hair...but three is plenty to decorate a tree.


after the family box is empty then they get to put on their OWN special ornaments.
i keep each child's ornaments in their own box.
every year i pick out an ornament for them that represents something that happened that year
or something they would like.
and then we keep them seperate from the family ornaments.
it's very special to them to hang their own special ones themselves.






craig made a fire in the fireplace and we all sat ont he couch and watched ELF.

(sean and i recited this entire scene over breakfast today) 

 

...............................................
 

this year our family ornament is from lisa leonard's shop.
it's so pretty.
i chose the star ornament for us.





they are lovely keepsakes.
and make wonderful gifts for friends and family.



she has a heart and a stocking ornament also.

Use the code:  ornament2011 for 10% your order

(also....all of her jewelry would make ANY lady on your christmas list very happy... go find something)

 

 

girls world

i have such a cool gift for you today!

jennifer paganelli sent me a copy of her new book to giveaway.
you can't even get it yet!
it's that new.

IT IS SO BEAUTIFUL!
every single page.

jennifer is the designer of SIS BOOM fabrics.



i love the colors that jennifer uses.
everything is so happy.







LOOK AT THAT!
it's gorgeous.

the photos in this book are bright and cheery.
i am so excited to make the projects that are in here!
there are patterns for the cutest stuff!
but it's not just dresses.
there are all kinds of home decor and party items too.


twenty one projects.


all tied up with a pretty pink bow.

thanks jennifer!!!

leave a comment today for a chance to win your own copy!
i will pick a winner on tuesday, march 29.

THEN go visit the SIS BOOM blog and tell jennifer hello from me.  :)