November

I had high hopes of getting several posts done during November with something special for Thanksgiving, but, alas, life happened! We have had a great month, with time spent with family and friends and preparing for the holidays. We got the outside Christmas lights up a couple of weeks ago and now, its a race with the neighbors who will have theirs up next!

We were blessed with an early snowfall this past week - our small amount equaled 9 inches! School was cancelled most of  the week and with the holiday, it made for a nice mini-vacation. Zoe went to bed crying that she was going to miss us too much while at school all day today! My house needs a major cleaning after tracking in dirt and snow for a week! I plan on decorating this week and we will be getting our tree next weekend, so, we are definitely in Holiday Mode!

As to not totally ignore Thanksgiving, here are a few things I'm thankful for:



They make my day brighter and better!

• Mornings when the girls sleep in - today is one of those mornings! YAY!
• Time spent with family and friends - looking forward to my Monday coffee/play date!
• My home
• Nathan's secure job - though there are things that are frustrating at times, his company has not laid anyone off and that is a miracle in this economy!
• The view of the Olympics I have every day! They are beautiful this time of year!!

Enjoy the last days of November!

Check out this give-away!! TOO Cute!!!

My friend, Gretchen, is too sweet. She is hosting a great give-away on her blog and just in time for Christmas! To enter, visit her site and leave a comment on how you give to to others during the holiday season!!

I've known Gretchen since she was a little girl - I used to babysit her and her sisters. She's now a mom of a brand-new baby girl, Jemma, and it's been fun to "watch" her grow-up, though it does make me feel a bit old!!!

4 down; many more to go!!



Our Indian Corn! Super easy and cute!!



Fall Trees. We had to make more after Zoe missed out making them with Teagan and Payton.



I finished 4 Christmas gifts this week!! I'm so excited! I love that I have quite the stash of Christmas gifts collecting all over the house; I'm feeling oh-so-prepared! Usually, I'm just now getting started with even thinking about gifts but this year demanded a bit more thought and preparation. We are still adjusting to being a one-income family, so I've gotten really creative and am really enjoying all the creative energy! My sewing machine is getting a work-out and I am really hoping it keeps plugging away because getting a replacement is not a priority right now (though I did suggest $$$ towards a new one would be a great gift from my parents!!)

Ok, enough blogging about my projects - time to get back to work on them!!



Blanket for Baby Isabella

 


Reversible dress for Harper





Other side





Name Pillow Cases - 2 down, 3 to go!!





Waiting to be made into dresses - possibly for niece Izabella????



Waiting to be snuggly blankets and matching pj pants for Zoe and Teagan.



Snuggly blankets for Harper and nephew Zach. Harper was all over this fabric at the store, so I had to make her one!!





Shutterfly Coupon!!

Isn't this a great idea??? Shutterfly is giving away 50 free holiday cards to bloggers!! I found out about it from Gretchen and wanted to share! I love doing Christmas cards and getting half of what I need for free - that's even better! My Christmas card list seems to be getting longer and longer (BTW - if I don't have your address and you'd like a COOL card, email me your info!!!) each year and I always spend so much time looking for the perfect card.  I'm loving the flat stationary cards but the folded cards are catching my eye too! Oh no - way to many choices!!  Now, I just need to decide which is my favorite! Maybe I'll do 2 different designs, hmmmmmmm.



I love this one because I wouldn't have to write out and print an additional letter about what we've been doing. I just don't know if I can come up with 10 things that people really want to hear about!!



Is this not SUPER CUTE???



More of a traditional style but I like the spot for our initial



Too cute - love the little bird!



Totally what I was looking for last year!! Still love the color and style!



I would love to do these with favorite pictures for each of the girls. Maybe with that winning lottery ticket in my stocking this year!! I also like their calendars - being able to add birthday and other special date is AWESOME!!

Loved

Tonight, as I was sewing, I loved listening to Zoe, Teagan and Harper reading away on Zoe's bed. I so wanted a photo of all three girls, pouring over their books so intently, but knew, if I got the camera, I would not capture the moment.

My sewing machine is in Zoe's room right now, and I find that the girls gravitate there when I'm working. They like to watch, ask questions about what I'm making and who it's for. Tonight, I suggested reading their new library books, while I finished a Christmas gift for my Baby niece, Isabella (I also have a toddler niece named Izabella!) It was so sweet to listen to Zoe sound out what she was reading, Teagan making up her own stories in her attempt to "read" and Harper thinking she is a big kid, reading her books on her big sisters bed.

Made my heart happy to see them enjoying books as much as I do and enjoying it all together.

Fall



Pumpkins!  Isn't the owl AWESOME!! Zoe's original design!



Coffee in hand, muffins baking in the oven and a lazy morning ahead. Ahhh, one of the joys of a fall morning. We have had such a busy October, I feel like I am just now starting to enjoy Fall. I love having soup simmering on the stove, a warm fire, walks in the crisp air, listening to the girls talk about how much they LOVE Halloween! Now that November is here, we are onto Thanksgiving and planning for Christmas - we are busy, busy, busy!!



Our Cute Little Spider!



She loved that sucker!



Our Clown and Chicken

Happy with her own bag!

 

Trick-or-treating!



At the river!

  

My Christmas cactus is a little confused!! It always blooms at Halloween and Easter!