I am so excited that I actually got to scrapbook. I worked on these prayer cards at home and finished them with a me day at Just 4 Keeps in Edmond on Tuesday. I am hoping to get the rest of these done before going back to school. 
I made these ornaments for my kids and also for Charlie's dance class friends. I used a kit from Just 4 Keeps as a pattern. I love how they turned out. 
Here are the rest of the blessing boxes that we gave to Charlie and Brantley's teachers at church, cubbies, and dance. I had a great time making them. I just hope that the teachers like them as much as I do.
Last day of school before break. The kids are not the only one that needs the break. I am ready to just spend time with my kids. And, I just want to sleep in and take a nap. Anyway we had our class party. It was the best party I have ever had. It was so organized. My homeroom moms were just fantastic!!! It wasn't one of those parties that things are done to show off how much money you have, instead it was done for the kids! Thank you, thank you, thank you Mrs. Carroll! We had a fabulous party. Here are my kiddos! 
After school my kids went to Grandma's and I went to Sam's for our faculty Christmas party. I won't tell details or post pictures but I just love the people I work with. They have the greatest sense of humor. They make me laugh and I just love being with them. I wish their were more time in the day and that we had the ability to spend more time together outside of school as adults. 
I forgot to add this but it is something simple I want to remember 10 years from now. I called Dusty Tuesday to let him know that I was finished shopping for jeans and I was coming home. This was a perfect way to top off a "great" day. My kids at school were "the week before Christmas break, we have been inside for two days because of the cold weather change" crazy. I had a headache and I went clothing shopping. I hate shopping for clothes! That is HATE shopping for clothes. The styles are never ones that I like or that look good on me. I can never seem to find anything I like and if for some strange reason I do, it never fits. Why is it that all the jeans that I tried on were made for a tall fat lady. Don't the clothing manufactures know that flared jeans only make a short fat person look shorter and fatter! UGH! 
So I called him on the verge of tears in a very bad mood to tell him I would be home in 15 minutes. When I got home I had a special surprise from two of the most important people in my life. Charlie was so excited. She told me "mommy your cup has hearts and this one is mine." I asked her why I didn't get "Hang in there" cup. She said it was "b/c yours has hearts b/c we love you so much.!" Hot chocolate in a heart cup that says we love you so much just made my day wonderful. I love my family.
I want my kids to grow up giving. Our school has to do a service project each year. The last three years my class has done a stuffed animal drive for the Infant Crisis Center. I love ICC. They are one of the few places that still accept used items. I understand that even poor people need new things but buying a new unwrapped toy is not really something that a 3 or 4 year old can do and it mean anything. I want the service project that we do to be my students and not just their parents making the sacrifice. Our project is that I want each student to look through their stuffed animals at home and choose one to give to a baby that doesn't have any kind of lovey. This is very hard for a young child. I am not asking for them to give away their favorite stuffed animal but still it is difficult. So, Charlie and I sat down with all of her dolls and stuffed animals. She gave one of the plastic sacks you see in the picture. The other sack is some of Brantley's clothes. I was so proud of her. She cut her stuffed animals completely in half. I could not believe her generosity. She was so excited to give something to the babies that did not have a lovey. So, If you every need to get rid of "lovey's" ICC ( www.infantcrisis.org ) is a great place to send them. The unbagged items are what my kids at school gave. I was amazed with their generosity.
I hate when Dusty and I disagree on a gift. This was one of those gifts that I thought was really cute and He (being the 33 year old guy) thought was stupid. And, I won! This was for Jonaka's daughter Sydney. She is 11. What does every 11 year old girl that I know do? Write in a diary. So I got her a journal, a pen, cute little box, and journal prompts. Sydney loved it! So, pttt to you, you 33 year old MAN. 
Jonaka is one of the people that Dusty works with at the OG (Olive Garden) She and Chris are great friends! 
These are the guys that Dusty worked with years ago. John Wright, Jimmy, Dusty and Chris Hill. I consider Chris one of Dusty's best friends. That is if 33 year old men have best friends. I have been told that is just for girls. Who knows? 
Charlie, like Brantley, adores Hunter. 
Happy birthday Dusty! After dance class, we went with his parents to dinner at Santa Fe. Then we went to Kingfisher to see the lights. This is an old tradition for Dusty and his parents. So in freezing weather, Charlie and Dusty walked across the bridge. I don't have an pictures of such tradition b/c 1) Brantley was crying and 2) did I mention that it was freezing outside?
So my crazy week began with Dusty saying to Charlie at 9 o'clock at night. Ask mommy if you can go for a hot swim. Are you kidding? It is 9 o'clock and it is 27 degrees outside and falling. Mommy( you know the one who thinks about coats, and socks, the one that thinks about feeding the kids and bedtime) really wants to say no but got talked into saying yes. She went out for 10 minutes. She had the BEST time and in that 10 minutes it dropped 5 degrees. Dusty, why can't you suggest the hot swim on a day that is not freezing? 
Sunday evenings at my house always consist of a napping boy. Usually it is just Dusty. This week it was both of my boys. Isn't that just the cutest sleeping baby face.
And the Daddy's pretty cute, too.
Here is the final product. I love our eclectic tree. We haven't finished all the decorations just the main tree. I have slowly been adding other decorations. I am hoping to have every thing out and photo graphed tomorrow. 
Dusty is such a goof ball.
Charlie kept putting all the ornaments in the same spot so we had to go behind her and spread her ornaments out. But she had fun. She could not stand how long it took to get the tree up with all the lights so we opted for no tinsel this year. She was driving Dusty crazy with "Is the tree ready yet, Daddy?"
One of the things that I prayed for when preparing for my husband was a sense of humor. I have a tendency to be serious, very serious at times. I don't always get the punch line of the joke. I am usually the last one to laugh and it might even be an hour later before it sinks in. I prayed that my other half would help me stayed centered. So we are at dinner, you know serious time, and Brantley starts crying. Charlie says, "Hey daddy, lets make silly faces at brother to make him stop crying."
Chipmunk Cheeks
Porky! I just love this guy! And wouldn't you know that Brantley stopped crying and started laughing.
We went to Mustang's tree lighting on Monday. It was a lot of fun. We made crafts, had hot chocolate, and sat on Santa's lap. Well, Charlie sat on Santa's lap. This is the first year for that. She had a great time. She is bound and determined that Santa is going to get her a little pink house with a door, a window and some flowers. Yes, remember I said that she was odd. Last year she wanted tickle monsters. This year she wants a house. A house, you know one that is pink and has a little window and a door. Oh, and don't forget the flowers! So, what do you want for Christmas?
