To and From

Running out of gift tags? Martha Stewart has some awesome printables that are (even more awesomely) free. How About Orange has the link. Check it out.

Thank you!!

For all the kind words about Twiddle. It has been so much fun to collaborate with Cami and Anisa on this and stretch my creativity a bit.

I did forget to mention, please feel free to put a link on your own blog if you want, and you are more than welcome to pass it on to your friends and family who might be interested. If you'd like a button for your blog, email me and I'll send you the code.

Introducing my new baby

No. I'm not pregnant. And, technically, it's not just my baby. It also belongs to Cami and Anisa. Our baby was actually born back in October, but is just well enough now to be shown to the world. Here she is-

Really, it's our craft blog. Lots of fun ideas coming from 3 very different girls. Go check it out and keep coming back. There are a lot of fun projects on the schedule!

Playing Favorites

Last night we had Jell-O for dessert. Jeff dished up the bowls according to how much each person would eat. McKay grabbed a bowl and almost immediately started throwing a fit because he didn't have much jello in his bowl. Jeff kept trying to convince him that he had lots of Jell-O.

Frustrated, Jeff tried to explain, "McKay we like you more so we give you more!!!"

Well, I could no longer play the silent observer. I cracked up laughing (as I'm doing now remembering the moment.) When Jeff realized what he said, he cracked too. Fortunately, McKay calmed down enough for us to explain that he had grabbed Sophie's bowl (which didn't have much). We gave him his bowl and all was well. But, we laughed all night over that one!

I promise, we like all our kids the same. Really.

My Hard Workin Girl

Early in the year, Lyndsi decided she wanted an American Girl doll like two of her cousins. She set out to earn the money to buy this doll. She did dishes, cleaned bathrooms, washed and folded laundry, worked in the yard, worked at the cabin, raked leaves multiple times, picked up pine cones for dad, and a whole other list of chores. A week or so ago AG had free shipping and she was getting close to having all her money. Jeff and I decided to order it on the sly. Boy am I glad we did!! She earned her last dollar this morning and wanted to go to the store to buy the doll, which, unfortunately, there isn't one here. About lunch time Jeff called and told me it was at his office. I herded the kids to the car and made sure Lyndsi had all her money with her. She was so surprised when she handed Jeff the $$ and the box was already on his desk. She's held and cuddled it all afternoon, except when she let mom tend it so she could play ponies with her little friend. Without further delay, I'd like to introduce Lyndsi's newest friend, Mia St. Clair:

Go Buy a Book

I just finished reading this very interesting blog article on the publishing industry, which apparently had a HARD October. http://editorialass.blogspot.com/2008/11/crash-flow-or-what-went-wrong-in.html

So, those who are still looking for a gift for that hard-to-buy for person on your Christmas list, here's a novel idea. :) Buy a book. A comic book, a cookbook, a novel, a gaming book. And don't tell me your person (or yourself) is not a reader. Everyone is. You just may not have found the right book, but watch out when you do. lol.

Here's a small list of my favorites:

-Anything by Shannon Hale, including Goose Girl (and the whole Bayern books), Princess Academy, Austenland, Repunzel's Revenge

-Twilight saga (duh)

-Marley and Me by Josh Grogan

-The Hobbit

-The Uglies (and related novels) by Scott Westerfeld

-A Girl of the Limberlost

-Jane Eyre

-Sundays at Tiffany's By James patterson

-The Book Thief by Markus Zusak



As I am a girl, most of these would appeal more to the female persuasion, but a few like The Hobbit (if you haven't read this, go get it NOW!), The Book Thief and Marley and me are all around good reads for anyone.

If you need something more to get you excited, watch this (always worked for me):


I think it's time for a trip to Barns and Noble myself......

Bite Me

....no really. It might help me keep my eyes open. I am SO tired, but it was SOOO worth it. Here's what happens when mom's, unaccustomed to leaving the house at 10 pm or so (let along even being awake at these late hours), do with some free time and no kids:

We started out fairly normal (although it was strange to be showering and getting ready at 9 p.m.).

Tiffany, Angie, Cami, and Rachel (who I just met and love!)

Me and Tiff and then Me and Cami all anxiously awaiting the midnight hour while enjoying bags of candy, chips, bottled water and free pizza

Did I mention the treat bags came with fangs?
And what would anything Twilight be without Edward?
(That was a dare of sorts by the way)

There are more pictures, but not on my camera. :) The movie started and it was like one big giant sleepover. Everyone cheered when each new character was introduced. We all laughed at things that were probably not that funny but it was midnight. There were lots of pleasant surprises. It was what I thought it would be, but then again different. I absolutely LOVED the cinematography, though. Will I see it again? Yes. In fact, I want to see it with a group of normal people at a normal time. I liked it.

We had cheese fries (well, I did) at denny's afterwards and recapped the movie and procrastinated going home as long as possible. (The poor host/server guy was a little overwhelmed by Twihards that kept popping in. Hey-at least he's making some extra $$, right? ) I love a good girls night and this had to be one of the best.

**If any of this sounds incoherent, well, let's face it. It probably is. I am very tired. :)