Daddy/Daughter Black and White Ball

Saturday night this little lady took her daddy out for a night of dancing at the Girl Scout Black and White Ball.  It was downright adorable and from what I understand, they really tore it up on the dance floor.  She was so excited for this night that I was afraid she was going to spontaneously combust before the day actually came, but alas she did make it and she had an amazing time.

She's a princess

My Woo and her hot date

An Indian came home today

Sparky is learning about native Ohio Indians and today he was made chief.

And here's the mirror

I (and I mean Doug) hung a mirror.  It's not my favorite, but the price was right and it fills the space.  Now I just need to figure out how to bring some of my personality to the rest of the space.  On a side note, further adventures in decorating and other crafting ventures will be found at my other blog Paper, Ink, and More.  I actually started this blog a couple of years ago when I was still selling Close To My Heart, but I just haven't done anything with it.  I started it to showcase my cards and other crafting projects and so now that I seem to be in a crafting mood once again it just seems like the right time to use it once more.

A girl can dream

I would like to see the sunshine.

That is all.

In a snowy heaven

This girl knows how to play with abandon. 

Where did my sweet boy go?

Last week Tiger was sick.  A sad, flu-like sickness that took all of the energy out of his little body.  During that time many hours were spent snuggling and loving as well as a general catering-to needs.  Now I don't know what to do with this child.  The illness has past, but the effects still linger.  He is an emotional wreck.  He is very cranky.  He is argumentative.  He is incapable of handling the smallest of disappointments and melts down into a pile of inconsolable sadness that is almost impenetrable.  I have been firm.  I have been mean.  I have been kind and loving and I have been beyond patient.  I just wish I knew what was going on in his precious little head and I wonder where my sweet boy went?

Continuing the search for my missing decorating gene

Do you see this wall?  This big, empty space of a wall.  Something needs to be done with this wall.  It has actually been completely bare like this for several years but for some reason I never really noticed (or cared)that it was a barren space until this year when we took down our Christmas tree which was standing in front of this wall.  Now I feel like it is screaming at me.  So, what to do?  I have a few ideas and I am sure some shelves will be involved, but who knows?  What I do know is that I want to have this wall taken care of by the end of the week.  Wish me luck.

The good and bad of today

Good:  My little Tiger's fever finally broke and he is starting to feel better.  He still won't eat, but at least he is strong enough to walk by himself a bit.  Extra bonus:  He is being very sweet (for the most part) and just wants to snuggle.

Bad:  After several nights of not sleeping because of my sick little man, I woke up today with yet another cold.  Blah!  My nose is a faucet.

Good:  Yesterday we had new Internet installed.  It is wonderful and has made my Netflix experience a million times better.  I don't know how we ever lived with our DSL for so long.

Bad:  I am exhausted and my head has been pounding for a week.  Also, the cousins move tomorrow.  Double blah!

Good:  The snow looks so pretty and peaceful when you are sitting inside nice and warm and you don't have to go anywhere.

Sad Boy

The plague vultures have been circling our house for awhile now as they have quickly taken down our friends one by one.  We were doing pretty well avoiding them until yesterday when the vultures landed on this little guy.  Poor little boy was knocked down with a fever, chills, and body aches.  He was looking so pitiful I just had to take a picture and then just as I snapped the picture he pulls out this smile.  What a trooper.  Luckily he is doing better today and has even been able to gather his strength enough to play a bucket load of Wii, even though it has plum worn him out.  I just hope that he is better by tomorrow so that we can see the cousins and officially say goodbye before they move to Utah.

Two lessons reaffirmed

Lesson 1) You can't force a kid to eat.  Tiger is a horrible eater and it is downright exhausting sometimes.  Lesson 2) You can't force a kid to poop.  That's right, I said "poop".  Potty training has been ramped up around these here parts and it isn't pretty.  I know that I survived it with the other two and I will survive it with this last one, but boy this last child is a stubborn little guy.  Here is one of his responses as I tried to get him to the potty:  "All of the poopies are mad and want to stay in my bum.  They say, 'We want to stay in here.'"   Ugh, he's such a stinker.

Christmas Eve - Just Busy Making Memories

Making Cookies for Santa

You have to appreciate Tiger's committment to frosting.

 The Cast

 Pre-performance photo-op

 Mary, Joseph, and a very tiny and somewhat weird baby "Jesus"

Two of the cutest little Inkeepers/Wisemen that I have every seen.  These boys had a case of the sillys (or is it spelled sillies?) on this night.  Although they enjoyed saying their lines, they were not really taking stage direction very well.

Funky, Funky

I am in a funk.  Actually, I am usually in funk for most of winter and so it is surprising to me that it took so long to come on.  The delayed funkiness is probably due to the fact that either I, or one of my children has been sick for the last two months and so I have been focused on all of that fun stuff.  So now that we are basically all better and the sun is actually out, yes now is when my funk hits.  And so I apologize to everyone in advance of whatever funkiness I may send your way.  Also, can I just say how much I dislike potty training?  This little boy of mine has gone about this very unconventionally which is fine, but I am ready to be done now.  Also, I want a personal chef and a maid.

Christmas Day in Pictures

 Coming out of the bedrooms way earlier than I wanted them to.  Obviously they disagreed.

 Anticipation mounts

 Total Excitement

 Wahoo!!

Two cute brothers in crazy alien monster jammies.

 

 Let the Bey Blades battle begin!

Tiger got his beloved General Grievous.  This Christmas was officially a success.