Projects, projects, projects....revisited

Last January I made a list of projects that I wanted to accomplish this year.  I completed five of the eight projects.  That's a 62.5%.  I'd earn a D- if it were school and that would be unacceptable.  But it's not school.  It's life.  So I'll just consider it a passing grade.

In my defense I am working on a few of the non-completed items on the list.  There's a family rules poster that I've spotted on Etsy and I'm planning to take a sewing class at a local quilting shop in February (a Christmas present from my thoughtful husband).  Side note: my husband is a fantastic gift finder.  He always gets me things that I want, but I wouldn't have thought of myself.  Ya know?

But, let's focus on the list.  Here are some projects that I did complete.  :)

I finished the wall art for Madeline's big girl room and made her a few extra items here and here.

Madeline has a hair bow holder....which she has already out-clipped.  The girl's got a lot of hair accessories.

The recently completed Christmas card holder.

And then there's the living room.  Oh, the living room.  We did end up finding the couch of our dreams this fall and buying it.  It's nearly the polar opposite of our former sofa.  In other words, NOT country green plaid.  I'd show you some pictures, but really there's no point.  The living room is a work in progress.  And, of course, now that we have the couch it inspires me to do many more lil projects for the living room.

We'll just have to see what projects I find on Pinterest dream up for 2012...

Date Night

A lil Mommy and Madeline night out.  Her first trip to the movie theater, dinner at her favorite restaurant -- McD's, and (sadly) our first special night out alone since baby sis was born.   

An added bonus: her Happy Meal toy was from the movie we saw.  She was thrilled, but too busy people watching to smile at the camera.

Christmas at Casa Dowell

Not much makes me happier than the glow of a sparkling Christmas tree.  Well...that and long Audrey naps.  Girl gets cranky when she doesn't sleep.

A mysterious little elf has been slipping Little Pony pictures underneath the ribbons of the Christmas presents.

The same little elf thought the pinecones on the kitchen table were boring.  She added a little greenery.

My favorite new items are on the mantle this year.  I'm in love with free printables and I love the Christmas card from when Bonnie was a little girl.

The Christmas card holder is nearly full...

Heading out this afternoon for some last minute gifts.  Then I think we're ready...

Watch Audrey Grow: 10 Months

I may be running so far behind on Audrey's monthly picture that I just took it today.  Just maybe.

Audrey went to daycare for a few days this month while I subbed.  She's not a huge fan of being away from Mama, but it's good for her.  And she has big sis to help her adjust to change.

Still not crawling, but growing seemingly more frustrated with her lack of movement when on her belly.  She can scoot herself around while sitting on her bottom, roll across the room and back again, and turn around in circles.

She can hold herself up when standing.  Still kinda wobbly, but she likes playing with her music table and being upright.

She's been a bit fussy lately and drool-y.  Perhaps more teeth?  Only time will tell.

Audrey beams with pride when she talks and you talk back to her.  She particularly likes buzzing.  If you buzz back at her, she loves it.

And now I hear her in her room -- "Ya, ya, ya, ya.  Bzzzz....."  Must mean naptime is over.

Not-so-fancy-schmancy Christmas Card Holder

I knew I wanted to make something this year to display my photo Christmas cards.  I used to keep all my cards in a basket, but I wanted to be able to see them everyday.  So I went to my trusted time-waster friend Pinterest and found a few ideas.  But they all involved clothes pins.  And, quite frankly, I didn't want to go buy clothes pins.

So I found a different idea -- paper clips!  Genius AND I have a bunch of those.  (I'd link you back to the original idea on Pinterest, but I can't find it now.  Lesson learned: Always pin the first time I see it.)

I present to you, my Christmas card display:

I didn't take pictures of the process, because....well....I was totally making it up as I went.

Basically, it came down to two steps.  I wrapped two pieces of cardboard (thank you, Pampers) in gray felt that I had for another project.  Then I hot-glued on three pieces of ribbon.  That's it.  Very intense, I know.

To hang the cards, poke a paper clip through the ribbon and clip the card into place.

There you have it.  If I were a fancier gal, I'd consider using colored paper clips or even putting a little embellishment over the clip.  But this is totally workin' for me in simplified form.

Keep those cards coming, there's still room for more!

Randoms

I put Audrey on the waiting list for preschool in 2014-2015.  While this seems completely ludicrous to me, the opportunity arose and I seized it.

Madeline and I have more disagreements over fashion than I'd care to admit.  She's quite opinionated.  If it's just a day around the house or running errands I'll let her wear what she wants (ex: Halloween tshirt in mid-December with rainbow sweater, blue jeans, wild hair, purple socks and fancy black dress shoes)  I draw the line at preschool.  She must look respectable.  There were some tears this morning over her hairstyle (pigtails).  I hope I'm not scarring her for life.  

I love sending and receiving Christmas cards.  There is so much joy in writing out the addresses of each person and the fond memories that rush back.  And, of course, receiving them is awesome, too.  Pinterest even inspired me to make this super easy Christmas card holder this year.  Bring on the Christmas cards!

Last night Madeline got out of bed at 9:15 (she'd already been in bed for an hour...) to tell me that she had forgotten to eat her "supper dessert".  I'm pretty sure she lays in bed at night rehashing every single second of her day.

At ten months old Audrey is already giving up her morning nap.  This is a foreign concept to me.  Everyone in our family loves to sleep.  Who wouldn't want an extra nap?  Apparently, Audrey.

In the garage today Madeline says, "That says Max. M-A-X, like Max at preschool".  I turn around to see the bag that holds our cans for recycling.  Sure enough, in big black letters: "OfficeMax".  The kid can read!  Is there a waiting list at Harvard?  Or would that make me a helicopter parent? Hmm...maybe we'll try kindergarten first.

Advent

Madeline is really into Advent this year.  She is super excited about Christmas and anything to do with baby Jesus.

She claimed to be super excited to sing at church this morning, too.  But instead she spent one song facing backwards...yep, backside facing the crowd....and just stood silently through the second song.    Oh well.  We'll get there one of these days.

She's also into hiding her Little People Nativity Set.  I think it looks really cute all perfectly set up in front of the fireplace by the tree.  Madeline thinks it looks cute hidden behind the arm chair where only she can play with it and Audrey can't try to eat the baby Jesus.  

I'm enjoying the advent ceremony that we do.  Don't worry, it wasn't my idea.  My friend Staci shared it with us last year and it works great.  There's a script to follow and it's really simple.  A short narrative, placing figures in the nativity scene, a Bible verse, lighting the candles, prayer and song.

Madeline does a killer version of Away in a Manger (with actions and expressive emotion) at home.  On stage?  Not so much.

I'd be lying if I said the Advent ceremony was super deep and spiritual.  It lasts about ten minutes.  The girls are freshly bathed and in their pajamas.  Two weeks ago we forgot and did it on Monday.  It happens in our living room with Audrey babbling to herself and Madeline rearranging all the pieces on the nativity and repeatedly pushing to angel to make the stable light up and play Away in a Manger.

But it works for us.  It draws us back to the Christmas story each week.

And it helps remind me to take time to reflect on the gift of a small baby in a stable.

Madeline-isms: The Christmas Edition

This is the first Christmas that Madeline has taken an interest in Santa.  It's the first Christmas that she hasn't buried her head and tried to hide from Santa.  This year she has great enthusiasm for the jolly man as she likes to call him.  According to Madeline he's very jolly because he likes to bring toys to aaahh-aallllllll the children.

Audrey does not share her sister's enthusiasm for Santa.

We were playing school the other day in Madeline's room.
Madeline: Raise a quiet hand if you want to talk about Jesus.
I raise my hand (while sitting criss-cross applesauce, as I had been instructed to do).  Madeline calls on me. Then she quickly adds: No!  I'm gonna talk about Jesus.  And proceeds to launch into a lengthy soliloquy of all that she has learned about the Christmas story.  

Another day I overheard her talking to her pretend class about Jesus.  And she says: You know, Jesus.  With Mary.  His last name is Christ.

Substitute teaching....here I come...

Another first.  I'm back to school.  This time as a substitute.

I'm seriously super excited.  And a little bit nervous, too.

It's a win-win-win situation and something that I've been planning on doing all along.  At this point, I'm just signed up for NV.  But it will be new -- same people, but in a new building.  Trust me: I'm loving the decision to stay home.  But the practical voice inside me says that this is a good idea for several reasons.

Madeline gets to go play with her buddies at Gma JoAnne's house a few days a month.  She is super excited about this.  Especially since JoAnne will be picking her up from preschool -- just like she used to do for the big girls last year.

Audrey also gets to go to Gma JoAnne's and be spoiled rotten.  Maybe she will learn to take a bottle there.  If not, she'll at least get to meet new friends and snuggle up with Grampy Darrell.

I get to see my friends at school, be with the kiddos again, make a little extra money, and contribute to my IPERS.  (That's the practical voice -- saying that I should consider these few days a month an investment in my retirement.)

Today is my first day.  Off to teach some math!

And on Monday?!?!  I get to teach Spanish II.

Excelente.