Outdoor decorations

It's been so, so cold here for the last week or so.  And I have to say that when it's so cold and the snow had all melted away before the cold snap, it was looking a little "blah" outside.  So I thought our yard needed some little bursts of colour.  So we got to work making some outdoor decorations.  All we used were a few pieces off our cedar bush, some frozen cranberries, some string and water.   

The kids each took two small containers and laid the pieces of cedar and cranberries in the bottom. They took a piece of string and laid it in between the layers to make sure it would stay put when the water was added.

Then I took some hot water and poured it into each bucket on top of the cedar and berries.  (I learned that if you use boiling water to freeze things like ice cubes, they freeze clear instead of cloudy like when you just use tap water).  

We took them outside and left them there overnight to freeze.  In the morning a light dusting of snow was covering them.  

We took them out of the containers and hung them up around the yard.  I thought they looked so pretty.  I have to admit, I was wishing we had snow - I think it would look that much better against a white backdrop.  

The day we hung them up, the sun was shining so brightly despite it being bitterly cold.  So when the sun beat on them, they started to melt a little and icicles formed on the bottoms.  The kids thought the tails were hilarious.  

The next day, we finally got more snow and it made everything look so pretty!  

I'm thinking the birds will be quite happy when they melt enough for the cranberries to drop out!  

Finished Scarves

The scarves for the kids are complete . . . cross it off the list baby!!  I'm so happy to have one item from my to do list done and just in time for this freezing cold weather we're having.  Here are the kids modelling their scarves.  

When I asked for a nice group shot . . . this is what I got.

This is what I had to settle for.  Kinda dark but I didn't want to push my luck by making them sit longer.  

One item done . . . 19 to go!!

Another Fun Family Outing

Last Saturday was the day we went to the second show we had tickets for . . .  courtesy of Santa. Well, not really.  Mike got six tickets given to him at work and we put them in the kids' stockings.  They just started watching this show in November or December (you know the month they watched WAY too much TV?!??? - LOL!)  So when Mike called me to say he had these tickets, I was so excited to give them to the kids.  And just as we knew they would be, they were so pumped!  

The second we got to our seats, there was already a pre-show and the kids were dancing before the coats were even off.

It was a really fun show.  Mike and I even enjoyed it.  We were surprised at the end that it had gone by so fast . . . that's always a positive sign of good entertainment - rather than sitting there wishing it would be over!   

I think I was the only one out of the six of us that didn't know who these dudes were . . . so now I'm up to speed  . . . phew!  :)  Here are some pictures of the show.

The list

So my goal this year is to complete projects that have been started and never finished.  I've come up with 20 things that I would love to cross off my to do list.  In no particular order here they are:  

1.       Read through the Bible in a year (or two)
Started this last year.  Hope to finish it this year. 

2.       Organize Lego
Austin has received quite a few Lego sets over the years but they’ve all gotten mixed in together.  Every once in a while he would like to build one of the sets but the pieces are hard to find or they’re missing.  So we have started putting them together and making a list of pieces we need to order.  It’s a big job but it will be a good feeling when it’s done. 

 3.       2010/2011 Scrapbooks

    I make scrapbooks for the kids and the 2010 and 2011 books are just about done.  I have about six more double page layouts to do and then have to put them all together. 

4.       Garage Door
It’s been sanded . . . needs to be painted.    

5.       Journey to Denver blog book
After Samara came home, I took the blog we created and used this company to turn it into a book.  I would like to do the same thing for Denver.  I’ve started it (many times) and just haven’t finished it. 

6.       Sew stockings
I’ve had the material to make burlap Christmas stockings for about a year and a half but it’s still a pile of fabric.  I always think I’ll do these things in November or December but life is too busy at that time.  I’m thinking I’ll have to tackle them in the summer months. 

7.       Knit scarves
Two out of four kids got scarves for Christmas.  (No, I don’t pick favourites!).  I ran out of time in December (gonna have to blame it on being sick again).  Two more to go  . . .

8.       Knit throw
I received this amazing yarn from my MIL (was it two or three years ago??) to knit a throw for the couch.  I can’t wait to do it but it just hasn’t happened yet.  (After I took this picture, the yarn was on the couch and Frodo got into it.  He had a great ol’ time throwing it all over the living room – what a mess!  Thankfully it was all saved and none of it had to be thrown out . . . phew!) 

9.       Knit from yarn stash
I have to stop adding to my yarn stash and use what I have.  This picture is only a very small portion of it.   Sigh . . .  note to self:  stop buying yarn for projects you want to do and finish the ones you have at home!! 

10.   Paint bedroom
Our master bedroom is one of the only rooms in the house that hasn’t been painted.  The wallpaper has been mostly peeled off but some of it is still there (taunting me). 

11.   Samara’s lifebook
I’ve had Samara’s lifebook done for quite a few years.  Well . . . almost done.  There’s just one page that’s blank – the country page.  Just gotta do it! 

12.   Memorize book of James
I completed this study with my Bible study group in December.  One of the challenges was to memorize the book of James.  My first thought was “there’s no way I can do that!” but then it kept coming back to me so I’ve decided to attempt it.  I’m not very far yet but I’m giving myself a year – should be more than enough time. 

13.   Sew skirt for Victoria
I have the pieces all cut out . . . just need to sew them together. 

14.   Sewing project
Have plans to make something out of this.  Gotta stop procrastinating. 

15.   Another sewing project
Ditto to above point. 

16.   Dings in kitchen paint
Our kitchen walls – especially the trim – has been so banged up over the years.  Needs to be sanded and repainted.  Don't you love the purple underneath??  Yikes! 

17.   Dings in dining room wall
I love, love, LOVE my Louisiana Hot Sauce walls in our dining room but every time they get banged (which happens a lot with four kids and a dog), it makes a white mark which looks pretty ugly.  They’ve been touched up in the past but definitely needs doing again. 

18.   Birch bark Christmas trees
Two falls ago, the kids and I collected quite a bit of birch bark when we were camping (off of dead, fallen birch trees!).  I made a few birch bark Christmas trees.  When I went to put mine up this year, I realized I had given them all away.  Soooooo . . . I need to make some more.  Another summer project?? 

19.   Paint doors upstairs
Most have been primed . . . just need the top coat.  Enough said.

20.   Start Denver’s Lifebook
Notice I didn’t say finish?  I know that starting the book is a HUGE stretch so I’m not even going to challenge myself to finish it.  It just isn’t going to happen.  The task overwhelms me – it’s complicated.  That’s all.  Just start.  Do it. 

And that’s it.  A pep talk once in a while throughout the year would be helpful.  Oh man, I can’t even imagine what it will feel like to get through this list.  Rollin’ up the sleeves and gettin’ started!  

How many men does it take to fix a tap?

In this case, the answer is three super handsome ones!  

Our kitchen taps have been giving us some issues so Mike called in the troops and they set to work fixing them.  I just couldn't resist taking some pictures of the cuteness.  Austin was helping by holding the light for Daddy and whatever else he could. I think Denver just wanted to be in on the action . . . while either snuggling with Daddy or using him as a jungle gym!  

 

Thanks guys . . . it's great to have some men around the house to fix the things that need fixin'.   

Book Review: Remembering the Bones

I just finished reading this book.  It came to me in a box of miscellaneous second hand books that were given to me from another homeschooling mom.  I had no idea if the book was any good but it looked interesting so I thought I'd give it a try.  Here's the description from Amazon:

"Georgina Danforth Witley has never felt she has led anything but an ordinary life. But here she is on her way to meet the Queen. Born on April 21, 1926, the exact same day as Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, Georgie is one of 99 privileged Commonwealth subjects invited to an 80th-birthday lunch at Buckingham Palace. All she has to do is drive two hours to the airport and board the plane for London. Except that in her excited state, Georgie drives her car off the road, tumbling hood over trunk into a thickly wooded ravine. Thrown from the car, injured and unable to move but desperately hopeful that someone will find her, she must rely on her strength, her full store of family memories, her no-nonsense wit and a recitation of the names of the bones in her body—a long-forgotten exercise from childhood that reminds her she is still very much alive.

As Georgina lies stranded and helpless, she reflects on her role as a daughter, mother, sister, wife and widow; she casts back over family histories, lost loves and painful secrets. What has it all amounted to?"

It's basically a story recounting the events of Georgie's life from childhood all the way to where she is now - lying in a ravine waiting to be rescued.  I enjoyed the story and it was neat how the author creatively went back and forth from past to present.  Things happening in the present triggered memories of events from the past.  It was an interesting way to tell the story of someone's life.  When I read reviews, a lot of people said they disliked the ending of the story.  I suppose it kind of leaves you hanging a bit but in my opinion, the story has been told . . . what happens after that isn't the point.  Overall, it was a simple book, quick and easy to read and I thoroughly enjoyed it.  

Free tickets for family fun

The week before Christmas, someone put six tickets on Mike's desk at work.  Tickets to see this:  

The kids got the tickets in their stockings and were so excited!  We went this past Friday and we all thoroughly enjoyed it.  The first half of the show featured The Little Mermaid, Tinkerbell and Cars . . . and of course the Mickey Mouse gang was hosting.  Denver's favourite part was when Mickey and Minnie's car broke down and guess who had to come and help??  Mater!  The second half featured Toy Story III.  The kids were so intrigued and mesmerized by all the lights and action.  It's hard to take good pictures so I didn't get any of the kids.  But here are a few of the show.  

This same "Santa" at Mike's work also gave us tickets for another show in a few weeks.  Stay tuned  . . .