Gumdrop Trees

Well, the plan was to make gumdrop trees... my kids put their own creative spin on them.  They had fun and that is all that matters!

Check out our gumdrop... trees?



Start with colorful gumdrops.

Carefully add gumdrops to tree using toothpicks.  We break ours in half to make this easier. 

Sit back and see if gumdrop tree is turning out how you want it...

Be brave and taste a gumdrop!
 

Back to building...

Just one more toothpick...

And another...

Celebrate your gumdrop tree by snuggling (or nugglin' as Ella would say!) with your blankie :)

Our gumdrop creations!

Photo Shoot - Jack

I have been playing around with my new camera, trying to learn how to take the best pictures.  I found a willing subject to sit through my picture taking... Jack!  Jack is the perfect subject - she doesn't whine or talk back :)

Take a look!

Holiday Decor

Another entry!  I am trying to figure this all out.  I am getting there.  I think.

Just a few pictures of the Christmas decorating we did this year.  A big thanks to Mom for doing most of the creative work!

Here are a few of the living room.  Can you see our little Elf?  The kids were so worried that he was going to fall out and get hurt.  He was just fine!

Jute trees that Mom hot glued for me!

The Twelve Days of Christmas ornaments.  My plan is to find the perfect "Charlie Brown" tree for these ornaments.  For now, a basket from Goodwill works!

In the dining room:

This tray is from the inside of a chest that my wonderful and creative Uncle Bob made for me 12 years ago.  I LOVE it on my dining room table where I can change out the decor for each season.  What do you think, Uncle Bob?

The Santa painting is not mine.  Mom painted in while visiting Ade in Atlanta.  He sure looks cute on my buffet :)

Here is a better picture of the buffet we bought from Craigslist.  It is my most favorite piece so far that we have refinished.  I love the color and I love how it contrasts with the wall color.

I have been wanting to make this ornament wreath for a long time now.  It is all over blogland and seemed easy.  It was not.  Our wire kept bending forming an oval instead of a circle wreath.  Attempt three and we did it!

  

See that patch on my dining room wall?  That is what happens when a new doorbell install goes wrong.  Luckily, Chad fixed it.  Now he just needs to paint it!  I wonder if he will?

I hope to get a few good pictures of our Christmas trees.  My old camera doesn't capture how pretty they are.  Luckily, I just got a new camera. 

Now, I just need to learn how to use it.

Merry Christmas!

Krumkake

What is more fun than making cookies with your family? 

Honest answer?

I am only kidding, Mom:)  Although, if you have made krumkakes with my parents, you may know what I am talking about.  This is a serious process for a serious cookie.  They have it down perfectly and I am still learning.  The cookies burn your (at least my) fingers as you roll them.  And you have to roll them right away - and not too tight or too loose.  It takes the perfect roll.

Olivia LOVES these cookies and will ask to go to bed so that she can eat them in the morning as a special treat!

Gramma mixing krumkake batter

Papa preparing for krumkake rolling

Gramma is in charge of the hot griddle

Papa perfectly rolling krumkakes

All in all, we survived and were left with plenty to hand out to neighbors and friends as well as many to enjoy for the days to come.

Next, we will attempt spritz and chocolate chip cookies.  Yummy!!

Must be Santa

It wouldn't be Christmas without a trip to the mall to see Santa.  With letters in hand, dressed in their Christmas best, the kids each dropped off their letters.

We then went to see Santa.  Caleb and Olivia told Santa exactly what they are hoping for.  Then it was Ella's turn.  She turned shy and didn't say a word.  So Santa explained he was making some special Barbies and that he would surprise her.  Santa is a smart man!

Overall, it was a great visit.  We only had to wait in line for a few minutes, the kids were beyond excited and we have the Santa picture framed on the table. 

Why so much to dew?

I have been staring at this blog for months now.  Where do I begin?  What do I blog about?  What did I do yesterday?  Life is busy and we do so much.  So much is missed because I take so many pictures and they sit in my computer, never to be seen again.  I do not like that.  There is always so much to dew - or do!  So why not document it - the good and the not so good?

I have made it a personal goal to finally start this blog so that I will have a visual book of what we have done, big or small.  2012 will soon be here and I will try my best to keep on track - and look back at all the fun projects we did. 

And maybe someone will read this.  Maybe. 

And why dew?  I start every morning with a Mountain Dew :)  If I do not, my day does not go right.  With a dew, everything is just better.