DIY advent calendar

Can you believe it is almost Christmas?!?!?!

This year I really wanted to make my own Advent calendar.  I have a large frame that I have been holding on to for years.  It was made by Chad's Grandpa Plemon and is huge.  I knew it would work perfectly, so Mom and I headed off to Michaels to look for the rest of the supplies. 

We bought:

*mini clothes pin

*mini envelopes

*stickers

*washi tape 

*green buttons

I already had:

*large frame (we spray painted red)

*bakers twine

*more washi tape

*more buttons!

To begin, we threaded 5 mini clothes pins on the bakers twine.  Based on the size of the frame, we planned to do 5 rows of 5 envelopes.

Since the frame is made of solid oak, Chad did the stapling.  Since Chad is an engineer, he did the measuring to make sure all 25 envelopes fit perfectly.

Once each string was stapled, I went back a tied a knot to make sure the string wouldn't come loose. 

I quickly clipped all 25 envelopes to see how it looked.  We totally lucked out that the frame was the perfect size for the envelopes.  Well planned, Grandpa Plemon!

Next, Mom and I went to town decorating each envelope.  The plan was to be simple, but fun.  That plan was quickly thrown out the window when we realized the amazingness of washi tape!  It is so fun to use and adds so much to each envelope.  We went back and added washi tape to each envelope - and stickers and buttons...

And here it is!

Inside each envelope is a piece of paper with an activity.  This year I kept it very simple since the kids just got out of school last Friday and the nights were filled with homework.

Activities included in envelopes:

*write a letter to Santa

*hang your new ornament on the tree

*bake cookies and deliver to neighbors

*watch a Christmas movie with hot chocolate and extra marshmallows

*play a family board game

*make a washi tape Christmas tree 

*make crayon ornaments

Next year I hope to add in more random acts of kindness to help my kids understand the real meaning of Christmas and the holiday season.  That is my plan.

I am off to get a few more things done.  I am almost ready!  Are you?

Another funny friday

It is Friday!  I do have pictures to share with you about a DIY advent calendar, Christmas decorations and a Santa visit, but those will have to wait because I am on my way up to school to some super fun holiday parties for the kids...

I do have time to share a fun picture.  This time it is a picture of Jordie.  Christopher was in Atlanta visiting Ade, so Jordie was staying with us.

He is such a cute dog.  Take a look!

Christopher was not too happy about the bow, but Jordie didn't seem to mind!

Friday funny

It is Friday.  It is cold, rainy and gloomy here in Texas.  So, why not post something funny?!

Today I chose two pictures.  Both involve Uncle Christopher.

Hope you find some funny in your Friday!

Working out

Blogging has not been on the top of my priority list lately.

In addition to taking care of the kids, helping with nonstop homework, and everything else that goes on in life, I have been working out!

I have been working out 5 (sometimes 7!) times a week and am LOVING it!  I have to give credit to my neighbor, Nicole, who asked me to go to Spin class with her one day.  How hard could it be, right?

Holy crap.  Spin class is TOUGH.  Kick your butt tough.  Sweat dripping from every possible area of your body tough.  But, I love it!  I am hooked.

I also attend Body Pump and Body Step.  I am lifting weights like nobody's business and am stepping my little heart out.  My coordination is not the best, but I am trying.

I am now able to add more weight... baby steps.

They only offer Beginners Yoga once a week and I go whenever I can.  

Chad bought me a watch for my birthday that tracks my workouts (counts calories/duration of workouts/etc) and I try to snap a picture after a workout when I can.

Here is my watch wishing me a Happy Birthday - or making me feel guilty for not working out that day...

 And here are a couple pictures from after some workouts...

I hope my motivation for working out doesn't leave any time soon.  I really do feel better overall and I try to remember that on a day when I do not want to go.

Someday I will send you tickets to my gun show (pictures of my buff arms)!  

Maybe :-)

Just a few

It has been brought to my attention that a few of my seven followers are not very happy with the current state of this blog.  I promised I would start to post more often, so here goes.  

Just a few pictures to hold you over until I figure out how to catch up...

You are welcome!

I promise I will try harder to post more often.  Please forgive me... you know who you are.  Am I still on the top of your favorite list?  :-)

July 4th Celebration - 2013

Time to do a little catching up... Try to think back to July - July 4th to be exact..

This year we decided to do something different.  Something fun for the kids.  Something that would keep them entertained for hours.  Enter a double inflatable waterslide!

The families in our cul-de-sac all pitched in to rent this slide for a four hour block... we ended up with the slide for two FULL days!  I guess it pays to rent inflatables on holidays.

The kids spent HOURS climbing up the slippery slide only to crash down, falling into each other.

Papa stopped by to make all the kids snow cones!  He is such a fun guy ;)

The girls spent a lot of time on the balance beam a neighbor set up.

Olivia even mastered the balance beam while being fed cheese puffs from Papa.  Papa is enjoying a home brewed beer that our other neighbor makes.  We sure like that neighbor!

The boys were in heaven squirting the girls on the water slide.

The kids participated in a whip cream eating contest.  Without using their hands, they had to eat the whip cream until they found a gumball.  They then had to blow a bubble to be declared the winner.  Ella had fun.

Olivia did not. (Caleb wouldn't even participate.)

The most shocking part of the day was when Papa ate a shrimp puff that a neighbor made.  Seriously, he ate the entire thing!

We ended our day with an outdoor movie and snacks for the kids!

What a fun way to spend the day!  When the kids woke up the next day, they were excited to see that the water slide had not been picked up.  They threw on their swim suits and played the entire day!