skeleton & elf . . . day 21

I have a lot to do between now and Christmas . . . including some gift wrapping, a little bit of shopping, a lot of grocery shopping, cleaning the kitchen after last night's cookie experience . . . 

It's the most wonderful time of the year!

Christmas cookies . . .

There's joy and wonder everywhere

when you see the world through the

eyes of a child.

Baking cookies with a three-year old is so much fun . . . and ever so messy, but some messes are just worth it.  She insists on helping every step of the way.  I guess I wouldn't have it any other way - although I have to keep an eye on her or she will just do her own thing . . . like picking up the salt and adding some more.  I have gotten pretty good at keeping things going like they should and still letting her have fun and think she is doing most of it herself.  

Now the decorating . . . that was a different story.  I just let her do her thing.  After looking at her cookies I do believe that sugar cookies decorated by small children have to be some of the happiest looking cookies ever . . . 

On the other hand . . . my kitchen does not look so happy.  

skeleton & elf . . . day 20

paper crane ornaments

 First of all . . . I am doing other things besides taking silly photos of my Skeleton and Christmas Elf.  Second . . . please excuse the awful pictures in this post.  I was in a hurry and then really didn't want to go back and take them over. I wanted to give some kids at school a paper crane ornament.  They are forever coming into the office to get paper cranes and origami paper.  They are polite . . . and cute . . . and full of stuff that kids are full of.  I love them.  I made about 30 of these for the kids that come in regularly and for a few more that I knew would come in once the other kids had them.  

 I started with plane clear ornaments from Michael's . . . and a bunch of small paper cranes that I folded . . . 

 I used a needle and strung a string though the back of the paper cranes . . . 

 After removing the ornament "topper/hanger" - I folded the crane a little tighter 

and fit it into the top of the ornament.  

 Using the eraser end of the pencil helps to open the crane up again once it is inside of the ornament 

 Insert the two ends of the string into the bottom of the ornament "topper/hanger" and pull up - tying a knot on the top of the ornament. 

The kids loved them! 

skeleton & elf . . . day 19

/

Christmas cheer and a little bribery . . . ?

skeleton & elf . . . day 18

skeleton # elf . . . day 17

skeleton & elf . . . day 16

for today . . .

Outside my window . . . dark and cold (way too cold)

I am thinking . . . I should probably stay home tomorrow . . . cold? - flu? . . . whatever it is it is not fun.
I am thankful  . . . that my friend carried her baby as long as she did . . . he is a healthy 6lb. 8oz.. Her first baby was born at 24 1/2 weeks . . . this little guy made it to 35 1/2.  
From the kitchen . . . take-out tonight - won ton soup . . . because it is exactly what I need when I am sick

I am wearing . . . leggings, cami, and a big sweater

I am creating . . . paper crane ornaments for some of the kids at school.

I am going . . . to take some nighttime cold medicine and get some rest.

I am reading . . . nothing right now . . . any suggestions?

I am hoping . . . that I feel better tomorrow.

I am hearing . . . absolutely nothing . . . quiet can be a good thing.

Around the house . . . To be honest . . . it's a little bit of a mess.  We spent the weekend helping Jake and Kasey move into their house and paint.

One of my favorite things . . . a new coffee cup that Richard bought for me (two actually) . . . I need to take pictures of them - they're really fun!

A few plans for the rest of the week . . . get some rest so I get feeling better, finish my Christmas shopping, get inspired, and get ready to enjoy Winter Break

From my picture journal . . .

Here he is . . . a little early, but healthy and content.  

I love finding words and/or quotes on things . . . 

"Moms!  They're like dads, only smarter." 

 I asked Richard to pick up a bottle of wine this past weekend.  He made his choice by picking one with a humorous label . . . (he doesn't buy wine very often - it was not good) . . . maybe he was right on with the cork. 

skeleton in the closet . . .

It's 10 days before Christmas and I am posting pictures skeletons . . .  some people think that seems a little strange, but people who know me understand.  That is why when my friend found this skull when going through some old stuff that belonged to her father-in-law - she thought of me.  I was curious about the name and number. It turns out that these skulls were souvenirs at Disneyland for years.  RANDOTTI

I have been sort of lazy with my posts . . . simply putting my Facebook posts here.  I need to do something about that . . . 

Let's see . . . what can I do to get inspired?

skeleton & elf . . . day 15

skeleton & elf . . . day 14

skeleton & elf . . . day 13

skeleton & elf . . . day 12

Happy Birthday . . .

We decorate my boss's office every year for his birthday . . . We have covered everything with tin foil, turned his office into a duck blind and a Christmas mess . . . this year it was Under The Sea . . . complete with a shark, bubbles, a sunken treasure, and the bones of a rather fearless pirate.  I love how this one turned out . . . you can't go wrong with a skeleton in the picture.

  Happy Birthday to a great boss!

Work like a captain.

Play like a pirate!