Woohoo...it's finally done!

So I finally finished Raven's knitted rainbow colored purse for Christmas. It is my first actual completed knitting project. I have about 4 other knitted projects going on in various stages but this is the 1st to actually be completed. It turned out pretty cute so I hope she likes it.

Now I'm on to a fuzzy blue scarf for another gift. I got quite a bit done on it today during my lunch break. Not sure if I'll get it done in time for Christmas but knitting is relaxing to me, my own form of zen so I'm not going to stress over deadlines. If nothing else it can always be a gift for next Christmas, lol.

A Stocking for Miss Ellie

I got up early this morning and got the girls off to school and got ready for work early so I would have a little time to spend in my craft studio before having to leave for work. I mended a pair of Ellie's pj's and a pair of Rebecca's pants, then I cut out 3 stocking shapes from some pretty floral fabrics I found in my fabric stash to make the girls new Christmas stockings (since we seemed to have lost a box of decorations somewhere in our mess of a shed that contained all our stockings...oops).

It turned out pretty cute and I'm happy with it. I think Miss Ellie will like it. I'm hoping to get up early again tomorrow and work on another one. I also have to finish knitting Miss Raven's rainbow purse for Christmas. So much to do, so little time.

It's Beginning to Look a lot like Christmas...

Feeling rather festive today so today after school the girls and I made Christmas decorations. They made pretty paper chains, colorful paper ornaments (complete with secret wishes written on little slips of paper hidden inside each ornament), paper ginger bread men, and strings of popcorn for the tree (although Gwen ate all of her popcorn off of her string and proclaimed it delicious, LOL). They had a lot of fun and the house looks so cozy and Christmasy (if that's a word, lol). :)

Thanksgiving Blessings

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving Day. We went to my SIL's and BIL's place for dinner. Everyone contributed something to the meal. MIL made the turkey, ham, deviled eggs, and giant sized rolls and brought sweet potato, pumpkin, apple and cherry pie. Raven and I made the sweet potato casserole and scalloped corn, dh made the green bean casserole and greens, and SIL made the stuffing, the mashed potatoes, the gravy, and the macaroni and cheese. We ate till we almost exploded.

It was a day full of family, fun, and food. I am so thankful for the people in my life. We are most blessed. :)

When Life gives you lemons make...pancakes!

It's the end of the month, the bills are all due, the dryer broke down, gas prices are up, and I'm left with a grocery budget of nearly nothing this week. So time to get creative.

The girls had a wonderful time at Boo at the zoo yesterday with their friend. They got to wear their costumes, see lots of animals, and stuff themselves silly with sugary candy. What could be better?

Afterwards they had a "sleep" over here. Although when you put 3 giggly girls in a room together overnight not much sleeping actually takes place, lol. I think they finally dozed off sometime after 12:30am, even after a gentle reminder that Mommy had to be up early to go to work the next morning. What I wouldn't give to have half their energy. *yawn*

In the morning though I realized "uh oh"... we are almost out of milk, out of cereal, out of bread, and are down to 3 lonely little eggs. Ack. What's a girl to do for breakfast??

Raven suggested pancakes. Perfect!

So I made a huge batch of fresh, warm, yummy buttermilk pancakes and chocolate chip pancakes (using what was left of the chocolate chips...apparently a little blonde haired gremlin has been into the bag lol).
Then we made strawberry tea sweetened with honey served in little rose decorated china tea cups and steaming mugs of dark hot chocolate. We set the table with pretty china, put a tiny vase with a single pink and white daisy for our center piece, surrounded it with little lit candles and served ice water in champagne glasses. The girls loved their little candlelight breakfast. The coco puffs were never even missed.

Last day of vacation

Today is my last day of vacation. :( I have really enjoyed being able to spend the past week home with the girls and puttering around the house. Not looking fwd to going back... but you do what you have to do. Gotta make a living somehow. Boo.

So I decided to spend my last day making a fun surprise for the girls. :) I dug around the basement and found some old wood scraps, dug around my fabric bin and through some of the girls' outgrown clothes for cute fabrics and made some things (with a little help from dh - put him to work doing the sawing and nailing) for their Barbie doll house. I made them a little Barbie doll bed, pillows, a blanket and mattress, a little matching cushioned chair, a kitchen table, chairs, a few misc odds and ends and two adorable little Barbie aprons. :)

They turned out pretty well and the girls were SO excited when they came home from school! I had a lot of fun making stuff and the smiles on their faces really made my day. :)