The, er, creativity.

The concentration.

The finished product.

The destruction of the gingerbread houses.

Dirt Sledding

Just stick out that tongue, Jenna. Get it, gurl.

This is Wee Wee.

Caroline doin her thing.

Friday Flashback

I have no idea what year this is, but I know it was Christmas Eve. There are a few flashbacks in these photos.

1. The mauve carpet

2. I forgot that we used to line the cards along the bookshelf

3. The great furniture that will be used for my reception center in the future...

4. Candi's face in the bottom picture. Looks like something I have seen on her children...

5. My awesome hair that I had until 3rd grade.

6. The nightgowns

7. Is that tassle from the fan now? Or from the chandellier that Jeryl made me pull from the ceiling. I thought I was older than I am in this picture when I pulled the chandellier down. Good times. Pieces from the chandelier now adorn Dad's Christmas tree. Candi you should come for Christmas Eve so we can recreate this picture. I am sure mom put those nightgowns in a cedar chest somewhere. :)

Look Candi

My sweater dresses are versatile

option 1

option 2

Items of business

Dad has decided that our reunion will be the week before the hypes reunion. We will probably talk about it more at Christmas.

Christmas dinner will be at 4 at Dads

We will open extended family presents after dinner

Grandma and Grandpa are coming Christmas morning and spending the night

Any plans for the next day? Are we going to do the traditional volleyball and basketball or something else?

Christmas dinner will be the regulars.

Turkey and Ham - Dad
Sweet potato pudding - Me
Mashed potatoes - John
Salad - Me
A dessert - Me
Wassail - Me
Rolls - Dad and I (MK you could bring some too, if you would like, mmm mmm good!)
Heather do you want to bring some cranberry sauce?

I am sure I will make some other goodies too, just haven't decided yet. Bring whatever.

What will you be bringing?

Look who had to feed herself this morning.

Now cleaning up after meals will be even more fun!

Craft Shows - Year in Review (or 5 months in review)

Sitting at a craft show is pretty boring half the time, but is also very entertaining.

What I observed

* A group of older women walking around in clogging shoes, short swirly skirts will make you chuckle. I mean, good for them for being active, and doing something they love, but seriously? They look like old cheerleaders wanting to relive the glory days with their pantyhose on and ribbons in their hair. Maybe if their skirts weren't so short?

* "Oh my gosh, that is so cute." "Look at this!!!" "Your prices are so good!" "So adorable." "Would you look at this?" "What a neat idea." "That is so pretty." "Look at these aren't they gorgeous." "I love that." "You do such nice work." "Adorable." "What a good idea!" These and other such comments may not lead to a sale, and will eventually make you want to throw up.

* People think that I am deaf. Hello! I can totally hear you whispering to each other!!! No, those are not too expensive, and yes it is a good idea, you can make it at home, but the chances are you won't, so just buy it here!

What I learned

* Other vendors sales pitches. I can now sell you jewelery made in Mexico, painted gourds, sheep cheese, or tell you about wood turning.

* To be more confident

* There are six different types of shoppers at craft shows;

1. Zombies. They walk by, and I am not sure if they are even aware that they are at a craft show. They are there just moving with the flow, glazed look over their eyes.

2. Lookers. Or should I say glancers. They glance at your booth, barely, while walking by. I don't get offended, they do it to everyone.

3. Be Backers. "Oh, I love this, will you be here all day?" "Will you be here tomorrow?" "I need to go get my money." "I'LL BE BACK." Sure you will... Occassionally they do come back, but I do not hold my breath.

4. Bargainers. "Would you take any less for this quilt?" My reply: "No, I am practically giving it away as it is." Or, not meant to be heard, "These are so expensive." My reply: "Yeah, they weren't made in China." That always causes a little bit of an uncomfortable smile from the shopper, but hey, it's the truth. One lady I said that to, laughed and was like, "true," and bought some hair bows.

5. Copy Catters. Occassionally, I could fall into this category I guess, but I always take an idea and change it to be my own. But, I love copy catters. Sometimes they pull out the camera, take a picture and then walk away very quickly. Other times, it goes like this; "how did you make this?" And some people want the step by step instructions. And, really it's okay, except if next year I see them, and they are set up next to me selling my knock offs, it may be a different story. One lady was at least honest about it, she was like, "yeah, I used to sell jewelery and I have been looking for something different, these are great ideas, I could totally do this. " Honestly, it bugs me a little, but then I remember that they don't get the satisfaction of coming up with the idea themselves. No one can copy that.

6. Buyers. These are my favorite. I love the buyers!

* When telling people how you did at a craft show there are two different types of people.

There is one group of people, when you tell them how you did answer automatically, "that is so great, " "way to go!" "Awesome!" etc.

Then the other group of people when you tell them how you did answer automatically with, "is that gross or net?" "Before or after expenses?"

Just an interesting observation...

What I overcame (an ongoing process)

* Fear of failure

* The nagging feeling that I can't do things exactly how I want to, not enough time

* The desire to crawl into bed and give up

* Insecurities that people won't like my stuff

What I endured

* Sleepless Nights

* Injuries to my fingers from pins, pliers, hot glue, jump rings, and other such on the job hazards

* Sewing machine issues, like picks, broken needles, etc.

* A messy house

* Cold toes

What I forgot

* Water
* Sunglasses
* Sunblock
* Water
* Gloves
* A chair
* Bags
* Signage
* Water

Let's just say going to bed at 2 am the night before a craft show ensures you will forget something.

What I am Thankful for

* Dad for helping me set up, for sitting at the booths, for building my displays, for watching my kids, for being the best dad ever, etc., etc.

* Anyone that has helped watch my kids so I can work and during craft shows

* John for letting crafts pretty much make a mess all over the house, for some reason it can't stay in one room... I'll do better next year. For helping make hair bows, and cutting banners, for unloading the car, for painting... maybe you will get a raise next year...

* Talents

* Success!!

Craft Show Season 2009- BRING IT ON!

Confessions of a mother that works from home

"I was drawing myself a robot, I wanted to be a robot."

He spends a lot of time "drawing" robots on paper, I guess he thought he could turn himself into one if he drew on himself.

And, yes, those are his pajamas.

I'm in the running for Mother of the Year.

Disney World Trip

Thanks again, dad, for keeping the kids!!

I had a fun time exploring all the parks. Definitely a magical place. We can't wait to take the kids - without a stroller!!!!

Friday Flashback

Okay, I have decided that I could totally be a writer/editor of this magazine. This months issue had an article about giftwrapping that is sooo yesterday! Try more than 14 years yesterday! They suggest ways of reducing our carbon footprint by using unlikely boxes to wrap gifts in. Leading to our Friday Flashback.

I have always liked to have my presents wrapped in boxes. It makes the present look so much prettier, and gives a much nicer presentation. I have gotten lazier in recent years, and just wrapped gifts as they are, mishaped containers and all.

But, back in the olden days (when I was a teenager and young adult) to get that great presentation, I wrapped gifts in whatever kind of boxes I could find; cereal boxes, sandwhich bag boxes, and my personal favorite - TAMPON boxes.

Mom was not so thrilled about the tampon boxes. She probably did not enjoy me emptying the boxes to use either. "I don't know why all those ziplock bags are just laying in the cabinet, and the cereal is not in its box..." But, I always looked forward to the laugh I would get as my brothers unwrapped their tampon boxed gifts. Christmas just isn't the same without a gift wrapped in a tampon box.

So, all these years not only have I been funny, but I have been green! I so could have written that article... 14 years ago!

Dear ReadyMade magazine, I am currently accepting job offers.

Friday Flashback

So, I thought I would kick off Black Friday and the gift giving season with one of my favorite Christmas gift flashbacks.

We were at Grandma and Grandpas, I was sixteen years old, and we were opening presents... How many of you already know where I am going with this?

So, opening presents underneath the Christmas tree with the little song birds clipped on it. I played Santa that year and passed out the presents. I see there is a fairly large, flat, squarish, rectangleish gift for me, and begin to open it. I have no idea what it could be. I open it, and stare at the white plastic lining with bright colors arranged on top, trying to figure out exactly what it was I was looking at. Then, I realize Grandma had gotten me a large set of POWER RANGER soaps. I just remeber thinking to myself, "what in the world?..." Did I mention I was 16?

"I just thought those were so pretty," says Grandma from the corner.

"Yeahhh," I answer, "Thank you!"

Definitely my bestest gift ever!

To Heather about the kid's gift exchange

Candi says that the gifts from cousin to cousin should be about $5- $10. That's a good price range, i think.

Gift Exchange

Could we set a $ limit on the cousin gift exchange? It would simplify matters, I think. I say $5 or $10. What does everyone think? Tell me ASAP, because I want to hit up the Target sale tonight!


Heck, I wouldn't mind setting a limit on the grown-up gift exchange, either. Or, even better, saying that you can only give to the people that you're supposed to. Or that we don't do an exchange at all . . . It is much nicer to give to everyone. But I know no one agrees with me - I thought I'd throw it out there just to be contrary.