I'LL HAVE A GREEN CHRISTMAS...

So I'm distracting myself from Halloween fun by concentrating on upcoming events! It's just kind of sad when you don't have any trick-or-treaters any more...I did invite myself to go walking through the neighborhood with my neighbor who moved here in the summer. She has two adorable little princesses, so I'll enjoy it through them!

I love planning parties and this year is no different! A group I meet with monthly always has a Christmas party, and we let the husbands come in December, so I'm looking at a party of 24. Wanted to do something different with our gift exchange, so after doing a little research on the internet, I came up with this GREEN CHRISTMAS IDEA: Everyone is given a holiday tin at the November meeting, and they have to bring their gift in it at the December party! Could be homebaked, or just a bought gift that fits in the tin. I even got some tins that are small for the people that like to give gift cards. So now, the task of finding 24 tins!!! Thought it'd be easy, but it was WORK! I didn't want to spend $24 on these, so I looked at all the thrift stores in town. After being at 3 stores, and getting only 2 tins, I was about to give up on the idea. But then I hit the jackpot at the old EARC behind Sherry's Drugstore. Yes, that smelly place! I bought 22 from them for $3.34!!!

So if you like this idea, go for it! Just don't look at the thrift stores around here for tins, I bought 'em all!

SOME COLLECTIONS AT OUR HOUSE...

Bottles - son #2


and this collection of son#1, in the garage, right about where he opens his car door...LOVELY, ISN'T IT?


I've been reading a lot about hoarding lately in the paper. People that just can not throw things away...and it's a sickness. Let's just say I'm trying not to get too excited about this new collection. But I am curious as to how large and nasty it will get before he does something about it!

I STILL GET LITTLE GIFTS FROM MY BOYS...

WHEN LIFE HANDS YOU LEMONS...

Well, it really wasn't THAT bad, I guess. I just usually pride myself on being efficient. Makes me upset when I make a mistake money-wise or have to waste gas because of something I forgot or whatever. Don't know if you do this, but I have one day a week that I go to the grocery store and run other errands. I trained my family to ask if they need anything from the store to do so on Monday night or Tuesday morning. I may be a SAHM, but I am not your slave. Laundry is done on Mondays and Thursdays and if you can't get it to the laundry chute, it won't be done. If you need something from the store, you ask on Monday night or Tuesday morning, or wait until next week. I did this in the beginning to help myself, but I believe it's taught my family several things: PLAN AHEAD being the most important one. BE CONSIDERATE OF MOM'S TIME is also another lesson.

So, back to my original theme...I was pretty ticked at myself for leaving my wallet in my Grandmother's purse last Thursday. I put it in there because getting her into a store or restaurant is a slow process and I have to carry her purse (and drink sometimes) in addition to holding onto her. She lives an hour away, and I only go there about once a month because of gas costs and time, of course. Anyway, we made an event of retrieving the wallet. My understanding husband didn't even fuss about it. We ventured down south and went to the Warren Theatre in Moore for the first time. It was outstanding! (Can't say as much for the actual movie, though - "Where the Wild Things Are") I would recommend it for special occasions. Then we went on to Goldsby to eat at Libby's Cafe that is known for their catfish. The catfish was very good, the rest mediocre. Then on to the thriving metropolis of Slaughterville, Oklahoma to retrieve my wallet. We stayed and visited with Grandma for a little while. She gave each of the boys a container of Snack Pack pudding to eat. I had instructed them earlier to accept whatever she gives them!

Anyway, it didn't turn out to be such a waste of gas after all!

IF YOU CAN'T RUN, WELL...GO TAKE PICTURES!

After an excellent season, medaling in cross country competition 5 times, my youngest pulled his hamstring. He limped across the finish line, disappointed to place 8th when he could've placed 4th. The coach taped ice around him immediately after getting back to school and recommended we visit the trainer at the high school. I was glad we did; the trainer had a good knowledge of this type of runner's injury and made some practical suggestions for him. But I was especially pleased a week later when the season ending conference meet came up...he didn't fuss or complain about the injury, but wanted to go to the meet with the rest of the team and take pictures! Here's some of the "Mom approved" ones....
GROUP HUG!

RUN, GUYS, RUN!

ASHAMED...

Not the emotion I really like to talk about. But I want to be real. Last weekend was one of the most exciting I'd had in a long time. I totally relished in the fact that my son had the lead in the play, did a fabulous job, and I got to be a part of it in a small way, organizing meals all week for the cast and crew. Totally loved it that my daughter came home for her one day fall break and she was able to see the play too. Got to have a little birthday party for her - 10 days late, but we got to have one. I was on a total adrenaline rush for several days. SOOOOOOOOOOOOOO EXCITED!

Then I was brought to my knees on Sunday. Wonder why I can't get that excited about the Lord of Lords, the King of Kings, and the marvelous gift He's given me? Why don't I anticipate His return like I anticipated the play, the time spent with my daughter? I'm ASHAMED...

EASY BIRTHDAY CAKE FOR THE CREATIVELY-CHALLENGED MOM...

So I've made birthday cakes thru the years, and my kids loved them, but I never got to take that Wilton class I always said I was going to take. Now that my kids are 20, 18, and 14, I'm not sure if I'll ever take it....but here is an adorable EASY cake I found recently on Made by Melissa. Really fun and really cute! It was a big hit!