Our Thanksgiving Tradition

A funny thing about growing older is that when you reflect on the past years, you realize you have created traditions without intending to. Our Thanksgiving tradition is to spend it with just our friends. Honestly, I can't remember the last time we saw family on Thanksgiving. Some people think that is sad but it is just the harsh reality of living so far away. But we have always made the most of it and I LOVE our Thanksgiving traditions. We have so many great friends who also don't have family here so, after so many years together, we are now family. Some friends moved away this year and it will feel weird without them around the table. I feel so thankful for so many great people in our lives, even though many are missed at holidays.This Thanksgiving we are spending with our friends in the mountains again. It is always nice to visit the snow and cold and then get back to the coast to thaw out. Our weekend will consist of cooking together, hiking, biking, and drinking in the hot tub. We will Skype and call our families far away because we do miss and love them all. But we will also celebrate our new traditions and have fun with our friends.

So, one of the many blessings I am counting this year is traditions. New and old. May you have a great time celebrating Thanksgiving and cherishing your old traditions, or making a new one.
Cheers!
Christy

More Christmas Crafting...

I stole some time to make these beauties and now I don't have any time to write about them. ;) They are lovely and so easy to make. I do love glitter and tinsel! Thanks for checking in!
Cheers,
Christy

San Diego State Aztec Game

Saturday it was so cold and rainy but we promised Maddie and Sam that we would go to the SDSU Aztec game at Qualcomm stadium, rain or shine. We went to a game a couple weeks ago when Madeleine danced at half-time but when you have a tired, squirmy 1-year-old-Max on your lap it is not so fun! This weekend, we got a babysitter for Max and so happy we did. He would have been miserable in the rain!
Though the Aztecs lost, the kids had a great time playing in the stands with their friends Leah and Emma. Emma is 4 also and LOVES the Aztec mascot, Monte Montezuma (aka: Emma's boyfriend ;) ) In the 3rd quarter we went down to the rain-soaked field level and waited for Monte to make his rounds. While we were waiting... the kids were on the Jumbotron! So cute!Then, Monte arrived and smiles all around. Such a nice guy and he stuck around and talked to the kids, gave out high fives and hugs. Sadly, I didn't get a hug. (wink!)
Sam had many questions about his weapons and his shield. Monte blows a conch shell when the Aztecs score or get a first down. Sam really wanted to watch him blow it and things weren't going so well for the team by the end of the 3rd quarter so Sam had to wait. Quite a while. But when it was time to blow the conch, Monte ran back over to Sam and....They all loved it! Though Monte was super-cool, Sam made sure to get the cheerleader's attention and give them high fives too. He even told one of them, "Hey, I like your pom-poms." All I can say is LOCK UP YOUR DAUGHTERS! Such a fun weekend! Thanks for checking in!

Bid deal!!!

This is my latest big deal! Great bargain and beautiful art all in one. Could it get better? Yes, it can. My kiddos are pictured on it. I'm just giddy with excitement to tell everyone about this! It's one of those deals that seems too good to be true...but it's not!

Here it is: There's a company called Canvas People who are offering a deal to have your favorite photo printed onto canvas.... for FREE! Yep, a free 8 by 10. You just pay shipping. Or you can upgrade to some larger sizes for a little more. I read about it on another blog I like to read, "Make -it-and-Love-it". I thought I'd give it a try and I ordered an 11" by 14". I got it today and it is AMAZING quality. I don't even have it framed yet. (Not a great photo--I had to use the flash. In real life it is not grainy at all.)

I love, Love, LOVE it and with the holidays coming.... I just might order more! Click here for the link to it.

Cheers,
Christy

So stinkin' cute!

Max just got these new PJ's from Grandma Sue & Jordan for his birthday. I couldn't wait to share these. He looks so stinking cute... and he knows it! Such a ham!

Thanks for checking in!
Christy

First Christmas Craft

Have you ever gotten a gift that is so beautifully wrapped that the thing it came in is almost as good as the gift itself? I have and it's like 2 gifts in one. I love it!

I bought these plain wine tubes on after-Christmas clearance a few years ago. I thought I might paint them or decoupage them but I liked the faux leather outside so much that they just sat in my closet until the right inspiration came. And.... ta-da! Here is the result:I made 3 of these in 10 minutes. No kidding! (You know me... if it can't get done quickly these days, it'll have to wait.) I'll tell you how. What you need is 1 wine tube, 1 small ready-made wreath (I think mine is meant to be around a candle) 1 flat ornament or embellishment (I found my birds in the $1 bin at Michael's -just like this), and Gorilla glue. I can't sing enough praises about Gorilla Glue. Your hot glue gun will not be able to do this job. Bend the wreath so it contours better around the wine tube. Find the contact points between the wreath and the tube and put the Gorilla Glue on. Remember that Gorilla Glue expands so don't use too much. Glue the bird or your ornament of choice on top of the wreath and let it dry for a couple house. That's it!

Don't forget to put the wine in. This would also make a great container for a big stack of cookies. You better get crafting--only 49 days left until Christmas! Can you believe it?!?!? Cheers!

Taking the time

I have so many amazing pictures from the last year but with 3 kiddos, I don't get much time to scrapbook. I love to do it. It is a great creative outlet and destresses me so... I stole some time for me (away from my sleeping time) and I am vowing to make more. Its all a balancing act.This paper and set is from My Minds Eye and I love every element of it!Squeezing in some Christmas crafting too. I'll show you next time.
Thanks for checking in! Have a great weekend!

Blimp Exploration

I had a great childhood. Brentt did too. But our children are having an amazing childhood. They get to do so many things that neither of us got to do as kids. I'm not saying they appreciate these activities, but some days I feel like I'm living vicariously through the kids. For example, our kids have seen more elephants in their lifetime than cows. (Thanks to living so close to the San Diego Zoo.) Then, on Saturday, we got to visit the Metlife blimp, a perk from Brentt working at Metlife.
Sam's imagination brought him high in the sky when he was in the pilot's seat.

It was too bad it was raining on-and-off but it didn't stop us.
Just another day in our crazy, amazing, happy life. Did I mention crazy? ;)

Thanks for checking in! Have a great day!
Christy

Halloween

Normally, we are REALLY into Halloween but this year, not so much. Kids were sick a lot in October and we have been so busy. Nonetheless, we had fun and the kids loved their costumes.

Well... Max only loved his costume for a couple minutes then he made every effort to just get it off. You should have heard the yells of frustration! I couldn't bear it so after a few photos, we just took the costume off.

Sam loved being a pirate. The funny thing is, he dresses like a pirate about once a week throughout the year anyway. He thought getting candy just for being his usual Pirate-self was just fabulous. Now to deal with all the sugar...
Trick or treating in our neighborhood is fun but I think Maddie and Max would rather have been playing with the firetruck ride-on. (Still one of the all-time favorite toys in the house!) They both groaned a little when I told them it was time to stop playing and get costumes on. Weird.
She just adores him!Now, onto "The Most Wonderful Time of the Year!" The kids are at such fun ages and my parents and brother will be here this year, it will be an amazingly wonderful season! Can't wait!
Have a great day!
Christy