Another one!

I received this "Stylish Blogger Award" from Janeen.  

Thanks so much! It's extra special coming from you.  There's very little {stylish} about me, so it must be my blog!   
8 more things about me?

1. I've been married for over 15 years.  I'm thankful for all the great years, support and love in our marriage.
2. I'm enjoying trying out my new Silhouette!
3. We're going to Chicago for New Years!
4. I love summer! I remember summers past...just the feeling of them. I get sentimental for that feeling of summer.
5. The only place I really care to for-sure-travel-to is Hawaii in my lifetime. Otherwise, I don't expect to be able to see the world and it's not on my dream list.  Although I know I'd love it, I don't see it as realistic for us.  I'm ok with that.
6. Lilies are my favorite flower, especially fragrant ones. I'm good with roses too. Or anything growing, I can appreciate it.
7. I'm so glad for the opportunity to teach my son before he went to kindergarten. He loves books, has a strong desire to learn, is creative and interesting. I'm glad to think I had a positive influence on his most formative years.  I remember wanting to quit my job and start a day care so the influence on his life could be mine. It's the best thing I ever did.  However, I have no desire to homeschool. I believe he's getting a much better education than I could provide him. We have a great school district. Besides, I have to work. I don't think I could do both effectively.
8. I think I'm organized. I'd like to think I'm organized. Then I find there's so much more I could be to be organized. It's inspiring and also so depressing. 

It's a bit unclear how many I need to pass this on to, but I guess it comes down to what I want to do. I like these girls' style!

http://shippeyfamily.blogspot.com/

http://julesann.wordpress.com/

http://countryboys2.blogspot.com/

http://jmbaseman.blogspot.com/

Versatile Blogger Award

Thank you *Teach Preschool* for this award! I'm honored to receive it from you! Along with accepting/passing on this award, I'm posting these required things:

1. Thank the person who gave you the award.
2. Share 7 things about yourself.
3. Pass the award on to 10 other versatile bloggers.
4. Let those other bloggers know that you gave them the award.

7 things about me…

1. I work a lot. Too much.  I do enjoy it and I *have* to do something. Trying to find a little balance in the new year. It's a huge commitment to be licensed and provide quality care (in the main living space of our home.) I'm the wife, mom, business owner, cook, diaper changer, teacher, planner, cleaner and more......
2. I'm working on my Preschool Credential. Actually, I've finished the credit (18) courses. Now to finish up my portfolio and arrange a date for the commission process. That's the goal for Jan/Feb. It's long overdue but I'm glad I'm this far.
3. I enjoy blogging, Facebook and Twitter. It's great to be in touch with friends and meet new ones! I've found great inspiration for preschool, our home and lots of topics.
4. I love the feeling of creating something.
5. I'm a twin. Most people know that but newer readers don't.  
6. I'm crazy about 3 in my life: my husband, our son & our cat. Yep, I included the cat.
7. I have lots of goals & ideas. Just not enough time (like everyone else).

Now to pass this on to 10 others.....which is difficult. I read lots of blogs but don't necessarily know a lot of these people. Also, "versatile" should be a defining word.  Choosing 10 is hard..let's see...

Superheros & Princesses

A Little Bit of This & That

ABC & 123

5 Orange Potatoes

Activity Mom

Montessori Journey

iStampScrap&Craft

Knits & Reads

Life's Unfolding Story

Neisha's Notes
I enjoy reading all these blogs!

Liberty Lodge

Over Christmas we enjoyed staying on Buffalo Lake at Liberty Lodge with my side of the family.  It was a really neat little place (worked quite well for all 11 of us!)  Christmas at Liberty Lodge Pictures

It seemed so strange...

On Friday, before we left for the weekend, we told Brett to go outside & play for a while (believe me, he needed to!) Then, what we witnessed was kind of disturbing.... we watched as he knocked the head off the snow man. Then he put it in the back of the little black truck and pushed it over to the shed. He lifted the head and put it on top of the shed.  Then he came back in. I wonder what this kind of play signifies? I'm not sure I want to know! LOL

Run, run as fast as you can!

Rudolph Headbands

Concert Videos

I love the concentration and what's going on in the background!

The Calendar Brett Made

This is what he brought home for us yesterday. I love it! Here's the wrapping paper "fairytale theme". There's a unicorn on the bottom.

The rest of the scene on the back.

Castle on the inside.

All the pages.

Close ups of a few pages:

April: What's my favorite band? Open the flap and it says "def lepord". Blame this one on Daddy.

August: Things that bug me:

Cile (Kyle! You made the list! You're even at the top! LOL)

flys

loud things

thunder

bees

miscetoos

my alarm clock

people chewing with their mouth open

These pages on made on the computer with Pixie.

June: Just to clarify, Damon doesn't care anything about candy in general.  : )

May: Brett's explanation of this: my eyes are black as bunny eyes. He's right I can be stubborn but hmmm, stubborn as a piranha? I guess when they get a hold they don't let go! Sounds right.

"worried as a fly": flies are worried all the time because they might get stepped on or swatted or eaten.  Am I that worried?  : )

Lots of Cookies

I received this as a gift from one of my day care families.  

4 lbs of cookies....that's a lot of cookies.  

Wordless Wednesday

Brett's Holiday Concert {2nd Grade}

We stood just past the front half of the gym...lots more people behind us. I heard even if you arrive 40 minutes early, you're still standing in the back...which is nothing new, we did for the Kindergarten & 1st grade concert too.

He knew I was trying to take a picture, which is difficult enough with the gym lighting and the distance...

Three 2nd grade classes

Brett played bells during the "Chime In" song. It was really pretty with bells!  The teacher emphasized that the kids who played bells all were in piano lessons and had to read sheet music/memorize their part. I hoped that would encourage Brett to like piano lessons more but he said it didn't matter to him at all. I said it didn't matter, he wasn't going to quit.  He knows it. I know he's learning a lot and enjoys the actual lesson. He just doesn't want to practice.  

I'll add some videos soon.

Making Holiday Cards

The kids enjoyed making holiday cards for their parents. (It was also jammie day!) We used felt stickers ($1 bag at Joann's) and glitter. 

Tracing her name - upside down - cute!

Birthday Treasures

Teacher Gift

We like to take Brett's teacher a little gift after the holiday concert (which is tomorrow) so this is what we came up with.

'

Paperwhite bulb planted in a can idea from Blue Cricket Design

A gift card (holder made with my Silhouette)

On Sunday afternoon Auntie Julie helped Brett make one of her hot cocoa envelope cards. He was really into it!

Now here's a unique little gift we hope she will like.  I'm all about appreciating teachers!  He goes to an excellent little school and he's learned far more than I ever could have taught him. He loves it too, which says a lot about the teacher.

Stormy in the basket

When we were cleaning Brett's room, Stormy decided to hop in the laundry basket.

My First Silhouette Projects

My Silhouette SD cutting machine arrived on Friday evening or I would have started these things earlier! I started with a card for Julie. The cardstock, vellum & snowflakes were on cut on the Silhouette. It's a basic card - I could have added more but I didn't get any further.

Then I cut vinyl and glass etched some tiles to make coasters. These are green glass tiles from Home Depot. I hot glued cork squares on the bottom.  I gave these to Julie as part of her birthday present. They should match her living room well!

Then I tried cutting a pillow box. It worked really well on the Silhouette although this glittered cardstock is really thick so I had to hand cut some of it. Unfortunately the backing on this cardstock left a big mess on my cutting mat.  : (  I glued on the ribbon and snowflake. This just had some lip balms and candy cane in it.

Fun! I can't wait to make something else!

Happy Birthday {to us!}

Julie sent this picture to me recently - one of Mom's she must have scanned.  I remember this - were we 7? I'm pretty sure it was a present from Mom & Dad. Strangely, I don't really remember playing with that doll. I'm sure we did play with them, but I don't remember that hair or changing the baby after it was wet. I guess that was a long time ago! Now, it's been about 30 years ago. Wow.  How can I be this old?  I wonder what was in those other boxes behind us? Something really great I'm sure. We always had special birthdays. Oh yes, Mom made those dresses for us too. I'm wearing those thick yarn bows in my hair. I remember those!

Julie on the left ~ Stacy on the right

Julie found that these dolls are still available on Ebay. For just $10! Great buy for vintage!

All about December 18th on Wikipedia

Happy Birthday Julie!