Pretty as a picture

{ Happy New Year - 2013 }

Here's to a good one.  What will 2013 hold for you? 

tammy

New Years Fun!!!

Happy New Year.  2013.  A new year full of changes.  Jon graduates high school and moves to Appalachian State University.  Josh stays in Boone, NC.  And the remaining 4 of us head to Texas.  Our house will be rented to strangers.  Not sure all the changes are good but they are changes all the same.
Love this wonderful boy.  So full of life.

I will miss this one when we move.  I am not feeling quite well about leaving him alone in his first year of college.

Crazy boys.

This girl- well she keeps us on our toes.  She brings all the unexpected fun to the world.

This boy will be in NC also, I will miss having him nearby.  I worry about the both of them.  My big man- Joshie.

Boone is along for the ride.  I don't think he knows what to expect. 

Lets bring on 2013.  And here's hoping it brings on peace.

{ Advent Countdown- Tutorial }

Hurry wake up.  Time to see what is in the calendar.  

I love hearing that during the countdown to Christmas.  

The excitement, the joy, the kids just running to see. 

 Usually I take the easy way out for advent calendars.  I buy the cheapie cardboard one with all the doors full of chocolate from World Imports.  

But this year easy eluded me.  I could not get to World Imports.  

(Surgery and no driving allowed after)

So, I searched the great google and found a nice easy tutorial that I could tweak for our use.

I found it at maya*made.

All I needed were toilet paper tubes, mini clothes pins, wrapping paper, tape, staples, and a frame.  Easy enough right?

Step 1.  Take a toilet paper tube and staple the bottom closed.

 

Step  2.  Cut a piece of fun wrapping paper to cover the tube.

Step 3.   Tape paper around the tube securing on sides and bottom.

 Step 4.  Don't forget to tuck in at top and secure.  (Don't want to see toilet paper roll)

 Step 5.  Repeat steps 1-4 twenty three more times. :)

Step 6.  Print out little number tags, stamp them with numbers 1-24. 

 Step 7.  Cut tags out and glue them to the front of the tubes.

Step 8.  Hook all the tubes to the chicken wired frame using your mini clothes pins.  Make sure they are in order- your kids will point it out if they are not.  Believe me. 

 Final step.  Fill with candy and small treats.  

Do you make advent calendars?  Link up some ways you do them in comments.

tammy

linking up to Home for the Holidays party

{ TEXAS bound }

Yes that is right. 

 We are moving to TEXAS.  

To Sheppard AFB in Wichita Falls to be exact. 

Hubby has put off his flying career for over 8 years so he could stay here for the 

big boys to graduate.

He has the opportunity to fly again and he is taking it.

This means we get to go back to old stomping grounds. 

We are all excited and a bit apprehensive at the same time.

Welcome to my stressed out, chaotic, gotta get everything ready for a move world.  

Hope you enjoy the ride with us.  

tammy

{ A change is in the air }

Any ideas?  

tammy

{ halloween recap }

Was I the only one not in the mood to decorate for Halloween? 

 It makes no sense if you know me at all.  Christmas is my fave decorating time but Halloween is almost neck and neck.  This year however, I was in no mood.  I almost didn't do it at all but then it would have been a rip off for these two. 

 

I mean look at them, my gory two of the dead.

This is why I did it - for them.  

And once it was done and all the neighborhood people told us how much they love our house it made me realize that I don't do it for me- I do it for the kids to enjoy.  Next year it won't be an issue..Heck I already ordered more gore at 50% off from Grandin Road.  

Jack is so much easier than Sophie- he just loves a good mask and his clothes.  Sophie, on the other hand, knows her mama can sew so she comes up with an elaborate plan every year. Nothing like buying expensive fabric only to bring it home and shred it for a costume.  OH well they both looked amazing.  

 

Now bring on Christmas decorating please.  

tammy