Making advent calendars- with help

We do advent calendars.  Usually those cheap cardboard ones from World Market.  You know the ones?  The ones that you open the tiny door to a piece of chocolate. 
This year to help break the utter boredom that is called being stationed at a terrible place, Sophie and I decided to make some.

First we started with two cardboard frame type things that held 24 drawers.  We painted the outsides.

Next we addressed the drawer fronts by cutting and gluing on different scrap book papers to the fronts.

Yes, the girl gets excited when she is allowed to play with sharp objects..haha

Lots of gluing and scraps everywhere.  I never said it was a non-messy project did I?

Next came the stamping part.  We had to stamp the 24 dates on each drawer.

The finished project.

I think my little helper did an amazing job.  Now it is my job to fill with surprises. 

Gymnastics - the beginning

The girl- being Sophie decided when we moved and left Kelly's School of Dance back in NC that she wanted to try something new here.  She wanted to try gymnastics.  Here we go...

This is class level and her first expo.  She is marching in with Coach Payton.

Time to show that spotted- very spotted back handspring.

Time for some beam work.  The concentration.

Time for awards.  Way to go Sophie.

The little old lady who swallowed a fly..

Its program time again.  Sophie's class is doing - The little old lady who swallowed a fly.  They could dress up as any of the animals or the little old lady. 
Here is - old lady Sophie.

I think she made a classy old lady.  She wore my dressmakers hat and an old pair of my glasses with the lenses out of them.  I think whoever she marries will have a hot older wife.  haha

Our Texas Halloween "Porch"

As this is still October we do not have our "fall" porch up yet.  That happens after Halloween in this house.  Why?   Because October belongs to all things scary here; inside and out.

Bring on the spooky.

Welcome to our new porch at our military base house..not quite a porch, as it more a landing.  And the hard part is we are not permitted to hook ANYTHING to the fake brick.  ughhhh 

We do the outside like the inside- spooky, scary and eerie.

Lots of skulls, skeletons, dead body parts, heads and webs..If it represents scary death then it is there.

You will notice there are not many fun autumn colored plants.  Again not our option- we are under drought stage 4 which doesn't allow us to water whenever we want - thus no fun flowers. We planted zombies instead.

 From us here in Texas...Happy Halloween.

Here's to your porch being scary, kids having fun and lots of left over chocolate candy for yourselves.

Our first halloween in Texas

We've recently moved here to military base housing in Texas.  It has been a challenge making it our own. You know rules that must be followed and not many changes to be made on a permanent basis.

Welcome to our foyer.  There is a big opening that we closed up with an old screen door and my table that painted.  We like it creepy here.

Notice the book- To Kill A Mockingbird..haha
Next we tried to spookify a boring kitchen...

Then we stroll into the dining room..scary, spooky and fun.

 
Do you decorate your bathrooms?  We did one..haha

We love to fill glass with scary items..heads- yes doll heads- they are funny in a scary way, skulls, rats etc..

Well with that I'll leave you - Happy Halloween All.  Whether you do it subtle, fun or gory it is a great day to have fun.  Here's to much candy in your bag at the end of the evening.

Cheerleader - Sophie

SIS BOOM BAH

May I present our cheerleader - Sophie.

This was one of the most dismal sports we have ever done.  For starters they didn't break it down to age groups so the bigger girls like Sophie got bored as they were not allowed to do stunts or any difficult cheers because the 4 year olds couldn't even figure out their right and left hands.  :)
The group also dwindled down each week with more and more quitting.  On top of that the uniform never happened at all.  She did one game and HATED it so we bailed.  So, glad actually as I make sure to always inform her cheer is not a sport.  Ugh

But she sure was cute.

Our football player- Jack

Oh yeah- Jack's first time playing flag football.  And guess what?  He enjoyed it.

 He enjoyed it so much he said he wants to do it again next year.  Good thing they allow you to play as a 6th grader.

Looking sharp Jack.   Not a great defense guy but man can the boy run fast.