Snowflakes

I love snowflakes! The big fluffy airy ones. We were lucky enough to enjoy watching those fall all weekend long! It was amazing!

Last year I casually snapped this photo of some snowflakes as I was waiting for the kids to get out school.

The intricate delicate crystals are amazingly beautiful! I'm now hooked on trying to photograph the perfect snowflake. 

AND then there's these beauties...that I can enjoy every day! 

The twins and I cut out snowflakes Friday evening (per the advent calendar day 6)...it was alot of fun! 

Thanks pinterest for the instructions- otherwise ours would have looked like they were made by kindergartners. 

Privacy

I'm making this blog private. I will start a public one for projects, crafts and party idea, decorations etc so that I can still share fun ideas. Which is located here. I haven't set it up yet, but the blog address is up. I'll start transferring previous posts and setting up the page soon.

Anyway...if you would like to continue reading about our family and our chaotic musings- all you have to do is send me an email or comment to this post. And I will add you. I'm pretty open (hence the blogging!) So the next time you come to this blog you will be asked to sign in with your email. Invite only kind of thing! oooooooh! Makes ya feel special, huh!?

Thanks a bunch!!

#cancersucks

Our family is adjusting to some devastatingly sad news. John's mom is struggling with breast cancer for a third time. I'm not going to give you a play by play of what's going on -I'm pretty sure HIPA wouldn't approve! Is HIPA even around anymore!? Either way- cancer is cancer and cancer sucks! There is no eloquent way to phrase that...it just does!

In an effort to show her support and to give to the cause, they donated almost 2 feet of hair to the Beautiful Lengths program sponsored by Pantene. It was their idea, their decision and their small personal act of love for Nancy. Corynn didn't have enough to donate by wanted to show her support by cutting her hair super short in a pixie cut. This was a big thing for her- she has been trying to grow her hair out for months.

                           I love these girls and their sweet hearts! They are such great kids!

Advent

We have started our Advent Calendar for the season and I thought I would share it with you!

I made the calendar and talked about that here. But actually coming up with daily things and gifts was the hard part! Also the timing...like making sure that we make gingerbread houses on a weekend, because week nights are always crazy busy.

I also found little gifts to incorporate...I explained to the girls (Evie's too little to understand Santa and the older ones already know we believe in the spirit of Santa rather than the chubby man in a red suit) that their stockings may be a little light this year, because we are doing the calendar too! They didn't care at all and are totally thrilled with the idea!

I also attached little clues to the bags...like the snowflake ornament, cookie cutter and holiday light. Some gifts were obviously too big for the little burlap bags...so they are wrapped and labeled with their corresponding number. The tag in the bag will alert them if there is a gift too. For example, "Stay toasty and warm with a cup of hot cocoa! p.s. open gift #3"

So here are our activities!!

1. chocolate truffle
2. Hug your sisters
3. Hot chocolate (travel coffee mugs for each)
4. Write or call a grandparent
5. Grinch poo (green tic tacs with little poem...follow the link)
6. Cut out snowflakes (snowflake ornament)
7. monogrammed playing cards
8. Make gingerbread houses
9. Gather clothes to donate from closets
10. Share your favorite Christmas memory (thumb drives for each)
11. Do 5 good deeds today
12. Compliment someone (pack of gum)
13. Listen to everyone's favorite Christmas song (iTunes card)
14. Drive around and look at Christmas lights (holiday lightbulb)
15. Decorate sugar cookies for neighbors (cookie cutter)
16. Read a Christmas book
17. Make someone smile (chapstick)
18. Make a list of 10 things you are grateful for (pencil)
19. crocheted scarves (made by me!)
20. Watch a Christmas movie together
21. Mistle toes (nail polish)
22. Make a snowman, snow angel or have a snow ball fight 
23. Notecards personalized for each girl
24. Christmas pajamas
25. Merry Christmas...check your stockings!