trimming the tree trimmings

It has always been my goal to get the Christmas decorations up right after Thanksgiving.

I always waited until the house was clean. Decided to bag that this year and just get them up.

Karl and Eva went and got a tree.

Eva wanted a little tree in her room. So Karl trimmed some of the extra branches and I stuck them in vases.

Eva started decorating right away (with much more enthusiasm than the real tree. For whatever reason, no one likes to do it. Working on that one).

She did a great job.

Candy canes, red ribbons, gingerbread man, an angel, a "love" ornament...

She was so excited to show us her tree.

And while passing Samuel's room, I noticed that Samuel did a great job, too.

His handmade, white "Transformer rocket ship" and his orange Transformer.

thanks

This year we celebrated Thanksgiving with family up in Logan.

Karl, like every year, celebrated Thanksgiving with his rolls.

We call them Midnight rolls because that is about when he starts making them.

This year he made 90. 90!!!

Here they are doing a little speed rising in front of the industrial heater.

The meal was lovely. Even more lovely? The company.

After, while I sat on the couch (and helped clean up, but mostly sat on the couch), they played some football.

Team Karl: Karl, Eva (6), Samuel (5)

Team Burns: Burns, Daniel (11), Ashley (5)

Here they are in their huddle.

The little kids playing.

Karl making a play. Dodging Daniel only to be caught by Burns.

If you were wondering, yes, my nap was lovely, too.

The rolls have provided many a snack, breakfast, sandwich, and soup accompaniment. It is always a sad day when the last one is eaten.

my little less obvious thanksgiving list

Inspired:

At Art Weekend, the screen printing teacher mentioned an artist named Lotta Jansdotter.

I got a few books from the library and I am in love.

I love her simple, easy style.

My library didn't have the last book that I have here. It's in Japanese. Which makes me think that maybe if she is so popular in Japan, then I can't help it if I like her. It is just my genetics.

Indulged:

Costco has these right now. Loc Maria Crepe cookie things.

"Crispy Biscuits Enrobed with Belgian Milk Chocolate"

Enrobed. Doesn't that just sound delicious?

I bought the box yesterday and did the ultimate glutton thing to do. I opened the gift box as soon as I got in the car. A gift to me.

I don't think I have ever been so tempted by a treat. Seriously. I'm pretty sure I heard them say, "I love you, too."

So, today, I bagged some up and gave some away. Even if I kept the whole box, it would have only lasted me two days.

I am using my two ounces of self control to not go grab one right now.

I'll just have a couple, or 46.

Totally grateful:

In disposable flip flops, in freezing weather, at midnight, sporting new, shiny red holiday-ish polish.

Looking for a treat after midnight and ending up at 24 hour Winco. And can't help but be practical and pick up a few bargain groceries along the way.

Laughing the whole time.

So glad I have someone that will be a little unconventional with me. And love it.

I keep thinking about how grateful I am for these things.

Oh, and, today, my (a little more conventional) friend asked me what time I go to bed. I was too embarrassed to give a straightforward answer. Just said, "Oh, pretty late." And then kind of changed the subject.

looking back

I love watching Food Network while I make dinner. Gives me a little company, I guess. The kids watch, too and ask, "Why don't you make what she is making?"

This is Eva when she was three. Cooking along with the Barefoot Contessa.

Just picked Eva up from school. Said they have a new game they play at recess. She made it up. Guess what it is called? Cooking Club.

messy room. need change.

Eva's room in it's natural state. It doesn't always have a fort in the middle. And if someone is coming over, we clean it. But all that other STUFF? Yep. It's there. Gross and busy, huh?

Things that aren't working:

1) These pictures give me anxiety. The room has too much stuff in it.

2) When she was 3, she declared she didn't like pink. Her room is very very pink.

3) That desk was mine when I was a kid. Thing is, it didn't work for me. So, why am I trying to make it work for Eva? You have to lift the workspace to get stuff out of it. Too conducive to stuffing.

4) That rug is gross. We have been using it since she was born.

5) She needs more storage. Or just better storage. And more creative space. Space to work and space to display.

6) I loved this quilt when I thought of it. Love it when I was cutting the stuff out. By the time I finished it (probably a year later) I was kind of sick of it. Now I am really sick of it.

7) This display shelf is currently displaying chaos.

We need help.

I have been looking at this bedding and love it. Thing is. Will I only love it for a little while? Is it too little girl? Just the quilt and the sheets. Or should I go for something totally different and more grown up?

I was just going to try and work around the pink and brown quilt but then this deal came up.

Superficial. I know. But ideas are swimming and taking up so much brain space, I need to get it out. Must. Get. Them. Out...

liver for lulu

My earliest memory of Lizzie was when I was in high school. She was in fifth grade.

She was telling us how she only liked older guys. She would not go out with anyone younger than sixth grade. Spunky, hilarious, and apparently mature beyond her age.

Fast forward to now. Years later. A cute wife and sweet mommy of two adorable kids. Picture perfect, right?

But now her sweet little girl needs help. She's fighting Alpha 1 Anitrypsin Deficiency, a genetic disorder that causes liver and lung failure.

And now, after three weeks in the hospital, she has H1N1.

Read about this sweet girl, London, aka Lulu here.

Of course, things like this cost a lot of money. You can read about how you can help with the "Liver for Lulu" fund on that blog, too.

Cyd, Lizzie's sister (and one of my favorite friends ever) asked if I would make some onesies for the cause.

I still like my birds, so I stuck with them. I also tried out the ruffle butt onesie from this tutorial. Besides ironing them all before I took pictures, there are a few things I would do differently but isn't that how crafting goes?

On each onesie I put a little birdie on the back and a little, blue "liver for lulu" sign wherever it fit in.

I am still trying to create a "brand" for myself. That day, I liked, "cyi made." I came up with a logo and put a little label on the back of each one. But I still can't decide. I am so indecisive. I need more feedback.

These ones have been sold but If you want me to make you one with the two birds in a cage, I would love to. If you need it for a baby boy, I can make it in black, too. I have sizes 0-3 mo., 6-9 mo., and 12 mo.

For $15, I will make it, wrap it up cute, and send it to you, and all of the money will go to help sweet, tiny, Baby Lulu.

samuel is five

Five years. Wow.

A "fast poke." That is what Samuel calls himself.

I wasn't as much of a camera freak when Samuel was tiny but I do love the pictures that I have. Having kids 21 months apart sometimes means that you might not remember much of the first years. That and life was pretty chaotic back then... moving from Chicago, buying our house, remodeling, etc.

But every time I look at these pictures, memories come flooding.

(oh and can you imagine how sad I was that I left my camera at my parents' house for Samuel's party).

Karl laughs at this photo because it looks like Tattoo from fantasy island. I just see my little boy in his blessing outfit with the most luscious lips ever.

The next photo was from Easter. He just happened to be wearing white pajamas and I grabbed the bunny hat and basket.

Later, he learned that he had an opinion about such photo shoots.

To celebrate his fifth year here we had a family party at our house. He hasn't asked for a friend party, yet and I'm very okay with that.

The decorations:

I am pretty sure it was purely for me, and Eva because she is impressed by this kind of stuff, I stayed up super late and made this happy birthday banner for the big day. Eva and Samuel hung some red balloons.

Samuel is obsessed with red and Bakugans (and Transformers but I discourage the actual toy since they are so hard to transform and such a pain because he always asks me to do it for him, and I can't do it) right now so that is what I went with as far as theme. Red and circles.

I put his name on some IZZE drinks. Samuel IZZE, get it? And my mom made these cookies and I had her put his name and face on the cookies.

Did Samuel care? Not so much. Did I expect him to? I know, these kind of things are mostly because I like to do it.

The food:

I made two soups and we had artichoke dip, veggies, chips, bread, and my mom showed up with some tasty Hawaiian chicken. I also made that citrus punch that I love to drink but have to have a party to make. I love party food.

The cake:

Karl's mom always comes up with amazing cakes. The kids make their wish and she delivers. A Bakugan cake. Amazing.

I love this picture because of how excited Eva is for her brother.

The gifts:

The whole party Samuel just wanted to open his presents. Maybe he cared about the food and the cake and the guests. Maybe he cared by yelling, "Can we open my presents now?!!" about every 2.5 minutes.

My brother shows up with this HUGE gift. Samuel was excited just because of the size. Eva made him a mask and wrapped it herself. So sweet.

It was so funny to see everyone playing with the Bakugans. Seriously, it was a room full of people from 4 to 64 (or so) playing with these little toys. They are actually kind of fun.

I also provided other entertainment, writing on my dusty furniture. The "Wash Me" sign is probably still on my TV.

Thank you so much to family for coming over and celebrating our little/big Samuel. We had a blast.

The next morning, Samuel got up bright and early because he was so excited to play with his Bakugans. Don't know what a Bakugan is? 4 months ago, I didn't either. He has quite the stash. His grandma called me today and told me that when Samuel went to her house on Saturday and asked if she would give him FIVE Bakugans. Never mind just 1 through 4. He wanted FIVE. That kid. It might actually be how many he needs to fill his case.

Breakfast the next day was... cake.

He had to make a mobile for his "Special Day" at school. I had no idea that he had such great cutting skills. His mobile shared his favorites:

Sports: Soccer, T-ball, and Baseball

Foods: Crunchies (Japanese rice crackers, "Osembe" that his grandma gives him) and apples

Books: Transformer books, Bakugan books, and Speedracer books (despite my efforts in trying use my teaching degree and expose him to quality literature).

People: Mommy & Daddy & Eva & Friends & Cousins

Here we are at his school. He was silly the whole time, of course.

Does having a mom that likes to sew mean that you have a mom that shows up with big loose threads stuck to her back side?

Samuel is helping his friends open their Transformer fruit snacks and cracking up. Love it.

Samuel and his "veggie man."

Five years. Five years and we think he is starting to catch on to his dad's make it disappear and then reappear in Samuel's ear trick. Five years and I still wonder where all of that energy and passion comes from. Five years and he still sings while he does stuff (but he doesn't realize it and if we point it out, it stops, so we just listen and smile). Five years, and I am so glad he is ours.