Night and Day

This was our Christmas card picture. Jack's head has been photoshopped onto this picture from another one taken the same day. (Thanks Michelle!) I ordered a bunch of cards and then only sent out about half of them. I just couldn't get into it this year. I really love this picture though. Honestly, could they be any different!? And it's not just appearance. They are different in every conceivable way. In fact, I don't think you design two kids who are more different. That's fine with me. It keeps things interesting around here.

Primitive Christmas

Parker's teacher like primitive country, so I made a special one-of-a-kind Advent calendar for her. I love how it turned out. (Sorry the pics are sideways.) I ended up selling about 15 calendars this year which gave me a nice little bit of spending $. If I do it for next year, I MUST plan ahead so I don't get swamped in November!

So.....whew....Christmas is over. This year, I didn't scramble around much at the last minute which, oddly enough, made it feel LESS Chistmasy to me. I guess the stress of the last minute details has become my normal!

Shiny

I wanted a new Nativity scene, but wanted to keep it on the cheap--or I should say, I was pretty sure I could find one cheap. However, I wasn't really finding what I wanted.

Then I found these at Dollar Tree. There is nothing terribly wrong with them, but it isn't the look I'm going for. They were actually marked down to 50 cents each.


So I gave them a coat of silver spray paint (my new best friend) and now they match my decor. I love them--especially their price! (And, of course, for many other reasons!)

I'm not going to "officially" join Nester's Tour of Christmas Decor, but I will try to put my stuff on here. 'Tis the season to be crazy busy!

More Chicago

On the Michigan Ave. bridge over the Chicago River.
Ginormous American Gothic. Parker told Jack that they needed to get a picture of this to give to Jack's art teacher because she has a poster of it in her classroom. Who knew he noticed such things!?

The happiest place on earth....Lego Store.

Sitting with a Lego man.

Playing in the water room at the Chicago Children's Museum. The attendant said, "They will get soaked." She was not kidding.

LOVE Jack's face in this one.

They had a really big firefighting exhibit that all the kids loved. You shot a laser beam at the flames until they went out.

All six of our pack.

I think this looks like a catalogue picture. Isn't Ashlyn gorgous!? I think Parker might have noticed that too. They are a riot together!

Me and the boys and Chicago. Does it look like we are standing in front of a fake backdrop? It does to me. Travis said, "What do you have on your head!?" Thanks. I think it's cute!