Pet Peeves of the week and a QUESTION.

I bring you MY pet peeves of the week:

1.  Excessive amounts of snow when I want to travel ~ and yes, somtimes it is about me :)

2.  An inability to understand people on the other end of the phone ~ in this case due to an inability to speak clear ENGLISH!

3.  Travelocity.

4.  The manager at the Westin in PA.  ***UPDATE*** ~ He is no longer a pet peeve :)

5.  Only 2 open check out lanes at Target on a busy shopping day at a busy time.

6.  People who call you back with out listening to the voice mail you left them first.

Ok, thats it for now. 

Please vent with me. 
What are your pet peeves this week?

AND

one more thing:

Since it's New Year's Eve, what do you plan to do?

I'll answer first.

Us, we keep it low key. 
Dinner out as a family. 
Games and a movie. 
Time together.
Remembering the good things about the past year and the goals and memories we hope to make in the next.

Bummed.

On Saturday, my Hubby and I were suppose to get on one of these:

And Go here:

PITTSBURGH, PA

While these 3 little cuties:

stayed with Grandpa and Grandma.

Unfortunately,

Thursday night (Christmas Eve) Miss Mother Nature Reared her UGLY head ~ ACTUALLY it was quite pretty if you didn't want to go anywhere.

It began to snow

and

blow.

The interstates were closed.

The airport was closed ~ set to reopen on Saturday at 10 am.

It would all be ok.

We didn't fly out until 1.

It would all work out.

We would get to the Steelers vs Ravens football game in Pittsburgh yet.

We checked with the airline.

Everything was on time.

Then take off was delayed until 4.

Then...

the call came in from Chicago.

FLIGHT CANCELLED.

At such a small airport, not many options exist.

And so

We were refunded airline tickets, cancelled hotel reservations and sold our football tickets.

Me?

I was bummed and disappointed.

as a stay at home mom it is not often you get a break from making and cutting up meals, giving baths, changing diapers, and the list goes on.

I was excited to go.

Let down that we couldn't.

Sunday:

Game Day

We still watched the game.

Instead of at Heinz Field in the cool air with a warm drink, we were in a warm bar with cold drinks.

With Family.

It wasn't the same, but we had a good time.

And I was with him:

And thats what really matters.

Something to Think about ~ look in the mirror

Recently I was told this story from someone I respect.  I wanted to pass it on to you:

One day a dog strayed into a room whose walls were filled with large mirrors.

Suddenly he saw himself surrounded by many dogs.

Instinctively he bared his teeth and began to snarl at them. And all the dogs in the mirrors did the same thing. They bared their teeth and snarled back.


When the dog saw this, he grew terrified and raced frantically around the room. And all the dogs in the mirrors began racing around after him. When the dog saw this, he trembled, staggered and died of fright. What a terrible tragedy!
 
Had the dog just once wagged his tail, the images in the mirrors would have done the same thing.
 
 
Hmm, how do we come across to others.  Have you noticed if you are crabby, people are crabby back.  If I am happy those around me seem happier as well. Amazing what a smile can do.

And what a simple message to be reminded of. 

Happy Sunday!

Merry Christmas

From our house to yours,

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

But let us not forget the true meaning of Christmas

Isaiah 9:6

For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Cute Headband

I saw these flowers on the Hope Studios blog about a month ago. 

*** This is a Hope Studios Picture ***

Loved them from the moment I saw them and thought.... hmmm... wouldn't these make darling headbands for my girls?

Answer: YES!

Off to JoAnn's I went.

Supplies I used:

Satin ( I used 3 colors, cream, grey and pink)
Candle
Scissors
Needle and thread
Small beads
Inexpensive elastic headbands

Instructions:  I did not take pictures of my steps so go to Hope Studios by clicking here to see her beautifully detailed steps!

1. Cut your satin into many different sized circles. I stated with the biggest one and went from there using all 3 of my colors ~ no rhyme or reason ~ just make sure they gradually get smaller.  The more circles you use, the fuller your flower will be.

2.  Melt the edges of each circle using a candle.

3. At this point I grabbed my elastic headbands and  using the needle and thread, starting  from the back (I went through the headband and through all of my circles) pull the needle through to the top circle (smallest one). Once you are here, slide 3 beads onto the needle.  Continue sewing back and forth through the circle and in my case headband layers until you feel it is secure.

VOILA ~ a darling headband!

Check it out:

If your kids want to open Presents.....

We always have a quiet, fun, family night the evening before we get together with extended family members for Christmas.

So this will be tonight.

and

Since I am accepting help in cleaning the house without many takers (much to my dismay) They have been told that if the the house is clean, they can open their presents tonight.  (Ok, you got me.  They would be able to anyway!)  I know, I am SOOOO demanding.

Heres what has happened:

The deck has been shoveled:

Things have been dusted:

Laundry has been folded:

So tonight we will enjoy being together ~ just us ~ before the chaos begins (good chaos, that is).

Not that we wouldn't have anyway, but now, it will be in a clean house :)

Oh my Sassy

Yes there are times when she drives me CRAZY.

But there are times I want to bottle her up and keep her right here and right now, just like this, forever.

In school they keep a journal. The teacher gives them a topic/question and that is what they write about for the day (they get only a short time to write).

Here are 2 of my favorites so far (I have not changed wording or spellings):

9/30/09

If I picked a nickname it would be named priness.

Because my Dad calls me that. It is my favorite nickname.

I have alot of nicknames.

But priness fits me the best.

11/4/09

I would not like to live by the sea,

because I do not like the smell of saltwater.

Oh, and one more thing. This is what I found under my pillow the other night when I went to bed:

Yes, I went to bed with an extra big smile on my face and a heart that was melting.

Man oh man I love this little girl!

Something to Think about ~ Theft.

Theft: (thank you dictionary.com)

1. the act of stealing; the wrongful taking and carrying away of the personal goods or property of another; larceny.

2. an instance of this.

3. Archaic. something stolen.

Let's start at the beginning shall we?

Thanksgiving ~ we were gone spending time with our families.
We get home and something feels off.
Something is missing.

We figure it out.


It is this:

This (um, the flag, not Sassy) has been adorning the front of our lovely suburban home for many years from September through February (sometimes March... oops).The flag, the pole, everything gone.

*** So for those of you who have driven past and have wondered if we removed the flag due to the lack of a stellar Steeler season, the answer is NO. We are not that easily discouraged. Kind of like our wedding vows ~ in good times and in bad..... And yes, we are a little crazy here! But it is all in good fun!



And then this morning. A peaceful Sunday morning.

An e-mail. Red flags up at the credit card company. Please Call.

A phone call.

This is ???? from XXXX. We have been alerted to fraudulent activity on your credit card.

Were you in Canada yesterday?

Your husband?

It seems someone has a hard copy of your credit card.

We will need to close this account immediately.

We will be sending you papers to fill out in regards to the investigation so you can get your money back.

Come on.
Really?

FYI ~ hubby and I both have our credit cards in hand nor have we lost them.

So, thank you to the nice people who work for the credit card company. Thank you for being so quick and thorough with this issue. I hope to never have to work with you again. Nothing against you. You've been great.

And to those who are the takers.

The thieves.

Not just the ones who have stolen from us, but those who have stolen from all.

I wish you a merry CHRISTmas and I pray you find Christ soon!

Tonight.

Shopping done.

Presents made.

Gifts wrapped (mostly).

Nothing planned.

Except:

A glass of this:

Listening to this:

Here:

With him:

What more could a girl ask for?

(and you got me ~ the music may not last long as it is only preferred by me)

This is what I've been up to.

Saw a tutorial over at Hope Studios on how to make these babies.

(and yes, I am wearing more than one)

Mom's group gifts.

Teacher gifts.

Other people too.

and

Maybe one for myself.

So EASY!

(Although if you read the comments on her post, it sounds like some folks had troubles. Not me ~ easy peasy!  The hardest part for me? Cutting straight lines and yes, I have a rotary fabric cutter.  Get my point? EASY!  I did change one thing.  I used 3 yards of fabric on most of the ones I made.  I like the longer length.)

You'll have to go visit Jennifer though to find out how to make them!  Here you go, GET BUSY!

My twist on the traditional Christmas letter

Have your Christmas cards been sent yet?

Me?

NO.

I don't know where the time has gone.

But my "letter" has been written.... more like designed and my pictures are on order. So maybe tomorrow they will be addressed and stamped.

Back to my letter. What started off as a letter years ago has turned into a crossword puzzle. I got tired of writing what seemed like the same old letter year after year. So one year I decided to make up a family crossword. I've been making one for about 6 years now.

I start by writing my clues (usually a short sentence). Then I get out my trusty graph paper and begin plotting out different words from my clues trying to figure out what ones would work best and where.

Once it's on paper it's time for the computer. I create my little boxes (by cutting and pasting them from the previous year ~ they are already the perfect size) and move them around according to my penciled out design. Once the boxes are set, I type in my clues ~ making sure to leave a spot for the missing word and add corresponding numbers into the correct boxes. Finally, the fun stuff. Changing the font and adding pictures, which I try to use as "helpers" for the clues.

** oh, and don't forget to put an answer key on the back **

Yes, its a bit tedious and every year I swear I'm going to launch the computer out the window, but for some reason I really enjoy creating it.

He is the finished product ~ in bits and pieces ~ because remember, I haven't sent them out yet and I don't want to be a fun wrecker!

Christmas decor tour ~ day 3

Only two days? No way, of course there is more!

Why is it when you have people over everyone hangs out in the kitchen?

Even at our first house (all 1400 square feet of it), everyone hung out in the kitchen. It was tiny! Enough room for a sink with cabinets on one wall (4 on top, 6 on bottom), and on one wall adjacent to that, the fridge ~ yes, that is as deep as the kitchen was. And the other adjacent wall? The stove with a few cabinets above. The rest opened up through a large arch into the ummm... dining room? I don't think I can call it that. Eat in kitchen ~ maybe. There was enough room for a table. A very small table ~ from Ikea for $129 for the table and 4 chairs. Similar to this one. Oh, and if you are wondering, we still have that table, and it is perfect for when the kids are coloring, gluing and painting on it ~ well not on it, but sometimes). Before that we had a nice oak table, but we had to pull it out and rearrange for just about every meal. Annoying.

Anyway, I think I was suppose to be talking about my Christmas decorations. Oops, its late and I've been working on creating my Christmas cards maybe I'll tell you about those at a later date.

Did you get a tree this year? Was it a real one? Did you your hubby have to trim off any low branches? What did you do with these fragrant little lovies?

Here's what I did.

So easy, simple looking and wonderful smelling!

 I never know quite what to put up here ~ since you can see it from both sides.

Here is the fall decor:

And now as Christmas:

I do want to get different

letters/words, but this is

what I have for now.

And since we are having a small holiday brunch with a few close friends on Saturday morning, I bring you the dining room (hopefully we will leave the kitchen ~ ha):

A little fall (see what I mean about seeing it from both sides?) :

And now:

Oh, and since I'm working on my Christmas cards tonight, I am just wondering if you are getting the pictures you want of your family? 

Personally, I'm having some problems: