Update

I cannot believe it has been weeks since I have updated this little corner of the great big blogosphere that I call mine!
If you remember, the last update was about our new house. The week of the move, Baby Bear came down with the flu! So for Christmas we spent the day at home instead of with family. She had a good Christmas regardless, and we made sure of that. But I do have to brag a little. When she saw what Santa brought her, she said she got everything she had ever wanted; and she hadn't even opened presents yet! I honestly think she forgot about them. She then went on to say that next year she does not want to ask Santa for anything because she loves her family more than presents. She melts my heart. Her Poppy and Nanny came by later that evening and finally opened her gifts.

After she was fever free on her own, we took her to Santa's Wonderland. It was cold, but she had a blast and really enjoyed it. The lights are amazing. If I could find my camera in all these boxes that are my current surroundings I would show you some. So this is what you get.

After Santa's Wonderland is when I came down with the sickness. Flu and bronchitis, oh my. I'm still coughing here! There were none of our yearly visits that normally occur this time of year. We were a little sad about not seeing family this year.

But for now we are all moved in and just trying to get settled in. Work has been crazy, the house has been crazy, and I'm close to going crazy. Baby Bear decided she wants to bite the bullet and go ahead and go to her new school, so now I have withdrawals and enrollments too. Not to mention the crazy ups and downs with the entire move (that's a post for another day).

On a different note, I do have something I would like your help with. I love my family as much as Baby Bear does, and we all know the power of prayer. My cousin, Jeromy, has been in the hospital since Thanksgiving. He is still in ICU. He is in a delicate state at this time and it is still a lot of touch and go. He is still so young and one of the most generous people you could ever meet. I have looked to God to surround his body with healing and for the fight I know Jeromy has in him. If you would please help us continue to pray for more strides in his healing, and for our entire family, especially his immediate family, it would be greatly appreciated.

Monday Number 2

Today started out feeling like a Monday. We woke up on time, but there were so many disasters! I ended up having to clean up our Little Miss Sunshine this morning. Dogs are so much like babies! I was already dressed for work, and trying to be as careful as possible. If you know me, you know that just isn't possible. So there enters the wardrobe malfunction, my tank was on empty, and Baby Bear was Miss Attitude this morning so we left the house late, and I was a tad late to work. 30 minutes to be exact. So, since it's technically Monday (in my mind)It's never too late to give a weekend update, amiright?

 Last week was a blur for me. My last week of the class I was currently in, and I do not feel I did that well. You would think a communications class instructor would have the communication skills to make their intentions and/or expectations clear, but that was not the case in this class! Such a frustrating time was had by all. I'm just glad it is over, and I am on to the next one. Enough school talk.

My weekend was nothing all that lively. I ended up sick. What started off as a severe allergic reaction turned into a nasty sinus infection, and my body just cannot fight that stuff any longer. The joys of having a weak immune system these days. I missed my nephew turning 4, but made sure Baby Bear went. She stayed with  Poppy and Nanny while I got some much needed rest. At the end of the day I was notified that my wreath was ready! I was excited, but bummed at the same time because I was dreading having to get up the next morning feeling the way I did.

I was pleasantly surprised that I woke up Sunday feeling a little better and picked up my wreath in the morning. Mr A and I had breakfast, and finished our Christmas shopping. I simply cannot wait until Christmas. I love this time year, and being able to view it from the eyes of a child. The wonderment, hopes, and magic is just contagious!

Here is my Christmas wreath in all its glory. I absolutely LOVE it!

And here's the story: My favorite Christmas song was always "I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas" growing up. My parents bought me the button when I was pregnant with Baby Bear, and it is one of her favorite songs now, hence the hippo in the wreath.

If you are wanting something special, you should definitely shoot her an email or give her a call. She does all things crafty! juliedobbs@consolidated.net (Blessings by Jules)

She also sent me home with this little hippo, that is now resting in our tree! She was such a blessing, and wonderful to work with.

I hope you all have a great week!

They Aren't Welcome Here

I know some of you are  knee deep in your Elf on the shelf antics and dreaming up of crazy ideas that this mischievous guy or girl can do to get a rise out of your kids. I will start off by telling you that this is not the place to come, to get these ideas and plots for these elves.

First off, have you seen how genuinely creepy those faces are? I say give the elf a butcher knife with  and you have horror stories in the making.

The Bearded Iris

I understand this has been a huge success in households all over the world, but certainly not in this one. I am sure it is fun for you, but really, who wants to strategically place a DOLL at a crime scene, or make messes at night, that YOU have to clean up? That's some psychiatric material right there. "I didn't do it, it was the elf" uh huh, and dolls come to life..... Straight jacket for you! You might as well invite Chucky to play with your kids. He might be more effective.

I know many just do it for fun, but I have read so many status updates with people talking about how horrible their kids were acting and they should straighten up in X amount of days when the elf arrives..... Geez people! Why not a good old fashioned spanking, grounding, or punishment for their behavior instead of counting down the days when this creeper can show his or her face again to straighten them out. What DO you people do the rest of the year?

The premise of a tattle tale elf is just extreme for me, especially when some actually thinks he or she makes their children behave better because they report to the big guy every night.  Snitches get stitches. Just sayin'

Then we have the commercialization of Christmas that there are so many complaints about, so you are adding to the commercialization you loathe by adding this evil elf into your home. Makes perfect sense, doesn't it? Is the magic of Christmas and celebration of Christ not enough?  Do Santa and God not do enough to keep kids honest, so you obtain an object that magically makes them behave? Oh, I know! These elves MUST be enchanted. (refer back to the straight jacket)

I am already torn on the entire Santa thing because I feel bad lying to my child. So let's throw an elf in there, and make the guilt ten times worse!  That's an excellent idea.

I have reasoned with myself with the whole "Santa" thing because he is the magic of Christmas and I don't remember being shattered by finding out he wasn't real (except when I asked my Mother if he was real, and she lied and denied, denied, denied, but that's beside the point here). I do remember as soon as I knew it was a sham, that the magic and wonderment was gone. It is all about childhood memories and the hopes and joy the season brings, right?

Another thing, do you know my child? If you do not, she is the queen of pranks, and our own little comedian. Anything for a laugh with this girl. Could you imagine what she could possibly make this elf do in the years to come?

Click here for more like this

Last but not least, I have a hard enough time keeping up with what I already have going on. I know, that I would forget to move this elf, and of course, if he/she/it didn't move, that could only mean the dog is dead!

You can get this shirt here

Maybe I just don't get the premise behind this "Elf" idea because the only elf I know is Buddy. He is the only one that really matters anyway, right? I mean, who doesn't start the season without ELF (the real one)?

Not by placing creepy stalkers in your home.

A Pinterest Fail and Triumph

So, I have been seeing all these DIY snowglobes all over Pinterest. So I was dying to do this with Baby Bear. The instructions seemed easy enough.

 Or so I thought......

I bought all the supplies as instructed. The Christmas trees, water soluble glue, fake snow, jars, and things to make them pretty.

I let Baby Bear set hers up and I glued it for her. She really did a great job, I was so proud of her!

But when it came time to add the snow, water, glycerin, and glitter, we had a little problem. If you see the pictures above, the snow is on the bottom, and the water is clear. Here is how hers turned out!

I just want to know HOW they got their snow to stick to the bottom!

Anyway, I went ahead and made some cute waterless ones, and Baby Bear made one too! Here is what you need:
Fake Snow
Christmas trees ($1-$2 at Michael's)
Water soluble glue
Hot glue gun
Mason Jars
Ribbon or bows of your choice

We first glued our trees to the lids of the jars, placed ornaments on Baby Bears' tree, and let them set
.

Once set, I placed some of the fake snow around any holes or openings where the lid was showing. I then placed a handful of the fake snow in the bottom of the jar, place the lid on top and voila. There you have a snow globe (waterless of course). I ended up buying some wire burlap-ish ribbon, along with another wire mesh ribbon. I placed the mesh underneath, and placed the burlap around it. I used the hot glue to make them stick. I love the way these turned out!

Baby Bear did the one on the right in the big picture, which are also the ones featured in the upper right hand corner and lower left hand corner. We really had a lot of fun making these.