Suzanne McGrath Photography

Six on Sunday...2013!

Holy Smokes!  We're already a week into 2013.  I always meant to post pictures of my new Christmas tree, but I never got it up.  It's my favorite - ever - but I guess you'll have to wait another year.  

I'll just give a short recap of our Christmas vacation - mostly a photo diary version.  I have to preface this recap by saying this was our worst Christmas vacation ever.  Hands down, without a doubt.  Why?  Sickness.  Lots and lots of sickness.  Everyone is better now, but it was not fun while it was happening.

1.  We headed to Omaha the Saturday afternoon before Christmas.  That night #2 started to succumb to the illness.  She woke up Sunday and looked horrible.  I was sure she had strep throat due to a high fever and sore throat.  Nope.  Just a nasty cold.  Evidence:

Here are some other shots from Omaha:

This is aunt Erin and Uncle Chris.  Since they live in Dallas we don't see enough of them.  The kids ADORE them!  

 

I'm desperately allergic to Grandma and Grandpa's dog.  Hence, I require a hotel.  (Yes, I'm high maintenance.  I admit it.)  The little girls stayed with us.  The big girls stayed with Grandma and Grandpa.

 

The girls - snuggling with Grandma and Grandpa - wearing their new PJs.  (They get to open one present every Christmas Eve and it's always PJs.)

 

Christmas Eve outfit picked out by #3.  Notice the shoes.

 

Christmas Eve outfit smuggled in by #4.  This is really a "dress-up" dress.  Oh well.  She's dressed.

#2 didn't go to church since she felt too crappy.  I forgot #1's dress in the hotel so we were in such a rush I forgot to take a picture of her outfit.  Darnit.

 

#3 with her godmother, Mikaela.  #3 idolizes Mikaela.

2.  We headed home on Christmas day.  (#2 was supposed to fly out to Dallas on the morning of the 26th but was too sick to travel.)  My side of the family came over after we had our family Christmas.  I have to say, I'm not sure why #1 isn't in more pictures and I'm going to have to work on capturing her more often!

 

Here is #4.  She came down with the illness on the 24th.  So she was chilly and covered in the blanket here:

 

Here is the bunk bed I made for #3's American Girl doll.  Cute, yes?

 

We are on year 3 of Want, Need, Wear, Read.  It is still working very, very well.

 

This is the dollhouse the hubby and I made for #4.  She has played with it quite a bit.  Phew.

 

Christmas night brought the annual cousin's performance of Jesus's birth.

 

3.  We headed to the Aquarium a couple days after Christmas.  The hubby is missing from this picture because he was down with the illness beginning late Christmas night.

The aquarium is nice but I wouldn't want to get an annual pass.  Once you've been through it once, you're good to go for awhile. 

 

5.  After the hubby started feeling better (after FIVE days of just LAYING ON THE COUCH), we headed out to Weston to ski for a day.  I really wanted to get #4 on skis so she'll be ready for spring break.  #1 brought a friend because #2 was in Dallas with her BFF.  

Success.  #4 really likes to ski.  However, I'm not sure how well she'll do in ski school when she has to go by herself?!

 

This lunch photo was snapped before #3 was struck down by the illness.  Yep.  She spiked a fever at the ski slope.

 

Here's #1 and her friend.  They had so much fun until her friend fell and broke her collarbone.  Yep.  True story.  I felt so bad that it happened on our watch!  And she was doing so well.  She picked it up really fast!!

 

5.  We got a little snow over the break which I loved!  Here are the 3 little girls hanging with their former nanny, Ashley.  (#1 was off shopping with her friends.)  Aren't they cute?

 

6.  Our buddy, Chad, is installing wood steps for us.  They are beautiful.  They're close to being done and just need some trim.  Now it's my turn.  I have to stain and poly the steps.  Then I have to paint the trim work and the banister.  I'm not going to lie, I'm not looking forward to all that painting.  But it's going to be work it because it'll look awesome.  Here's the progress shot:

 

So there you have it!  A recap.  I'm really looking forward to 2013.  I think it's going to be a good year.  We've got a couple trips planned so far - Breckenridge and Hilton Head.  And mostly, I just love January.  I love the fresh start.  

With that, I'm out of here.  Have a great week!

 

Six on Sunday...First Post in the New Year

WooHoo!  I'm back.  I meant to blog during the holidays, but life just got in the way.  It happens.  We had a great break but honestly, it's kind of nice to get back into a rhythm.  Grab a beverage, have a seat and let's get this thing started...

1.  Our Christmas was nice.  We started Christmas Eve off with a nice mass in the church basement.  Yep, that's right.  The basement.  Again.  Our Christmas Eve service begins at 4pm and my sister got there at about 3:25 to reserve seats and we were still the second to the LAST row in the BASEMENT.  Oh well.  I guess God doesn't care where you sit, He's just glad you made it. 

After a nice mass, we headed home for a delicious dinner - seafood crepes for the adults and (homemade) spaghetti and meatballs for the girls.  The kids were great and it was actually a nice meal.  After dinner the girls each got to open one gift.  Every year they receive new PJs for Christmas Eve.  That ensures they all look adorable on Christmas morning:)  The presents were all wrapped and ready to go so we had a lovely, relaxing night after the girls were asleep.  I think that was MY present!

Here's the calm before the storm:

Christmas morning didn't arrive too early - thank goodness.  #4 woke up first, followed by #2 who patiently (and then not so patiently) waited awhile for her other sisters to wake up.  When she finally couldn't take it, we woke them up and the fun began!  All the girls had a blast and were super excited about their gifts.  Here's a few pictures I snapped during all the craziness:

#1 was genuinely surprised by her want gift.  That was really fun to see!

#2 was shocked by her want gift.  She thought it would come from Santa.

And finally, #4 copies EVERYTHING #3 does these days.  Here they are playing Barbie computer:

The carnage:

We ended the day with an attempt at a family movie - We Bought a Zoo.  It didn't work out well.  #4 made it through the previews and about 20 minutes of the movie.  At that point she decided she had eaten all the popcorn she could handle and she was DONE.  After announcing to the ENTIRE THEATER that she was ready to leave, I made a hasty exit home.  Oh well, you win some, you lose some.

And that, folks, was our Christmas.

2.  I made a new BFF over Christmas break.  Want to know who?

Yep - Bailey's.  Yummy!  I make it "healthy" by mixing it with almond milk.  It's so delicious that I have to remind myself to sip it.  I only allow myself to have it on non-school nights.  Otherwise I'd gain about 50 pounds all due to "chocolate milk"!

3.  So you might be wondering if we saw any of the grandparents over the holidays.  The answer?  Why yes, we saw both sets.  

We stopped for a night (Tuesday) in Omaha on the way to our ultimate destination - the Black Hills.  We had a really nice evening with the grandparents, Uncle Sean, and my hubby's godparents and one of their daughters.  We all just hung out, munched on appys, and played with new toys.  The next morning Grandma Rori came to our hotel and went swimming with us.  The girls had a blast in the pool and it tired the littles out for the car ride to Sioux Falls - a definite bonus.

The next night (Wednesday) was spent at my parents house in Sioux Falls, SD.  We were supposed to head to the Black Hills the next day.  However, fate had another plan...about an hour before arriving, the hubby started feeling crappy.  Right before dinner, #2 started feeling bad.  #3 looked really pale before bed but insisted she felt fine.  

Ultimately, both girls ended up throwing up ALL NIGHT LONG and the hubby slept (fitfully) out on the couch.  Given the fact that I was up all night long with the two sick girls and a crying two year old, there was no way I could drive six hours to the Hills on Thursday - not to mention I didn't feel 100%.  Ultimately, the hubby decided to make the trek out to the Hills with only #1 and #4.  I stayed back with #2 and #3.  (I knew if he got tired, my mom could take over since she was hitching a ride with my sister and her two kids.)

The girls and I took about three different naps and just laid around all day Thursday.  Honestly, I kind of enjoyed it.  I would NEVER do that at home!  And then Thursday night we enjoyed a movie night (with a beautiful fire in the fireplace) with my dad.  We still made it out to the hills, it just took us an extra day.  Thankfully, my dad had been planning on driving out a day later, so we were able to hitch a ride with him on Friday.  Score!

Here we are in front of the dinosaur at Wall Drug:

4.  Once we made it out to the Black Hills, we really enjoyed our stay!  My parents rented an awesome cabin in the hills that was really big with room to spread out.  The kids had the whole basement area to themselves.  They turned it into a Wii zone - way cool.  That left the entire main level for the adults.  

We went tubing on Sat. morning.  It was pretty cold with really blustery winds!  #4 was too young to try it and #3 went down once and decided she was done.  I managed to go down the hill twice and it was a BLAST!  The older girls and the hubby really loved it and spent nearly an hour and a half out there.

The hubby and I managed to escape to Terry Peak for an afternoon of skiing by ourselves.  That was a real treat.  Seriously.  The mountain (or big hill?) is not very big, but it was still fun.  We managed to take the three oldest kids on Sunday.  The girls all went to ski school which was only two hours, but that allowed us to ski with my sister for a couple hours before we all had to pick up the kiddos.  It was still really cold but I think all the kids had fun.  

Unfortunately, I don't have pictures of our escapades because I didn't bring my point and shoot.  Bummer.

The hot tub.  The cabin had a hot tub out on the covered deck.  It was definitely one of the highlights of the trip!  The kids would sit in it at ANY time of the day or night.  Five of the six kids LOVED it.  Only #3 was not a fan.  She'd get in, but only for a minute or two.  #4?  We could hardly get her out of there.  

Here we are in the morning.  I kid you not when I say we were in there before 8am MST!  And can you see our view?  Isn't that beautiful?  It was actually snowing when my mom shot this picture.  Gorgeous.

And here are the kids at night.  See?  I told you they would go in this thing morning, noon, and night if we let them!  But I'm not sure who loved it more, the kids or my dad?  (He's in this picture but you can't see him because he's holding up #4.)

So yes, we had a great time out in the Black Hills.  I just wish it wasn't 12 hours away.  

5.  Number five is a little sad.  #2 has had her best friend since kindergarten.  I still remember the first time they played together - it was over the holiday break.  The hubby and I were framing out the basement, #3 was at school that day so we could get a lot of work done, and #2 and Adeline played ALL DAY!  Her parents kept calling to check in on her but it was going to well that the hubby and I didn't want Adeline to leave.  It was great.  The girls just clicked.  And it's been that way ever since.  

They were in the same kindergarten class but I don't think they've been in the same class since that first year.  They are now in third grade.  Doesn't time fly?  Here comes the sad part - Addie moved to Dallas right after Christmas.  I always knew this day would come because her mom talked about moving back, but I secretly hoped it would be YEARS later.  Well, years turned out to only be four.  Such a bummer.

You know those BFF necklaces that are shaped like a heart split in two?  Each of pair wears one half of the necklace?  #2 and Addie are like that!  They are different but they are two peas in a pod.  They don't necessarily dress the same, #2 loves soccer and Addie loves tumbling.  But put them together?  They are hilarious and so fun to have around.  We felt like Addie was our 5th daughter at times - we were so used to having her around.  

Addie slept over here on the Monday after Christmas.  We were heading to Omaha that Tuesday and they were headed to Dallas on Wednesday.  So when Adeline's mom came to pick her up, we all knew the girls wouldn't see each other for quite awhile.  As Adeline and her mom drove away, #2 cried and so did I.  I'm not kidding.  I know how special it is to have a friend like that and I was so sad for the girls.  

My hope is that they truly become forever friends.  You know the kind?  The friend you've had since grade school (Rachel) who has been with you through all your ups and downs?  That is my hope for these two girls.  And I will do whatever I can to help foster that relationship.  Wish me luck.  

6.  Are you still with me?  I know this post is long and partly a diary so I remember everything.  So if you're still here, thank you.

I said it last year and I'll say it again.  I love January.  I love the fresh start.  I love the motivated feeling I have.  And this January has been particularly great.  It was 65* out last Thursday!  (Of course I went for a run.  Duh.)  This weekend it was in the '50s.  That means I've been able to work on some PROJECTS.  Can I get a WooHoo?!

I found an art store not too far from me and bought stuff to silver leaf a bench for my room.  I then managed to find two different fabrics - one for said bench and the other for the chair that is going with my desk in the kitchen.  I can hardly wait to get started!

I'm planning on painting my family room next weekend.  Therefore, I need to finish up the Roman shades I started for that room last fall.  I also started to spray paint a couple lamps for the sofa table in there.  That project looks to be a little rocky - we'll see how it ends up.  Right now it only has a 50/50 shot.  

And there you have it!  We are all caught up now.  I hope you have a great week!  Oh, and in case this helps you, here is our menu for the week:

Saturday:  Papa Murphy's pizza + caesar salad

Sunday:  cheeseburgers, quinoa salad, fruit salad, and acorn squash 

Monday:  Chickpea tostadas + various fruits

Tuesday:  Tilapia + brussel sprouts (my mom's recipe - delish!!!), broccoli

Wednesday:  Tortilla Chicken soup + salad

Thursday:  Southwest Chicken + veggies and/or fruit

Friday:  chili + sauteed spinach or salad for the kids

P.S.  #1 and I made these Z bars last night.  Try them.  You'll like them.  Pinky promise.

I'm signing off.  Have a GREAT week!  Hopefully I'll be back for a Thrifty Thursday.


   

Make Up Monday

I know.  I know.  I missed last night.  I'm still alive, so it's all good.  Here's what's been going on...

1.  I LOVE this time of year!  I truly do.  This year has been different, though.  I'm not sure what's been going on with me, but I haven't been able to enjoy this season like normal.  I've been grumpy and short with my kids.  I've been extremely tired.  If I didn't know any better, I'd think I have Seasonal Affect Disorder (SAD).  But I really think it has to do with #4 not sleeping...  

When I had newborns - and therefore wasn't sleeping much - I always adjusted my lifestyle and expectations of myself.  But with a two-and-a-half year old whose sleep resembles a newborn?  I haven't adjusted anything.  I've expected myself to operate as usual.  However, I'm a DECADE older than when I had my first baby.  I used to be able to operate without a lot of sleep.  I don't think that's the case anymore.  It has caught up with me and it's not good.  Not good at all.  I went to bed last night at 8:30pm and slept 'till 6:15am.  And I did NOT get up with #4!  I just didn't have it in me.  Thank goodness the hubby took pity on me.

2.  Why is #4 not sleeping?  Well, I think it started off with her getting a cold.  Then the cold turned into something worse.  She just wasn't getting better (in fact, she was getting worse) so the hubby finally took her to an Urgent Care yesterday.  Diagnosis?  Ear infection, possible sinus infection, possible strep throat.  She is on meds now so we're hoping she starts sleeping better and stops with the attitude!  Wish us luck.  

3.  Last week the littles had their Christmas program.  They looked adorable.  #4 did not enjoy it.  Check her out:

#3 LOVED it!  She knew all the words and she sang it, baby!  She stood by her "boyfriend".  Are they not the cutest couple?

She is so funny.  I've told you before she is very particular about what she wears:  only jeans, no comfy pants, no skirts, no dresses.  Period.  Well, she knew she was expected to wear a dress to her program.  (That was the uniform for the evening for most of the kiddos.)  She didn't fight it or protest.  She did, however, bring along her jeans and T-shirt for after the program.  Sure enough, as soon as we got to Orange Leaf, she couldn't get changed fast enough!  All her friends were running around in their dresses but she couldn't wait to get hers off.  I didn't care.  I was just glad we got some mileage out of an old Christmas dress from years past.  

4.  I finally got around to snaping a few images of my Christmas decorations.  I've used most of these for years.  I am officially getting tired of them.  I know I am going to change a lot of this up next year.  And my neighbor, Karen, is going to help me do a SPECTACULAR tree next year.  I'm already excited!

Here's our little tree.  My sister calls it our Charlie Brown tree.  I can't get rid of it because it has so much meaning for me.  The hubby and I bought it our first year down here.  We were so broke that year!  We'd celebrate having $10 left over at the end of the month by eating out at Taco Bell.  No joke.  We bought this tree for $20 at Walmart that year and I thought it was AMAZING.  Nowadays it's the "kids" tree.  They decorated it entirely themselves.

I bought these lamps at Target this fall with the intention of spray painting them to match my retro yellow chairs.  Well, I have yet to fully decorate the family room and they were the perfect red.  So I set them out this year.

I hang little wreaths in the kitchen windows.  There are three of these.  I'm not tired of these yet - they just make me smile.

A few years ago I decided to save money by sewing my own stockings.  Unfortunately I did not end up saving more than a few bucks, but I did end up with some stockings I simply ADORE.

I've put my Department 56 Christmas in the City village on top of the mantle every year for 8 years.  It's time to change it up.  Next year I need to find another place for the village because I really want to decorate the mantle in something really cool and modern.  However, the village is the girls's absolute favorite part about decorating so I definitely have to keep it!

My mom started collecting this Nativity scene for me back when we first got married.  I still really love this set.  #1 set it up all on her own this year and I think she did an amazing job!

Since the girls can't play with the Nativity scene above, I finally bought them this Little People set this year.  The littles really like it.  I especially like that it invites a good conversation.  The girls are playing with it all the while asking question so I get a chance to explain all about the night baby Jesus was born.  A definite win-win.

These Santa Bears bring back memories of Christmases when I was a kid!  I got the one on the left from my parents when I was in sixth grade.  I got the other one from my friends for my birthday the next year.  I distinctly remember getting the first one because that was the year my sister and I searched the house and found EVERY SINGLE PRESENT we got that year.  It was so disappointing when we were done opening gifts and we realized nothing was a surprise.  We never did it again!  

I decorated my banister with a new twist this year.  I like it but I think next year I am going to buy real greenery!  I never realized how reasonably priced it is.  And I think it would look great swagged up the sides.  But this look has been a fun change, too.

Lastly, our Charlie Brown tree at night.  I love sitting down at night with all the overhead lights off and just my twinkly Christmas lights lit.  If I have a cup of tea in my hand, I'm in heaven.

5.  Last week the girls delivered cookies to the neighbors.  They worked so hard making the bags!  Aren't they cute?

And this image?  Oh, be still my heart.  I LOVE it!

6.  The older girls had an exciting day yesterday.  Their soccer team won the indoor soccer championships for their division.  I was so sad I had to miss it!  But #4 needed a nap due to her sickness and #3 needed a nap due to staying up 'till 10pm the night before.  When they got home their cheeks were flushed red, they had on their "winner" T-shirts, and they couldn't stop talking!  #1 even scored two or three goals.  And #2 ran all over the entire field and didn't act like the shy 3rd grader among a field of 5th graders.  I was so, so happy for them!

They were so excited they couldn't wait to run down the street and tell their summer nanny, Ashley all about it!  (I'm afraid #2 might have even woken Ashley with her texting from my phone!  Oops.)  #1 even wore her T-shirt to school today.  

7.  Want, Need, Wear, Read.  I did it again this year.  I try to be fair but let's be honest, it's impossible to make everything fair.  If they are arguing about who got what in 20 years, I'll have bigger fish to fry!

#1:

Want - Vera Bradley school bag and a North Face fleece jacket

Need - Soccer backpack, runing tights, and a ski helmet

Wear - Husker hoodie (oh yeah!!) and two outfits from Aeropostale

Read - some Ranger's Apprentice book

#2:

Want - iPod touch (Ouch.  That one hurt.)

Need - Chair for her desk and a soccer backpack

Wear - Husker hoodie (we are brainwashing them young) and two outfits from Justice

Read - Ramona set

#3:

Want - Camera

Need - Chair for her desk

Wear - two outfits from Old Navy (jeans, of course)

Read - an Olivia book, I think?

#4:

Want - Camera (a kiddie version since our other one bit the dust)

Need - Flannel sheets

Wear - two outfits from Old Navy (including an adorable jean skirt!)

Read - Honestly, I can't even remember!  

Santa:

I struggled here.  I did.  I was going to limit it to one thing but #3 is simply ADAMENT she is getting a Barbie computer.  She talks about it constantly and tells #4 that she will share it with her.  I kept trying to steer her away from the thought, but it was no use.  And I couldn't bear for her to be disappointed on Christmas morning.  I know.  I know.  Overboard.  But alas, I did it.

#1:  Just Dance 3 for the wii, Tetris for the DS

#2:  Sports Resort for the wii, Minute to Win It for the DS

#3:  American Girl doll and Barbie computer

#4:  Bitty Baby and Barbie computer (younger version)

Phew!  There you have it.  I feel like we're all caught up!  Have a great week. 

 

Six on Sunday

1.  #2 had a cold last week and felt pretty lousy.  Hence, #3 decided she wanted to sleep with her oldest sister.  (I don't blame her!)  But, by the time #2 started feeling a little better, #3 was relegated back to her bed for the night and she was very, very sad.  As I was putting her to bed that night, we were reading a book like normal.  She turned to me and said, "When I can't sleep with with my big [#1] sister, it makes my heart broke!"  Oh man, was that like a knife through the heart?!  But by the same token, I am so lucky they love each other so much.  After all, #1 is 5 and a half years older than #3 and they get along so well. 

2.  We have a big change happening tomorrow.  After nearly four years of working from home, the hubby is going back to corporate America.  I'm nervous and excited for him.  It's been great having him at home - almost like a Mr. Mom.  He has taken the big girls to school every day and picked them up, too.  He's dropped them off at soccer practice, girl scouts, and play dates.  By the same token, he has became more and more grouchy - working longer and longer hours.  His new job sounds like such a perfect fit for him I really, really have high hopes!  Cross your fingers for him.

3.  So far, our advent calendar has gone well.  The first night the girls followed four clues to find a bag of chocolate at the end.  The second night the girls drew a name for each other.  Now they only have to "buy" a gift for one sibling.  Last night we were going to attend the Luminary display at the OP Arboretum but it was cancelled due to rain.  Thank goodness I had something in my back pocket - a gingerbread house.  The girls - all four of them - took turns decorating a gingerbread man (can you believe the kit included FOUR?  How perfect!) and the house itself.  Thankfully it worked out really, really well with NO fighting.  Awesome, huh?  And tonight they each got to pick out a canned food item to take with them to church.  I thought they'd complain about going to church, but they were surprisingly calm.  Rock on.  

I've started putting together a December Daily and it's been a really fun project.  Once I have a few pages completed, I'll photograph and post them.

4.  We had to buy shoes for #1 yesterday.  We had pictures with Santa Claus and she had a new dress and no shoes.  So we stopped at Target for a quick run to the shoe department.  Luckily, she found some awesome flats.  So what's the deal, you might be thinking?  Well, she bought a size EIGHT!  I wear a size 7.5.  I can't believe my fifth grader has bigger feet than me.  Holy cow!  She is going to be taller than me in no time, too!

5.  If you follow along with my Six on Sunday series, you know we had to leave our Suburban in Chandler, Oklahoma on Thanksgiving day.  The hubby and my sister are my HEROES!  They drove down to Chandler yesterday and picked up the Suburban.  For a mere $950, we have a car that is drive-able now.  Woo-Hoo!  We are no longer a one-car family.  And I need to be really, really thankful because they ran into a lot of nasty rain.  And, they were on the road at 5:30am while I was soundly sleeping with #4.  I was really glad to see them at 4pm!

6.  We went to visit Santa yesterday.  Our time slot was from 3:00 - 3:30pm.  Santa was leaving at 3:30pm and we rolled in at 3:26pm and still had to run to the bathroom to get #2 dressed.  Luckily, we were good to go and were able to chat with the jolly man.  Of course #4 wanted nothing to do with him, again.  But to be honest, I didn't care about the talk with Santa.  I needed to get a decent shot of my four girls together in somewhat coordinating outfits.  I was so busy this fall that I didn't get a family picture of the girls.  I got lucky yesterday.  We got two shots in five minutes.  Seriously.  It was awesome!  I'm not going to show you "the" shot but I'll show you the Santa visit.

OK, here is where I tell you I have a problem.  #3 insists she wants a Barbie computer for Christmas.  We already have one "computer" in the basement that she never plays with - at all.  She also just got the v-tech tablet for her birthday.  She truly does not NEED this but she insists she wants it.  So what do I do?  Do I disappoint her and only give her an American Girl doll?  Or do I cave and buy the computer?  To make matters worse, #4 is a parrot of #3 and insists she wants a Barbie 'puter, too.  So if I get one, do I have to get two?  Because I know from (birthday) experience #4 will definitely want what #3 gets for Christmas if it's different from herself.  Ugh!  Any advice?  Because I'll take it!

Have a great week! 

 

Thrifty Thursday...an Advent Calendar

Well, I have to admit, I almost didn't make it tonight.  I didn't think I had anything to blog about and then it hit me.  My advent calendar!

I have showed this here on the blog before - a looooong time ago!  I think I made this about four years ago.  Actually, I know it was four years ago because I was pregnant with #4 at the time.  I must preface these instructions by saying this wasn't my idea.  Ali Edwards featured it on her blog long ago.

Check it out.  (Excuse the late night photos with flash.  Gotta love winter time!)

This is the first year I've hung these by the front door.  And I have to say I like the mix-up.  

All I did was scrounge up 24 boxes - all different sizes.  Some of these I had laying around the house and others I purchased at Michaels.  I also bought three different colors of that $0.99 paint at Michaels.  (Is it acrylic?)  The girls and I painted all 24 boxes and made sure to use the three colors fairly evenly.  And I will admit to going back and re-painting most of what they had done.  Remember, they were only 5 and 7 back when we did this.  I can be a bit perfectionistic at times.  Oh well, sue me.

Anyway, when they were dry I used a few different set of scrapbooking stickers to come up with the numbers.  That was it!  Truly - this was so easy.  I know there are adorable advent calendars out there today but they can be pricey.  This was so fun and I like knowing I won't find it anyone else's house!

Here's a close-up:

 

You might be wondering what I use to hang these up.  I use those removable double-sided sticky squares.  They're great and they don't ruin your walls.  (I put the spoon in there for a frame of reference as to the size.  They're truly the perfect size.)

 

Tonight I included a bit of a treasure hunt.  There were five clues and at the end of the clues there was a bag of chocolate truffles.  It was a hit!

 

That's it!  Easy peasy.  And to give you some idea of what I do each year, here are my "activities" for this year.  (I'm sure I'll end up making some changes, but it's a great start!)

Dec. 1:  Treasure hunt for chocolate

Dec. 2:  Draw names for sibling gifts

Dec. 3:  Attend the luminary walk at the OP Arboretum

Dec. 4:  Pick out cans of food to take to church to donate to those in need

Dec. 5:  Shop for Angel Tree gifts

Dec. 6:  Attend #1's orchestra concert and come home and make popcorn

Dec. 7:  Gather coats and drop off at a Salvation Army for Project Warmth

Dec. 8:  Family game night:  Twister

Dec. 9:  Give each other manicures and pedicures

Dec. 10:  Sleepover with cousins!

Dec. 11:  Attend #2's piano recital and go out for dinner afterward (we RARELY go out to dinner!)

Dec. 12:  Make Christmas cards for teachers

Dec. 13:  Movie Night:  Pick a Christmas movie!

Dec. 14:  Deliver cookies to our neighbors (Dorothy - pretend you didn't read this!)

Dec. 15:  Make a list of 10 things for which we are thankful

Dec. 16:  Attend AAC's (#3 and #4's daycare) Holiday program and go out to Orange Leaf afterwards.

Dec. 17:  Get hot chocolate at Starbucks

Dec. 18:  Attend #1's synchro program and eat LOTS of cookies afterwards.

Dec. 19:  Make brownies for dessert tonight

Dec. 20:  Sit in front of the fire and read about baby Jesus's birth

Dec. 21:  Drive around and look at Christmas lights - come home and make hot chocolate

Dec. 22:  Family game night:  Sorry

Dec. 23:  Eat breakfast for dinner in our PJs by candlelight

Dec. 24:  Attend church and come home to enjoy a yummy dinner.  Open Christmas Eve gifts (PJs).