Nativity Exhibit

This what has been keeping me busy the last week.  Our church put on a Free Interfaith Nativity Exhibit for the community.  We invited friends to bring their nativities to be displayed (around 400 nativities came to the church) and they could also sing in an adult choir, kids choirs and other musical numbers.  

Great event to bring everyone together.

I was amazed with how many people came.  

It was a packed house every night.

The picture on the stage was painted by a local artist.  It was very beautiful.

Live nativity was outside so you saw this as you are driving by the church.

I sang in the adult choir.  I love singing Christmas music.

All the time and effort was worth the out come.  

 I am ready to enjoy the rest of the holiday season.

Speed Racer Birthday

We went to Dave's Need 4 Speed for Johnathan's birthday party.  I had never been there so I didn't know what to expect but can I tell you it lived up to it's expectation.   My husband decided to join in on the fun too.  The boys had to make sure that the Dad's score wouldn't count.

1st set of racers. 

2nd set of racers.

I figured that a NASCAR theme party 

would be fun given the place we went to.  

The posters on the tables I gave to the winners.

The boys got to put stickers on a NASCAR they got to take home.

We were suppose to race them but we ran out of time.

We also did glow golf.

Laser tag

I went simple on the cake and bought hostess cupcakes and turned them upside down and made an 8 out of it.

We had a really great day.  I hope the boys had as much fun as we did?

Which is your favorite?

At our house we have a collection of red hats.  If you look close you will see that there are three different teams on the hats.   Luke loves the Texas Rangers (on the right) and Texas Tech (on the left) and Johnthan love the Utah Utes (the one in the middle).   Which hat do you like the best?

Look who's 8

I can't believe I am old enough to have an 8 year old.  I feel very blessed to have him in our family.  

He is very responsible, determined, thoughtful and funny kid.  

We are very happy that he is getting ready to be baptized.  He also is starting scouts for the first time.  It hit me the other day that I only have 10 more years (give or take a few) with this kid.  I pray everyday that I am doing the best I can as a Mom.  

I hope it is enough?  Love you Johnny.  Happy Birthday!!

First time at Cub Scouts

Getting ready to be baptized.

Halloween

Every Halloween we have to go the our neighbor's house that has a pirate ship carnival.  In the local newspaper this house won the best decorated house in our town and they plan for 1,000 visitor every year.  Everyone brings friends to see it.  The family puts on games for the kids and they can win prizes.  Luke won a pirate cup, Lauren - Nemo and Johnathan - a light up sword.  You can take a picture with the pirate and they give out popcorn and hot chocolate.  It is an event we look forward to all year.

Our "Trick or Treating" bunch.

Lauren is Jesse .

Luke is Buzz Light year. 

I couldn't convince Johnathan to be the green plastic faced army guy from Toy Story because he said it would look too much like a baby.   We compromised on the one from Target.  Mom and kid happy.  

Another fun Halloween.  

Silly Bands

Does your kids arms look like this?  Covered in so many silly bands I am afraid that his circulation might be cut off.  I have to say at first the silly bands were fun and the kids loved all the different shapes and trading them with friends.  However my tune has changed.   I hate these tiny bands that get left all over my house.  I hate it when we can't find one they need right then.  For the record my kids are still loving the silly bands.  Mom not so much.

New York

I just got back from my first time to New York.  I had such a great time.  My husband had a conference for work so I tagged along.   There were so many fun things to do and see.  

  We rode these tour buses around the city and they showed us all of the iconic places you see in movies and TV.

Double decker bus was very cold but fun to ride on the top.

  This is ground zero.

Statue of Liberty.

Time Square at night.  Our hotel was in Time Square.

Trying to stay warm on the top of the bus.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Roof top of the Met.

Chew Backa made of LEGOs.

Temple

Central Park

My favorite place was Central Park.  So pretty this time of year with the leaves changing.

We went to Wicked and Phantom.  Both amazing.

There are so many wonderful places to eat.  Our favorite restaurant was "Carmines",  an Italian place.

Top of the Rockefeller Center.  "Top of the Rock".  Doesn't get much better than the Empire State Building in the red lights.  

I heart NY.  Can' wait to go back.

Soap Bottle Directions

How cute are these soap bottles I want to make some for Christmas teacher gifts.  I got this idea from brownpaper--packages.blogspot.com


ITEMS YOU NEED:

• soap or lotion--any size or shape
• spray primer
• spray paint
• text: vinyl, foam stamps & craft paint
• ribbon

DIRECTIONS:

1. Remove any labels, and excess "gooey" stuff from the outside of the soap. Goo Gone, or any adhesive remover should work well. Make sure the container is clean and dry.


2. Remove the lid/pump. This step is IMPORTANT---you must prime the bottle BEFORE painting. If you don't, the paint will run, or leave you with major streaks and bumps. I used a spray paint primer--I like Rustoleum--and sprayed it very lightly, just to cover. Let dry completely. *Note: One can of primer will last quite awhile. I made several, and still had a lot of paint left.


3. Next step...painting. When using spray paint, remember, less is more. Stand back a little more than you would if you were painting wood, and kind of let it mist over it. It will cover quickly, so you really don't want too much. Let dry completely.

4. Now you're ready for text! I rummaged through some extra vinyl I had, and chose a "w" for our monogram, and "joy" for a Christmas version. I also wanted to try using paint and my foam stamps for one, which I did for the Halloween version. If you're using vinyl, apply as you normally would. If you're using paint, you need to do one of two things--either use spray paint (just spray some paint onto a paper plate--not foam-- and use your finger to apply it to the stamp), or you'll need to spray the bottle with a moisture-resistant craft spray to protect the craft paint. If not, as soon as it gets wet, the paint will run.

Black Paper Chain

I wish this was a picture of my house for a fun Halloween party but it is not.  I found this picture of a black paper chain hung from their ceiling.  So cute for Halloween.  Never would have thought of that.  Found this picture at eighteen25.blogspot.com

Another Lunch - Blog

I said the other day, "if I have to make another school lunch I might die."  It is only October, we practically started school last month.  I don't know if any of you other moms feel the same way, but I feel burnt out.  I was happy to find a fun website about different lunch ideas.  Can't we all use some fun food ideas.  I want to buy this silver lunch box (above) from (PlanetBox) but they are kind of pricey $35 for one.  Need to sleep on that one.  The lunch ideas are free.   I like FREE.  Check out the website it has tons of ideas.  anotherlunch.com

Boo Blocks

 Here is the latest craft I have made.  My sister had made some last year and they were so cute I couldn't wait to make some for me.  This was a super easy, fun and cheap craft to do with blocks, modge-podge and scrapbook paper.

Dad's First Little Girl Coaching

 Lauren said the only way she would play soccer was if her dad coached her.  Even though Ryan had coached other teams before he had never coached a 5 year-old girls team.  As you can imagine there are challenges at this age.  He is doing a awesome job with them.

 Lauren was very excited that her team is called Dazzle.  Ryan even came up with design of the t-shirt.