My New Christmas Tree Skirt

I have been decorating my tree in blue and white/silver since DJ and I first married. At first it was a dark blue but over the years has changed to a light blue. My first tree skirt was a dark blue, but it just didn't match my tree this year. So I began the hunt for a skirt that was the same colors as my tree and that was big enough to go under my WIDE tree. I found one, but it was $170 dollars. It was a handmade skirt and very pretty, but I wasn't paying that much for something that was only used for 4 weeks a year and that would be covered with presents over half of that time! So, I figured I would have to make my own. I looked on Pinterest (for he first time) and found a skirt I wanted to make. Apparently ruffle skirts are very popular right now. I found a sewn one and went to work. I bought my fabric at 50% off, something unexpected. I already know how to sew and have a great machine. It took me a better part of 3 days to complete but I am really happy with the finished look. I don't really are for Pinterest, but they came through for me this time! I spent a little less than $40 dollars on my one of a kind, homemade tree skirt! I think that is a deal! Here is a link for the tutorial. And below are my pictures of the finished project. I didn't use a serger, but instead did a roll hem on my machine and I also used my machine to "gather" the fabric which cut a considerable amount of time off the finished time.

 The finished skirt! I love it!

 

 I had a hard time picking the right fabrics. I originally wanted just Christmas patterns. But I found that wouldn't work since they didn't have many patterns in my colors. I did find two snow flake patterns in light blue and white. One had brown too, but it still worked. The other 4 rows are just light blue and white patterns that I liked. One of the white patterns has silver and gray crosses on it. I found this was a must for my skirt since Christ is the real reason we celebrate Christmas! Sorry this photo is so blurry! It as taken with my phone and I didn't realize it until I enlarged it. :(

 

 It works with the colors and it big enough for my tree! Yay!

 

The full tree (from the side).

Enjoying Pinnacle Mountain

The weather has been unusually warm for this time of the year. The weather was in the mid 70s this weekend, so DJ and I took the kids to Pinnacle Mountain for the second time. The first time we only made it 60% the way up due to little legs and our dog, Lexi, was with us. This time we made it all the way to the top! The kids loved sitting up there and looking all around. As we climbed up we counted the markers. This was the only way we could keep them (and me) going! DJ said he was very proud of his family. This is one of his favorite places in Little Rock! Well, it is where he asked me to marry him and where we had our second date!

 We made it to 10!

 

 One very proud daddy!

 

I was proud of the kids too!



Thanksgiving x2

This year was a little different for our Thanksgiving holiday. First, we had family come in from Iowa to share the holiday with. Second, we didn't have Thanksgiving at my dads. Third, my brother Matt was not present because he now lives in Hawaii.

 

Every year we have lunch at DJ's parents for his side of the family and dinner at my dad's for my side of the family. Usually these two are on the same day, but last year we did them different days. Also, last year we had another dinner at my house with my mom and my side of the family again. (For the ones that don't know, my parents are divorced.)

 

This year we had DJ's family come in from Iowa: Aunt Shelli, Uncle Wally, Kaylee, Zak (two of her three children) and Zak's girlfriend, Mackenzie. We don't get to see them very often due to the distance. But it is always fun to have them here. They came a couple of years ago for Thanksgiving and everyone had a blast. They always want to go black Friday shopping too! This was my first year to go with them. I had a blast and got some good deals!

 

 Here is Cindy and Aunt Shelli preparing lunch.

 

 Hannah walked in and the first thing she asked to do was play Grandpa in chess. Daddy's girl for sure!

 

 Trey and Zak became instant buddies...playing Pop the Pig. Kaylee being lazy on the couch!

 

 Mackenzie and DJ watching TV.

 

 Uncle Wally watching TV too.

 

Trey wanted to play his daddy in chess too.

 

I didn't get any more pictures of Thursday and none from Saturday. I had made lunch for my mom and two of my three brothers, but my mom and sister-in-law got sick the night before and so they were unable to come. My oldest brother and his family and youngest brother and his friend came to my house to eat lunch on Saturday. It was the first time I had made the entire lunch by myself.

HOT PINK.... Updated

Hannah has been asking to paint her room pink for a long time. She was serious about pink too. Her favorite color is hot pink, or as she calls it, red-violet. So after few good weeks in school we agreed to paint her room as a reward. We even let her pick the color. So after painting her room, all walls, hot pink I was shocked at the brightness of it. I should have known better but I was keeping my word to Hannah. I got online to find some ideas for this color and over and over again I found zebra and black. After showing it to Hannah and getting her stamp of approval, we decorated it accordingly. There are still some thing I have to hang on the wall, but they have not arrived yet. This is just a preview of what we have so far.

 

 

~ UPDATE ~

These are cute little wall hangings I found that serve two purposes!

 

 1. Hannah's initials (obviously)

 

2. Art/Picture display

 

My daughter LOVES art. I have so much art that I can't display because I have no more room to hang it. So I thought these would be perfect for this. And stayed tuned...there will be more to come!

Preschool Book Parade

Trey's preschool had a book parade. The kids picked a character from their favorite book and dressed as that character. Then they all walked around the preschool in their costume in parade style. It is usually always after Halloween, so a lot of the costumes are left over from trick or treating. That is what we did. Trey's favorite book right now is Curious George or Toy Story, depending on the day. So we went with Buzz from Toy Story. He could have gone as Woody, but ultimately chose his Halloween costume. He really enjoyed all the attention from all the parents there.

 

 His teacher, Mrs. Hannah was out that day. Mrs. Caroline, his lunch box teacher, was subbing that day. I guess his book was too heavy to carry, because Mrs. Caroline carried it for him. The boy right behind him is Griffin. This is Trey's best friend. All I hear from his day is how Griffin and him played on the play ground together. They are best buds and I just love that!

 

Thankfully his wings are made from soft inflatable material. Otherwise he would have been responsible for a few bumped heads and possibly a few black eyes! This was all his other class mates dressed up, but no one would look at the camera at the same time!

Trick or Treat Please

 

I love dressing the kids for Halloween! I always spend the time to find the cutest costumes. I was looking for a wolf costume for Trey and Hannah to be Red Riding Hood. But I was unable to find a wolf big enough to fit Trey that wasn't a scary wolf. So I asked them what they wanted to be. They are both old enough now to have a say in what they want to be. Hannah said at first she wanted to be Tinkerbell. This suited me just fine since she already had the outfit for dress up! Trey said a pirate like Jake and the Neverland Pirates.

 

So we took them to the dress up shop in search for Trey's costume. Well, they both found something different! But it all worked out to be cute anyway. Trey wanted to be Buzz and Hannah wanted to be Jessie (Buzz's girlfriend in the latest film). Lexi still doesn't have a say in what she gets to dress up as. You can't tell by this picture, but she was not very excited about my choice of Wonder Woman/Dog for her! She would just stand there and refuse to move until I took the costume off. Silly puppy!

 

The kids had a great time going around our neighbor hood and getting candy. They brought home a good haul this year! I have been letting them eat a little more candy this year than last, but in moderation. They definitely have their favorites!

Happy 6th Birthday Aaron

My nephew turned 6. We had him a little family party at my house. He really likes Mickey Mouse so I made him a Mickey cake. He was super excited about the presents. He got his very own DS game system. Being the youngest of three boys, he usually doesn't get the cool toys. So he was pretty happy!

 

Hannah showing off her black icing teeth!

 



Trey is such a nut sometimes! I told him to smile and he did. Then just as I snapped the picture he changed his expression to this! Love this little guy!