Happy Birthday Morgan

Happy Birthday MORGAN.

(Yup, she's as moody as she looks. She's a teenage girl. It's expected.)

I can't believe I now have 2 teenagers.

I love you Morgan

It feels like home. It feels right.

I have consolidated my crafty blog with this one.

I am calling them both home here.

It feels right.

It feels like an old friend has finally come home.

All that I post will be right here at ICANTWANNA.

Sure, I may change the background or the banner, but it's still me.

It's all me.

WELCOME HOME. (ahhhhhh)

Ahead of the game...

It's over. The festivities are done.

Now all we have to do is to make it through the rest of the year. I am relieved and sad. I miss the wonder and excitement of it all. I didn't get done nearly what I wanted to do. I think I need the kids to be out of school for the 2 weeks before Christmas. That would be the real help in getting ready for Christmas.

While I did get a lot of things done in time, there are some that just didn't happen.

* We haven't made cookies yet. (But we will)

* I didn't make the gift tags like I wanted to.

* We just decorated the Gingerbread House yesterday.

* I forgot about a bag of goodies I have for stockings. (thankfully they're toys and will keep until next year.)

* I didn't document for Journal Your Christmas with Shimelle Laine. I really wanted to do this. I just wasn't organized enough.

That is all going to be different for 2010. Things will be MORE organized. I am going to go into the Holiday Season prepared and ready. How? You ask. Welllllllll, go to OPUS GLUEI and join us once a month (starting in January) in getting prepped for the Holiday Season 2010.

Once a month tips and ideas will be offered. We'll tell you how we applied them and show you what we did. Then we'll ask for your input and results.

One thing I have already decided is to make this picture into our Christmas Card.

I like it. It wasn't even taken until after Christmas. But I like it and it'll work.

First thing checked off the list for next year. (insert happy dance)

Jingle me happy

I love to blurf. I could waste days just cruising around other blogs. My fav's are crafty ones with a bit of life thrown in. Makes me feel normal. Those that include food, are just pure heaven. Anyway, I found JUST JINGLE in the past couple of months and have been visiting her regularly. She is witty and crafty and real. She hosted a Christmas swap, JINGLE SWAP 2009. Naturally I signed up. We were to send 10 items to our partner, 3 of which were to be handmade. Easy peasy.

I was partnered up with a woman who lives within a 30 minute drive. How cool is that!!! Once the hectic pace of the Holidays settles down, we may even try to meet for a coffee or two. Here are the wonderful goodies she sent to me.

Isn't that the most adorable Santa, the candle (made by her) smells delish, and the chocolates, 'nuf said...

And here are the goodies I sent to her. I sent her a handmade framed Christmas Tree, a set of Thank You cards that I made, and the flowers are actually pens. The cookies are my favorite this year, those snowmen just yelled to be hers, the blanket is one of the softest I have felt. You really can't tell but the mug is a little ornament, and the package next to it is a set of adorable erasers shaped like wonderful tasty desserts. I also included some sticky notes and a set of pens. You always have lists around this time of year. ( and the rest of the year too.)

If you remember, and I am sure you will because once you visit JUST JINGLE you are sure to keep going back, sign up for the JINGLE SWAP 2010. (Crossing my fingers that she'll host it again.)

Wishing you all a very

To Do... before I go to bed on Christmas Eve

Things I have left to do before I go to bed on Christmas Eve...

- Grocery Shop

- Make the grocery list

- Eye appt.

- Watch Christmas movies: Ernest Saves Christmas and How the Grinch Stole Christmas

- Get one last present

- Spend time lounging with my girls and hubby

- Straighten up the house

- Bake cookies for Santa (and some for us too)

- Work the morning of Christmas Eve

- Visit Santa at the mall

- Wrap a few more presents

- Work on Opus Gluei for 2010

- Work on this blog for 2010

- Pick up the Ham

- Open a present on Christmas Eve

- Set cookies and milk out for Santa

- Set carrots out for Reindeer

- Write out Christmas cards (yup, they are late)

- Decorate the Gingerbread House

- Make fudge

- Drink a glass or two of wine

- Any other thing I've forgotten

Christmas preparations

Don't forget your Christmas preparations...

What's been going on....

Here are some of the pictures from earlier in the month.

I took them, just didn't get them posted. Ya know how it goes...

Reading is such a big part of our family. I couldn't leave it out.

Some of the candies of the season. I thought they looked so pretty in these jars.

The advent calendar I made while pregnant with Megan.

Danny painted all of the ornaments.

New advent calendars this year. First time for daily treats for the girls.
I made the matchbox ones, the other one came made already.
The girls decorated their own.

More to come. I don't want to overwhelm you, so I am posting them a few at a time.

More to follow, so check back.

Friday Fill-Ins #155

It's been a bit since I have filled one in...

1. No, we will NOT let my 15 year old pierce her lip.
2. We eat dinner every night at the old kitchen table.
3. I watched the steam rising from the hot cup of coffee (or tea) and thought: Damn, life is good.
4. My trip to the mall tonight is going to be okay.
5. I'll take whatever I want, whenever I want. (A girl can dream, can't she!!!)
6. I am right, at least from my point of view.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to getting home from the mall and Survivor and Pizza, tomorrow my plans include carting kids around and Sunday, I want to decorate the Gingerbread House and bake cookies!

I must have this...

EDITED: There is a Santa. Melissa requested a trip to the scrapbook store to buy my Christmas gift. Who am I to deny the wonderful little child. So I obliged. She bought me these papers, a couple of bottles of Stickles, some Teardrops and a few spools of ribbon. I love that kid. She KNOWS me.

This collection MUST become one of my possesions.

I HAVE to get it.

It's cute and Christmas-y.

And so Very Merry.