Holiday Mini Projects

This year I decided to embark on a few DIY projects. I am beginning to learn how much more you can love something if it's homemade and unique. The only problem with this? I am NOT too talented in the crafty arena, and unfortunately it is not due to lack of desire. Sigh. HOWEVER, I am pretty adept if I can copy someone else! :) So to all of you crafty bloggers and home decorators, I thank you for making your ideas so accessible to ladies like me, ladies who LOVE a 2-hour homemade project written out step-by-step and accompanied with pictures to be completed during any one of the following: The Bachelor, The Biggest Loser, or Gray's Anatomy. I'm so glad I decided to cozy up our home with these uber-easy homemade projects. They each gave me bragging rights for days. I actually posed them, took their pictures, and sent them on to family and friends as though they were my children or something! That oughtta tell you how rare an occurrence it is for me to break into the craft bin under my bed. Imagine if I were to make a bedspread or something...I'd have to hire a professional photographer and send a mass email to my whole friends list on Facebook! :) Ha ha...At any rate, I had fun, got caught up on the DVR, and felt domestic--all GOOD things!

Before
After.

The strips of paper on the left are there for writing little notes about what you're THANKFUL for. You just slip them in the jar as the month goes along, then break them out and read them all on Thanksgiving. The treats on the right are there for the taking, and boy were they taken--I had no idea we all loved candy corns so much!
Before.
No. This isn't all of the supplies, but once I got started I became too engrossed and forgot to take a true "Before" picture. Oh well...I'm sure you're not visiting my blog for the DIY tutorials anyway, so it's not a huge loss.

After.

My little snowman family: Me, Josh, Stocky and Annabelle :)

FUN FUN FUN

Thanksgiving 2010

We had such a WONDERFUL Thanksgiving! We celebrated with the Nielsen fam at my mom and dad's house with both the Nielsen and Simpson clans. My mom did an AMAZING job with all the decorations, which made it feel so special and inviting. The place settings were adorable and the kids LOVED them--Annabelle couldn't wait to sit down and start eating! One thing I have come to LOVE is beauty amidst the chaos and noise of little children. I absolutely love gathering in a beautiful, cozy setting (a.k.a. in the home) with LOTS of children around, sharing their innocent joy, laughter, and yes...even the occasional squabble. Being with family--having everyone here, healthy and happy--makes me feel so grateful. To me, Thanksgiving is all about spending time with family and reflecting on all of the amazing blessings we are given each and every day. I am so grateful to be here, to be close to my family, to be close to Josh's family, to be healthy, and to have two AMAZING little kids by my side each day. I am grateful for the gospel of Jesus Christ, loyal friends, this great nation, freedom, and great examples all around me.

We had a fun and filling day that even incuded a trip to see "Rapunzel!" What a darling show! We hope your Thanksgiving was full of festivities, fun, and family!

Thanksgiving 2010

Solids!

Stockton started SOLIDS! And the verdict? He LOVES food (as if we were concerned it would be any different). :) I was surprised by how well he did, not only with enjoying the food, but with the actual eating part as well. He knew just what to do and how to do it, which made it a lot more fun. I don't know why, but when he opens that little mouth of his for more food I think it's one of the most adorable things ever, and if he adds an "Mmmmmmmm..." to it, then it's beyond adorable (he tends to do this A LOT when he eats oatmeal mixed with fruit)! :) It's not very hard to get Stocky to smile--he LOVES to smile--but here he is after finishing his first meal...happy happy happy!

As much as I love the fact that Stockton likes his food, I loved watching him and being there with him even more:

"It's the company, not the cooking, that makes a meal"

Stockton: You are GREAT compay!