Blue Christmas

My new favorite color is Ocean Mist Metallic!



Yeah for me!

Hey, do you know anyone that would like to buy a white van? I promise to clean out the gum wrappers, juice box straws, sticky finger prints, goldfish crumbs, happy meal toys, pink sunglasses, kleenex...

These are a Few of My Favorite Christmas Things

Following my friend Jill's lead, I thought I would post a few of my favorite Christmas things around the house. These are not listed in any particular order.

I love the candles, crystal and Fitz and Floyd ceramics on my buffet. I can't wait to have company and light the candles and watch the glow! I added the poinsettias to the buffet and the also to the banister. I was so excited to have stairs in this house. I have always loved the decorations on banisters for Christmas.


For the past few years, my mother has been giving me Jim Shore decorations. One of my favorites is the Santa. This year's gift was the Santa and Rudolph. Aren't they cute?!? All of the grandkids want to watch the Rudolph video at her house even when it is not Christmas!


Let's just say that I am a spoiled wife. Since a company Christmas party in 2002, Larry has been giving me a Swarovski crystal snowflake for the tree every year. It sparkles like crazy with the lights on the tree. This picture does not even begin to show it's beauty. The kids know they can not touch mommy's ornaments and they are hung just in my eye sight for maximum viewing pleasure. Larry, you're such a great husband.

These stockings are a treasure for the Texas Tollesons. They were hand made by Larry's grandmother Annette.

The "Christmas Chronicles" series by Jeff Guinn is one of my favorite Christmas reads. I have read The Autobiography of Santa Claus and The Great Santa Search, both of which were very cute. I have just checked out this one. I can't wait to start reading. My favorite cd's this time of year are Amy Grant's "A Christmas to Remember" and Relient K's "Let It Snow Baby... Let It Reindeer". If you have not heard their version of the Twelve Days of Christmas, you are missing out on one of the best songs of Christmas!

I L-O-V-E our huge tree. We have had it for 13 years and though it gives Larry trouble every year, it looks fantastic when it is finally up! Right now there is another string of lights out, but if you squint your eyes, you hardly notice it at all!

My mother made this quilt. It is on of the first quilts she ever made. She is quite talented. Thanks mom.

Every girl should have a pink tree in her room! I never had one, so I am living my dream out through Lily. It is pink, sparkly and Zebra. What's not to love?!?

Have a wonderful Christmas season and enjoy your holiday decorations while they are up. It will all be over before we blink our eyes.

Deja Vu

OK Maybe I'm mistaken, but haven't I already posted a blog about a boy with a sprained arm?

Oh, yeah - that was the other boy. Yes, Small Groups has become an insurance liability for the Texas Tollesons. Zachery fell. Hard. We now know, after a trip to Urgent Care, that he is just sprained and bruised. Nothing that a week out of PE won't cure. We have just three weeks left with our Small Group, please pray there is not a Deja Three!

Cruel?

So, does this classify as cruel and unusual punishment???

I'm not sure, but I think two little elves were involved.

Home Improvement 201

I have known for a long time that the interior walls needed some paint. Bad. Six years of little hands and little spills and race cars and sticky lizards had made the walls, well NASTY!

I started planning to paint a year ago. I just knew that when school started I would have lots of free time to paint. Problem #1. I also knew that I would have a helper since mom is retired now. (Yeah Mom!) Problem #2. So, I decided to start with the dining room. It has 4 walls with a good stopping point (something my living room lacks). The hardest part of painting this room was deciding on the color. Who knew there were so many reds!
Before:


After:

Now, I L-O-V-E love my dining room. It is probably my favorite room in the house. I think we need to eat in there more often just so I can appreciate my handiwork!

Oh, and to address the Problems. #1 - I DO NOT have more time to do anything! If anything, I think I am home less than I was before all three of the kids were in school. Just FYI for all of you moms with kids still at home, enjoy your days at home and try not to volunteer all of your free time away. I have learned the hard way that there is not a magic fairy that cleans the house, does the laundry, grocery shopping or anything else while you are volunteering your time away. Spend some time for you. If you do not take care of yourself, how can you take care of anyone else?

Problem #2 - Mom does not do ceilings. My neck still aches! Just giving you a hard time mom, you do great corners! xoxox Dot