Masthead header

tracey’s family

Tr7
Th6
Tr1
Th11
IMG_8821
she saw a bee…the really big fuzzy kind.  i totally get that look when i see them too! 

T2
IMG_8710
T4.5
IMG_8788
thank you tracey.  
i hope you loved the wild sweet peas as much as i did.  

your blond cuties were adorable.   
     
    

Janean - the cutest kiddos….the big beautiful blue eyes!!!

Sophie - What beautiful photographs you take Megan! Stunning! I hope you and your family enjoy a peaceful Christmas. I’ve enjoyed lurking and following the blog.

mel - LOVE this set! Great pics & love the sweet peas!

Tegan and Tage - Beautiful family and beautiful pictures!

Sharla - Picket fence picture = priceless!

feather - i love the picture with mom’s mouth wide open with laughter. what a beautiful moment captured.

Christina - How do you do it?! You are very talented.
And the wild ones weren’t the only sweet peas around! Such cute kids.

Heather Giustino - How cute! I especially love the picket fence picture!

Share on FacebookTweet this PostPin Images to PinterestBack to Top

becky’s girls

B14
IMG_7900
IMG_7954
B7
B3
IMG_7885
IMG_7979_2_2
IMG_8020
umm….yeah.
could they be any cuter?! 

thanks becky for letting me play with your girlies.
i love those tutus!

firefly hill - What beautiful girls…so cute!
xo,
annie
p.s. your blog is fab

Heather - Oh. My. Two thoughts when I look at these pictures. One: where did the tutu’s come from, cause I need two. Two: I want to fly to where you live to have photos done. I love the pictures you take. I really do.

mel - This confirms it, I am buying petticoats for my girls!
What cute girls, they look like they love each other so much!

Heather Giustino - What cuties – my daughter would go nuts for those pettiskirts!

linda lou - the girls remind me of annie are they cousins?
now i want a tutu and i love von maur just was there today with my oldest granddaughter!
we both love the bathroom….!!! pink of course
linda lou

Melanie - They are so cute and I love the tutus too!

Georgia - Could them two be any cuter!!!! – they are going to be even more gorgeous when they grow up!!!

jeanne - Adorable!

Abbie Toy - I love these photos!!!! I have a question for you that I’ve been wondering for a long time…how do you get your photos to be so large when you upload them to Blogger. I can’t get mine to be very big at all…just wondering if you would share your secrets with me:) ha ha! Thanks!!

Mother Runner - I want a tutu now!

Cate O'Malley - Love the tutus and especially the picture of them running – too cute!

se7en - Just look at those little skirts and flaying legs – too darling!!!

Amanda - Just saw that some were asking where the girls got their tutus. Not sure if Becky told you or not, but I’m pretty sure they got them at Von Maur.

ginuhphurr - BEAUTIFUL pictures! these girls are going to be some serious heartbreakers!

Christina - Darling! Perfect! Those eyes…they are great pictures.

Dianne Avery - What photo editing software do you use? Have you tried to “eye pop” your portraits?

holly - I think those girlies are a-dorable. How cute is their hair? Wish I could get mine that cute!

julia - I’ve been wanting to make those pettiskirts but I can’t muster up the energy. Do you know where she got them?

Jainatina - I want a puffy tutu.. I wonder where they got them. <3

Tanya - SOOOO cute! I love those skirts. I want one 🙂

Dana D@BoysMyJoys - On your “35” list, I read that you wanted some sort of packaging for your photos. I don’t know if you do your packages on disc, but I saw this on Becky Higgins’ blog, and it made me think of you…
http://www.beckyhiggins.com/blog/uploaded_images/kara-layne-705056.jpg
It’s on her 11/21/09 post, if the link doesn’t work.

Heather - Is it weird that I’m 34 and I want a tutu and their hair cuts?!
So very, very cute!!

The Countess of Nassau County - Beyond adorable. I think I’m going to start wearing a tutu.

Tracy Anderson - OMG those two are SO PRECIOUS! I LOVE their smiles! :o)

patti - ugh…i’m melting. such cute girls and adorable photos! well done, megan…as usual!

TRACI - OH MY WORD…they are darling and nothing cuter than a girl in her tutu!!!!!Fabulous job AGAIN!!!!

Renee - The little one reminds me of your Annie! That all-out-smile. Gorgeous girls. Thanks for sharing. xoxo

Amanda - SO adorable! I know those 2 little beauties. You did a great job capturing them. They are just too cute for words!

Share on FacebookTweet this PostPin Images to PinterestBack to Top

DID YOU SEE THIS?!

Project-320 

 

Heather Giustino - TWO wells!! So exciting, and amazing!

julie - happy, happy, happy day!
thanks sooooo much for your heart, encouragement and help.
big puffy sparkly heart you!

pam - awesome! 🙂

Heather Cheatham - That just ROCKS!

Jenni - Yes, and your heart is amazing! All the goodies you donated made my heart skip! They are SO CLOSE!

Share on FacebookTweet this PostPin Images to PinterestBack to Top

charla’s family

C16
C26
C38
C20  
C8
C30
IMG_8301 
Cd6
  
IMG_8154
C12
IMG_8351
 

i loved this session.
the daddy is one of of craig's cousins…i grew up with him…we worked at the grocery store together.
and i just met his wife this year!  
crazy.
(but i did have your wedding photo from the newspaper on my fridge in chicago..what a beautiful bride!)
i really did have a good time charla.
how could you not when there was a pony involved?

Rachel / cREaTe - great photos! my favorite is the one of the 2 girls with the pony … and the pony’s head is perfectly divided by shade & sunlight. i think it’s cool. what darling girls! 🙂

Jenna - Cute!
You also have to look at this. So funny!
http://www.merrynewsinator.com/

Janelle - Those pics make me want to have another baby! I have two little girls now – and am now convinced I need a third! =)

Monica - Gorgeous pics!!! Yes, he was in my class – it was fun to see his family….

Melanie - Beautiful photos and a beautiful family!

sarah - Beautiful

Christina - Awesome pics…dad has some strong genes! I love it! 🙂

Kristy - great pictures meg :O)
isn’t it fun shooting kids, and families.
good work :O)

Debra - Beautiful girls!

Diana - Ahhhhhhhhh, warm photos! Everyone snuggle with the sunshine while you can!
LOVE all the smiles in these… LOVE the pony! So special!

Cori - I love to look at pictures with warmth and sandels especially when we are surrounded by snow! Beautiful pics, lovely family. Merry Christmas!

Share on FacebookTweet this PostPin Images to PinterestBack to Top

ornaments

our kids get a new ornament every year.
we store their special ones in boxes with their name on them.
(you can read about it here from 2008)
then when the grow up & move out (gasp! i can't even imagine nor do i want to!) they take their box.

sometimes i take them to pick them out…sometimes i don't.
this year i did not.
sometimes they have special meanings…sometimes they don't.  
can you tell i have a really great system going on here?!

these are the specials for 2009.

annie….because she's 5 and loves cookies.                 
talby….she bought her own iPod this year.
IMG_9820  IMG_9823

sean…he likes snow globes
AND his name was spelled correctly!                          scott…i used a toy bike and just added a hook.
IMG_9825   IMG_9826
   
lauren….a capital L all covered in bling.  
  
IMG_9821  IMG_9831

and the orange star is just one i got at target a few years ago…look how easy that is?! 
i could make that.  and so could you.
you could put any words you wanted….peace, joy, love, jesus, noel…ANYthing you wanted.

IMG_9919   
are you feeling peaceful?

tami reed - happy holidays to you and your family

gina - ? Um, yes. that should be a C. Christmas. 🙂

gina - Today I feel peaceful and looking forward to the next 36 hours filled with family , friends, and fun!! Merry Vhristmas to you an yours!

mel - my mother in law did this for my husband when he was growing up. When we got married, he had a box of ornaments for our tree. It was so cute! We are doing this for our girls also, but since they are only 15 months & almost 3 years old, they don’t have that many in their little boxes!

Courtney Walsh - My birthday is December 18 so my mom always got me a Cmas ornament for my birthday…every year…and she still does. That’s 34 ornaments and counting, and I remember a lot of them (the fave is the strawberry shortcake one I got in kindergarten…it used to smell.) 🙂
Love your pics!

tara pollard pakosta - next year, I am putting my tree by the fireplace! LOVE IT! great picture! I do the same thing with my girls for ornaments, they each have their own box. and some years there is meaning, some years, we just buy whatever they pick out. it’s so much fuN! I will be one sad mama on the day mine move out and take those ornament boxes. we try to buy ourselves one new one each year also so that we will have some left. I may just have to do this with my grandchildren one day to fill our tree….dont’ even want to think about it! My oldest turns 10 on christmas eve, feeling sentimental over here!
these are just LOVELY! tara

Alicia - Sometimes things are just easier done alone…totally understand.
My mom started this same ornament tradition when I was a kid and it is really great now as an adult to open that box! I should have done that with my kiddos…maybe it’s never too late, right?

Rachel / cREaTe - i love your honesty with “sometimes i do … sometimes i don’t”. that made me laugh. 🙂 the lesson being it doesn’t matter HOW it’s done, just that you’re doing it. thanks for sharing, meg!

A pocket full of posies... - LOVE the ornament idea!!! might just have to be our craft today! and feeling peaceful?? ummmm, getting there! 🙂
Blessings!
Jill

Lisa - I love the ornament idea! Over the weekend I made your mint chocolate brownies and can I just say how much I LOVE them!! 🙂

paige - such a great tradition & you scored some super cuties too
merry christmas 🙂

Lorilee - Your tree looks lovely. We have given our boys ornaments for several years. We also exchanged ornaments with their cousings. Each boy has his own tub. I love the idea too!
Blessings,
Lorilee

the wild raspberry - seeing your lit tree and stockings hung with care makes me feel peaceful. what a pretty sight.
happy holidays~
chasity

patricia - peace out!!

Cate O'Malley - Love it! We do the same thing, although I like the idea of getting their ornaments together. This year, it was a soccer ball for my son and a cow for my daughter. Do you know how hard it is to find a non-comical cow? Our family ornament was a cruise ship – love cruises!

sara - what a beautiful tree!

Maria - I love the idea of keeping everyone’s ornaments separate…I so need to do that. I have just been buying a family ornament lately and the miniature ornaments for our advent calendar (which is now full)…the tree looks great!

jennifer - We do the same ornament thing here at our house. And I’ve got the same kind of system going, so I completely understand yours! 🙂
Thanks for sharing the picture of your Christmas tree and stockings hanging on the mantel. I’m experiencing decorated homes vicariously through all my blogging friends this year and your picture gave me a bit of much needed peace.

Christina - Such a beautiful spot there in your home…although I know your whole house is lovely! I need to figure out the stocking thing.
We also do the ornaments for our kids. They love it!

Dina - I do the same ornament thing with my kids. My mom did it for me and nothing made me happier than the day she handed over my box. I still have them all and they go on our tree along with all my kids’ ornaments. My oldest is only 5 and our tree is so full. I hate to think of that 1st box of 18 (or so) not being on our tree.

Rach - It’s just like it’s right out of a magazine! Beautiful! I love it!

Melanie - Your tree looks beautiful. No tree at our house this year because of the move but I am enjoying all the trees in blogland though.

Allison - I could find peace at your beautiful house. Mine has a half-dead Christmas tree in the living room. Barely any gifts wrapped yet. A falling-down shanty of a gingerbread house we tried to make tonight (it was a pre-made kit, and still i ruined it). I love your blog. It makes me happy every time I read it 🙂

julia - I love your Christmas tree and fireplace pic – I need to find some PEACE stocking holders (ever since #3 I’ve been doubling up).

Anne - Love it. Just like our family. I always remember being little and being so amazed at how MANY ornaments my parents had in their box. Now my daughter comments on how many I have… I love the ornaments that remind of you of something special the moment you pull them out.
Merry Christmas to you all!

Brooke - My parents did the same thing for my brothers & I growing up. It was so nice when my hubby and I got a tree of our own and I could decorate it with my ornaments that had a lot of meaning to them! Your kids will love it too 🙂
Love the pics. Your tree looks beautiful.

Staci - Not EVEN close….yet 🙂 But it will come…I’m just sure of it 🙂

Kelly - We do that for our boys too. This year it turned into a whole fiasco because I got them in Disneyland a couple months ago and one broke! How do you replace that?!? (PTL for Ebay! :)) However I also get us a family ornament because my sister & I both got married in one year and my parents’ tree was NAKED and it made me sad and I never want that to happen to me! 🙂
I did the same thing to a Star Wars toy last year that you did with the bike. My son still has no idea it’s really a toy. 🙂

your cool friend Cheryl - Your tree is beautiful!

~KS - My parents did this same thing for us when I was growing up. I moved out years ago, and I took my box of ornaments with me. And I love putting my own tree up every year because each ornament has such a wonderful memory to go along with it. And the toy bike with a hook was such a creative idea!

Sara Cameli - So pretty Meg….very peaceful picture…

Kate - What wonderful support we have in blogland! I feel peaceful too! I am at the airport, waiting to fly to Dallas with the in-laws… hubby trying to find me a starbucks just for fun… kids hainvg a blast rooting for their favorite team on the big screen (based soley on their uniform)… and I am getting to catch up on my fav blogs?! Peace!

adrienneK - so pretty!!! and yes i could make that ornament…..hmmm…. ok i call a craft day with meg!!!!! 😉

immyyas - I do that for my girls as well. It is such a fun tradition. I too don’t have any real system going on either… makes it less stressful that way : ) LOVE the picture of your tree… it looks like a postcard or like it is right out of a magazine. Another fun thing I did right out of high school & in college was ornament exchanges with my girlfriends… when your young & don’t have a lot to cover your tree (and your broke & can’t afford to buy all your friends real gifts) this is a GREAT way to accumulate them!

erica - i have a sean and we got him that same ornament this year (from kohls??). beautiful tree!

Diana - I made felt ornaments several years ago for my oldest son when he moved out after high school… and for a few years after that I added to the collection. I should do more of that. Especially since there are grandkids growing oh-so-fast. And start some for my other son. He might get married… someday. LOL!
Peaceful? Hmmmm. Not sure about that… to much medical stuff going on.
Thankful, yes. Thankful for my sweet hubby and the rest of my family. And for God in my life!
😀

TRACI - Love it and your tree is just GORGEOUS!!!!!!!!

No.17CherryTreeLane - I really am. There is so much chaos happening around me, and yet I feel a calm spirit about me. The Lord is allowing me to enjoy these moments, rather than stress about them.
He is good.

Share on FacebookTweet this PostPin Images to PinterestBack to Top

craft week

well…i did it!

at first the kids were bummed to be torn away from the tv and computer.
but on wednesday morning while getting dressed out of her jammies annie asked excitedly
"what's our craft today mama?"
that made me so happy.

it was very low key…very laid back…small crafts….took very little time.
and they really did like it. 
and i did too.

scott informed me he "wasn't into crafting" so he would not be participating…at all.
bummer….that time has come.  i missed him.

————————————————————————————–
monday:

popsicle stick christmas trees
 

IMG_9607
 
IMG_9609  IMG_9610

IMG_9615
we made them into ornaments.
i let them use the glue gun…i thought they would like that…turns out they don't….HA.
at one point i looked over and sean was playing in the glitter making it like snow.
UGH.

IMG_9628  IMG_9636

***edited to add…we used green craft sticks that come pre-colored and i cut them with big scissors to get the different sizes.  don't use good scissors for this…and watch out…the pieces fly everywhere!
————————————————————————————–
tuesday:

pompom ornament


IMG_9747
IMG_9732
cottage cheese break.

IMG_9751  IMG_9758

IMG_9763  IMG_9817

it's simple as can be.  
push stick pins through pom poms and stick them into the Styrofoam. 
 

and even a big kid sat down and made two ornaments herself…
IMG_9767
these were easy and fun.
—————————————————————————————
wednesday:
 
felt gingerbread men

IMG_9790
i googled "gingerbread man shape" and printed out an image to make a pattern.
we cut them out, picked out buttons, strung our (huge blunt) needles, 
 
  
sewed the face and belly buttons first…then sewed the back and front together with a big stitch.
just before we closed up the last few stitches (10-15 of them….)
we stuffed it with just a few cotton balls for plumpness.

this was a hard craft.
but rewarding.
IMG_9770 IMG_9798

IMG_9780
annie was tired and playing barbies ALONE-DON"T-BOTHER-ME-GO-AWAY so we let her be.
lauren was studying.
scott was playing ball.
so the just three of us sat on the couch and sewed gingerbread men.
talby said many times "this is fun…i didn't know i could sew!"  
made me feel a little guilty.
but now she knows.  
and sean liked it too…he made one for his friend with his initials on the back…sweet.
—————————————————————————————

thursday:

sugar cookies (used this recipe from REAL SIMPLE)
IMG_9892
i almost gave up.
i was tired and they were spastic.
but i just plowed through…and i only yelled twice.
 
IMG_9886  IMG_9884
  
****edited to add:  in case you weren't aware…you need TONS of flour on your counter, rolling pin
and hands when working with sugar cookie dough.  it's very sticky.  i don't want you to give up because
you thought you were doing it wrong.  the flour was why i was yelling…SO MESSY!!!****
 

we only baked them…the  frosting part was way more than i could handle.
i was on my own with kids all night.
i was tired.
did i tell you that already?
because i had already been baking all day…
 
IMG_9834  IMG_9848

IMG_9864  IMG_9849

IMG_9872  IMG_9880

yes…i made the peppermint swirled cupcakes.
so good.
i think i will have another one right now!

i also made the chocolate mint brownies that IS christmas tradition for me. (left sidebar for recipe)

—————————————————————————————

friday:

gingerbread house.

it deserves it's own post…when (and IF) i do it! 
 
   
i have paid my friend to bake it the past two years but this year on my 35 things list (right sidebar)
i said i wanted to make one myself…what was i thinking?
i have all day today to figure out how to bake one.  
yuck…i get weird about having to learn something new.  change is hard.

are you feeling crafty now?

here is a collage of the arts and crafts i was inspired by and wishing i could make all of them.
maybe i could still…over winter break.
—————————————————————————————
Crafts
1. cafe mom  
2. clover lane  3. nini makes  4.
  5. parents  6. sarah's art house  7. the joy of today 
8. no time for flash cards 9. just for fun  10. parents 11. zakka life  12. elise blaha 13. sara's art house  
14. martha stewart  15. crafty crow  16. oh so happy together

although i linked everyone individually i found almost all of them through THE CRAFTY CROW.
i love that site.  i check it all the time!
 

are YOU going to craft with your kids this week?
no pressure from me.
but tell me if you do…..i want to know.
i hope my kids still want to do it next week also.   

erin - Wow. Looks like fun! Can you tell me what kind of dog that is?

Dawn Pefley - Found this post on Pinterest. I def thought it was cool to do with my kids, and then I read where you said “I only yelled twice”, now I’m in love!
If I can get through a single one of these crafts with my 4 kids on any given weekend, you’ll be my forever hero! Thanks for sharing!

blakechristina71@yahoo.com - love the round pom pom ornaments, what did you use to attach them pom poms to the foam ball??

Karen - where did you get all of those buttons? 🙂

Wendy - What a colorful collection of crafts! Brava!

adrienne - i love them all! …making such precious memories for your family. thanks for the great ideas 🙂

Andrea - I love all of the crafts you did with your kids. I have 2 and I think next year they will be a the perfect ages to maybe try 1 or 2 of these crafts. Also I have been buying ornaments for the kids each year but love the idea of putting them in a special box to give to them later. I am gong to start that this year. Thanks for the great ideas.

Meg - Oh, did we ever! We made homemade crayons for 2 year old cousin and we made clay pinch pots for the grandmas. We made clear glass swirly painted ornaments for the aunties and tomorrow is granola making for the uncles! And then there’s the baking……

Wendy - Inspirational as usual! Love the crafts and will have to do some more this week. My little girls and I made the snowmen ornaments that look like smores for teacher gifts. it took about 3 hours but we made 13 ornaments that were all individual and cute. then after baking the clay they wrote their names and the year on the bottom. I am going to try the pom pom snowball ornaments for sure! Thanks!

Amy F. - So fun! I can’t wait until my daughter is old enough to do that kind of stuff! One note about the sugar cookies…while you do need a lot of flour I reccommend putting the dough in the fridge for 30 or so minutes before you work with it and it makes the process a whole lot easier. Also, after I cut out the cookies and put them on the baking sheet I place the whole baking sheet in the fridge for a few minutes as it helps the cutouts to keep their shape and cook more even!

Nina - you are such a great mom! Loved all of the crafts…..

Mary - How did my dog get in your pictures??! What kind of dog do you have- she looks exactly like our goldendoodle, Sally!

linda@LimeintheCoconut - Love love love all of the beautiful crafts…and PIctures!
My kids crafted this week too…Not so pretty (just posted about it) I think I’ll stay on your page for awhile instead. oy!

Alicia - Thanks for the inspiration Meg…my kiddos loved your ideas and since we have 2 1/2 weeks to fill…you helped a lot!
With love from CO and Merry Christmas!!

Lisa - Love all of your crafts, and how honest you are (you only yelled twice 🙂 ) I noticed that someone mentioned rolling the dough between wax paper, I have used saran wrap for my sugar cookie and gingerbread dough for years and I have never had a problem. Try it next time you have the energy to bake sugar cookies again. Have a Merry Christmas!!

Kelly - Meg, the art teacher at my school does those plastic cup “snowglobes” with the kids every year and they turn out adorably! There are usually some white packing peanuts involved in some of the kids’ too for snow in the bottom. Fun.
Your projects look great and I was greatly anticipating the report on craft week! So fun! One day . . . Kelly

Heather Giustino - What a fun week you guys had!! I’m thinking of maybe trying the pom pom ornaments sometime next week with my daughter, who’s not quite three.
Thanks for the inspiration!!

jeanne - I just love all of your projects!!! You are now one of my daily stops…I am so glad we met…you bring a smile to my face everytime I visit!!! Your oldest daughter is so gorgeous!!! I will miss seeing this week but can’t wait until it works out. Merry, Merry Christmas!!!! You are such a good mom…truly!!!

Erin Goodman - I love love love your craft week! The tree- adorable how they individualized them! I saw the pompom ornament linked to your blog and love to see that you guys made them. That looks like a sure thing! The gingerbread men..super duper cute. I love felt!
Erin
PS thank you for posting the bracelet I sent on your blog… you didn’t have to do that! Thanks bunches!!!

nichole shinners - Oh man I love your craft ideas and post. Hoping to be brave and try again. For now though I get a big FAIL stamp on my forehead for the glitter craft I did with my four year old yesterday. I think I managed to yell at her only 3 times before the final blow out and she was then put in a time out. Honestly, I always thought I would be awesome at craft time. Not so much.

your cool friend Cheryl - My 2 yr old just mastered scissors, so he looks forward to his brother’s nap every day when we can make crafts together.
Naturally, they all involve cutting paper…

Miranda - this is so fantastic! your kids will remember this forever. i really love how not all of your kids had to participate in all of the crafts too. what a magical way to celebrate the season.

Christina - You are so great for posting this!! I haven’t done much this week at all (and now I have a laundry Kilimanjaro to show for it) since my youngest has been a little sick. These will definitely be on my list of things to prepare and do because I will have two big kids at home next week. Ahhh! 🙂
Except the sugar cookies…make cookies has to be on my top 10 list of things I hate to do. It is just too much. I do have a cute cake pan, though, so maybe we’ll do some mini-cakes. Much easier…and I like to eat them better, too!

Rach - I am so hopeful that I can be this creative when my child gets to this stage. Thank you for your constant inspiration and ideas!

sarah - ok meg…now you definately need to make candy sushi with your kids! It’s so much fun…(I’d advise only this project 🙂
Check it out on our blog!
http://thewalquists.blogspot.com/2009/11/candy-sushi.html
they’re SOOO delicious!

Jennifer Dawn - It looks like craft week went great. I love the pom-pom ornament. My little one is still a too young for this, but just wait until she gets older… We will craft like crazy!

Emily@remodelingthislife - I love crafting with my kids and I am so glad to see you making it look so fun. Love your crafts – so cute!

holly b - PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE tell me where I can find those twinkly pom poms in time for Christmas Eve day…I can’t find them anywhere and NEED them to make those ornaments with my kids and neices and nephews! I need to stay the COOL auntie…LOL!!!

kasey - nope. i won’t be crafting with the kids…but i will live vicariously thru you.
xo

Krista - Hi Megan!
I took some of your inspiration and crafted many things with my girls, although I did copy some of your ideas, I confess. I am making up the cocoa & marshmallow packets that I saw in your archives for teacher gifts. I’ll be including some snowman ornaments that we made from kits that I got at the craft store. AND, we attempted a gingerbread house made from a kit, which turned out better than I thought it would. I think by now my girls are sick of crafting! Thanks for all of the good ideas, looks like you were busy as well! Love the crafts you picked for your kiddos. Any time away from the TV is a success as far as I am concerned!

Beth - Megan, That is SO COOL that you did that with your kids. I love the pompom ornaments. Gonna try that with my kids. And the gingerbread house . . we got one of those ceramic molds from Pampered chef one year that makes all the house parts. It’s pretty cool although we don’t do it every year — big endeavor. We got a kit this year (thanks to grandma 🙂

Betsy - It looks like Waffle wanted in on the Crafty Action 🙂
I love the pompom ornaments! I might try them next year. NOT this year, because I spent most of my winter making button trees: http://theviewacrosstown.blogspot.com/2009/12/crafty-idea-finally-completed.html
Oh, and I TOTALLY want to make that ribbon tree, too! I’ll add it to my list. Seems simple enough & I already have the trees & pins from button tree project!
Thanks for sharing 🙂

susie whyte - i think your thursday was better than mine. i did see your craig when we visited santa, though. i wanted to say hi and introduce myself, but i don’t think he would’ve liked it as much. 🙂 the crafts look excellent!!! and i love lauren’s hair…mine never stayed curled when it was long. hope you guys have a wonderful christmas break!

alyssa - We did our gingerbread house yesterday. I yelled too! Glad I’m not alone. My little one poked a hole in the roof!!! I was not happy, but then I remembered it wasn’t for me, right?! Anyway, he eventually got banned from the gingerbread decorating. He was only eating the candy…there’s always next year for him. The other two had fun.
Once I get through this crazy birthday weekend, we will be crafting at our house next week too. Thanks for the ideas!
That was a really long comment. sorry. I need to get back to my cake decorating. Good job on the crafting.

Stacy - I love your blog. I found it a few weeks ago and cant stop looking at it! I love your ideas for this week, so thank you! Have a Merry Christmas!

tara pollard pakosta - I think we will do craft week next week and take it right into christmas! thanks for inspiring! I know we are doing the cookies tomorrow! did you try to refrigerate your dough for a few hours? that seems to cut down on the stickiness factor for me! and refrigerate in between batches again too if need be!
Love the pom pom ornaments! all are way cooL!
thanks for sharing! you are officially the WAY COOL MOM & a favorite on my blog list! tara

jenjen - I love craft week! What great projects! It’s hard when the older kids get social lives and are not interested. I heard that your kids and mine are very similar ages (my sister told me – she is a huge fan, as am I now). I have a 15 year old boy, 13 year old girl, 10 year old girl and 5 year old girl.
Have a wonderful Christmas with your cute family. I hope you get to everything on your list!
XOXO
Jen

Kat - You did some really great crafts! I love the little gingerbread men. I made knitted trees with gold stars on top this year and sent them to all my family members. Next year I might make gingerbread men.

carly - oh i am completely and totally overwhelmed with the ideas! as if i weren’t already with my own projects!! (weren’t or wasn’t? not sure, but you know what i’m saying’.) overwelmed and in love!! especially the pompom ornament. adorable!
anyway, i’ll have to come back to visit this post sometime in october and november 2010!! thanks for the inspiration 12 months in advance. and i wish i could have a craft marathon week, but there’s no extra time or energy.
PS: i’ve asked santa to bring me some “time in a bottle” for christmas. when i get mine, i’ll send you one, too! ha!

amber - Super fun! Im inspired to craft it up this week! Thank you.
ps the kiddos ( who are sitting on my lap… ya all three of them) are asking if we can come do crafts at your house… i don’t balme ’em. lol
cheers!

Candace - Ah, the gingerbread men are too cute! Moms are superwomen. You are a champ for baking all of that in ONE day!
And I will be adding the mint brownies to my recipe list for this weekend. You can never go wrong with mint and chocolate. Thanks!

Becky @ Farmgirl Paints - Girl you inspire me so! I love the pompom ornament. So going to do that one. I just love that you take the time and do fun stuff like this with your kids. You rock! Your oldest daughter is gor-ge-ous…wowza:) Now I’m off to check out that site.
Meg have a wonderful Christmas with your family. We are off to Illinois on Sun. – long drive- some stress involved. NEXT YEAR we stay home!!

patti - thanks for all the awesome ideas! i’ll be stealing some of these for next week, thankyouverymuch!
i’ve already got one day scheduled with cookie decorating. now i just need to “cowboy up” and figure out which other mess i feel like dealing with. merry christmas!

melissa @ the inspired room - What a completely fun week, thanks for sharing all the great crafts you did. Love all the different ages of your kids, so reminds me of my house.
Merry Christmas to you, Meg. Always a joy to come to your blog and so glad to call you a friend in blogland. Maybe someday we’ll have coffee together in real life? Maybe? You could bring me a brownie or cupcake too.
blessings & xxoxo
Melissa

Meredith - Thanks Meg…these crafts are like a ray of Christmas sunshine. Glad that Sean was so enthusiastic and Lauren joined in. Hope you have some really great coffee in the coming week. Meredith xo.
p.s. I’d forgotten about your mint brownies, I think I’ll give them a go today.

cori barney - I was crusing blogland today and came upon this awesome cookie and thought of you. http://makeitandloveit.blogspot.com/2009/12/playdough-cookies.html
I love your blog. Thanks for always keeping it real!

se7en - Oh we are doing this too!!! But I find it hard to take the first step… it is so much easier to read a story!!! But look at those little faces it is so worth it to make the effort!!!

Susan - I just had to come out of Lurkerdom to let you know how much I enjoyed this post. I love that your kiddos leaped out of bed wanting to know what the day’s craft was. I’m wondering if I can get my teens to play with me next week as school will be out.
I do have a great hint for you with the cookies. Make sure the dough is well chilled and roll it between two sheets of wax paper. No flour, not much mess! Try it! I just did this with 32 preschoolers (8 at a time) with no hassle. So much fun!

julia - I love your crafts…maybe my friend and I will do some of them next week with the kids…the picture of your oldest is wonderful…she’s beautiful.

Mindy Harris - that looks like a blast! I’m going to do snowglobes tonight and will post pictures. there’s a “to-do” on martha stewart’s site.
also, my friend likes all things vintage, and I posted some pics from her house (I took my camera to a lunch playdate; it’s hard not to!)–you may like them.
last thing: we LOVE the pics of Wilder/us and have them smacked all over printed mugs for the grandparents. cocoa to tuck inside. so excited!

Kelly - We are big crafties over here! We made some super easy yet time consuming (read: kept them busy for awhile!) wreaths similar to the ones I saw here:
http://pinkpicketfence.typepad.com/pink_picket_fence/2009/12/-crafting-with-kids-gocup-wreath-.html
You shared a lot of great ideas that I’m sure we’ll be making next week as we try to survive the carzy week before the big day! Thanks!

Melissa - Ohhhh – you go girl.
I do feel “crafty”, and a little sleepy after seeing all the work you did. But boy does that look like some fun. I love your idea of a craft week!

Jenn Thomas - Good ideas! It looks like fun and I should of sent London down to join you 🙂 Maybe we can accomplish a few of those.

mel - LOVE this post. LOVE it.
I am a teacher & my Christmas break starts today!
All next week, when Claire is napping, I have a bunch of crafting/baking/cooking planned with Kate.
I can’t wait.
I am going to add the pom pom ornaments to our list of things to do.
And, the candy cane cupcakes? Yes please. we will be making those also!
Have a wonderful Christmas!

adrienneK - so fun!! looks about like our life lol yay for kids art !!

Flower Patch Farmgirl - I love the pom pom things and the popsicle stick trees. The trees are definitely pre-school-proof. Great ideas! And yes, we’ll be crafting. And baking. And decorating a pre-made gingerbread house from Ikea. 🙂

sara's art house - Oh my word! Thanks for linking to me!!! You want to know what is HILARIOUS- that post that Ashley Ann did about you- she showed your initial bead ornaments –that is where I got the idea for the wire + bead ornaments (I couldn’t find any small beads….)
I am going straight to Wal-Mart to get balls to pin pom poms into!!!!! SOOO CUTE.

Courtney - fun! thanks for sharing. and thanks for being real, too…that not all the kids were there..or happy…and that you yelled! makes me feel “normal” and willing to try it knowing it doesn’t have to go perfectly.

Tara @ the cinnamon post - thank you Meg…my kids thank you too

Laura Phelps - I just bought the pom poms! Did I see this ornament on your blog???? Hmm…I love Annie’s pink pom poms…looks like a puff of cotton candy. I may scratch the cookie decorating on my craft a day next week, and add the sewing felt ginger bread men…less mess and calories-thanks for the idea!
And I have the same red ribbon with white stitch through it..so I am cool like you…at least, I like to THINK I am cool like you (I would have yelled WAY more than twice)
merry Christmas awesome crafty mama!
xo

Trasie Bressler - Ok easy craft………And let out some stress too!
I did this for a second grade Christmas party today at school.
Items:
Large Balloons
Small can of play dough
Take the Balloon and stretch the top of it out roll the playdough out in to a snake and stick it in the top of the balloon. Squeeze to get all of the air out….Tie a knot in the top close to the playdough, cut off the top of the tie and decorate markers.
Super easy and the kids love love love it. I wasn’t sure they would but they had a blast with them thought that they were fun to sit and play with. Kept my 5 year old quiet for 30 minutes!

Lisa K in FL - Thank you so much for this inspiring and honest post! I want to craft with my kids, but I’m afraid of stupid stuff, like the mess it will create. I hate that, because I want my kids to have these experiences and memories. I think I’ll bite the bullet and do a craft day next week. But I might yell more than twice.

jennifer - No mom-led crafting going on here. We’re packing to move in the middle of everything else that’s going on, so no Christmas decorations have been pulled out and the house is a chaotic mess with boxes everywhere. It’s quite a depressing sight! My seven year old son over the last two days has made assorted Christmas decorations and hung them on the wall in our entry way. Last night he told me it’s the hall of Christmas. Too cute and just what I needed!
I love the penguins in the plastic cup. That is super cute!

Elisa - Ok first of all Lauren is so freakin gorgeous. Seriously.
And second, I am so gonna make those pompom ball ornaments. I think my boys would do it. *I think*.
Thanks for the push to get moving and do something fun.
Well until the start to fight and poke each other.

Trina McNeilly - You are super amazing…. these crafts look like so much fun.. I’ll have to keep them in mind for next year!!!! I’m just hoping to get to sugar cookies… but I’m like you the icing is the killer… I’m hoping to maybe, make and bake and then do the icing a whole other day? Everything sounds like a good idea right now but doesn’t mean I can get it done… ha!
xx Trina

Mindy - We’re going to do some crafts next week. My kids are way younger than most of yours. Tip for gingerbread: Last year we had a gingerbread party and invited some friends. I made a little house for each kid and the 2 moms. I hot glued graham cracker to cardboard in the shape of a little house. Then just made some frosting and set out little bowls of candy and cereal and whaever to decorate them. They eat as they decorate and we use our houses for decorations and then after christmas set outside and watch the squirrels eat them.
Here’s a link to it on my blog:
http://murray-triplets.blogspot.com/2008/12/welcome-to-candy-land.html

Brittany - My son and I made the pom pom ornaments this week too 🙂 I’m so excited to do more crafts next week…you’ve given me some additional ideas! I love the button wreath and ribbon tree! Thanks for sharing this with us…you’re AWESOME!

Ruth - i found your blog last christmas and it makes me so happy to see all these fun festive things here again! you’re such a fun mum… i especially love the pom-pom ornaments. and i still wish i had even half of lauren’s cuteness 🙂

Jennifer - My girls finish school today, and we have been so busy with dance and school, that we have had no time for fun. They have 2 parties to attend this weekend (bdays), then the fun starts for us. I have big crafting/baking plans for next week-can’t wait!
PS, what did you use for the tree parts of the popsicle stick trees? They are so cute!
PPS, I love doing sugar cookies….my nemesis is the gingerbread house-UGH! I was so thrilled to discover last year that they were old enough to do it by themselves…then I got sad about that.

sarah - I want to do all of them with Kenzie, but I ‘m pretty sure we’re going to have to do most next year instead. 🙂

sherry - I love this. My kids are still pretty little-but I think they would love to give it a shot:). Loving the pom-pom ornament…so, so cute. Have I told you yet that you are my favorite? It’s true, you are.

Kelly O. - awesome crafts! thanks for the links!

Keri ~ Forever Folding Laundry - Whoa – you deserve some kind of award for all of that crafting! We did the beaded stars from Sara’s Art House this week, and are going to attempt the half-eaten felt gingerbread man ornaments. Doing the gingerbread house tomorrow…but it’s the pre-baked kind from Wal-Mart. The only way to go! 🙂
(LOVE the Crafty Crow too, btw. Too much fun.)

Carrie - Reason #1000 I want to come live with the Duerksens. This looks like so much fun!

TRACI - I AM feeling crafty now!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Andrea - We are doing birdie ornaments that I found on Little Birdie Secrets here:
http://littlebirdiesecrets.blogspot.com/2009/12/little-birdie-ornaments.html
She found them on Living the Swell Life here:
http://livingtheswelllife.blogspot.com/2008/12/tree-trimming-tutorial.html
It is taking us a long time, but the kids are having fun.
For me the biggest problem is that most of the gifts from our house are handmade this year and I’m waaaayyyyy behind. I’m supposed to mail some off today. Not happening. So unfortunately I haven’t had tons of time to sit down and craft with my kids. I’m planning on teaching them how to use the sewing machine I bought them LAST CHRISTMAS in between Christmas & New Year’s. Then it’s back to school for all of us.

Lazy Mom Leslie - Thank you so much Meg for taking the time to put this together for us. I have been thinking about your craft week all week and couldn’t wait to see what you did, so I could copy you! I see pom pom ornaments and snow man pops in my future! Have a great Christmas!

Stephanie Carroll - I don’t have kids, so no, but I act like one (see my post today).
I love Lauren’s hair. Please tell her.
I tried to make the Real Simple sugar cookies and it stuck to my counter like white on rice. I think it’s because I used light cooking butter. I need to buck up and use the real deal.
Again I’ll say, you make me want to be an awesome mom like you…whenever that day comes (ahem like 5 years).

Kate - Thank you, thank you!
I am going to be a COMPLETE copycat ~ You are the best!

Share on FacebookTweet this PostPin Images to PinterestBack to Top

links

lots of links coming up.
i just have a bunch of things to share with you so get your back arrow button ready.

first….
IMG_9649
really loving this book.
our small group is reading it and discussing it on sunday nights.
it's goooooooood.
you can find out more about it here.


this bracelet was sent to me as a sweet gift…even with my blog name on it!
IMG_9692
IMG_9691
very cute erin!  thank you so much.
you can get one here.



i feel happy wearing my flower headband i got from megan.
IMG_9674
you can find out more about her felt flowers on her site.
she is so creative. 
(i kind of look like i have mom hair….ugh)

IMG_9620
i finally ordered some pictures.  
i hadn't done it since last october. 
like october 2008.
and it was the best feeling.  i went through all of them IN MY HAND and i had a moment of glee.
it has been so long since i even held real photos!
(how crazy is that since i am a photographer and i take pictures EVERY day.)

i order from scrapbookpictures.com and i LOVE them.
i was so impressed again.
i ordered my christmas card picture from them also because they will make EVERY size imaginable.
i couldn't find what i wanted anywhere else and then realized "why would i want to?"
if you've never tried them….you should.

i ordered this CD last week.

IMG_3612
(photo by jody landers)

it is ROCKIN'.  
totally professional…totally.
very cool jody! (it's her husband!!)
everybody likes christmas music right?  
and all the proceeds go to WATER.  
hurry and order yours today.  

AND i want to make these….
020-1_thumb[1] (photo by candace)
 
candace said they are from southern living…..YUUUMMMMMM!!! 

remember the vintage pearl?
she is having a gift certificate sale.
you can give that and your significant other can pick the jewelry themselves!
brilliant!

CircleChainBracelet_tn  Hammeredstar_tn

Layeredmotherofpearl_tn  FamilyNest_tn

it's all so pretty.

    

ok…enough links.
right?

wait, one more!
go check out Project 320 again today.
 
Project-320
 
it's almost over….and now they are going for $10,000!
i love watching as God's BIG plan unfolds for project 320.
He is so good.
 

i am working in the kitchen today.
and a big cr
aft post coming tomorrow to give you ideas for the weekend and next week with your kids!
happy thursday!
 

eryn - I am 3 chapters deep into Crazy Love (well, i was a few months ago). Can’t wait to finish…new years resolution?? Glad to hear you like it…

Mrs. Jones - That book looks great … can’t wait to read it!!
~Heather

Anna - what is a stick pen? a straight pin?

Suzanne - Thank you for introducing me to Frances Chan
Meg, I have been listening to him almost non stop after you posted that video! Great down to earth understandable teacher.
You are my number one blog and I love your family like I know them.
Merry Christmas!!!

Courtney Walsh - Cute stuff! I love Annie’s dress. Makes me want another little girl!! 🙂 lol

Heather Giustino - love that headband!!

tara pollard pakosta - Just wanted to say, I found your blog today and i LOVE IT! the pictures, words, scrapbooking etc! my new fave!
tara pollard pakosta

Christina - I always feel like I’m wearing a helmet, unless I actually wash and style my hair to give it a bit of fluffiness. 🙂 That mom hair, ugh! Although, you do not look like you have it.
Question: how do you deal with the possibility of variation of color/brightness/whatever else when you look at your pictures on your computer, versus when you have them printed? Do you find that there is a big difference? How do you avoid it, if you don’t see a difference? We have ordered pictures before that look so totally different from what we thought, just because of how the computer renders the image. It seems impossible! Any suggestions?

Candace - Francis Chan knows how to put things in perspecitve. He has a gift and I am glad he shares it so well. When I mentioned that Crazy Love will “step on your toes a little” my brother-in-law responded with “well, it ran over my whole body.” So true, especially the lukewarm chapter.
Enjoy it! And the cupcakes! Can’t wait to see yours.

Wendy - Oh my gosh, I am so so happy to see that you loved Crazy Love! Francis Chan has a serious gift, and it really is such an incredible book! Good recommendation!

adrienneK - lots and lots of pretty!!!

julia - you do not have mom hair.

sarah - I just ordered that book this week. It’s supposed to be here today! I’m so excited.
We’ll have to share our thoughts. 🙂

jennifer - Well… I was thinking that your hair looked super cute! Does that mean that I have/like mom hair?! I sure hope not!
I loved Crazy Love as well. It was such a great book. My sister has it now. Kristine, have you finished it yet? If you have, bring it to me at Christmas. 🙂
I think I need to order that CD. Thanks for the link.

Sara @ It's Good to be Queen - Love CRAZY LOVE!! I’m reading it right now and it’s rocking my world.

Teresa - My minister always says that when you hear something and it makes you say ‘ouch’ then it was what you needed to hear. I said ‘ouch’ over and over and over again when I read Crazy Love. In fact, I am on the waiting list at the library to read it again. LOVED it!

pam - i can’t wait for the craft post(s)!!! i love your crafts. alex has a list for hobby lobby so we can do the seed bead ornament from last year. i love it.
you rock!

patti - thank you for all the wonderful links! and i don’t think i’ve said how much i love love LOVE your vintage ornaments. such eye candy – dipped in a little bit of envy – that you have all of them!

Christy - Luv the felt flower head band! Too cute..
Can’t wait for the craft posts..

Heather - I used Scrapbookpictures.com last year for my xmas photos after you mentioned that you used them and I loved them! I used a photo from summer and then used one of their frames to put around it to make it more Christmasy. I got a ton of compliments on them. Thanks for the tip!!
P.S. How cute is that bracelet!!

Clare - Such colorful fun things you have going on in your house, and on your blog!! I enjoyed this post, as I do all of them!

Laura Phelps - I am in the kitchen too!
Get those crafts posted, cause next week when the kids are all home I am hosting a Christmas craft afternoon every day..EVERYDAY…invited neighbors too…what was I thinking? So far we have on the list: decorate cookies, pom pom ornaments, make reindeer food, and make small ginger bread villages, using graham crackers and gum drops. Possibly some caroling in the neighborhood….
cant wait to see what you come up with!
see ya in the kitchen…

Sarah B - I have read Crazy Love twice now…once alone and than once with a small group and watched the video that went along with it. Life changing for sure….a true conviction of the heart.
And that cupcake looks DELICIOUS!

the inadvertent farmer - I will have to check out the book…I just ate a cupcake for breakfast, shhhh, don’t tell my kids! They had oatmeal, lol Kim

Tara @ the cinnamon post - you do not have mom hair
the headband is really pretty
the bracelet makes me happy
enjoy your pics
thanks for the book, CD and cupcake info
I’ve donated to project 320 twice and don’t qualify for any give-aways – so happy to support this effort
can’t wait for the craft post…

Sarah S. - Crazy love is one of my favorite books! It is such a life-changer!
Also, you can add a tag to your links in html code that will make them open in new windows. In the code, after the website, but before the last “>” add what’s inside these brackets: [target=”_blank”]
Thanks for the links!

Nancy - That headband is so not “mommish”. Very cute. Thanks for the book tip. I am trying to get out of my US trash phase and read a book or two. I have big, lofty goals. 🙂

susie whyte - the francis chan book is on my list of books to buy soon. my youth minister has gone on and on about it.
i love the stack of photos. i just printed 151 at walmart the other day…mine were only from THIS october. okay…60 of them were for christmas cards this year, but still. i can imagine the wonderful bliss of picture looking that ensued when you got your photos back. 🙂

Ashley Ann - The mom hair comment cracked me up. When I cut mine after our girl was born someone said to me, “Oh you are going for the mom cut now?!” I wanted to deck her. I didn’t…well I did in my head.

jody - great post. can’t wait to grab a cup of coffee and check out all the links!

Share on FacebookTweet this PostPin Images to PinterestBack to Top