Christmas Decorations.....fingers crossed for snow.....

I won a giveaway from Bev at The 3 Clutters, who happens to be amidst the huge snowstorm hitting the Upper East Coast.  Keep her in your thoughts that they stay safe and warm.  She sent me this gorgeous teacup and saucer, love the rose.  It has a silver detailed line around the oustide edge, so pretty. I put one of my heart ornaments in it. She also sent the cute thread and ribbon
ornament.  Is it not precious?

We are in the little smidge of winter weather advisory, keep your fingers crossed....I would love a little snow for the boys and the dogs.  Here is my Christmas tree all decorated up with the Christmas Mouse sitting on top.  It started out as a joke with the boys when they were much smaller, but now it is a tradition it sits atop the tree every year and they don't let me forget where she goes.  LOL

I found this apothecary Manger scene at Ross's and just had to have it. It was on clearance because the staff is broken off.  After this Christmas I may work on it a little, the top is pulling away from the stand. 

The left side of my mantle has two candleholders with two cute woodsey Christmas Trees I found at Michael's last year at the after Christmas Sale.  The Snowman was an after Christmas Sale item from Target a few years back, he has lights that change color.  Of course I added some snow and ornaments to my larger apothecary jars.

The right side of my mantle has my favorite Santa, two cute snowmen and this beautiful wooden block phrase.  I received it in the mail two days ago and it honestly brought tears to my eyes.  A bloggy friend sent it to me, she is the Creative Guru, I am not kidding you.  Everyone loves packages in the mail, I couldn't contain myself as I opened it.  Thank you, Connie.... hope you are warm, too. The little snowman apothecary jar was a Goodwill find...only .99 cents.  He is cute, cute, cute.

I can't believe I didn't put my lighted garland up this year, but I wanted to keep the mantle a little more simple.  Those danged smudge marks on the mirror, I promise I clean it.  I actually cleaned it before I snapped the pictures, but there they are.  Oh well, such is life.  ;-)

This is my favorite Snowman, I eyeballed  him at Target starting in October when they put them out.  I was not paying 40 bucks for him though.  I checked him every time I went in to see if he was cheaper.  I never thought I would get him at the after Christmas Sale, but I did!!!!  YAY  He was only 16.00, I didn't mind paying that for him.  He is now three years old and his hat is a little bent...but I still adore him and he is the first thing I hook up.  :-)  I had to share a before lights out and an after lights out picture.

Just a little bit of my Christmas Decor.

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Words of wisdom from Todd Michael.....

Todd had a school dance Friday night, he was thrilled to death about going.  He actually wanted me to rent a tuxedo for the event.  Luckily he settled for a Church dress shirt and tie.  He had me fix his hair with that little flip in the front that is popular right now.  Handsome kid, maybe I should have stayed at the dance.  HAHA  We picked up his best friend and low and behold they had they same fleece pullover on.  Kill your eyes orange with a blue stripe.  The excitement in my truck was palpable and the smell of AXE was a tad bit overwhelming and caused my eyes to water.  But, who was I to tell them you are supposed to spritz it on, not douse yourself in it.  LOL   They were two very handsome and very eager little boys.

I dropped them off at the school door with  instructions to meet me back at the front door at 7:45, I didn't want to deal with the traffic jam at 8:00.  They literally bounced through the doors, chattering the whole time.  About halfway through the dance Todd called on a friend's phone and wanted to talk to Steven.  I asked why and he said it was brother stuff.  HARDY HAR HAR  I hand the phone to Steven, they chat for a second and hang up.  I asked Steven what it was all about and he said, "Todd wanted pointers on slow dancing."  bwwahahahahah... ummm....wait this is my 10 year old they shouldn't be playing slow dance songs, should they?

I pick the boys up, they are still totally overjoyed.  As we pull out of the parking lot Todd tells me that his friend's girlfriend broke up with him during the dance.  His little friend says, "That is so rude, isn't it Ms. Sissy?"  I told him that yes it was rude.  Before I could say anything else he informed me that he had already found another girlfriend.  I said I was happy for him.  Todd turns and looks at his friend and says as seriously as could be, "I told you that you always have to have a back up list."   bbbwwahahahahahah   I thought I was going to choke, die of laughter right then and there.  I was a good Mom I held it in and just smiled.  I was loving their serious chatter.  But now, oh yes, now... I have to share.... I have to let the story out.  As Todd says...always have a back up list.  =-)

Here is the man of wisdom himself, right before he added the tie and gallon of AXE. 

So lucky to be Mom to my boys.....

I love my boys and this poem says so much to me.  But, this morning Todd said something, just an every morning something about snacks and the way he ended it, the way he said,  "Mom" made everything okay.  Sometimes they catch me off guard with the way they say Mom and my heart just sings.  I love being a Mom to my boys.  AND yes my fridge and cupboards are always EMPTY.  I can spend a fortune at the grocery store and a day later hear, "Moooommmm, there is nothing to eat."   LOL  I wouldn't change it though.  I just wish I could slow it down.  I love hearing them come through the door in the afternoons after school.  Steven is first and he always says, "Hey Momma, how was your day?"  I get a big hug and he heads for the fridge.  HA  Todd is next and he comes through the door, back-pack off first, shoes next and a "Mom, I love you...is there anything to eat?"  LOL  Could you ask for a better afternoon.  I mean a 15 year old asking you how  your day was?....I am so darned lucky.

Mother of Boys

Shoes in the kitchen, jeans on the floor

Basketballs lying at the back door

Living room carpet shows signs of wear

The fridge and the cupboards are constantly bare.

The toilet seats up, it's stuck that way

The sports on TV blare all day

Racetracks, footballs, all kinds of toys

How did you guess, I am the Mom of Boys!

----author unknown

This is his story and he is sticking to it. hahahahahah

                                      

There's No Business Like Snow Business......

Video to come later, I hope. Todd was a Postal Carrier in his 5th grade PTA Musical. These kids did a fabulous job.  He is on the left in the first picture.

The Postal Workers getting their Pep Talk from their Leader.

A Volunteer is need to be a model for the Warm Clothes that the USPS provides for them during bad weather.  Todd steps up and yells, "I will volunteer, ma'am."

Each worker puts clothes on Todd until he falls over and yells, "HELP, I've fallen and I can't get up!"

Nobody helps the poor postal worker so he crawls off to the corner and later yells out, "Did everybody forget me?"

Getting ready for the first of many bows.

A little snow throwing and a dramatic bow....

Final BOW!!  Great job 5th graders!

Someone prefers to sleep in...HA

Don't ya love the evil eyes this kitty can give?  HAHA Cracks me up!

                                   

Complete innocence... YEAH, RIGHT!!!!

They appear to be so innocent... nobody noticed the shredded squeaker toy until later in the day. 

Or...could they be saying, "Cat, what cat...we don't know anything about a cat!"  HaHa

                                    

Amazing Grace ( My Chains are Gone)

I am finding I am listening to Chris Tomlin more and more during my days now. His voice helps me find peace during the chaotic times.

Surprised cat

This should make anyone smile. :-)

This one time at band camp.... well, not at band camp...LOL

My house was the go to house for kids when I was young.  All of the kids loved my parents and knew my mom would feed them and always had sweets.  Well, since I am confessing things I will open up about this one.  Mom knows already, because I was in serious TROUBLE, with a capital T.  Ha  She gave me snack cakes one day to give to the neighborhood kids, I decided to become an entrepreneur.  I told them they could have a snack cake for 25cents, my darned cousin had to go tell on me.  LOL  I could have started my fortune right then and there.

My sister, Angie, confessed in the comment section of the last post.  She was/ is something else!  hahahah  She has a heart the size of Texas and a temper to match.  (love ya, Ang)  She went around just asking for donations because her teacher had died.....her teacher was alive, happy and kicking.  Whoa, boy did she get in trouble and she had to return all of the money.

We were such good kids.  bbbwwahahahahaha (now, in both stories, we were under 7 years of age, if that helps.)

Another  post for just keeping it real.  LOL