After Christmas Family Fun Day

December 28, 2015Leave a comment

I love getting the chance to be with the family on Christmas. That in itself is a gift.

But… after all the Christmas Craziness is over, we like to take a day and have a little family fun.

I almost enjoy it more than Christmas. (it’s more relaxed)

In my hometown we have a small town square and parked in the square was this cute decorated

wagon. I knew it was the perfect spot for a family picture. I just had to wait until everyone was home.

The weather was good. (a little sunshine and a light snow would of been perfect)

It didn’t take much coaxing for me to get them to go.

They’re all good sports. (they knew I’d pout if they didn’t.)

After a few pictures, we headed to the local bowling alley for a Family Bowling Night.

It’d been exactly a year since I’d bowled.

The kids even got in on the action.

After spending such a nice and perfect day with the family, we woke to a winter ice and sleet storm.

So… today I will be staying in, relaxing and hopefully reading the new book I picked up.

Wishing you all a wonderful and relaxing start to the New Year.

Sue’s Christmas Sugar Cookie Recipe

December 4, 2015November 25, 2015Leave a comment

Every year, around the Holidays, I like to share my Sugar Cookie Recipe with you.

It’s a great recipe. (and easy too.)

The cookies are soft, delicious and even a little bit popular in my circle of family and friends.

The recipe was given to me by my mother on my first Christmas as a new Bride. (a long time ago)

It was carefully written down, in her own handwriting, on a piece of notebook paper which has now

turned yellow. It is brittle, tattered, ripped, creased and stained. (It is priceless to me.)

Enjoy!

Sue’s Sugar Cookies

1- 1/2 c. powdered sugar
1 c. butter or margarine
1 egg
1 tsp. vanilla
2- 1/2 c. all purpose flour
1 tsp. cream of tartar
1 tsp. baking soda

Cream sugar & butter, add egg & flavoring, mix thoroughly.
Sift dry ingredients together and stir in. (I dump)
Refrigerate 2 to 3 hours.
Heat oven to 375°.
Divide dough in half & roll out on lightly floured pastry sheet.
Roll thin, but thick enough to pick up the design with the cookie cutters.
Dip cookie cutter into flour before each cutting. Cut as many cookies from each rolling as possible. The least amount of working with the dough gives the best cookie.
Place on lightly greased baking sheet. Bake 7 to 8 min. or until delicately golden.

For the Glaze I dump around a cup of powdered sugar into a bowl. Add a dash of vanilla. Add milk one tablespoon at a time until you get the consistency you want. (hint: not too runny)

Together is my Favorite Place to be…

November 26, 2015November 26, 2015Leave a comment

We took this photo a couple of months ago, the last time we were all together.

I always make them do a group picture. (it’s what I do)

My youngest son had the idea to take the picture in front of the old barn.

So we set up the tri-pod and self timer and I got this fun shot.

I am so Thankful for my Family.

After we got this picture, the real run began.

The boys started kicking the soccer ball around.

There were foot races, push ups and a lot of good family fun.

I found The Story of Family Collection by Echo Park and knew it was perfect for these pictures.

Happy Thanksgiving.

I ain’t afraid of no Ghost…

October 29, 2015Leave a comment

My daughter in law brought the boys over today to show me their Halloween costumes…

(and a little early Trick or Treating.)

I just had to share the pictures with you.

She made Warren’s “Stay Puft” costume and even crocheted his hat.

Who you going to call? Ghostbusters!

Isn’t he just the cutest Stay Puft Marshmallow guy?

Have a Safe and Happy Halloween.

Ready for the first day of Pre-School

September 21, 2015August 21, 2020Leave a comment

Because starting Pre-School is a really Big Deal…

I wanted to make my Grandson Nick a special shirt to wear on the first day.

At first, I had all kinds of silly and corny ideas…

in the end I thought maybe I should make one he’d actually wear more than once.

Thanks to some Pinterest Inspiration.

I came up with “Class of 2029”. Sounds kind of futuristic doesn’t it?

Nick’s mommy liked it so much she wanted me to make one for his little brother.

Class of 2032. (Oh my!)

The boys’ shirts were made using iron-on embroidered letters from Joy SA.

Etched Family Frame

September 14, 2015March 29, 20182 Comments

Whenever I get a chance…

Whenever they’re all home together…

I try to get a family picture.

It only seems to happen a few times per year.

When we’re all together, there’s so much excitement, talking and laughter that I forget.

Like this summer, after swimming and naps….

I set up the tri-pod, gathered the kids and set up the self timer.

(it’s always good for a few laughs) All 18 eyes were open,

all those who were running away were captured and everyone was looking.

Phew… not an easy task. But always worth it in the end.

It was starting to get dark, so the picture’s not as clear as I’d like it.

I decided to print it in black and white and put it in a simple black frame.

To capture the sentiment of the picture I etched the word “family” on the glass.

Etched Family Frame Products Used: (*affiliate links)

Directions:

Remove glass from frame. Clean glass to remove all dirt, fingerprints and oil. Dry with a coffee filter, paper towel, or lint-free cloth.
Apply “Family” stencil to glass. Burnish the edges of the stencil. You want to make sure no edges are coming up.
Mask around the stencil with removable painters tape for extra surface protection.
Apply a heavy coat of etchall® etching crème to the masked area of the stencil.
Leave etching crème on design for 15 minutes. After etching time has elapsed, use the squeegee to return the crème back into the original container for later re-use.
Rinse etched surface with hot water to remove any remaining crème. Remember to keep crème away from porcelain sinks or ceramic tiles.
To make the etched letters stand out more, apply picket fence distress paint over the letters. Wipe surrounding area of the glass clean.

and for your viewing pleasure…

*Disclaimer: This post uses ads and affiliate links. If you choose to make a purchase using one of the links, I receive a small commission (at no additional cost to you) that helps offset the costs of maintaining this blog. Thanks for your support!

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Preserving Summer Memories

September 7, 2015February 9, 2023Leave a comment

I’m holding on to Summer as long as I can.

This summer Nicholas learned how to swim the entire length of the pool without the aid

of a floatie and he learned how to float on his back.

Warren learned how to jump off the side of the pool.

Pretty impressive when you consider they’re only 4 and 1 1/2.

Nicholas loves the water, we call him a polar bear because it doesn’t matter how

cold the water is.

Yesterday… we had our last pool party of the season. Thanks to a little 95º heat wave.

I’m going to miss summer.

My Summer Layout uses:

Simple Stories Collections: Summer Vibes and Freedom
Bo Bunny’s Boardwalk

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Disclaimer: This blog uses ads and affiliate links. If you choose to make a purchase using one of the links, I receive a small commission (at no additional cost to you) that helps offset the costs of maintaining this blog. Thanks for your support!

My Summer Vacation…

August 11, 2015May 17, 2017Leave a comment

When the Jimmy Buffett tune came across the radio…

I was immediately filled with a combination of jealousy and sadness.

My husband’s vacation was just a few days away and we had no plans.

I mean none other than work in the garage and scrape and paint the deck. (yay!)

Every other summer we try to plan a “beach vacation” and this was that summer.

For months, I’ve endured everyone’s Facebook vacation pictures while longing for the beach.

(Insert dramatic sigh!)

But…being practical people, this summer, we’d opted for a “Garage Make-Over” instead.

Don’t get me wrong… I love our new garage. (another post for another day)

I just love the beach too.

Truth is… I have a teen-ager.

The thought of him being stuck with two boring parents away from his friends,

his music and games for a whole week sounded like torture to him.

He was not interested in the least.

I know we should of made him go.

But… I wasn’t sure that I wanted to spend all that money to take a sulky teen.

So, we opted for practical instead.

But… when I heard the song on the radio, it reminded me of our favorite Mini Golf place

the one on Myrtle Beach where they play nothing but Jimmy Buffett songs.

I told my husband when I got home, and…being the good man that he is…

he checked for last minute cheap airfare and hotels. (what a guy!)

But… practicality won out again and we decided for something closer.

A trip to Lake of the Ozarks. (romantic I know)

When we opened the door to our room, on the Marina, we were struck by the amazing view.

Our son, who’d refused to bring his swim trunks was now having second thoughts.

Seriously, you could fish off the patio. (Which he immediately did.)

Neither one of the guys had been in a cave before. So we did that.

The real highlight of the trip was when we rented the boat and took it out on the lake.

Driving a boat for the first time, girls waving from the other boats, actually brought a smile

to his face. I didn’t catch it on camera, but it was definitely there.

It was a great trip, a great memory and I’m so glad we went even if it was for just a few days.

Thrifty Tuesdays Really Good Finds…

July 7, 2015July 7, 2015Leave a comment

We awoke to a rainy un-seasonably cool July morning. Not really a outdoorsy kind of summer day.

So my daughter and I (since she was in town) went to one of our favorite Thrift Stores.

You know…The kind that is ran by old church ladies and the prices are really cheap.

My very favorite kind.

I found all the items above along with 3 stemmed glassware cordials for only $8.50.

Of all the things that I purchased today (and I love them all) this has to be my favorite.

A creamy white platter with no cracks or crazing for .50 and a bag of old hardware for a dollar.

That totally made my day.

I almost put all three of these things back. (total cost $1.50)

Instead I gave the little box to my daughter, and will use the terra cotta pot

with the great patina for a bunch of pink impatiens that need re-potting.

After so much energy on great finds, my daughter and I treated ourselves to a nice lunch

at Potbellys and took a “selfie”.

It doesn’t take much to make us happy.

Tie Dying for the 4th of July

July 1, 2015June 5, 20172 Comments

This may be the last Tie Dye Post from me. (or not?)

On Father’s Day we tie dyed shirts with the kids. It turned out to be a really great group activity.

Because we had to let the shirts set, rinse and then be washed….

I was not able to get pictures of all the kids and their shirts. (you know…the big kids)

Last Wednesday my sister brought my niece over for a play date with my grandsons and

I was able to get a few cute ones.

You may be wondering why only one kid got the last red white and blue popsicle.

Well…. the really cute and innocent looking littlest one had just recently taken a good hard

bite on the tip of his big brothers nose. “Ouch!”

It didn’t take long before he forgave his little brother and was sharing his popsicle.

Little brother wouldn’t have had it any other way.

Isn’t she adorable?

On her shirt, the dye was painted directly onto the shirt with a paintbrush.

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Category: Family