Monday, December 8, 2008

Busy Bees

We have been busier than usual around here. I mean, we always seem busy, but between Thanksgiving, the Christmas decorating, Christmas shopping, and wrapping gifts (I LOVE to wrap gifts) it has been hopping around here! I am SO in the Christmas spirit this year, that I am loving everything about the season...even the busyness.

I did make the Christmas ornaments Kelly (thanks, Kelly) showed on her blog. They were so much fun to do and I'm going to give them to Evan's teachers. I just can't decide if I want to put their initial on them or their first name. Any suggestions?

I also made one for all of us for our tree.

Speaking of being busy, this girl of mine has been VERY busy lately. She is in to EVERYTHING! Her latest activity is COLORING ON THE WALLS! Oh my stars! I didn't realize that crayon does not just wash off walls. I ended up getting on the internet to find a solution. The suggestion was taking a hairdryer on the lowest setting, blowing the warm air on the crayon marks for a few seconds and then wiping it clean. IT WORKS, y'all! I also read that Magic Eraser works, too, but some people wrote in that the crayon was gone, but the marks from where they had used the eraser were showing. I don't know that you could get that off, so I opted for the hairdryer and it worked beautifully. The only problem is the "artwork" keeps popping up, even though I have moved the box of colors to the top shelf! Hmmmm! I'm thinking there must be a secret stash. Also, while I worked on the masterpiece left in Evan's room, Ella Grace decided to help out cleaning the one she left for Mommy and Daddy in their room. She used Oil of Olay to get that one clean. Oh, yes she did. I haven't had a chance yet to see if anyone has a remedy for Oil of Olay on a wall, so right now I have a lovely purple smudge on my wall! :)

This is her newest creation yet to be cleaned. I'm kind of impressed that it appears she has drawn a star. Could that be???

Oh, and our third and final try of picture taking for our Christmas card went a little something like this...

Derek's arms are in 90% of them trying to get them to pose. Yeah, right.

And, yes, there were tears shed (almost by the parents, too).

After all the hard work, we only had three to work with. Two of them being these. The ONLY one I got of them together is going on our card.

I could not resist this shirt. "Santa, I can explain." Hilarious!


We are looking forward to another busy week of school, doctor appointments, therapy, play dates, gingerbread house making, more shopping, and working at church. It's busy, but I wouldn't have it any other way!

21 comments:

Megan L Hutchings said...

Ella Grace looks like such a big girl in that last pic ;). It makes me smile and breaks my heart all at the same time!!! Can't wait to see those cards!!!

I made the ornaments Kelly made as well ;)!

Meredith said...

Glad you found a solution for getting crayon markings off the wall! Oh my! The pictures are so cute!

Candy said...

Ya'll have been busy, but it all sounds so fun! Well, except for the crayons on the wall! Can't give you any advice for that one and hope I never can. ha! :) I LOVE the ornaments, so cute!!! :)

His Doorkeeper said...

I just finished making those ornaments as favors for a little shindig I am having! I used their whole first name but I didn't have many to make.

I love that EllaG is a budding artist! Trying to get a picture of everyone at their best and their happiest is sometimes tough, isn't it??
I think you will have a cute one of all of you!

Betsy said...

Oh that is so funny looking at you all trying to get a good Christmas picture!! (Not too funny to you, though, I'm sure!)

Laura and Lindy used to draw on our wall with markers!! I have the cutest picture of them together when they were about two and they both had drawn ALL OVER each other with markers...even their faces and teeth!! I didn't know whether to laugh or cry when I saw them!!

Hope you have some time to relax and just enjoy the season in the midst of all the craziness!

Jacquie said...

So funny that you're still trying to get a Christmas card photo!

When Kale was two years old he was laying underneath our coffee table and took a marker and wrote his name (yes, at two years old). I was mortified!! Then when I told a guy at work about it, he just LAUGHED and LAUGHED! He told me to go home and date it because one day I will look back and remember it fondly. I did. And later gave the table away, but was so sentimental about it that it was hard to let go!!

Those ornaments are the cutest!

Angela said...

Oh no, coloring on the walls! I've never heard of the hairdryer trick. I hope I don't have to use it and pray that we are past the coloring on the wall phase. I still have yet to do my Christmas card...ugh! Why is this so hard this year?

Laura said...

Oh, please, please, please come wrap my gifts!!! I just can't get in the wrapping mood this year!

EG is growing up so fast! Compare her Christmas pic to the one you have in the margin, and I think WOW!!

Becky said...

Those ornaments are adorable!! I love the one with your name on it, it's so cute!

I remember when my girls were little, they had a Mickey Mouse tent in the corner of the ded. One day I was cleaning and found some "art work" on the wall. When I asked Cortney if she knew anything about it she replied "no maam". When I asked Casey she replied "I didn't see myself do it". LOL!!!!

Becky said...

Well fiddle. The word is "den" not "ded"! I need to proofread! HA!!

Abby said...

I kid you not when I tell you that as I was reading this, Maddy shouts, "Moooom, Fletcher is writing on the wall with magic markers!" So, what's the home remedy for getting dry erase marker off of a wall?

Laurie said...

EG MADE A VERY NICE STAR! oH GOODNESS. i KNOW ABOUT THAT WRITING ON THE WALL. Your ornaments are cute!!!!

Kandi West said...

At least EG is still young enough to justify this! Lowrey practiced writing her LETTERS, yes she DID, on her lovely white headboard this week. I was appalled of course. Her excuse? "I needed to practice but there was no paper in my room and you told me not to come out of my room after I went to bed." Oh, so it is MY FAULT. I see! Luckily, Magic Eraser took this off with no problem. We have had to remove all writing utensils from her room. This from the child whose only desire from Santa is an electric pencil sharpener. Could be a problem.

Katie said...

When I saw those ornaments on Kelly's blog, I wanted to make them, too. They're so cute!

I couldn't quit laughing about your husband's hands being in most of the photos trying to set up poses...boy that sounds familiar!

The crayons on the wall...aren't you glad you took a picture of it, even though it's a nuisance? I have been expecting Amelia to take off on the walls any day now. Presently, she is just eating the crayons. Just as bad...

Are those Scottie dogs on Ella Grace's sweater?? I love Scottie dog sweaters on little girls. Your kids are both so precious!

Tracy said...

I have always kept the crayons/markers very high...just in case! HA! I am using Kelly's idea for name tags on presents. I can't wait for everyone to see! P.S. I don't really know Kelly, but I feel like I do...she is the cutest!

Anonymous said...

Oh I just love EG and Evan's matching outfits!! They are beautiful! And your attempt pretty much mirrors mine,lol! We still haven't gotten a good picture for a card, so we're going to try again this weekend! I love the ornaments you made, they're so pretty!!! What a great idea for teacher's gifts!

Rachel Wheat said...

Those ornaments are so cute! Thanks for the blowdryer tip!

Kelly said...

I'm glad you made the ornaments!!! Mom made some and put first names on them and I thought that was cute!
Evan and EG look so cute in their pictures!!!!!
The crayon on the wall stresses me out a little - glad to know there is a solution!!!!

Lauren said...

EG is such a HAM!!!! I love it!! Derek is so sweet to help you with the pictures...hilarious!

Meagan said...

This post just made me smile! The ornaments are GREAT - I missed Kelly's post on that. I vote for teacher initals, but that's just me. I can't believe EG's "art" on your wall... I would have died!! And the photo-shoot looked... um... fun? lol. But the ones you got at the end were super super cute!!

Michelle said...

Hey there,
How did you do those ornamnets. I could not find it on Kelly's blog. Let me know if you dont mind. They are too cute.