Last minute...

Gifts for the girls. Not because I didn't plan ahead, I just didn't execute the plan earlier!

I had been thinking about making a notebook/drawing/art book for the girls for some time. Even had some ideas of what I could use. I decided upon using some colorful cereal boxes. The cereals the girls pick out when they are given choices!

So "Fruity Pebbles" for Liyah & "Cinnamon Toast" for Lauryn....colorful boxes for sure!!

I cut the fronts & backs off the boxes first.
One box measured bigger than the other, but that's ok.


I then measured the paper & cut it to fit inside the covers....

The last two steps may need to be done at your local library or copy center. My dad has a home office with these machines so I'm a lucky duck!!

I laminated the cardboard pieces for the front & back.


Then using his binding machine I punched & bound the paper (I used graph & plain copy paper).


Ta-da!!! Fun, colorful & unique books for the girls to journal, color, draw or write in!!!





--Jeanette using BlogPress on iPhone

Birthday Day...

Well, as far as birthday's go around the Frumpy House we make sure the girlies get a wonderful birthday experience. When it comes to the man of the Frumpy House & myself, well at our ages sometimes we'd just as soon forget about the date and play on...

Well, that is, we like to forget our birthdays, but we don't necessarily want everyone else in the house to forget it's our special day!

Once again tho', the mother in the Frumpy House (aka ME), forgot something important...yesterday was the man's birthday. Now it wasn't a BIG birthday as far as that goes...not the big 4-0 or anything. But it was his 41st.

Since the girlies and I just pretty much stumbled around with coffee and cartoons (first day of Christmas vacation folks), none of us so much as gave him a "Happy Birthday" or a birthday kiss....le sigh, I am such a bad wifey sometimes.

So, we did what any high tech family would do... we sent him a text message on his way to work with a nice (albeit bedhead & jammie showing) video birthday wish....

Ok, I don't have the backwards phone videography/photography thing down AT ALL...but he understands and that's all that matters.  He appreciates my effort most of the time!

So, the girls and I, spent the rest of the day shopping and making cards and dinner for the special (ok he's the only man) man of the house....

He was surprised and happy that we thought about him, especially on his birthday. The nachos kinda made up for the brain fart in the morning...

The way to my man's heart is still through his stomach!

We had a great evening and enjoyed family time...the girls were tucked in, the man of the Frumpy House had the remote for the evening & I was snuggled in on the couch beside him reading a book...

Then later....well, let's just say "for an old man he still has it"....bow-chicka-wowow!!!

(hehe, he's probably gonna kill me for saying that)

My Christmas List...

I haven't done one of these before...usually if you ask me what I want for Christmas I would just say, "Oh, whatever...nothing real important. Maybe something useful, or needed!"

But, this year I thought....well, let's put some thought into this.
I don't buy too many things throughout the year that are just for fun, so maybe this year I will ask "Santa" for some fun things!

e.l.f. cosmetics...can u believe only $4 for this (on sale @ Target.com)

 Doesn't have to be this exact one...but the idea is out there!

Because I have the need to "read" on the go...and play games, & browse the web....









Pick a Color...any color (well preferably the aqua or the red!)

A nice stylish winter coat would be good....................seeing we've lived in Michigan for 5 yrs

Crazy Holiday Things...

Eh, you know, I don't have the time, or the want to, to go out and create an interesting life right now...which leaves me very little to write about. Sorry, to all you readers who hold your breath and/or schedule your lives around the greatness of this blog...I just can't be ....sigh!

But, here are a few things that I thought you might get a kick out of this holiday season....

A funny take on the Christmas season...and most of the time...it is nuts!!

Okay, all you kids reading this won't think this is funny....but I'm sick that way!

I think if I had a kid this bad...for sure there'd be no presents with her name on them!

The folks at Awkward Family Photos never fail....Oh Santa, you naughty man...

 

This is a sweet video...must be the man was looking for something under the tree too! (nice shot of momma's butt...LOL)

Well, I'm sure there are a LOT more crazy things out there this time of the year...let's all just remember this: Smile and give Holiday Greetings...and if you can't be strong enough to fake it, get some of this...

it's all the rage this year!

(ps...I do not endorse, nor will I ever endorse, using pepper spray outside of the act of protecting yourself)

Snoopin' Around...

in the Antique store this past Saturday.

I don't often go to the antique stores in the area, not because I don't covet the beautiful things there....more because I can't afford the things there.
I sooo enjoy the browsing and the looking, but the price tags truly give me hives!

I love me a good book, have since I was pretty young (something to do with the parents getting rid of the tv for about a 5-6 year period). Getting lost in a good book was tantamount to good friends being over to play with!

The prerequisite "Little House" books, Anne of Green Gables, Nancy Drew, Hardy Boys, Bobbsey Twins and many others. Books by Beverly Cleary, Judy Blume & Roald Dahl. These were constant companions....

So while the girls were singing some Christmas Carols the other day in our little town antique store, I took to the shelves. What fun. Yes, they had some great children's books, some that I'd really like to add to my collection. But what really caught my eye?!

These....

This Awesome coloring book only had the first 5-6 pages colored!

Someone had made a really nice Scrapbook with lots of celebs pics! 

This Coloring/Sticker book had a lot of uncolored pages...& unused stickers!

This ol' guy?! He was in this store, when it was the 5 & Dime!
I rode him many times when I was a kid...he's still giving kiddies rides!

And you? Do you ever go shopping at the Antique Stores? or like me are you destined for a life of thrift? Either way...I love to find a good treasure!

The Weekend...

was busy with eating breakfast with Santa Claus! Yeah, we're kinda special that way!

No, really, the local library in our small town is forever doing fun things with the kids in the community. The first weekend of December is the annual "Celebration of the Trees". A 3 day weekend of silent auction, cookie walk and the grand finale of breakfast/pictures with Santa and Mrs. Claus.

We, of course were up bright and early. No matter that momma's been trying to rid herself of a monthlong sinus congestion problem and often wakes up with a horrible headache. Forget being sick, onward we go....went!

Breakfast was spectacular, as always, yummy french toast, fruit, cereal, juice and coffee!
We enjoyed every bite (we stayed so long at the library Liyah even went back for seconds...she always hungry!)

The girls had a wonderful time making crafts, listening to stories and then sitting on Santa and Mrs. Santa's lap....they both asked for Zhu Zhu pets...I don't really know why?! They've never been on the Christmas list at home!? The Friends of the Library were generous enough to buy books to be passed out to all the kids that came and visited with Santa. (This is a free event for the community with the silent auction and cookie walk being fundraisers for the Friends of the Library).

Santa & the Mrs. and the Library staff!

My girls were privileged enough to sing with a group of other kids and adults from our church...they caroled in the entry to the library and then made the rounds through out our little town. I like when they went to the "Peddler's Patch" the little antique store. While they sang their little hearts out I browsed to my hearts delight!

What a fun, family oriented way to start our holiday season! The girls and I had a wonderful time...too bad Greg had to work (that only means extra dinero for the girl's stockings this year!).

What are some holiday activities that your community has? Do you and your family enjoy  them? Do you have activities that your family shares with others? Share with me...I'd love to hear!

Merry Christmas...

The Proverbial...

"It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas" post....

Greg and I got the Christmas decor out of storage yesterday while the girls were in school. Thought we'd get things decorated before they went off to Kids Klub. Not so lucky as that...
The 5 strings of vintage lights...dead! Dead, I say, just dead!
Bummer...

But some things got done...here's a peek!

This guy now sits on a different shelf...

Waiting patiently...more than I can say about myself!

How are things coming along at your house? Decorating done? Just starting? or Haven't even thought about it?