watching a movie through scraggly pigtails is always fun

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In other news- my parents are here. More present opening....more treats...more celebrating.

My dad got me wii fit. What is he trying to say???

And last but definitely not least.............I found out we owe $41 in library fines today!!!!!!! (this is what happens when your tiny children get library cards).........only one card for the mincy family for awhile!!!!!!!!!!!

happy pillows

Here are some of the pillows I made for Christmas. This one; 'Cherry Surprise' was for Mom Mincy....

...and this one; 'Flower Sampler' was for Gigi.

I posted pictures of them with their pillows on my new facebook page.

still Christmas at our house

-{December 24}- getting our red & green on, packing the car, traveling to Dave's side of the family for Christmas.


[Christmas Eve] at Dave's parent's.


December 25*- the countdown is over!


It started snowing on Christmas day...very special when you live in the South.



-{December 27}- traveling home....Sadie gets the princess seat- between us on the console.


[December 28]- getting the art room ready for my parents to come. Our Christmas celebrations are not over!!

This helps some with the after Christmas blues- except for that somehow the blues hit me today. I think it is when you try to get the house back to order. When you try to stash the toys and clothes away in places that only hold the old stuff. I can see a huge trip to goodwill in my future with the van full of junk to be donated.

We will keep our tree up a little longer- who has the tree down already?

houses + home

Meg sent me this picture of her beautiful wonky house quilt with my prints on her wall! Thanks meg! I was so inspired..................


I made a little felt house to live in. I am not coming out of it until spring.

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In the previous post- that picture showed the top of my coffee table which some of you mistook for a rug :) It is my decoupage patch table.

merry + bright

wrapped + unwrapped

Every thing's all wrapped up! Or was- our immediate family opened last night. The living room is in that happy wrecked state. The toys are being played with. And I am making the toffee (for the third time in 3 weeks!)

She liked her Miss Cherry doll. She opened it, turned her around, examined the feet and then gave her a big bear hug :)....then said, "what is it, Mommy?"

Oh my dear! Our youngest is at that age where every present was, "the bestest present ever!"

And now onto every parents *joy* - unfastening the toys from those extremely secure packages...


The boys liked their owl key chains. I embroidered their names on the back.


Lindsay blogged about this etsy store. I LOVE this art. So if I were to send you a Christmas card (wish I could!) I would send you one of these Christmas cards by Flor Larios.

Hope your Christmas is wonderful!!

holiday day

Today I am on vacation!!!!!!!!!! The kids are playing the wii (and I am not going to feel guilty about how long :) :) I have set up my station- my little section of the couch is set up with my laptop, phone, york peppermint patties, my sewing stuff, and Sadie.


I am putting in an occasional load of laundry. But other than that- nothing!!!!!!


The tree lights are on. The evergreen candle is smelling up the whole house with the wonderful real tree scent.


I am planning on giving the kids treats when they ask (and not feeling guilty about it!!!!)


Dave is getting pizza for supper and then we are opening our presents. We leave for Dave's parents house towards the end of the week- so tonight is our early Christmas.

I have been struck with how outrageously spoiled we are. In our warm house. Our fridge full of food. The presents under the tree. I deserve none of this. I am so thankful for all I have with Jesus. How incredibly blessed I am, not just with the comforts of home- but most of all with the peace that comes with knowing Jesus. Knowing the One who we are celebrating this season.

I hope to spend some time today writing out goals for the new year. How will I live for the kingdom of God in 2011? I was very convicted and inspired by Dave's message- Lay up Treasure in Heaven in 2011 on Sunday. We have 2 choices everyday- are we going to worship and live for God today? Or are we going to worship ourselves or something else? Listen to the message- you will be inspired to start over fresh in the new year- living for God and choosing to live for His kingdom.

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Who is on vacation already? Who is a mom and realizes that you don't get a vacation :) ?

Nativity

I love the straw roof, the happy lamb, the star! She triangle angel. Our youngest is at the age (4 and a half) where I want to capture every single thing she draws, says, does- she is on the verge of not being a baby any more!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WAH :(

So I am going to treasure this drawn nativity forever.


My friend Bethany has done it again! What a cute nativity scene made from polymer clay!!!!! I LOVE this idea! Bethany and I must have been separated at birth! (even tho she is about 20 years younger than me :) We have the same creative interests.

I also like my sister in law's idea for a nativity scene- she has found some pieces at thrift stores and will be on the lookout through the years to have an eclectic set.

We have 3 nativity sets at our house right now- one on the kitchen table, one on a bookshelf and a stuffed set that the kids play with. None of them are very expensive or impressive, but I just like having them around. Whatever we can do to keep reminding ourselves of the true reason and greatness of this season.

Lydia was telling me about when she was younger they would find someone with a farm and go visit the stable- on a dark and cold night. It was not set up pretty or fancy- but just to be in a cold barn at night...with the smells- as if you had to stay there for a night.............and give birth. What a memorable object lesson.

Another idea I heard about from an Adventures on Odyssey program. A character was telling how they celebrate Christmas in Mexico- they have people act as Mary and Joseph and have them ride on a donkey throughout the town knocking on doors (of people they know) asking for somewhere to stay. They get rejected at each place- and somehow the procession sings at each house, or carols throughout the journey. I would love to do this one year. For my kids to walk behind "Mary" and "Joseph" and a donkey. Seeing how many places they went to looking for lodging- feeling the feet get tired from the walking, feeling the hunger and the cold...............

Do you have a nativity scene? Do your kids enjoy setting and resetting the pieces around baby Jesus?

sadie claus (and felt Q&A)

Oh she's so sweet- she's my little baby- look at that cute little outfit- coochie, coochie, coo.

I just see her and I have to talk baby talk.
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Q & A about the felt projects (so sorry if you come here to see painting projects! I have not painted in a few months! I need to get back at it......but for now- you know what I'll be doing :)

Someone asked me where I got the felt I have been using..... Wal-Mart or Michaels- the cheap stuff. The regular felt- not the stiff felt. And I did stuff miss Cherry with cotton balls.

Someone asked about the blanket stitch that I use for most of my felt projects. That can be seen step by step, here.

Did anyone else notice miss cherry's beard? Next time I will use corresponding skin color thread for the face and not black :)

cards

I was going to be the Grinch this year and not do any cards. But then I got the idea that I could have the kids make the cards. So everyone at church got one.....now for the final push to make one more batch to send out to family and friends far away.............do we have enough time?? Will they get there before Christmas? Will I scream and tear my hair out with the glue stick boogers all over my kitchen? Will I yell and rant and rave when there are paper scraps all over my floor???

Those are the kinds of questions you may not want the answer for.............................

Merry Christmas from the Mincys...love, joy, peace, and a *bit* of insanity.

gingerbread

Nothing more cozy and delicious than a gingerbread latte. Dave's peppermint hot chocolate was good too- but for some reason I am loving anything gingerbread lately. I am dying to make this gingerbread trifle....................................

you can see the recipe at Family Fun. MMMMMMMMMM

Gingerbread candles are burning at our house, we had gingerbread shaped marshmallows for our hot chocolate the other night. Our little neighbor boy was over and he called them "Singerbread boys." - so cute.

One of these years we will make the whole Christmas gingerbread house thing. I am just not yet recovered from the Halloween gingerbread houses we made in Oct....................

I know I tell you about this every year- but in case you have not seen it, check out the virtual gingerbread house- have fun....your kids will love this.

Who likes gingerbread? Gingerbread lattes? How about that gingerbread shake at Red Robin?!?! Did you make a gingerbread house this year?

my first attempt at a doll

Oops- how did mr. owl sneak in here??? This is not what you came to see......but he is cute too with his little polka dot wings.


Here she is! Miss Cherry is for our favorite 4 year old. I toyed with the idea of hanging her from the tree- or a little tree of dolls- wouldn't that be cute. We will see what our little miss makes of her. I'm sure in about 2 weeks Miss Cherry will be face down in the carpet under the 4 year old's bed............................or stuffed in a tiny purse, or strapped to Sadie's back for a 'horsey' ride. I'll keep you posted.

gift idea

My sis in law told me about these Porcelaine markers. I got these from Michaels. You can write on any kind of ceramic. You let it dry for 24 hours, then you bake in the oven. This gives it a permanent finish and also a dishwasher safe finish!


There are so many possibilities!



You could personalize a plate for each person in your family. You could write a favorite verse or quote.


You could have your kids draw pictures.

I LOVE these! I have found stacks of white plates at thrift stores- empty canvas waiting to get personalized.

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Thanks for the encouragement yesterday! I needed to hear that. I know that we are supposed to be homeschooling for now....I have no idea if we will be homeschooling forever- but for now it is right and things will be better....things always get better. I so appreciate the comments and support from many of you, it was a real encouragement to me :) :)

more love

Sometimes, sometimes (once in a blue moon)- I am drawn to muted colors. In my house (at this point) something with muted colors might have even more of an impact because it is different! I love these prints by jolly goode

sooooo cute [plus a winner....plus homeschool stuff]

Check out that pillow! The dots! The colors! The sentiment!

Great things are going on at Things With Wings.....they have a whole line of art put out by demdaco and will be in stores in the new year! I love this stuff. and the pillow is def going to be my first purchase.

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And the winner of my patchwork shirt is......................
Chastity of Smellin Coffee!!!! You will want to check out her blog- she has a lot of really cute photos on there. (Chastity, e-mail me your address and I will get it in the mail for you)

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On another topic all together. Yesterday was one of those days at our homeschooling home/school/house. One of those days where you want to run after the yellow bus to come back and take your children too. Dave and I chatted very sweetly and positively (ha) about the subject and came to the conclusion that we will keep at the homeschooling thing. For today, anyway :) :)

I love the kids to death. I love homeschooling. I love the crafts and the story time, and the time to disciple my kids, the time to learn together and explore and go on field trips, the tears and joy at finding out for the first time how our country was founded (remember I went to school in Canada- I do get a little teary when I hear some of these things for the first time). It is just that when you home school your kids, they never go home after school- they are already home- they stay. They never leave. It can be a bit overwhelming at times to have to live with your students!

I am trying not to complain too much because I do realize that I have so much to be thankful for. And that it is a privilege that I get to stay at home with my kids. I know it is a combination of me trying to get too much other stuff done plus school the kids, plus not feeling too great b/c of a cold. And we all know kids are bonkers the few weeks leading up to Christmas. So I think it is a combo of all of those things....plus throw in a healthy does of my selfishness and me wanting to do my own thing and not have to worry about them all day................................I wish it were not true- but it is and I have to confess and strive to turn away from the selfishness every single day. My job here on this earth is not to just clean my house and create pretty things all day! My job is to love and teach and serve and give!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And honestly- when I do manage to do the right thing- there are so many blessings! The blessings of giving yourself to others- it fills your heart with true joy.

That is my prayer today- that I could live with eternity in view. That I would live for others instead of myself. That I would think if Jesus and what He did for me- giving this love and forgiveness to others. Serving others the way Jesus did when He was on this earth.

Praying that we will all have a day of blessings in our homes- a day of love and giving..............................and not of selfishness!!!!! (praying for a miracle here :) :) See- I need that pillow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

this year's all about the trees + garlands

This is our new to us (free from a friend) almost 9 foot tree (at 9 feet it would not fit, so I put a different, smaller top on top and you can totally tell!!! Ha ha. But even with the tiny top 'o the tree- I love it- it is colorful and happy and whimsical and covered with paper chains, felt and paper circle garlands.








Since we got the big tree for the living room- the little tree can go in the kitchen. More garland....I used Amy Butler paper for the garlands along with Ikea wrapping paper.



This is exactly what the tree looks like when my glasses are off- pretty huh!


We shoved the table over so this area of the kitchen really looks bigger -and cozier.


In case you were wondering- yes, I am still going crazy with felt...here is my first attempt at a toadstool. And my next project- a little felt doll! Can't wait.


In other news: Here is the first (and only) wrapped gift of the season!



Just trying to keep Jesus at the center of everything.
Have a very merry CHRISTmas!!!!!!!!!

I am linking to the Nester's Christmas tour of homes and to Kelly's tour of homes.

Click here for my homepage

Click here to see 2009's tour

day-glo Christmas