Happy Birthday!!

Today is my wonderful husband's birthday! He is the most loving, generous, goofy, handsome, chocolate loving, geo-caching addicted, Mafia War fan, Vince Flynn reader and he is all mine.:) He is the best hugger and a wonderful listener, tolerates chick movies with me, holds my hand just the right way, gives me his coat when I am cold, makes the best pancakes AND chocolate chip cookies, cleans the litter box (even though he is not crazy about our cat), fills up my car with gas so I don't have to and loves me even though I am often "Wendy Worrier" and "Connie Crafter" (till the wee hours of the morning). I am so blessed that God chose him just for me... Happy Birthday Sweetie!

*Did I mention that he gave me something gorgeous in a little blue box for Christmas?*:) :) :) :) :)

Heather!!!

This is my Cutie Patootie friend, Heather! Today is her BIRTHDAY! We met in Bloggy Land and she is one of my best friends now- Lucky Me.:) We met in a Book Swap and found out that we both love books, Mountain Dew and Dr. Pepper (tee hee), Pottery Barn, Gymboree, spoiling our family, shopping, Duran Duran, and photography (above the shoulders, right Sweets?). A call from her can brighten your day as she is an absolute ray of sunshine! And, oh my goodness, can she make me laugh!!! Heather, I am so glad you are well for your special day, dear friend! Hope your little giftie makes you squeal with joy and turn cartwheels! Well, you know what I mean- lol!

Wrapping Party and Scarf Along

Have you ever been to a Wrapping Party? I hosted one years ago and they are such fun! It's a time for you and your friends to get together, eat decadent food, chat and wrap gifts. Sounds good, huh?

A dear friend of mine, Kylie, hosted a Wrapping Party the other night and we had the most wonderful time! She served delicious food, provided lovely wrapping paper, ribbon and even boxes and also had prizes!

Kylie had her house decorated so beautifully and people stayed until 1:30 AM! The party started at 6:00! No one wanted to leave- including me...

Oh my goodness... I still need to get your Spinach Dip recipe, Kylie!

I completed my first scarf from Julie's Scarf Along! YES!!!! My darling husband helped me. He can figure out anything mechanical.:) Thanks Sweetie! And thanks Julie!

So, are you ready for Christmas? I think I still may be getting ready on Christmas Eve! Yikes!

Ballet and Vidal Sassoon

I'm back! The Christmas season is so busy but also so wonderful. So much to do! Katie had her ballet Christmas performance the other night...

This is the smile she gave her Dad. Diva.

So, I had to take matters into my own hands. I do love my camera. This is Katie and Lillebeth. Cuties!

All set for their dance to "Child in a Manger"....

Katie is third from the left. She is the youngest in her class.:)

Katie's teacher said a prayer at the beginning of the evening. She is only 21 years old and her faith is so strong. She has over 100 students- already! God has certainly blessed her and she is a blessing to each and every one of us...

We are ready! Today is the BIG GAME! Army versus Navy!!! GO NAVY! Mandy and I went last night and bought THE FOOD. (The only reason the girls will sit still and watch- tee hee...)

I had to show you, girlies! I had my hair cut, colored, highlighted and dried *STRAIGHT* last night! I love it, but can never do it myself. So, here are some shots of it before it goes back to curly. It's so soft! (It moves like a Vidal Sassoon commercial- remember those?;) ) Oh, and I am loving my new hair clip from Julie! I think I need some more. But, how will it look with curly hair??? hmmm.....

What do you have planned for today?

Please pray...

12-11-09- New little baby girl for the Duggar's! She is 1

pound 6 ounces. Big prayers for this little angel- please...

12-10-09- Dear friends, Michelle is going in for an

emergency c-section. Please pray for her and her little

baby...

**UPDATE- Michelle is now off pain medication and her contractions have stopped. Thankfully,

her baby is stable. The doctors have held off on the gall stone surgery- for now. She is

still in the hospital, though, so please keep praying dear friends.

Could I please ask you to pray for my dear sister Robin's son, Timmy, too? He has the H1N1 virus and is

very, very sick. Thank you so much!

As I sit here listening to the song, "Breath of Heaven" by Amy Grant, I just found out that Michelle Duggar has been diagnosed with gall stones and preeclampsia. Her blood pressure is dangerously high. She is 24 weeks into her pregnancy, dear friends. Please keep her (and her baby) in your prayers as she is being flown, as I write this, to be closer to Children's Hospital and to undergo surgery. Her family needs her so much...

Hot Chocolate and a NEW winner!

For the fabulous tags click here!

Here is another fun gift idea for Christmas! The girls are having a blast making hot chocolate for friends and family! Blonde Designs has darling tags you can print off and here is the recipe we are using:

Hot Chocolate Mix:

Ingredients-

2 cups nonfat dry milk powder

3/4 cup sugar

1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa

1/2 cup mini semisweet chocolate chips

1/2 cup powdered nondairy creamer

1/8 teaspoon salt

Instructions

1. Measure all of the ingredients into a mixing blow and whisk until they are evenly blended.

2. Store the mix in a tightly covered container at room temperature until you're ready to package it. Makes about 4 cups of mix.

**Wrap in cellophane and don't forget to include a tag with the following instructions: "Spoon 3 or 4 generous tablespoons of cocoa mix into your cup and boiling water. Enjoy."**

If you use the Blonde Designs gift tags you won't have to worry about instructions as they are already on the tag!:)

Jennifer did not respond to my giveaway, so I have a new winner! (I can't wait any longer as Christmas is coming!) My new winner is.... JODI!

Sequins and this month's WINNERS!

Sweet Val sent me this little Hootie fellow as part of her Toy Society project. The girls and I were thrilled! We took him to a local park to find him a new home.:) She attached a note stating that he was FREE! (Yippee!).

She also sent me this lovely little birdie for my Happy Tree! Hurrah! Thank you Val!

This is my current project. Do not attempt unless you have TONS of time. I am going to endure, although Jeff says I will not be finished before next Christmas! If you want to join the fun get to Hobby Lobby and buy a ton of sequins (colors you love), a ton of sequin pins, a ton of seed beads and/or tiny inexpensive "pearls" (I used both) and a styrofoam tree shaped form. **Note- In order to reinforce the beads and sequins dip the pin tips in Elmer's glue and also apply glue on the styrofoam. It's fun but time consuming. I know it will be so pretty WHEN I finish.:)

I lost two of my followers last month. Sadness. I have not been blogging as much, but you have all stuck with me anyway. Thank you! As a little thank you, I chose two lucky winners this month! Gooseberry Patch books to help you get ready for Christmas! The first book- Coming Home for Christmas is going to....

Jennifer! Please contact me with your address- toosillysisters@cox.net

And the winner of Christmas Cookies is Nancy! Contact me, Sweetie, and I will get your book to you lickity split!

Thanksgiving and the Nutcracker

Hey Girlies! Long time, no write- again! Oh, but I do love to visit your blogs and see what you are up to...

Here's a look at what we have been up to...

I was in a Thanksgiving Swap with my dear friend, Elise and she made me this AMAZING cloche! LOVE it! My pumpkins are so cozy inside their new home.:)

She also made me this FABULOUS pumpkin, a lovely tag and a sweet Scrabble set that spells out "grateful". I am so grateful for you, Elise! Thank you again for the goodies!

This is Mr. Turkey that Katie made for Thanksgiving. I got the idea here. Great ideas!!

Grandpa John and Grandma Patty spent Thankgiving with us and stayed for the Nutcracker. They are always so much fun!

There's Elise's cloche and Val's pumpkins gracing the table at Thanksgiving!

Another fun idea found here.

The Nutcracker was amazing. It was such an honor for Katie to take part in the production! This is Katie and her dear friend that came to see her perform.:)

Jeff bought flowers for both his girls.:)

I love this picture...

The "Katie twins" both were bumblebees!

I wanted so badly to take a picture of Katie in her costume, but parents were not allowed back stage. Sooo, I had to settle for pictures before and after the performance.

Nutcrackers displayed in the lobby...

Well, I was back stage for a second. SO MANY fabulous picture opportunities! Gorgeous costumes were everywhere! sigh... All I was able to get was a picture of the bumble bee tu-tu's and a sign showing where the Bees and Candy Canes got dressed before I was "escorted" out. I would never make it as a spy.

One last picture (below) of Katie and her friend, Lillibeth who was a Block. What an amazing experience...

Happy 101

I received the sweetest award today from Nancy! Isn't it darling? Cupcakes with sprinkles! Could it get any better??? Love it! I adore Nancy, too! She is SUPER creative, cute as a button and has fabulous shoes.:) Not only that, she is a fabulous Mom (with cutie patootie girlies!) and REAL. She likes "Ice, Ice Baby" and not many are willing to share that. But you know what? I like it, too! I also love disco (Donna Summer!) and Ricky Martin! Somewhere deep down inside me I was meant to be a dancer, ladies.

Now, I need to tell you some things that make me happy. giggle. smile. feel joy....

My girlies. What would life be like without them? I never want to know. Did you know that before I got married I never wanted children? I was so afraid that I would not survive labor, as my Mom had a terrible time with me. It was worth it- every second. They are my world.:)

Whose Line is it Anyway? This show is so incredibly hilarious! I never fail to have tears in my eyes over the comedy that these people create. How do they do it??!

The Karate Kid. Never wanted to see it. THE dumbest name. Oh, but what a story! I know the lines by heart- no joke. Daniel Laruso and Mr. Miyagi are true heroes in my book.

My husband. He cracks himself up (and me too). Adore him. He wants to see New Moon with me, too.:)

Fabric. Someday I will sew. I want so badly to join Julie in her Scarf Along. Maybe I will. Yes, fabrics make me happy!:)

The ocean. We used to live near one and never went. I thought we would always be close to it. How the sea calls to me...

Buttons. What a love affair I have with them!

A cozy fire on a snowy day. What a luxury! A snuggly quilt, good book and a mug of hot chocolate and I am set...

Books. I am addicted.

The movies. Especially matinees. Sneaking away while the rest of the world works is the BEST.:)

Now, I would like to pass this award on to some friends that make me truly happy!

Jill- Pocket Full of Posies

Heather- Six Scavos

Lindsay- The Cross Stitch House

Robin- The Robin's Nest

Elise- Nest Sweet Nest

Val- Yarni Gras

Jes- Kadyhope

Jen- Lipstick and Laundry

Tristan- Tristan Time

Thank you so much, Nancy, for this wonderful award! Enjoy, dear friends! Thank you for making my days just a little bit more creative, happy and full of joy!:)

Big 7!

The Big 7th!

Tinkerbell/Pink and Green theme. Love party prep, but hostessing is not my true calling. Not sure what my true calling is...

Anyway... The party was fun! Time for Show and Tell!

I got the fabric lollipop bouquet craft idea here. Aren't they fun? (Thanks Nancy!)

Paper lanterns- Inspiration from the American Girl Fashion Show. Found at Hobby Lobby, of course. Ornaments add that extra sparkle.

Fairy/Cake mugs found at TJ Maxx. Used as party favors/place cards for the guests.

Wish I had a Cricut when I made these! I almost called you, Elise, but I ran out of time.:( They were worth the effort....

Favors for the little girlies.:)

Ready for the doorbell to ring!

Slumber Party/Autograph Books! If you'd like to print some out, just go here.

Here's a peek inside... The girls loved filling them out! A great "ice breaker"...

Fruit Kabobs with Strawberry yogurt for dipping. We got the idea from The American Girl Cafe.:)

Katie put the fruit kabobs together. My future party planner.:) Look Lindsay and Jessica, she is wearing the darling owl shirt you sent her for her birthday!

Heart shaped peanut butter and jelly sandwiches...

First thing we did was make custom bath salts. Gardenia, Vanilla, Honey Almond, Coconut or Lemon Verbena... We even added food coloring!

Then it was time to sign autograph books!

Amanda was the BEST helper! I could not have done it without her. She welcomed all the guests, took care of the girls that arrived a bit late and was even my Bingo caller. What a rock star.:) (Jeff was the pinata hanger, dish washer, popcorn popper and cake cutter. He even offered to run out (away?) and get me dinner from P.F. Chang's. Love you, Honey.)

Can't believe she is SEVEN.

Tinkerbell Bingo.

Snooze-a-Palooza is a great book for party games and crafts. Published by American Girl, of course.:)

Hot Potato is fun to play as long as everyone wins a prize. I'm all about warm fuzzies and photo opps.:)

Then we headed upstairs to see Tinkerbell and the Lost Treasure! None of the girls had seen it yet so they were all excited.:) Pillows and blankets were set out for snuggling, pinata candy was ready for munching and popcorn was popping...

Such cuties!

Target $1 aisle:)

Pajama parties are a blast!

I prefer a traditional birthday cake myself, but Katie was all about the Cookie Cake this year. Why not?:)

No puffy cheeks!:)

Now I can rest for another year. Wait, I do believe another birthday is right around the corner! I'm going to take a nap...