Handmade gifts

I only made a few gifts this Christmas, but I thought I'd share, now that they are safely in the hand of the recipients.  I wanted to make the boys superhero capes, but time just ran out, (or I got lazy).  I'll save those for another day-maybe Valentine's Day?  Is that even a gift holiday???

For the boys' teachers, I made little half aprons.  The bottom is a hand towel so they have something absorbent to wipe hands on.

My sister and I got our mom a Kindle for Christmas, something we think she has wanted for a while-hope so Mom!  When it came in the mail, I was surprised at how thin it was.  It needed a little case to keep it in, so I followed a great tutorial and I think it came out pretty well (if you don't look too closely).

I need to make myself a list of things I would like to make next year, and do them throughout the year, but I don't see that happening.  Crazy December here I come!

Oh my yum

So, there is this thing I make, and everyone LOVES it.  It's not good for your body, but it's good for your soul.  I considered making it right now, so I could have some nice pictures, but I just can't do it.  But you should.  It will be making an appearance on Christmas morning, and again on New Year's morning, and maybe a few times in between.  Maybe-hopefully not. 

Oh my yum,

Cream Cheese Delight

(please someone think of a less stupid name for this)

Ingredients:

2 packages of soft cream cheese

2 packages of crescent rolls

1 cup of sugar

(topping)

¼ cup of sugar

1 tsp. of cinnamon

¾ stick of margarine

Take one pack of the crescent rolls, and put the entire piece in the bottom of a 9 x 10 pan.  You may need to pinch it together some.  Then, mix cream cheese with 1 cup of sugar.  Spread that mixture over the crescent rolls.  Next, put the other pack of crescent rolls in one piece on top of the cream cheese mixture, pinching again if necessary.  Melt ¾ stick of margarine, and pour over the top of the rolls.  Mix ¼ cup of sugar with the tsp. of cinnamon.  Sprinkle this mixture on top of the butter, and bake at 350 for 30 minutes.

What are you waiting for, get to the store!

Brrrrr

My oh my is it cold here today.  Blah, Blah, Blah-I'm sure you are as tired of hearing that as I am.  But it is-and we aren't going outside.  It is almost 1:00 and we are all actually still in PJ's.  I spent most of the morning really cleaning the kitchen-because I have a huge to do list and that wasn't even on it, but it needs it.  Ironically, the cleaner the kitchen got, the messier the rest of the downstairs has become.  There are Batman guys and Trio blocks everywhere.  And let's ignore all of the play food scattered around the playroom.  That's my plan-ignore.

The boys got really quiet earlier and I heard Ben sneaking up the stairs.  I'm not sure why they were being so sneaky, but they ended up with costumes on over their pj's.  A Batman costume over feety pj's is pretty cute, I have to say. 

The green blanket was "gobbeldy gook" that Nate had to jump over. 

Nate and Santa hung out. I don't think Nate loves Santa for the presents as much as for the endless supply of candy he is providing.

Then they hung out by the tree for a little while.  That little advent house, which I love-has become the scene for many superhero adventures.  Invisible bad guys hide behind the doors and Batman has to save the day. 

Our elf, Woody, has been found in some very interesting places lately.  This morning he was hanging on the ceiling fan.  Luckily, nobody has turned it on or Woody might lose his elf magic.

And last, but not least, let's talk potties.  Is it wrong to scare your kid into going on the potty?  Nate is really too young, he hasn't hit 2 1/2 yet, but we are tired of diapers around here-buying them, and the stuff in them.  I wasn't in any rush with Ben, and frankly, it is easier to have little guys in diapers, but we are starting to think about it. 

Nate is very fascinated with and terrified of this guy...

He asks us to go see him at Target all the time, but then he won't get near him, especially now that we have done the little demo where the big guy smacks against the plexiglass trying to get out.  We can be sitting anywhere and you look over your shoulder and say, "Hi Bigfoot" and Nate scrambles into your lap as fast as he can.  When I was changing his diaper earlier, I told him that Bigfoot doesn't like diapers and maybe he should go on the potty.  How mean is that?  Better make a deposit into the future therapy account.

An idea

Nate has a new favorite expression (and it has nothing to do with Batman!)  He loves to say, "dis is a idea" or "this is an idea".  You can hear him saying it all the time.  Today he and Ben were playing and Nate got really excited over something and just kept yelling "Hey Ben-dis is a idea!!"   Or he will come up to Gil or I and say it.  It is sometimes in context, often he will really have an idea, sometimes it is just weird-but it is always cute.

He has also started saying he loves us all the time.  He has told us he "ubbs" us for a while-but lately, he tells all of us all the time.  I pick him up at the gym and he yells it across the room, or just around the house.  It is especially sweet when he tells Ben he ubbs him. 

And that Ben, he ubbs Nate right back.  I find those two attached at the hip all the time, playing or just sitting around talking to each other.  It warms a mama's heart.

Something else warming my heart today-  I am DONE with this semester of school.  It has been a little challenging and a lot annoying-but it is now OVER.  I'm sure I will quickly be complaining about my spring classes, but I am glad to close the books on this one!