I don't Want to be a South Pole Elf

Cold rain...today.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, HALEY...one of my awesome nieces!


***A.T.C.
I love A.T.C.s...Here is one I came up with:


Here are two oldies, but I felt like sharing them again:




*****Christmas Singing...

Eve yelled at Noah and me for not singing "Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer" correctly, so Noah called her a "South Pole Elf". This morning we sang "Jingle Bells" while I brushed her hair. No recriminations or chastisements of any kind. Things maybe looking North for our little South Pole Elf.

Have a great day!

I Don't Know If I Like Them...

I think I'll have to eat another few boxes, just to be sure. Thanks to my friend, Carol, in Australia my family has been converted to the love of Tim Tams. I purchased the originals and the caramel centered ones. Noah has declared his love for the Tim Tam on a couple of occassions. Rachel says the caramel ones are her favorite. Michael says he thinks he doesn't like them, but to be sure I need to buy him several more boxes of each. I think the caramel ones are my favorites, too. The caramel is not runny like on the package photo, but firm and chewy. Chocolate and caramel are a heavenly mix. I want to have an Australian themed food night when I buy more of the Tim Tams and start off with a Shepherd's Pie, which approximates a Meat Pie. Thanks, Carol for the calories, I mean, the recommendation!

::::::::::::
I saw this on Marcus' blog, so here is my outcome:

Your rainbow is shaded violet.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What is says about you: You are a creative person. You appreciate beauty and craftsmanship. You are patient and will keep trying to understand something until you've mastered it.

Find the colors of your rainbow at spacefem.com.

:::::::::::::Snacks

My neighbor, Kristen, invited us over for snacks. It was a ploy for her to get her tasty, high calorie treats out of her house. I am now experiencing the sugar rush that comes from partaking of bar treats.

:::::::::::::Brisk and Breezy

I did 6 miles at the park this morning. The wind was so cold. The Canada Geese have left copious amounts of ecoli mines around the lake. I avoid those.
Yesterday, Michael used a vacation day to help at the elementary school, so he went for a walk before we had to leave. I'm used to listening to Mara Davis, so I'm surprised I didn't try to make him come up with songs to a particular theme while we were walking. Maybe next time.

:::::::::::::Snow Village

Michael got to use exacto knives to cut out house from cardboard with Rachel's class. I got to be hot glue girl with our neighbor Kristen. Kristen's daughter, Lydia, is in Rachel's class. Michael took some photos for me, too. I got hugs from a couple of the kids. They tell me I'm just like Rachel. HMMM...


:::::::::::::I Still have Christmas presents to get, so maybe I will be able to do this like Buddy the Elf:

Take care! :)

Christmas Stuff and Things

I received this from my friend Suzanne, so I'll answer it here:
Welcome to the Christmas edition of getting to know your friends.

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? WRAPPING PAPER AND GIFT BAGS
2. Real tree or Artificial? Real tree. (Aaron's troop is selling them to raise money for Scout Camp).
3. When do you put up the tree? Soon after Thanksgiving.
4. When do you take the tree down? A few days after Christmas.
5. Do you like eggnog? No
6. Favorite gift received as a child? The Barbie Corvette (Thanks for putting it together, Jim!)
7. Hardest person to buy for? Anyone who can't wear beadsocks, or like baklava.
8. Easiest person to buy for? Rachel
9. Do you have a nativity scene? YES
10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Both.
11.Worst Christmas gift you ever received? Perfume. It makes me have a headache.
12. Favorite Christmas Movie? The Muppet Christmas Carol
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? Around Thanksgiving.
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Of course
15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? baklava
16. Lights on the tree? YES. (I prefer white).
17. Favorite Christmas song? I Heard The Bells on Christmas Day
18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? BOTH
19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer's? Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner ( I have seen it spelled as Donder, too)and Blitizn and Rudolph (I think I got them all)
20. Angel on the tree top or a star? ANGEL
21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? CHRISTMAS MORNING
22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? Shoppers who open things and toss them around the store.
23. Favorite ornament theme or color? silver and white.
24. Favorite food for Christmas dinner? Mashed potatoes
25. What do you want for Christmas this year? World Peace. (Secular want...Western Digital external hard drive and Adobe photoshop CS4).

:::::::::::::::::Today:::::::::::

A young lady in Noah's primary class was kind enough to ask me to be the chorister for her baptism. She was so happy and the ordinance went well. The pianist is so funny. She always makes me laugh and she is so self-deprecating.

::::::::::::::::Back to School

The kids go back in the morning. I think they are looking forward to learning. (Maybe I just want to think that).

:::::::::::::::Twilight::::::

Rachel borrowed Twilight from my sister, Katherine. When Katherine set it down Saturday morning Rachel picked it up. By the time we picked the girls up from my dad's house Rachel had about 5 chapters left. Since the book didn't belong to Katherine we couldn't borrow it. So, after we got home I drove Rachel to Walsmart and picked up their last copy. She hunkered down and finished the book.

:::::::::::Day of Rest
I got a restorative nap, too!
Take care! :)

A Flood of Pixel Proportions!!!

A few different things have been fixed on my computer. It isn't completely up to snuff, but we will keep fixing things as we go. Before it went on a hiatus I had several layouts to share of different events:


::::::::::::::Our New Niece, Holly::::::::










:::::::::::::::::::Noah's Baptism Album::::::::









::::::::::::::::::::Rachel's College for Kids:::::::


::::::::::::::::::::Christmas Layout from 2007:::::::::





::::::::::::::::::Book Review::::::::::::



Something else I did on the computer hiatus was read New Moon. I enjoyed this book more than the first one. The Romeo and Juliet theme ran through this as an updated work using vampires, humans and werewolves. Classic themes work anywhere. I thought the ideas of what it is to be human are explored and the concept of choosing to have your humanity taken by choice and another thrust upon you was intriguing. Bella's newly discovered abilities that mean very little as a human, but would make her a rather formidable vampire were very cool aspects to her character. It gives her more of a caterpillar wanting to become a butterfly kind of metaphor. Maybe in book 3 with the werewolves running in their pack and the Cullens back in town it will be West Side Story set in Forks? I look forward to finding out!


Later gators! :)

T-Shirt Truths

This is one of the pages for my SIL's Christmas album. Their family always has hilarious t-shirts and this one is all too true:




Credits: background paper from Exploring Solids by Catrine
Kate Hadfield's Fall doodles
Mo Jackson's Bark Alpha and Squirrel's from Fall Pixibelle
Carol Abram's Twig frame
Jan Crowley's Comic Book Junkie


:::::::::::::::::::::::::Pins & Needles:::

My wonderful friend, Carol, from Australia gave me this award . I was truly pleased as punch to have someone say this about me. Carol is so full of mirth, talent and perserverance (overcoming the dreaded dpns for one thing) that she always inspires me when I read her blog. I will be presenting this award to some others soon. Thank you, again!

Smiles!

Matroyshka...

Russian nesting dolls:

My sister-in-law, Angela, is a wonderfully talented artist. She drew my name for Christmas and created these dolls:




_{Darcy Baldwin: DJB MANDY at The Digichick
Shabby Miss Jenn: Tree Trimmin' Party
Christina Renee: Sassy Lace, vintage frame from UA Collection}


:::::::::::::::::Silly Christmas Layout:::::::

My nephew, Gabriel, was sporting a mohawk and I thought it would be fun to have his dad and a couple of uncles share in the hairy goodness.


_{Darcy Baldwin: DJB MICHAEL at The Digichick
Tia Bennett: Pixel Mischief
Shabby Miss Jenn: Tree Trimmin' Party
Christina Renee: Glitter Splats, Just for Fun Doodles
Sausan Designs: Needful Things book
Erica Hite: Nessa Alpha
Kate Hadfield: Primary Rubberbands and Doodle Tape}

::::::::::::::::::::::Tomorrow::::::::::

I will be back with some Christmas layouts. Today has been spent with the kids arguing over and with the new computer, watching Season 3 of Dr. Who, Meet the Robinsons, Ratatouille, and Ben 10 Season 2.

I hope y'all had a happy Christmas! :)

Pure Silliness and A Laugh

I hope your Christmas festivities are going well! Here is just some things that make me laugh.



_{Santa Doodles by Kate Hadfield
Glitter Glue by Flergs}

:::::::::::Emo Philips:::::::::

A sketch that makes me laugh:



::::::::::::Spiral Frog Downloads::::::

The site has several cool items from Orson Welles. I was able to get The Christmas Carol with Lionel Barrymore as Scrooge in the old radio production. It is wowee wow wow cool!

I also got the song "Family Affair" by Mary J. Blige. I love the line when she says "Let's get it percolating...". I used to watch my stepmother's old coffee pot percolate and I think the imagery is so perfect.

Several songs by 3 Doors Down: "Kryptonite", "Be Like That", "When I'm Gone", and "Here Without You".

A Scottish band from the 80's that I really liked called, strangely enough, Texas. I downloaded "In My Heart" and "Mothers Heaven".


:::::::::::::::Marshmallow Guns:::::::

Michael, Aaron and I went to Home Depot the other day and got 1/2 inch pvc, with non-threaded T fittings and caps to make miniature marshmallow shooting guns. Michael tested the full length of pipe out by shooting booth Aaron and me with marshmallows he had brought for testing purposes. Those things hum and have quite an impact. Today was spent with Michael putting these little babies together. Each is coated with colored duct tape to show ownership. Mine has a combination of green and blue. Christmas day should be interesting, indeed. We are all going to end up with small little stick welts.


:::::::::::::::Free Rice Update:::::

I'm up to 25,200 grains of rice. I'm having a blast playing along and learning new words. It gives me something to do in between tying Aaron's fleece blanket. :)

:::::::::::::::Tomorrow Calls For...

the baking of more baklava.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Smiles!

Aaron Informs Me Today Is Thursday!

I figure most of you are up on all of your dates, but I live in a perpetual fog!

:::::::::::::Eve Swimming:::::::::




:::::::::::::A Family Reunion Layout:::::::::



My niece, Dakotta, and her icy stare!



Text: Dakotta and Corinna were having a very busy and messy day. This is only one look in Dakotta's arsenal. She will sternly stare at people of any age or gender, so watch out paparazzi!

_{Photo by: Marcus John Taylor
Darcy Baldwin: Rubbed Out Alpha and DJB GINAM1 at The Digichick
Christina Renee: Dirty notes, Glitter Splats, Label alpha, Bookplate Alpha, Just for Fun Doodle
Catrine: Chalked Alpha
Sausan Designs: flower from Needful Things
Shabby Miss Jenn: frame from Tree Trimmin' Party
Natalie Braxton: Things on Strings
Nancy Comelab: Vintage Frame
Tia Bennett: All Taped Up brush frame
Paint The Moon: Freebie flower}


::::::::::::::::::Good Deed::::::::::::::

Aaron heard me coughing at the computer and he said, "Mom, let me fix you some chicken soup!" So in 15 minutes I had a steaming hot bowl of soup in front of me and a hug from my 13 year-old. What a nice "Hallmark" moment. Thank you, Aaron!

::::::::::::::::::First Aid:::::::::::::::

Our next door neighbor, Kristen, was kind enough to agree to teach a first aid course to the Scouts last night. She had them realize that there is more to administering aid then just attending the victim. She explained about being aware of the scene of the accident and that you don't want to create more victims by just rushing in without accessing the situation. Michael was hightly impressed with all of the information and how she demonstrated everything to the young men.

::::::::::::::::::Reading Book::::::::::::

I am on chapter 3 of Mistakes Were Made (But Not By Me) and have already begun to do my classic paper tearing and bookmarking pages to reference when I'm finished. The examples used by the authors are so appropriate. I analyze what I would do in certain situations and realize that the slippery slope of self-justification is quite a busy thoroughfare with a whole lot of casualities at the bottom. Here are a few excerpts that really had me thinking:

"Self-justification has costs and benefits. By itself, it's not necessarily a bad thing. It lets us sleep at night. Without it, we would prolong the awful pangs of embarrassment. We would torture ourselves with regret over the road not taken or over how badly we navigated the road we did take. We would agonize in the aftermath of almost every decision... Yet mindless self-justification, like quicksand, can draw us deeper into disaster. It blocks our abily to even see our errors, let alone correct them."

The chapter of cognitive dissonance was a real eye opener. In the section called "Spirals of Violence-and Virtue the authors explain that the concept of "catharsis" fostered by psychoanayltic beliefs about expressing anger and behaving aggressively gets rid of anger is patently false. They write, "Actually, decades of experimental research have found exactly the opposite: That when people vent their feelings aggressively they often fell worse, pump up their blood pressure, and make themselves angrier." They go onto say, "venting is expecially likely to backfire if a person commits an aggressive act against another person directly, which is exactly what cognitive dissonance theory would predict." What they relate is that once you have harmed someone you must then justify why you would do such a thing, then it creates a need to reduce your dissonance where you blame the victim of your outburst and you are more likely to escalate your next violent outburst.
In regards to the virtous cycle the authors write about how doing something good leads to changing our thinking of others. For example if we don't like someone, but on a whim do something nice for them we may begin to make the connection that that person must not be so bad, or I wouldn't have done something nice for them. That thought leads to the thought that maybe that person is not as bad as I thought.
Later on the book references an experiment by Benjamin Franklin during his time in the Pennsylvania legislature where there was a man who couldn't stand him. Franklin decided to win this guy over. He asked to borrow a rare book from the man's library, which the man agreed to lend. Franklin returned the book within a week with a note of gratitude. After that the man came up to speak to him "with great civility" and they continued from then on to be great friends until the man's death. Franklin wrote, "...the truth of an old maxim I had learned, which says, 'He that has once done you a kindness will be more ready to do you another than he whom you yourself have obliged."

This book is fascinating.


::::::::::::::::::::::We have Advent Calendars Galore::::::::::

There is an advent calendar in the kitchen and in the girls' room, but Rachel still decided to decorate her dry erase board with a Santa Claus and a countdown of the days until Christmas. Oh, the pressure! The kids think I'm not serious when I tell them there are no presents for them in the house...but I'm not. The only day for us to go shopping is today. Michael and Aaron have a campout this weekend and from what the calendar says I'm out of luck come next week. I may be giving the kids my reading book and explaining them the concept of cognitive dissonance during my self-justification speech on why time just got away and...here kids what a bag of Milky Ways...chocolate makes things better...really!

Smiles and Merry Christmas!

Christmas Past...

I was going through some old photographs and found this family photo, so I decided to play with it:




_{Darcy Baldwin: DJB Mish and DJB MICHAEL at The Digichick
Amy Cheeseman: Grinchy Christmas freebie (2006)
Michelle Coleman: Hand Stamped Alpha
Shabby Miss Jenn: Tree Trimmin' Party
Mo Jackson: Moodle frame, Moodle Alpha
Holly McCaig: Doodle Frame
Catrine: Pauline Alpha}


:::::::::::::Christmas Presents:::::::

I saw this on Janna's blog and thought it was pretty cool:

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Later, gators!

I'm Not Dead, Yet! I'm Feeling Happy!...

...or Eve's premonition at the library. I told Michael that Eve wanted to go by the library, so he said cool and away they went. After checking out her library books Eve inquired how long she would get to keep them. Michael looked at the check out slip and replied in a goofy excited voice, "Wow! You get to keep these until January of 2008! That's next year!" Then Eve said, "You'll be DEAD in 2008!" Michael was a bit surprised by this revelation, as were we as we laughed at this prediction. Hey, but maybe this time next year we could be on that Crossing Over show, or hanging out with Sylvia Browne...better yet, I think I'll just fix a healthier meals and hope for the best!

:::::::::::::::::Guitar Hero...NOT::::::: Aaron does really like the Guitar Hero games, but requested a real guitar. He and Michael went up to a local music store called Music Go Round and they picked up this: an Ibanez Acoustic Guitar :::::::::::::::::Vacation Layout 58...I Think?::: This is from our vacation to Colonial Williamsburg. Rachel and Noah were able to hold a cochineal beetle that is used to create red dyes. _{Darcy Baldwin: DJB LENA, DJB KENNAscript at The Digichick Shabby Miss Jenn: Tree Trimmin' Party Christina Renee: Grunge Frames, Sassy Lace, Signature Collection, Botanical Brush Michelle Coleman: Hand Stamped Alpha} :::::::::::::::The Christmas Tree is UP! These are my favorite Nativity pieces. They were made for me as a Christmas gift a few years ago by my brother-in-law, Reuben. He and his wife are both talented artists. I was beyond words excited to get these and they are a treasure! This is one of the beaded and pinned ornaments hand made by my husband's grandmother, LaVone Moulton. The kids get excited to put them on the tree each year. They really miss their "Granny Great"! These are a couple of vintage ornaments form Granny Vone's Christmas tree that Michael would look at as a child, so she gave them to him several years ago. This is one of my favorite Southern ornaments. It is a piece of painted okra! Here is a beautiful amaryllis that Rachel's Primary teacher gaver her. We have really enjoyed watching its growth.


Smiles...off to read!

Best Laid Plans of Mice and Men...

often go awry.

The Christmas tree is still bare of any lights and ornaments. Both Michael and Eveybug have been sick. Poor little Evey was heaving her wee guts out the other night, but she was so brave! She would just pat me on the arm and that meant it was time to make a run for it. I had Michael sleep on Rachel's trundle so if he needed to get to the bathroom we wouldn't be in each other's way. Michael and Eve stayed home yesterday and she had fallen asleep by the time I got home from running the kids around. So, I don't know if she will be going to school today.


:::::::::::::::::Wednesday::::::::
Yesterday, I checked Rachel out of school to get her retainer. She picked one in an ocean blue color.

The appointment to a little over an hour because they stack the kids like cord wood with their scheduling. I suppose these folks could easily get a job in traffic control at Hartsfield...they have such similar...should it be called...skills? She was instructed to wear to only remove the retainer to eat and brush. I maintained the tradition of taking Rachel to Bruster's for a scoop of Cotton Candy Explosion. I had turtle ice cream in a waffle cone. The pecans were perfection itself...mmm good!

Noah and Aaron had scouts. Michael was supposed to go, but was too sick. The cub scouts conducted a flag retirement ceremony and they did a fantastic job. They were very respectful and reverent during the ceremony and the boys did a, mostly, good job of listening. Afterwards the boys were treated to hot chocolate and chocolate chip cookies.
Aaron was supposed to have his board of review for advancement, but his dad, the Scout Master, was sick and the Committee Chairman had to leave because his son's stitches came out during a game the scout's were playing, so he will have to wait a few more days for the review.

::::::::::::::::George's Secret Key To The Universe:::::::::



This book written by Lucy and Stephen Hawking sucked the kids in like the black hole that is discussed in the book. The stories title character, George, is a boy who wants to learn about technology, but his parents are extreme environmentalists. George meets his young next door neighbor, Annie and the adventure begins. Annie's dad is a scientist who uses a sleek looking laptop named Cosmos to research the universe for an earth-like planet for us to inhabit after we have depleted our own world. George has a couple of thrilling space adventures, which kept the kids wanting me to read the next chapter...and the next. Interspersed throughout the book are photos and facts about space. The book has information, as recent as, 2006. In the part of the story, specifically, about the black hole the theory of Hawking Radiation is explained. What was really cool about it was Michael had read about it and was animatedly explaining how it worked to the children and me.
The moral of the story is that we need to take care of the planet we have, while looking for another habitable planet. The story was a fun and informational read. I recommend it if you have kids who enjoy space and science adventures.


::::::::::::::::::::::Magic And Other Misdemeanors



by Michael Buckley is the next book in the series of stories about the Sisters Grimm. My kids were so anxious to get this book started and see what the girls and the crazy town of Everafters were up to in Ferryport Landing. The first chapter was packed with excitement with the zany character, Puck and his chimpanzee army. This should be a wild adventure!

::::::::::::::::::::::::Family Reunion Layout:::::::::::



_{Darcy Baldwin: DJB MICHAEL, SAVE THE DATE at The Digichick,
Gina Miller: Canvas of Color
Catrine: Journaling papers
Jenn Patrick: Backward Staples
Kate Hadfield: Rainbow Rubberbands, Heavy Duty Staples
Katie Pertiet: Taped Frames
Ida: Crayon doodles
Amy Wolff: Chalked Swirls}

Get Your Game Face On!

::::::::::::::Get A Clue:::::





_{Darcy Baldwin: DJB Lena, DJB JGEEK, DJB Connorbuck, DJB ADEE1 at The Digichick
Nancy Comelab: 2page frame cluster
Nancy Kubo: Owl Graphics
Weeds and Wildflowers: Fall Alpha
Shabby Miss Jenn: journal paper from Tree Trimmin' Party
Robin Carlton: Color Tabs
Catrine: Chalked Alpha}
:::::::::::::::It Boggles The Mind:::::::



_{Darcy Baldwin: Little Bits Alpha and DJB MANDY at The Digichick
Weeds and Wildflowers: Cherish Alpha
Amy Wolff: Chalked Swirls
Misty Mareda: Cardboard Frame from Thankful Heart at LDD
Michelle Coleman: black background paper from Thankful Heart at LDD
Shabby Miss Jenn: staples from Old Letters Lil kit
Catrine: Cardboard Swirls, Chalked Alpha, Pauline Alpha
Nancy Comelab: Surprise photo cluster
Lori Barnhurst: Cluster staples from Thankful Heart at LDD
Emily Merritt: Tile Alpha
Amber Clegg: Date Stamp}

::::::::::::::::::::A Joy To Listen To::::
A Christmas Carol by Dickens, read by Patrick Stewart (Abridged)



Patrick Stewart's rendition of this perennial classic is so amazing! His characterization of each voice, even the clock, sucks you right in to the story! I highly recommend this version for those of you who love this story.


::::::::::::::::::::Tree Trimmin' Time::::

Our plan is to try and trim the Christmas tree tonight. Unlike past year where we have waited until the last week to get our tree the kids and I purchased the tree on Friday. The Boy Scout troop my stepdad, Jim, works with sells trees every year as their fund raiser. I had initially picked a tree, but I wavered for a few minutes and it was snapped up by another family. They have good taste, so I looked on. I found a tree laying on the ground that Jim told me was a second and they were going to use for making wreaths. It looked like a fine tree to me, not like the small skraggly tree from a Charlie Brown special, so we struck a deal and that tree was set up by Michael on Saturday.

Smiles!