Holding the World in a Paper Cup

Archive for December 2011

Sunday, December 18, 2011

Mama Reworks It!: Teacher Gift Idea

We wanted to get both Charley's teacher, and teacher's assistant,

a little something for Christmas.

The idea came from an etsy seller whom I cannot find again for the life of me.

After I did the machine work,

I had Charley dictate one sentence to me.

The only thing I had to buy was the magnet clips!

I cut the white fabric from an old drawstring bag I had in the fabric pile.

They're quilted...

with love.

My entry into Show Me Extraordinary sponsored by Appliances Online and Bosch Washing Machines.

5 Comments

Saturday, December 17, 2011

I'll Be Home for Christmas....

After I became employed, the idea of going home for Christmas was kiboshed. So, we carried on, making the best knowing we would being away from our big family during Christmas, wondering what on earth we would do with our child who is out of school for two weeks during that time. My mom and sister even volunteered to come to Virginia before Christmas to help us out with a week of childcare. Later, I was surprised to hear that my dad and his wife would come the week after! But then some things happened. Some things that caused me to want to sing "Take this job and shove it...I ain't workin' here no more..." So I did. I quit my job. Although I didn't sing that song. I don’t want to go into a lot of detail but I also don't want anyone out there thinking I am just am a sorry quit-er of things, so I will say there was this person, who was really difficult to work for, because of some angry tantrum issues, involving a lot of yelling and I said NO! No more. No more treating me badly. I am outta here. I have never quit a job without having another one, so for me to do this, was a huge deal. I have NEVER been treated SO unprofessionally in all my days. Why on earth there are people who get away with acting like big butt heads at work (or ANYWHERE) is beyond me.

So, the good news is...NOW WE GET TO COME HOME FOR CHRISTMAS!!!! And the extra good news is MY MOM AND SISTER WILL BE IN VIRGINIA TOMORROW!!! I am super pumped. I miss my family SO much.

My mom requested an itinerary (she's really no trouble, no trouble at all) and Chuck volunteered to set us up. Hearing this news I was really relieved, until I read his last itinerary correspondence:

Man O Man I'm excited. This is going to be great. The final itinerary is

attached. Please review because changes have been made.

I think adding the gun show as an event will really make the season "pop".

You ladies will love it. Too, free deer and fox pp samples will be for the

taking. Sometimes I get tired of cinnamon spice stinking up the house at

Christmas. Don't worry, I'll make sure Charley understands that all the

mounted deer heads are not Santa's helpers. Also, I've added a boxing

match. There is nothing like a bloody nose to add color to the holidays. I

decided to remove the tour of beaches to ensure we can all enjoy the tractor

pull. This year the ponchos, for mud protection, are camouflaged and free.

From what I hear, the tractors are going to rev up to the tune of jingle

bells. Awesome! This will be Bad A$$! I almost forgot, there will be no

quaint shopping or dining or Christmas light viewing because I also had to

fit in the Harley Davidson Biker Santa contest. You know.... This is where

all those rough, beer gutted fellows with rusty, gray and white beards try

to look like Santa and put decorations on their bikes. Warm beer and BBQ

chicken plats costs $15.00. (Only one cup handed out for the keg, so don't

lose it). FUN FUN FUN!!!!!

5 Comments

Breakfast with Santa at Ware Academy

Being new to the area, I really appreciate friends who fill us in about special events in town. Without them, we probably would have missed Breakfast with Santa and the parade afterward.

If you are "from" the area, reach out to the new family in town. We like it when you do that.

I don't do Santa photos every year.

And no, it isn't because I am a cheapskate.

It's because I believe hovering over a money passing table in front of a Santa scene every. single. year. takes the magic and simplicity out of sitting in Santa's lap. I believe when parents push their kids to focus on the camera, rather than Santa, then that's a bummer.

I don't fault Santa or the photographers. I mean, I used to shoot Santa photos on a regular basis. And Santa's got to feed the elves right? The responsibility falls to the parents to make sure their kid isn't missing out on the good stuff just to cheese for the camera. Sometimes you can have both...sometimes you can get a good picture and a good experience. Just be sure, 'cause I guess I am everybody's life coach now, when the photo taking gets in the way of memory making, lay it down.

Just lay that camera down.

2 Comments

Friday, December 16, 2011

Special Christmas Treats and Put Lights on the House Night

Lately we've been really into theme nights.

Last night was "Kung Fu Panda Night", where we ate Chinese food and watched 2 rounds of Kung Fu Panda. I highly recommend "Kung Fu Panda Night", even if I did fall asleep during the last screening. I'll also recommend that if you have your own "Kung Fu Panda Night" and are interested in saving a little cash, you can't go wrong with Ramen Noodles. Pair the 20 cent noodles with sesame chicken from Shun Xing and you are good to go. Of course, if you know Po, then you also know we had to order dumplings too.

I didn't get any photos of "Kung Fu Panda Night", but I did get the camera out during our,

"Special Christmas Treats

and Put Lights on the House Night."

All of our theme nights have such catchy names.

I get Charley involved with the cooking whenever I can.

She loves to cook.

Our countertop space is minuscule, so we use the kitchen table a lot.

I pull out all the dishes and ingredients ahead of time.

I feel like I am on a cooking show.

(Got that Pyrex measuring cup at a thrift store. Who throws out Pyrex?)

Chuck loves his hat. It lights up but he hasn't been running it much.

He's trying to save the batteries for Christmas.

My little posers.

"Put Lights on the House" Phase

The weather was so pleasant that night.

Charley did all the lighting up to the point where she couldn't reach.

It was an "all by myself" kind of thing.

I made her jump.

Then I made Chuck jump.

Then I made Chuck photograph me while I jumped.

My picture is small because it is HORRIBLE...my pants are gram-mawed and my face is all contorted but I jumped so HIGH, I couldn't leave it out.

Ta DA!

So bew-tee-ful.

3 Comments

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

A Full Tree

Those Georgia in-laws have done it again I tell ya.

This time they sent us two boxes of CHERISHED

Christmas decorations that we hadn't seen in TWO years.

In a few minutes, we went from about 12 Big Lots ornaments to more than our tree can hold.

Our little girl was mucho happy.

Ya'll shouldn't have,

but I am SO GLAD you did.

2 Comments

Monday, December 12, 2011

Just for Kicks

Last year while getting a Christmas tree....

This year while getting a Christmas tree...

When we got our tree, Virginia wasn't even cold yet!

Chuck's wearing SHORT SLEEVES in that photo!

And really and truly, Virginia isn't even cold now!

I just walked outside in a tank top.

I could NEVER do that in Alaska during this time of year.

Once, I walked out to the truck without gloves, and was temporarily handicapped from the pain.

Seriously.

Last year...

This year...

I just thought of one other thing that is cheaper in Alaska...

Christmas Trees!

They're FREE and EVERYWHERE.

I miss them.

1 Comment;

Old and New Christmas Traditions

So every year when we get a tree, we shoot a picture like this....

I don't know why really.

We've been doing it since before Charley was born.
It's just our thing.

And when she was born, we incorporated her into the tradition.

We used to cut our tree down at a Christmas Tree farm.

We'd still be doing this, but we didn't find any cut your own farms in our new area.

So we got our tree from the parking lot at Food Lion instead.

Since we had to say goodbye to an old tradition, we welcomed in a new one.

Enter KUNG FU PANDA Restaurant

(More commonly known as Shun Xing next door to Food Lion.)

Merry Christmas Ya'll!!!

I am getting SO excited!

4 Comments

Sunday, December 11, 2011

Thoughtful Gift Idea for a Teen

My inability to think of a good Christmas gift for my 16 year old nephew got me to thinking about my sister-in-law's great idea from his last birthday.

To each of the boy's relatives, she sent pre-stamped envelopes containing index cards.

She asked that you give him advice.

You could share anything you thought would be beneficial.

I thought this was a great idea.

Chuck was in Alaska at the time, and I heard his advice was three pages long.

3 Comments

Saturday, December 10, 2011

Made in Mathews

This little town is very proud of their locals.

And one way they demonstrate that is by holding an annual event called Made in Mathews.

During the event you can tour any of the participating studios and see the artists in action.

The artists also stick a price tag on all their wares,

which probably makes allowing strangers to tromp through their work space worth it.

I didn't get a lot of photos since most of the studios were private residences.

Also, art is such an intimate thing.

Breaking out the camera seemed intrusive.

But I couldn't resist photographing one particular place.

I. want. to. have. it.

Love these colors.

This was the home of the owners' of The Poddery

(I know. It is purposefully spelled incorrectly. I don't know what the story is.

Drives me ALMOST as crazy as the one T in Mathews.)

Even their driveway was great.

5 Comments

Friday, December 9, 2011

Thanksgiving in Virginia

It is nice to have friends who consider that we are away from family on the holidays.

They welcomed us into their home....and yard.

And their family made us feel like we belonged.

So nice.

I didn't get up in anybody's grill with the camera while they were eating, since a few months ago my Aunt Sara told me people don't like that. Oh.

But I DID take some pictures of these apple pies.

That I made.

From scratch.

All the way.

When I bake successfully, it is always a shock.

So I must document.

Am I the most behind blogger of all time or what?

Happy belated Thanksgiving ya'll!!

2 Comments

Thursday, December 8, 2011

PARTY

We are getting a lot of use out of that face painting kit.

Charley painted our faces. Could you guess?

And for the record, that's Chuck's handiwork on Charley.

1 Comment;

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Her Father's Daughter

This child...

oh this child...

is a child, custom made for her daddy.

Chuck's a good man.

He was a good boy too.

I think Charley is his reward.

In the beginning,

I think a few family members secretly wished us a boy.

They had Chuck in mind, and knew a boy would suit him.

But what nobody realized was this.....

And this…

Does a mother's heart good.

The alone time is nice also.

6 Comments

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Archive for December 2011

Sunday, December 18, 2011

Mama Reworks It!: Teacher Gift Idea

Saturday, December 17, 2011

I'll Be Home for Christmas....

Breakfast with Santa at Ware Academy

Friday, December 16, 2011

Special Christmas Treats and Put Lights on the House Night

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

A Full Tree

Monday, December 12, 2011

Just for Kicks

Old and New Christmas Traditions

Sunday, December 11, 2011

Thoughtful Gift Idea for a Teen

Saturday, December 10, 2011

Made in Mathews

Friday, December 9, 2011

Thanksgiving in Virginia

Thursday, December 8, 2011

PARTY

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Her Father's Daughter

Blog Archive