A couple of craft projects I can share

Yesterday I finished our family calendar. I saw this on pinterest but it was smaller and turned the other direction. I wanted my bigger - more kids - more activities to write down - so got my frames (8x10) from IKEA ($1.99) put vinyl on the cute paper and then hung on the wall. Super easy and cheap to make. Put down my hallway so as the kids leave the house they will always know where we are supposed to be.


Today I finished my "give thanks" banner. I was on got the idea for the banner from "little birdie secrets". I printed the letters off and sewed them to burlap and then sewed that to bias tape. I made my wreath Monday. It is my version of all the burlap wreaths I have been looking at. It has elements from several different ones. Burlap, flowers and raffia.I know the picture is not that good. Someday I will work on my picture taking skills.

Still working on Christmas projects and cleaned my house today because my mom is coming Monday and we are leaving for the coast tonight for the weekend. We might get a little snow - Next week is going to be one busy one with all the happenings going on. I am sure it will fly by though and when we are through I will be able to look back and smile at all the memories we have created.

What's keeping me busy....

I have been very busy working on our "twelve days of Christmas" project. I have spent way too much time looking at pinterest for ideas (by the way I love pinterest!) I have finally come up with my final twelve ideas and I am sticking to it! For the last week I have changed my mind several times and each time I discuss it with David he keeps telling me "Well, I know what I'm doing - and it's been done now for a month". I think he likes to rub in that he is obsessively organized. I like to think that I am organized in the very loose use of the word. My chaos is how I get things done around here - plus I am OK if plans have to change - I roll with it and sometimes to much organization can get in the way of living. Just my opinion and I am sure a whole other topic for a blog post. But really I am excited this year for what is cooking around here - I can hardly wait to share with all of my family but you will have to wait until the week after Christmas - I don't want to give away any surprises.

In preparation for all the upcoming events in the next couple of weeks I have also been getting my house ready for company, the holidays, birthdays, and Ashleigh's engagement party. I have been canning like crazy and this month made my month of cooking stuff with Toshia to make things easier for all the other things coming up. Yesterday I had the carpets cleaned. It has been a while and they really needed it. I am so pleased with the results. Mr. Jimmy worked late into the evening to finish - he also started later in the day which of course through off my schedule but again you just have to roll with it. I have lots to do but I am loving how busy I am right now. I know it is weird but when things are hopping around here I have less time to dwell on the hard things in life. I find joy in all the activity. Sounds weird I know but again I operate better when there are lots of deadlines and things in the works. Of course, I am always glad when the big events are over and I can rest a while - then I do things for just me - so I have fun things to look forward to and that's how I get through it all.

It is not easy being the mom of eleven children and wife to one very hard working husband but I find joy in the journey of it all!