Call the fire department!! Cat in a tree!!

So, in my opinion, it's time for the Christmas decorations to come down. I have the time, and I want to get it done! So yesterday, I took down just about everything (and this year, we'll put it ALL in the same section of the attic so it doesn't take two weeks to find it all, get it down and put it up... and none of my kids will see any of their presents. LOL) Today, I got the Christmas Tree box and put my dh to work taking it all down. As he was removing the lights, our new kitty, Shadow, decided it would be fund to climb the tree!
As you can see, by the time I got the camera, he was halfway up the tree. Since my second son, the "owner" of the cat isn't here, I of course took some pics.
What a face. I love his green eyes. He is really adjusting to our group here. If I could only keep our almost 3-year-old from pulling his legs, his tail or kicking him (yes, it's a jealousy thing... doesn't like the attention the cat gets instead of him), we'll be in good shape.

I'm a sucker!

for sales on art supplies, that is!! LOL!! I'm probably a sucker for other things, too, but we won't go there, will we, KATHY!!

Okay, so yesterday I headed out to hit the Target after Christmas sales... picked up a ton of gift bags to use next year, and a cute classic Pooh light-up Christmas tree. I get one new decoration each year after Christmas. I wanted another snow globe (seem to be collecting Christmas snow globes somehow) but didn't think any were cute.

Afterward, headed over to the Scrapbook Junkie (yes, it's really named that!) and of course, picked up some stuff. Love all that stuff by 7gypsies. Tons of stuff on sale, but I was pressed for time, so just got a few things. Can't wait to finish my financial stuff I'm working on (gee, might get my taxes done BEFORE April 15 this coming year!), so I can create more stuff!!

Also want to head over to Hobby Lobby this week, as well as Michaels. I don't usually like M's, but they did mention a few good things in their ad this week. Overall, it's too messy and disorganized (and crowded with stuff, not people) for my taste, as well as having employees that are CLUELESS!

I also need to check out my other fave store, Novel Approach, as I have a $10 off coupon to spend...hehehe!

For those who care, or don't know, I have been doing rubber stamp art since 1989. As a college graduation gift, my friend Susan gave me some stamps, a couple of pads, and some glitter glue as a gift. Then I went to my first DOTS party, then a Stampin' Up party...then discovered this lovely place in Rice Village (in Houston) called "Iconography" that sold stamps... tons and tons of stamps! What a dream it was. I met some other local stampers online in 1995... which led to the formation of a stamping group, which met once a month for a "mom's night out" type meeting to do craft stuff. We even traveled to the Dallas area for stamp conventions once a year. That fell apart in about 1999 when several members moved away. I really miss those days.

When I create more, I'll post here!

Fear Not

I have four boys, the oldest two who are in Martial Arts. My oldest achieved 1st Degree Black Belt status this past August after 5-1/2 years of training. My second son will test this coming July for his 1st Degree Black Belt. After all he's been through, my oldest has suddenly decided that he's afraid to teach. He's afraid that he'll get something wrong. Why? He's excellent at what he does... God gives us all talents, and this is one area where my son is definitely talented. The preciseness, the intensity. It's incredible to me. Why the sudden fear? God tells us in his word that fear of Him is important... those that fear the Lord are blessed. We are to Fear the Lord our God. But fear of other things... there is a correlation between fear and trust. If we trust in God, then we should not fear other things. God will protect us. We are having a hard time convincing our son of this. His duty today is to study his scriptures and find some understanding. He must trust God, trust us as his parents, and trust his teachers (Master Garza and Master Falco) to lead him in the right direction. Ah, just my ponderings for the day.

Random Chatter

I was surfing around this evening, after all the bustle has finally died down. Our youngest would NOT take a nap...too much excitement going on, with Grandma and Grandpa here, and too many fun things to see. We finally got him and his brother down, my second son is playing a game on the computer, and my oldest and husband are watching football. So here I am, surfing around. I found this cool website "The Urban Homemaker". I found it so interesting. We have been working for many years to eliminate all artificial colors, preservatives, flavors, additives, etc. from our diet. We have a large food budget.. partially because of our four boys (read: BIG EATERS) but also because we eat so many organic/whole foods. It would be much cheaper to eat Kraft Mac and Cheese (less than $1.00 a box) instead of Annie's Mac and Cheese ($2.50 a box) but one is fake cheese and artificial color, the other is real cheese and organic pasta. Even better, I make mac and cheese homemade (I use Paula Deen's Recipe... check it out here. Yummo!! (as Rachael Ray would say!!).

Christmas Kitty!

What a busy Christmas day. Not a lot of sleep last night, and now just tons of fun with four kids!! My #2 son already broke the antenna off his new radio (very frustrating), so am hoping we can get that fixed. He got a cat as his "big" gift... named him Shadow. Shadow is a lovely grey kitten we got from a friend. Number one son got a golf bag and driver for his gift along with gloves, balls, tees, and tons of practice whiffle balls. Number three got a "flying turtle" as well as a new tool box with lots of tools to help build his new "work shed" (clubhouse or fort). He and Dad will spend the next two days building that in the backyard. Our littlest guy got a Radio Flyer Little Red Scooter, and a Thomas the Train. I got a new coffee mug, and a huge box of stamp/art stuff from "Fran the Frantic Stamper"!! Whooohooo!! Gotta run and get kiddos ready for bed.

A Little Art...

This is a scripture art book I created for my pastor and his wife for Christmas. I was inspired by a sermon series he did on the Fruit of the Spirit, as well as some faith journals and other inspirational items I saw in a new book (I'll post about that another time.)
Here is an inside view of the first page. Each little envelope has a scripture verse inside which pertains to that particular fruit. There is an envelope for each fruit. I had a lot of fun making it, although it was quite a challenge!

Looking forward to Christmas tomorrow. May God rain his blessings down on all of you who read this.

Susan

busy days

this past few days have been busy. first we had the holidays, and spent a lovely dinner on turkey day with my friend and her husband and daughter. she cooked a yummy turkey and we had all my favorite fixin's. Then, on Friday, we went to Elm Mott, TX to attend the Homestead Heritage Craft and Children's Fair (http://www.homesteadcraftfair.com/). What a fun time we had. So much to do... check out the website.

Sunday, we drove down to Belton to visit our friends Toby and Missy and attend church with them. Toby is the preacher at the Belton church of Christ up there. We had a great time visiting with them and their children. We love just sitting around with friends, visiting. That in itself is a vacation!!

Then it was back home to get back to school before the onslaught of the Christmas holidays.

We did put up lights this year... the first time in a long time. Since Mom's death, Christmas has not been the happiest time for me. I know that's selfish. I should be focusing on our savior and his birth, and what all he has done for us. But that is so hard when I remember all the wonderful things we did with my Mom. It doesn't help that I never see my brother, who lives right here, or my sister, who doesn't talk to me at all. The boys are doing work, but having a hard time concentrating. And we have sooooo many activities, from homeschool parties, to lunches, to extra Martial arts stuff.

I have to go fix lunch now.