Me, here...you?

Hi there friends,

I have been attempting to post for days...  I need to, I thought that I was giving the Mangroomer too much press.  Also, I was starting to think that it could be a "good" idea, which makes me think that we all need to just move on (they are still on sale at Bed, Bath and Beyond, for those of you looking for a zesty Groundhog's day pressie.  It is coming right up on February 2!)

Enough about the Mangroomer, let's talk about my sweet Christmas haul...

Does that sound too tacky??  It is kind of tacky, but I received some really nice presents and I think they should be given their due.  Here is a sampling of gifts:

1)Macbook....I feel like I can finally sit down and write my "great American novel" now... No, really I have never been able to read my endless list of blogs and comment on all of my flickr pictures from my lazy boy before.  Now THAT is AMERICAN!  No, really it is so sweet, BUT learning a new system is somewhat challenging.  I am not sure when I will be able to do any pictures besides the photobooth ones.

2)Homemade Mix CDs !!!!  WooHoo.  My youngest sister, we can call her Miss M, made me a bunch of CDs filled with all sorts of crazy pop music that I love, but would never own.  It is the best, she put in all of my favorite songs from "So, you think you can dance?" and so I just want to boogie boogie all the time.

3) Little Red purse... My other sister, we can call her RebaStar, made me a VERY cool purse.  I wish I could figure out how to get my pictures RIGHT NOW, because it is so neat.  It is very non-mommy, maybe I could stick one diaper in there, but it could go out for dinner and a movie very easily.

I guess I just wanted to tell you all that a handmade christmas is really nice....I really like what I was able to do and the gifts from my sisters, the more that I think about them and use them the more that I think it was a great idea. (That said I did get really stressed out a few days before Christmas and I also really like my new computer and I am excited about what it is going to let me do in the future.)

So, I am still here for the time being, are you?  Shall we see each other next ear then?

Yes, unless I can get the picture thing taken care of!

JMB

Ho, ho, ho, Merry Christmas!

Hooray for you!

My three followers have won this FANTASTIC Christmas gift... (just kidding.) But what a great gift for that conscientious Metro-sexual man (or woman, I am all about equal opportunity here!) in your life.

Along with informing you about the Mangroomer...I wanted to give you all a sneak peek at one of my gifts...this super sweet bunny bag. I really want to keep it for myself, but it was made for my friend that I like to call Bunny Rose. I think that it looks just like her... I may have to make one with a little pony for myself.

One funny thing, before I dry my hair and get out of my PJs....

My eldest son was asking me for some stories about Jesus....because it is his birthday today, and all. I told him some of the miracle stories and then right before bed he asked me for more. I couldn't remember anymore except for when Jesus got mad at the moneychangers at the temple....

WELL, AS ONLY A CHILD CAN COME UP WITH,

He told his brother that they needed to go to sleep, so that when Santa came "He would not be as angry as Jesus, that they were awake....maybe he would be as angry as 50 Jesus'..."

I am so glad that he is such an astute theologian.

Ta-ta for now.

I hope that you all are snuggled in with your families enjoying the many blessings of this season. I pray for Peace in our New Year.

JMB

no picture today...

Hi...
I was just having a blog reading frenzy. I am kind of regretting that I started using bloglines because now I KNOW how many things that I HAVE to READ...
Oh well, I had to write because my friend Diane posted the a great picture of her with Santa and then this FABULOUS link. Just go look at both. Stop reading this and just leave, I swear it will be more interesting.
JMB
P.S.
I did leave the house today and was ecstatic to go to the post office. They were so nice there, that I wanted to hug and kiss them, but I did not--I did not want to get in trouble. (I am so happy that I got all my stuff sent, so happy!)

Life of a mom...

Before...

After...

I couldn't remember if I had posted this picture before...not my most attractive, but I feel like it captures the moment...somehow. Sometimes you have to look at ALL the pictures to get the whole story. What is the whole story behind your posed vacation pictures? Yep, this is me, this is mine! (I love looking through the pictures from this year...but I really need to do some sewing!)

We have snow and ice up to my gizzard...I don't know how people further north handle it...it has been 2 days and we have got CABIN FEVER. (maybe it is just me?) I am ready for my old Oregon gray and rain...wait, did I hear myself right?
I guess I will take wet over slick any day.

JMB

Snow, snow, cold, and more snow!

Oh, look how tiny! I think that it will be bigger if you click on it. (but with blogger, you never know what could happen...you could get sent to the magical land of Narnia. Say "Hi" to Mr. Tumnus if you get there.)

We had so much fun today. Romping in the snow, mixed with holiday decorating, mixed with my youngest's dreadful hacking cough. He is one the tail end of the nasty cold that has been moving through our home. I haven't been taken down with it yet (knock on wood...) But I will be retiring early tonight to try and boost the ol' immune system.

I had the best craft-o-rama day yesterday. I made scads of progress on many presents...BUT they are sometimes readers and so I can't show and tell. I will just have to save up I guess.

Stay cozy!
JMB

Something I found...

I am working on some photo gifts for the Holidays... Are any of you out there doing the same?? Well, I just found this picture and I want to say that I meant to get myself in there, but I just can't remember. SO, it was on purpose, OK?

I have been making books on Snapfish. There is nothing like actually using your photos for something to make you appreciate the word EDIT! I am getting rid of some of my duplicate shots, because there is usually just one of them that looks good and it is pretty obvious. These pictures are all from our trip to Colorado this summer. I realize that a bit of distance from the trip has given me new eyes and I am much less attached to some of the other shots that I took. While there were a lot of amazing ones, there were some others that need to go. It is all about saving the good and getting rid of the mediocre.

To sum up:
jmbmommy's tips for photo organization:
1) Find a use for your pictures (maybe like a project, it will make you more objective.)
2) Delete the "seconds", the ones with your kid's eyes half closed (unless they are just too cute and then you should use those too!)
3) Give yourself some space from the event, it will let you be more ruthless with the DEL button!

Heads up!
I have been listening to these two, 1 & 2 albums (can I still call them that?) while working on my masterpieces. My favorite song of the moment is this. I love the ying yang aspect...the bad makes you appreciate the good, the sweet, the sour. Just beautiful.

I must get back to it...finishing is the hardest part for me, you know! (I have started most of the presents, but have only finished 2) (but that is still 2! woo hoo!)
JMB

Woo-hoo!

This is the fun that we have been having around here lately! Speaking of fun, I wanted to thank everyone for their votes for the Gnome home...WE won!! I was so excited to read this today. And I am even more excited to pick out my print.

I haven't blogged about them for awhile....but my two boys are growing like weeds. I feel like every time the laundry cycles through I am seeing more and more "highwaters" in their pants' drawers. AND is there a mystical link between the age 2.5 and 5.5?? Or is it a "brotherhood"?? I have been feeling lately that the two of them have been plotting before they fall asleep to overthrow my queendom. They have been hitting me from all sides lately. If it isn't the never ending
"Knock, knock."
"Whose there?"
"Banana."
"Banana Who?"

"Knock, knock."
"Whose there?"
"Banana."
AHHHHHHHHHH
Then it is the "Mom, you skipped that part of the Reindeer song...sing it again."
Or the run around the table at meal time or the "We are having THAT for dinner?? BOO-Hooo"

Let's just say that I really love those two, but I need the patience of a saint to keep what little sanity I have left. Today was better, but I think that I am just being optimistic about this being a phase and not the new norm.

Tomorrow will be nice too if anyone has any new Knock, knock jokes suggestions???
Please?
JMB

Working, working...

I have been wanting to do an Advent project. I really like this one that my friend Emily made. I just didn't have a board big enough for the size pictures that I was going to use. I also liked this one, that the lovely Amber (from kids crafts weekly) linked to on the newsletter this week.

(on a side note, she is just great and has an arty newsletter for kids and parents that she puts out for free. It is well done, very well done. She also is selling a Christmas craft "book" (PDF) and it is well done also, and a great way for people to support her.)

So, I printed out a bunch of wallet size pics of the boys from this past year and made a little card to hold the picture. Then I put a number on it and called it good. I think that it will be fun to talk with them about what we were doing in the picture and it will be nice for them to see all the pictures that are now printed out (because who ever prints pictures anymore?). I could envision the cards getting transformed in to ornaments next year, to either make way for new pictures or a whole new advent idea all together. I really want to make these, but I couldn't get around to it this year. With all of the "free" time that I have right now, I was thinking of getting a good start on them, finishing them, and then packing them away for a nice surprise for next year.
Here is my latest project over in the Lazy Gal's quilt-a-long. I made a new chair, this one, just wouldn't do. I LOVE my new chair. I am so inspired by this lovely quilter's work. She does some of the swaps that I do, so I am crossing my fingers that we get to exchange some day.

Speaking of swaps, I have some really great quilts that I have received...I will post them soon, I need to get back to my sewing machine!
JMB