Christmas Memories Day 23

I am so excited! I made this shirt for Aussie tonight.

I have to say I am so proud of myself and tickled that I can make something by just looking at it. I don't know why, but I have a tremendously hard time following a sewing pattern. It is like they are written in a different language. But I got an old Karate shirt and based this shirt off of that.

We had a good work out at the YMCA and Ashley and Aussie made these cute wreaths out of puzzle pieces.

Christmas Memories Day 22

Wow today was a very frustrating creative day!

It started out with the kids wanting me to draw for them. It may look like fun, but it can be frustrating. Mason kept saying don't forget to color the antler, you still need to color this or that over and over AS I was still coloring.

Aussie wanted me to draw Woofy and Lily.

Aussie is SO very thankful for his horse. He told me when he got it, he was "gazed" and couldn't talk. He also said he wished there was some way to say Thank you more than just saying the words.

And Mason wanted me to draw Santa Moose.

He started singing..." I wish you a Moosey Christmas, I wish you a Moosey Christmas, I wish you a Moosey Christmas and a Happy New Year." It really was very sweet. So we called up Gramma and Mason serenaded her. And it made her feel so much better!

Then I got to work on the presents I am making. I've made 4 now and if I had made this one first I would have never made another one. Each one takes about 3 1/2- 4 hours to make. This one took ALL DAY. I don't know why. BUT every little thing went wrong. I don't know if it was the fabric or what. My thread kept messing up over and over again and I would have to pull out all the stitches and do it again and again. The problem was it looked good on one side, so you could go and go and not know that anything was wrong until you were finished. Then I would sew it crooked or made it too small or whatever. It was crazy!!! BUT...I have to say it is the best one yet. It is gorgeous! So I'm really hoping the person getting this one not only likes it but LOVES it. And if she can not use it for what it is intended, maybe she will use it for something else. I know that's a lot of pressure! But if you don't like it give it back-I'll use it!

I'm getting so excited about Christmas! I think while Greg works on the computer tonight, I'll wrap presents. This really has been a great Christmas Season for me. I know a lot of times it can be very stressful, but this year it has been lots of fun. I also think dedicating myself to journaling everyday in December is helpful. It gets me to do a lot more fun things, just so I can take pictures.

Christmas Memories Day 21

Can we say EXHAUSTED?

Well we got to church late this morning. There was no children's classes today, so we sat in the back that was extended into the lobby. I was tired and so far back that I couldn't really hear much of the sermon. UGH!

I did something kind of embarrassing today. We have a man who goes to church with us that plays Santa Claus. And he really is just a beautiful Santa! Today I went up to him and said, your beard looks so fluffy and white, I just want to touch it. May I touch your beard? He shook his head yes. And I just took both hands and felt it. I hope I didn't embarrass him. I thought it was great. I'm sure several of the kids touch his beard, but I'm sure that is different from a grown up.

So we tried out a new restaurant today, called Five Guys. All they serve is Hamburgers, Hot dogs and Fries. And WOW! It was Fabulous!!! That was the best burger I have had in a very long time!

Then we went home and finished cleaning the house. I just love a clean house. I really wish I could keep it this way.

My in laws and my niece, Kaitlin got here about 4:30PM. We ate a delicious dinner. (If I do say so myself.) We had pecan chicken with basil pesto. YUM! (Dana- YOU must get this one!)

The kids just adore Kaitlin, especially Ashley. Kaitlin braided her hair. And they all played tug of war.

Then we opened presents.

Mason opened this dart(?) gun. He was very excited and said, this is JUST what he wanted.

Papa opened his present from us, which is the same thing I got my Dad. I don't think my Dad reads this, but just in case I won't tell.

Ashley was very excited to get the Little Pet shop clubhouse.

Aussie got the most anticipated, most wanted present! He got his LPS VIP horse. Which he promptly took upstairs to play on the computer.

Kaitlin opened her present from us, which is the second book in the Twilight serious. If you are teen then you are well aware of what this is. She was VERY happy to get it. And I have to give a big THANK YOU to Leigh Gately who gave me the ideas. Any of those ideas she would have loved.

Then Ashley told me that Kaitlin wanted the same thing I made Nana. So I spent the rest of the evening making her one. I really like how it turned out! She hasn't seen the finished project yet. I put it in the bathroom downstairs, so she will see it before they leave in the morning.

I am so excited about Christmas! We have had a really good season so far!

However, I really need you to pray for my Mom. She is sick with a cold and allergies and she is really having a hard time physically and getting into the Christmas spirit. Please pray that she feels good really soon!

Christmas Memories Day 20

Congratulations to my little brother who graduated with a masters in some elite program, that is brand new, that I have no idea what the name of it is! But Way TO GO John!!!!

And here is the

robe I made for Ashley, that she loves!!! There is a zipper going down the front. I had never sewed on a zipper before.

Well I made my Mother-in-law's present. I'm pretty happy with it. I can't tell you what it is yet because some others who read this are getting one too.

(Mom I didn't get the "prototype" until Thursday night- so unfortunately your present won't come before Christmas.)

Here is our Christmas Card to you from us!

Last night we watched Chronicles of Narnia. (Mom- good thing you didn't get it for the kids) We stayed up way too late. I guess I can say it is a good movie. Greg really liked it. But I have to say that it is not the type of movie that I really enjoy. I didn't get bored watching it, I guess I would rather be watching some kind of modern day espionage movie.

So like I said we went to bed WAY too late. I was looking forward to getting a good night's sleep and going to church Sunday. I had missed church 3 times in a row due to a child being sick or last week me being sick. Unfortunately, when I went to bed it was like I didn't sleep all night long. I guess I did sleep some, but it sure didn't feel like it.

Ballet movie

This is the little ballet. They did a better job during practice, but it is still cute. You probably will want to stop the music on the right before playing.

Jingle Bells

This is Kadence singing with her family. Before playing pause or stop the music on the right.

Jingle Bells from Chelle Greene on Vimeo.

Christmas Memories Day 19

Today was the Teddy Bear tea party for the girls in Ashley's Daisy group. It wasn't much of a tea party- but it was really cute and the girls had such a great time. (Renee- I still want to take you up on the Christmas tea party!- name the date and time and we'll be there!)

The girls were asked to bring one of their favorite Teddy Bears. I had visions of Ashley bringing her pretty pink Teddy Bear to match her pretty pink dress, but my little girl had other plans! She brought Cory. Cory is Greg's teddy bear when he was a kid. Cory is missing an eye and you can tell he was very loved on. So my visions of the pretty picture didn't turn out to be what I expected. But I think it is really precious that she is so sentimental and wanted to share that joy with her friends. I really love that about her!

Then they had a Littlest Pet Shop toy exchange. It was amazing that everyone recieved one they didn't have already. They passed the packages around and when the music stopped that was the present they opened.

Abby got an otter.


Ashley got a whale and fish. I hadn't seen this one before. It's so cute.

Emma got a horse.



Skye got a bunny and dog?

Kadence got a turtle


And Eve got a kitten.

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After the party, on our way home, we stopped at an X-treme pet shop. I was hoping to find a present for one of my good friend's who is just a little bit quirky. :) So we went in there. The smell was horrendous and it only got worse as we walked farther in the door. But hey I was determined. So I was trying to ask the clerk a question and he just seemed pre-occupied. Then one of the birds flew off it's perch and just flew right into me. It kind of freaked me out! And he said, "Oh don't worry Molly won't hurt you." Then he came and got her, and I continued to try to ask my question as we were moving around the store. Then he said, "UM....don't go over there...a snake got loose."

UH HELLO???? Then I see it. IT is HUGE! OK not the biggest I've seen but still very big! I don't know what kind it was. I didn't stick around to find out. He said, He had to find someone to come get it that wasn't afraid of snakes, because he was.

WHY?? WHY?? WHY did he even let us in the store with three small children? Why didn't he tell us that as we were coming in the door? Anyway, I ushered the children quickly out the door. I did take them around to the window where the snake was looking out so that they could see it.

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Anyway, we came home and I took a couple of pictures of Ashley for Gramma. Will either of these do?

Then I made Ashley a robe. She loves it! I guess I'll show pictures of it tomorrow, since it's 3AM and I would need to get it off my camera, edit it, make it smaller etc. to post.

And then I made Ashley something that I'm going to make my Mom and my MIL as a prototype. I know they are wondering what in the world would they want that Ashley would want too? So I'm happy with it, I think I figured out all the quirks on hers, so that when I make the others they will look nicer.

So Greg watched some silly movie tonight, while I was working on this project. After the movie was over, I told him to hurry up and go to bed so that I can sleep in in the morning. Hee hee hee! I think I'm going to need it. My videos are not finished loading, but I'm gonna have to go to bed and hope that they load over night.