Valentine's Day party

We attended one of our local homeschool group's Valentine's Day Parties.  Lots of fun! Lots of Valentines!

Sebastian got into it this year!

New additions to the family

Itsy Bitsy and Teeny Weeny!  I'm being a foster mom until we open our Educational Facility. Aren't they cute?  They are red-eared sliders.

Here they are in their tank....the kids are loving them!

Science Party

ha, this one shows just how long ago it was! October. Darn, wish they didnt have the date on that thing LOL!

Anyway, this was a fun Science Day that one of my support groups put on. Various tables were around with different projects to do that related to science.

The highlight of the day was the catapult. Elias had to (try) to hammer in the nails. Then rubberbands were wound around them to create a place for the plastic spoon.

Then the spoon gets inserted, add a ball and FLING!  Repeat and repeat and repeat until you can't find the ball anymore!

Of course, if that wasn't enough fun, he also got to make a marshmallow bug and eat it too!

It was a fun afternoon!

Teen Service Project & Homemade Laundry Soap

I am one of the leaders for a local teen homeschool group. We often try to come up with service projects for them participate in. This time it was for a local homeless teen shelter Street Teens . 

We made "the Duggars" laundry soap, grating the Felz Naptha down and making a batch of laundry detergent that should last them a few months or so!

The teens also cleaned their closets and brought in all sorts of clothing that they then sorted and bagged for the same organization.

Of course, after all that hard work, we let them play!

Scout Vest

Here's Elias in his scout vest. I bought this one on Ebay. It's actually made out of red denim and cut to look just like the ones at the scout store. The price was comparable, or less, and it's not made of that cheesy felt that gets all nappy!

Christmas Tree & Memories

Only a month late! Not bad! Anyway, this year as I decorated (and un-decorated) the tree, I thought back over all the memories each decoration brings with it. Our tree isn't all beautiful and monochrome...it's full of treasures found and bought with love or crafts the kids have made through many many years. So, I am going to highlight them below, and maybe give you ideas along the way!

This one I found a few years ago in FL. It's a nail, all bent to make a heart.  And it has the story of Jesus' crucifixion and love for us.  Of course, now the decoration is put away, or I'd type the story in for you.

Statue of Liberty decorated for Christmas. Of course, we bought her on a trip to the Statue of Liberty, so it reminds me of taking my kids there.

One of my first Christmases living in Las Vegas, away from my family, a friend set up this whole big Christmas Craft day. This was one of those crafts. We painted the little flowerpot red and then sponged on Santa's hair and beard.  She also introduced me to Shotgun Santas. Really, I had never heard of such a thing! There is puff paint on this Santa face..it's really 3-D.  He's really a cute little guy! That year we also stenciled our own Christmas stockings and added fabric to the cuffs. We still use those stockings.  My friend has since moved away, but I will always be thankful to her for taking me under her wing and making that Christmas a happy one.

Seems to me Elias made this one. A quick, simple Christmas Fun Foam craft. But he was probably 6 or 7 when he did it.

Ahh, my Bri-bri made this one when he was younger. I think this was one of the craft days when he was a teenager and didn't really want to do crafts, but everyone else was.  Painted popsicle sticks with "gems" and glitter pipe cleaner glued on.

I think my neighbor made this for me. See what happens when it takes a month to post things? I forget!

This is our little nativity set that always accompanies our Christmas Tree. We have 2 different ones, and this one is less breakable. Sebastian got into it this year....see the yellow matchbox car in the back of it?! Wasn't that in the story, the cows were all lowing and the car engine was revving?

I think Brian's aunt got him this. Or maybe my mom. Anyway, it's going to end up going to Brian when he gets his first tree.

This was one of the first ornaments I've bought for my family. I HATE spending $13 on a decoration! But, this was my first baby's first christmas!

Brian made this in Cub Scouts one year. It's a piece of green construction paper with spray-painted jigsaw puzzle pieces glued on. Add a fancy bow and voila! Handmade Christmas Ornament!

My mommy knows I love handmade crafty things, so she gave this one to me. She made it at a local craft day her church had.

Another Brian-craft. For years we've had a Christmas Craft gathering, mostly the same people. This year we didn't as some of the other family's kids are getting too old.  Waaaahhh, mine aren't! Anyway, this is a beautiful dove that one of the mom's came up with, and Brian made.

Here's the ornament I bought for Elias' first Christmas.

Here's the ornament I bought for Sebastian's first Christmas.  I plan on giving all the boys their first ornaments, as their "first" ornaments when they move out and have their own "firsts".

Our neighborhood exchanges small gifts at Christmas time, and this was from one year. It's all personalized with our names!

So, there's the best of them! There are tons more to show,but these sum it up very well. Special times and crafts make our Christmas Tree a living memory-book

Christmas at the Wahls

After we opened presents and relaxed a bit, we went over to my inlaws house for Christmas Linner (Lunch/Dinner) This was particularly wonderful as my sis in law came in from Overton, with her brood! We don't see them a whole lot these days.

Here are a few pics from the day

Siblings...minus Gilbert who's out of the state. Vicky, Louie and Chris

The kids are all really close...they pick up where they left off.

Look at these 3 stooges! Sebastian, Carrie and Mattea

Everyone chowing down

Most of the grandkids....now that they're getting older it's hard to get them all in the same picture!

And, to top the night off, Grandpa showed us his Christmas Present...a robe reminiscent of the Playboy Mansion.

It was a very nice evening. Glad to see the Overton Wahls again and glad that the kids just love each other so much!