new and next year...

So Derek has really been into starting new traditions this year. he was very persistent. So of course for him it had to be about food. One word.

Gravy...

A meal on Christmas day will have some form of gravy on it. Yes I am serious, and if you know my husband at all you KNOW i am serious. LOL. This year we had biscuits and gravy (even the doggies got in on it)

He really wanted to have country fried steaks, but I guess this is what happens when you decide to do this tradition at 9 pm on Christmas eve and all stores are closed (except Jack in the box). We decided to that is won't be just one meal it will include anything with gravy in it.

Also a few things I want to remember for next year-

1. I want to do an advent calender.

2. Make my Christams cards in November. Waiting till December means they go out to late.

3. Still didn't make it to Zoo lights, maybe next year.

4. Outside lights, lots more. Dave talked about having a contest between all of us friends to see who has the better lights.

What kind of new things would you like to do next year?

I would love to be like you

Have you ever just wanted to be like someone else. Now don't get me wrong I love who I am, but I would love to...

dress, Decorate my house and be as cute as Serena from Farm Chicks.

scrapbook and be brave enough to hunt (yes hunt, Derek would love that) like Megan K.

have a cute scrapbook line like Elizabeth K.

Would love to be as busy and clean as well as the Merry Maids.

give great Organizational tips on my blog like her.

look as good in tattoos and dress like Kimi (my sister)

be as crunchy as my sister, Beth.

cook as well as The Pioneer Woman as often as she does.

be as thrifty and as Collin from Hip2Save.


I just look at these people and am like I wish I was more like them. Do you ever feel like that. Like you could be doing more. hmmm thanks for listening and I really hope to be on here more come the new year.

Christmas Cone trees

So this last few weeks I made a few Cone trees. Here is my white pom pom cone tree and my ribbon cone tree (the red pom pom, my sister Jenefer made for me).And then just to share 2 years ago I made this button cone tree. Still one of my favorites.

Thanks for stopping by. What have you made this year, share yours in the comments for me to see.

Excited for the month to come

I love December, just as much as the summer time. All the planning of things we want to do, enjoying family time and the season.
I have lots on my December To Dos-

-Zoo lights
-mail cmas cards
-go sledding
-see Santa
-Clear Creek Nursery to see the camel, Santa and reindeer
-make a snowman with Wyatt
-build a ginger bread house
-finish decorating the church
-have a cmas party for the kids
-my 3rd annual wrapping party
-My my get together Chex football party on this Monday
-cookie exchange
-have to have a ladies craft night
-a few friends house for holiday parties
-make some Christmas treats

I am sure there is more, but that is all I can think of right now.
What do you have planned this season?

Advent Calenders ideas

This year I decided to make a Advent calender for Wyatt. All other years I just find lots of stuff to do and we do them and that is it, but I thought it might be fun for him to pick something everyday. Just another memory I guess.

So I have been looking for different ideas that you could put into it and their our lots so I thought I would compile all I could find into this one post.


-Write letters to Santa.

-Watch 'It's a Wonderful Life'

-Put up indoor decorations, but leave tree for another day.

-Decorate the yard, porch and any other outside areas of your home for the holidays.

-Take food to the local food pantry or shelter.

-Buy a gift for a needy child or family.

-Make Christmas cookies. Make sure to make enough for family and friends.

-Get your tree and if you use a live one put up and decorate your tree.

-Read from the bible the Angel visits Mary. (Mark 1: 1-8)

-Go Christmas Shopping.

-Make cinnamon apple sauce ornaments.

-String popcorn to hang on your tree.

-Wrap Christmas presents.

-Deliver Christmas gifts.

-Drive around town and look at Christmas lights.

-Go Christmas caroling.

-Watch 'The Nativity' together.

-Build a snowman.

-Go sledding.

-Read a Christmas book

-Make gifts for friends

-Color a Christmas picture.

-Make and decorate the house with snowflakes.

-Draw a Christmas picture.

-Make or buy your Christmas cards.

-Stuff envelopes and mail Christmas cards.

-Watch a Christmas movie or show

-Eat a candy cane

-Take a picture in Santa hats.

-Read the Christmas story.

-Do something kind for someone today.

-Go to your local Zoo lights

-Go sledding.

-Decorate Gingerbread houses.

-Visit Santa.

-Take a bath with Christmas confetti.

-Host a Christmas party.

-Host a kids craft day.

-Learn about how another country celebrates Christmas and eat foods from that country.

-Play a game together while having Christmas cookies and hot chocolate.

Check out this site for some cute Advent calender ideas. Here's another cute one from Lazy Mom. Here is a cute baker inspired one from nesting project. Another one How does she. Here is the one I made in 2008. Mine isn't so much a advent calender as more of just a count down, but this year I will put slips of paper under the magnets for Wyatt to find.

Do you have a calender or our you planning on making one this season? Would love to see them. Or if you have any more ideas to add to the list please let me know them.

All things STAR WARS

So if you remember Wyatt just many months ago was all things Thomas the train (here is a layout I did about it). This all changed when his friend Connor intoduced him into Star Wars. Thomas then fell off the tracks poor guy. Wyatt had, toys, shoes, lunch boxes, blankets, cups, back packs, lantern, clothes, bed sheets, heck if they sold it I think he had most of it.

But now we have hit that stride with Star Wars. Most days he is wearing a star wars shirt, he has toys, star wars legos, poster, all the movies, a few books, bed sheets, halloween costume, lunch box, light sabers and the newest member of the family a Bulid a Bear Star Wars character. He loves this guy.

Not sure what else we can buy, but I am sure he will find it. I will say one thing at least, all his items wheather they were Thomas or Star Wars, he has gottn his use out of them all. Nothing has ever just sat around.

Christmas craft ideas

It is that time of year again, time to start thinking of the things I want to make for our house for the holidays. In the past I have made a button tree, Believe ornament swag and a December calender using a cookie sheet. So what to do this year?? Here are a few ideas.

Here is a picture of a beaded snowflake, kind of what I want to do, but not exactly. I am going to make a ton of these and hang in different lenghts on my big kitchen windows. I think. (won't be using sports these though, only pic I could find I liked.

I thought Wyatt could make this bow wreath himself for his bedroom or our bathroom door.

I would love to make this yo yo tree, might see if my mom could help with this one.

FALLing back into blogging

Today we enjoyed the nice warm fall weather by jumping in the leaves.Here is Dixie running around in the leaves. She was pretty funny and wild, didn't stop running in circles for like 10 minutes, just around and around.How big he has gotten. Here he is in Oct. 2007 enjoying the same tree. What a cutie.

It has been a long time since I blogged last and a real long time since I shared pics of Wyatt. Facebook has turned me, I know, it is just so easy to post pics on there for all to see.

Tonight though I looked though all my past blog post, a trip down memory lane you might say and it made me realize that this blog is our online scrapbook. There are things on here I can't see in my scrapbooks, video of Wyatt counting to 6 or playing peek a boo. I really do love looking back and see what was happening last year at this time.

Hope you enjoy the newest pics and you WILL see me again very soon.

This weeks Homework- mail pile

I can only help so much in organizing your house, I believe there are some things that need to be done by you, homework I like to call it. I just can't go through that mail stack, junk drawer, toy chest, or those kitchen gadgets. I can't know what you want to keep or throw away, only you do. So while organizing I will ask my clients to do homework till the next time I come.
I figured not everyone is close enough to have me come help them or just can't do it. So I thought I could start a weekly homework to share with everyone to help them start getting organized and clutter free. I can't tell you how nice it is to only have in my house what I need, nothing extra.
So this weeks homework is to go through that mail stack, you know the one sitting on your counter taking up space. We all have those spots were all your mail, magazines, school notes and junk goes. I will admit I have one too. Mine is a tray given to me by my mother in law. It started as my coupon spot, but now holds all kinds of stuff. So every few weeks I go through it and do some purging of expired coupons and such.
One thing that usually doesn't sit in there is mail. Everyday when I pick up the mail I go through it and I urge you to also. Don't just stack it up, GO THROUGH IT DAILY. Put your bills where they go. Put junk in the recycle bin. And hang up any invites or things you need to see on your command center.
Have any questions please let me know and I can't wait to see what how you do. Find me on Facebook over at MY mission is YOUR organization.

MY mission is YOUR organization

I have started a new Facebook page, MY mission is YOUR organization.

I have gotten my house so organized there is nothing left to do so I am taking a run at helping others get their houses organized. Also this includes some house cleaning.

So stop by and become a fan.

Riding is like...

On a long ride if I was in a car I would be looking at facebook on my phone or texting one of my sister, but on the back of the bike I just have lots of time to think. Like..



How riding is like taking a hike with out all the walking. I have seen the scenery so close it is just nothing like riding in the car. No steel and windows in your way.

Now don't get me wrong this brings up a con about riding. When in the car you can chit chat and laugh with your friends. I do miss this while on the bike. Yes we have special signals and I am getting really good at charades. But it jsut isn't the same.

First Day of Kindergarten

A good day for Wyatt, but not the mom. I didn't cry, but did get a little sad to see him walk into the school and leave outside alone. I will miss him and can't wait to pick him up and hear all about his day.

Walking to bus stop.

Wyatt's new friend that is at his bus stop, he also is in kindergarten just not the same class.They got a quick play on the playground beofre it was time to line up.In line. I think Wyatt got a littel nervous as the realization started to set in, he kept asking me for one more hug.Finding his seat. I got a few pics in before the teacher shut the door on us parents staring in.

Meet and Greet

Yesterday Wyatt had his meet and greet at school. His normal teacher wasn't there because she is recovering from surgery, but we meet his substitute. Wyatt is very excited about starting school.

Change means Organizing

I love that my blog can be my soap box and journal at the same time.

So sad that summer is almost over. Lots of changes gonna happen in the next few weeks. Yes I know change always happens and can be good, but doesn't mean i have to like it. Change can be scary and I have never liked it, even had problems as a kid with it.
Funny thing is when it does all happen and we get in the swing of things I know I will love it, but thinking about it scares me.

Wyatt will be starting all day kindergarten on Sept.1. I am a little scared for him, that is a long day for a kid that age, i think. Plus he is a grazer when it comes to eating and seems to do better attitude wise when he does eat like this and am a little worried about it.

Also with Wyatt being gone all day I don't have enough here to keep me busy, so I will be getting a part time job. I probably could find enough to keep me busy. I will still be doing all the house chores (Derek's job is to hard, long and stressful for him to be any help), volunteering at Wyatt's school and wanting to help out more at the church (I did sign up to help teach his Sunday school class once a month). The job will just part time so I will be able to be home when Wyatt gets home. That was very important to me, being the first person he talks to after school. Man I am going to be one busy lady. A stay at home mom in one sense and a working mom in the other. I guess only if you can consider 15-20 hours or so a week working.

So any way I know with the grace from god I can and will make it through all these changes and one way I do this is by organizing. Not sure why, but it always helps me cope with change. So I am now starting on a Command Central on my fridge. It will have our calendar, school calender, menu, and any invites. I did kind of have this before just with out all the calendars. Post finished pics later.

It's coming...

Christmas Countdown - Christmas Layouts

I know I know it is to early to think about Christmas coming, but if you don't the next thing you know it is right around the corner and smacking you upside the head. Here is a great site, Organized Christmas, with lots of Organizational ideas and calenders to help start planning this upcoming event.


Not only that but if you are a planner they have printable calendars all the way till Dec. 2011.

Mark one off the list

July 23- Wyatt convinced daddy to camp outside with him. Poor daddy didn't get any sleep with the next door dog barking all night and the mice in the garage fighting over my bird seed.

Wyatt swims

OK here is a repost, this one should work ok.

Wyatt swimming

Summer Fun

Wow I haven't been on here in forever, I think it is because it is so much easier to upload pics to facebook for everyone to see. I will try to be better though.

We are having the best busy summer so far. Wyatt told me the other day that 'I am the best mom and he was having a fun summer'. Him noticing and having fun makes it all worth it.

We have-

camped
seen a movie
gone to the zoo twice
been to the beach twice (once with his brothers)
gone to a movie with his brothers
been to the fountain park
played on the slip n slide
gone to the park
played miniture golf
We have had lots of BBQs with friends
Scrapbooked at a crop
Went to a fun 4th of July party and watched fireworks
I got to go on a bike ride wiht Derek and friends (loved it)
We are now just hanging out with my sister and their kids

Our WANT TO STILL TO LIST-

Seattle Zoo
See Toys Story 3 with wyatt
more zoo trips to tacoma
Drive In
Over night bike trip with Derek
We still need to go out on the boat
Wyatt wants to campout in the backyard one night
love to get girls together for a day of scrapping
camping trip on east side so boys can go
And lots more fun adventures with our friends

This is want I wanted summer to be like, no sitting around in the house to much, no hearing I am bored. Which of course still happens on the days we don't do anything because we are so worn out, LOL.
Hope you are enjoying your summer.

A few new layouts

I did this layout for Derek for his first ride using The Story Matters June sketch. I used the Little yellow bicycle gear die cut sheet and punched it out wiht a 3 in circle. I also used the stamp I got in my new Studio Calico kit. Love this.

I did this layout using the Echo Park Paper Sweet Summertime line. I got the idea for the layout from Creating Keepsakes July/Aug. 2010 pg.47.

Water slide

Wyatt had a GREAT idea (that is how he says it I have a great idea..) He wanted to play in the water yesterday and he decided to make a water slide out of it. He had alot of fun.

Dixie loves to lay in the sun.

Playdate #2

Last week Wyatt and I joined the Ormond family at Scenic Beach in Seabeck. It wasn't as warm as we hoped it was gonna be, but the kids had alot of fun digging in the sand/rocks.
We actually stopped and picked up our friend Summer and brought her too so she wouldn't have to spend the day in day care. She was very happy.This is a log cabin they have down there that the kids can play in. We also let them play at the park for a few minutes too. All in all it was a good play date.
Last week was actually pretty busy for us, Wyatt had three play dates that week. Monday he went to his friend Connors house, Wednesday the beach and Summer came back to play the rest of the day, then Thursday we watched his friend Ethan for the afternoon. Wyatt loved every minute of it all.