o christmas tree

On Monday morning we had to take the van to the shop.
The window busted the night before and the brakes needed to be checked.
So, we all piled in the two door car and headed to the shop.
Micah was so excited to get to ride in the car (might have been a first for him).

When we got back from the shop we decided to bust out the Christmas decorations.
We would have done it sooner but we were not sure the state our house would be in.
You've heard me talk about a big financial issue that we're facing...
well I guess I can just come out and say it...
it's not really a big deal to anyone but us.
We have to have our foundation repaired.
UGH!
It stresses me out just saying it.

Lots of cracks, doors that don't stay shut, some that don't open, slopes and other things tipped us off that we might have an issue. We've had four companies come and take a look at it. We've gotten four outrageously expensive estimates. We're not excited. But it needs to be done. We'd take a huge hit on the house if we tried to sell it in this condition. There's more to it but I don't want to get into it right now.

We also knew we were going to need a new roof when we bought the house. I prayed and prayed for hail damage but never thought it would happen. We knew it was time for a new roof because of leaks in the ceiling in our kitchen. So a roofer was at our neighbors house and I asked him to come take a look at ours. Turns out we had hail damage...from February! Ugh! If only we'd had it looked at earlier! oh well. God did answer our prayer on that one! The roofers didn't make it yesterday so we'll get a new roof today.

ANYWAY...
back to my real post.
We didn't know if we were going to have the foundation work done in December or if we were going to wait till the new year. It now seems as though we're going to wait...so we decided to get to decorating the place.

The kids had a blast.
They were getting all the branches out.
Dancing to the music.
Ohhing and ahhing over every little thing.
Micah still says, "WOW" everytime he sees the tree!
It's precious and priceless...
I'll have to try and record it for you to hear somehow.

And after dinner we went driving around to look at Christmas lights.
It was just a great day of family memory making!
Here are a few random shots of setting up the Christmas tree.

My grandmother made this angel...and gave it to my other grandmother. How sweet is that?! I'm so proud to have it grace the top of our tree.

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new hat

Our house is getting a new hat today.
The roofers come between 8 and 9.

Don't call.

I probably won't be able to hear you.

Should be interesting to see who can make more noise,
the roofers or the kids.

We'll be inside hibernating for the next few days,

trying to stay sane...and maybe take a nap?!

doubt it.
Hibernating like my mom up north with no school because of snow.
Except we don't have snow to go out and make frosty with.
Guess we'll just have to make our own inside.

If I don't blog for a while it's probably because I'm in bed, with a headache.
I've had one for two weeks and I don't think the roofers are going to help it go away.

Thus begins the unseen makeover!

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project 320

Remember when I told you about project 320?

Well, I finished my paintings and got them in the mail.
This is what they look like.

The raffle baskets are being assembled this weekend.
The bidding starts next week.
PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE,
go check out the blog and buy a raffle ticket next week.
Even if you don't win a huge basket full of crafty goodness,
you can know that you helped a kid have clean water to drink!

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wait...

I can't wait to tell you about the awesome family day we had yesterday...

but I'm going to have to.

So, in the mean time check out my photosite or my etsy store.
Christmas is coming quickly, so get your orders in.
Custom orders are my favorite so let me know what you'd like.
I'm working on two custom orders right now and can't wait to do one for you!

And because no post is complete without a photo...
here are two photos of my kiddos at this time last year! (sorry these are NOT edited)

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st. nick

There's no Santa in this house.
Naomi knows he's just pretend (sorta like mickey mouse).
But tonight we told her the encouraging story of St. Nicholas.
You can read more about him on Greg's blog.

We gave the kids some small gifts.

They both got some little notepads.

Naomi LOVES to write on notepads...

a little bit on each page.

We also gave her some paper princesses,

and Micah got a sqwishy baseball...
the kids were beyond thrilled with their gifts!

I gave Greg a really fun gift but I can't share it yet

because it's not really finished.

Greg gave me the Casting Crowns "Peace on Earth" CD!

Love it!

Do you celebrate St. Nick's day in your house?

If your kids believe that Santa is really dropping off presents

at their house on Christmas Eve don't let them hang out with Naomi.

Greg explains who St. Nicholas was to Naomi.
A little snuggle time before bed.

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it does get cold

No, we did not get snow like they did in houston and dallas.
But it was chilly.
Even a little cold.
I hate using that word since I know what COLD is really like.
But it was cold...35 to be exact.
But I think it's funny when people on the radio call it "bitter cold"
They have NO idea!

We didn't get the snow they thought we might.
But there was frost on the ground on Saturday morning.
I was trying to explain what frost is to Naomi.
She asked if it was frosty the snowman.
I don't think we'll be able to build a snowman.
Bummer.
Hey, would you build a snowman for Naomi and send us a photo?!

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30 years

So what does it feel like to be 30?
A lot like it felt to be 29...and 28.
But it's weird to think that I'm 30.

I used to think that 30 was old.
Not so much anymore.
But again, it's weird to think that I'm 30.
I'm sure it's weird for my mom to think that her baby is 30 also?
Right mom? (she'll be double my age soon...but don't tell her that I told you).

I had a great birthday.
I got spoiled...a couple of time.
My friend from church, who also watches the
kids twice a month took us out for lunch!
Thanks Wanda, it was a special treat and we had a great time.

Greg came home early from work and brought me this:

The stable that is...
I've been collecting the pieces for a few years.
Thanks babe, I LOVE it!

He also baked me this:

The kids loved the cake just as much as I did!

And Greg surprised me with dinner out and a movie!
What a great night it was.
We enjoyed a nice dinner and then some kill time at Borders.
Then we went and saw the funniest movie that we've seen in a LONG time.
It was so awesome to laugh like that.
So, go see Old Dogs and be prepared to laugh!

Saturday was a fun day too.
Naomi and I went to church for the Mary-Martha Guild brunch.
Then she has practice for the Christmas Program and I ran some errands.
After I dropped her off at home I headed to Linda's house for high tea.
High tea doesn't mean "fancy" tea, altough it's a dressy, festive occasion.
High tea means the meal for the day basically.
The food was incredible. The tea delicious.
The company outstanding.
It was so awesome to meet new friends and get to know old friends better.
We talked a LOT about homeschooling and books.
It was a great afternoon!

What did you do this weekend?
Anything fun? I bet it doesn't top my weekend! ha!

Don't forget my etsy sale runs till midnight!
Place your order now to receive 30% off!!

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my next announcement...

In an effort to continue to simplify my life I have done away with two photography web presences. I have gone to a blogsite and I am very excited about this!

Everything that was on my old website is on the blogsite and the blog information and updates will obviously be there as well.

I am very excited about having one main page where all the information can be found. Who has time to go looking through two websites anyway?

So, head on over to JT Photography and check out my new blogsite. I am still working on posting the old old posts but they'll all be there eventually! Clients will be able to see their proofs and order prints from this site just like they could on the last site and all my galleries are there too. I'm still working on fine tuning everything so if you see any errors shoot me an email and let me know.

I would love it if you could leave some comments (I couldn't transfer my comments over from my old blog). I want this to be a place where people can share with me and build a sort of community. I know that sounds totally corny but I just want my friends and family to join me on this adventure. I want my clients to know the real me and not just the photography side of me. I want my clients to become my good friends and my good friends to become my clients.

Okay, I'm going to stop now and just let you go check it out! PLEASE let me know what you think! I'd love any constructive criticism you have to offer!!

jtphoto.org

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christmas decorations

Naomi likes to do a project just about every day.
She loves to cut magazines, glue things, color, play with play-doh you name it.
Sometimes I have to be creative and whip a project out of thin air.
Like I did yesterday.
I took the extra green paper from the advent wreath and told her to glue it to the plate.
She did.
Then I added the bow and berries and we called it a wreath.

We also made some cinnamon ornaments for gifts.
I have big plans for these.
Some will go to family.
Some with go to the staff at church
and some will go to the shut-ins of our church.
So, if you're on that list,
please act surprised when you get your awesome smelling ornament!

I've got my work cut out for me (pun intended)!Here's the recipe I used for the ornaments:
Ingredients:
1.5 cups applesauce
2.5 cups cinnamon (4 2.37oz bottles)
1 Tablespoon ground cloves (optional)
1/4 cup white glue

Mix the ingredients together to form a dough. If the dough is too stiff, add a bit of water. Place the dough on a flat surface and knead it a few times. Return the dough to the bowl and cover it with plastic wrap. Let it sit for 45 minutes (we let it sit then put it in a plastic bag because we made the dough two days before we had time to finish the ornaments).

Place the dough between two sheets of wax paper and roll. (Put a little cinnamon on the wax paper first. Our dough was a little wet so it made the wax paper stick to the dough but the cinnamon helped). Make them at least 1/4 inch thick so they don't crack. Cut the dough using cookie cutters, then use a straw to make a hole near the top for hanging.

Place the shapes on a parchment lined cookie sheet and bake at 200 for 2-3 hours turning over half way through baking time. (To air-dry, transfer shapes onto a wax paper lined cookie sheet and dry for 3-5 days. Turn them over every day.) You could decorate them with fabric paints. When the paint is dry, thread a piece of ribbon through the hole and hang. They will look and smell amazing!

I know there are other recipes out there for these ornaments. I have made these ornaments in the past using a different recipe but they never really kept the cinnamon smell. I'm pretty sure these will...our whole house smells like cinnamon! This recipe was from "Turtle" magazing for preschoolers.

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the announcement

some of you thought I might be pregnant...
although I do wish that was my announcement, it is not.
some of you guessed that i was going to be opening an etsy shop...

and if you did you were right.

It's the Pure Joy Creative Grand Opening!!!

I'm not completely done listing items for sale but wanted to get the shop up and running in case anyone wanted to purchase a painting or photograph for a Christmas present.

We are having some big issues right now with finances (which I will explain at another time) and I wanted to be able to help contribute to our families income.

I have always loved to paint. I'm not the worlds best painter but I'm passionate about getting scripture off the page and onto the walls of everyone's home. What a fun and beautiful way to do just that. I love to do custom paintings and can't wait to see what our creative minds put together can make for your walls! I am also selling photographic prints with scripture on them. Any of the photos can include any verse that you love and can be printed in color or black and white. You will be able to preview the photo before it's printed.

And just because it's my birthday today and I'm 30, I'm having a grand opening/birthday sale! All items in my shop are 30% off for the entire weekend!! Now, go place an order so I can get painting! And PLEASE spread the word and tell all your friends to order something too!! Here are some samples of what's for sale!

I do have another announcement but it's not ready just yet! But hopefully later today!
Please come back!!

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