THANKSGIVING!!!!!

Here's our lovely faces leaving Gma Laga's house today (Friday).


Hope you all had a great time with your in-laws!

MY FIRST DIY PROJECT!!!!!

First, a picture of the birthday girls' dinner. We had Bulgogi, Cosmic Brownies, Vanilla ice cream and root beer. Quite a feast! Unlike her twins' choices (remember grapes, grape juice and peanuts?). At least Dad & I didn't have to raid the fridge after children's bedtime!


All right, just what you have been waiting for all these weeks: my first DIY project.

To the scrapbook store we go, buying a package of 6x6" colorful paper.


Print a template from a friend's blog:


Cut 24 copies from different colored paper:


Fold:


Trim each one:


Glue the edges together (my partner in crime):


One finished:


Twenty-four finished (actually 25 finished, because we can't count in our school):


Finished with the gluing:


Put the envelopes in colored order and glue numbers 1-24 on the front:


I typed up 24 things we could do each day in December. Dad & I checked our calendar for days we could do long projects. The other days were simple choices that could be done any time of day (we had to be careful of tutoring, school, basketball practices and games, church activities, etc.).

We hung the envelopes on the wall with green ribbon and cute little clothespins from Walmart.

I guess you could call this a family affair. My amazing photographer was Zachary.

The finished product, our Advent Calendar:


Have an amazing Christmas season remembering the birth of our Lord and Savior!

TWELVE YEARS OLD (almost)!!!!!

Tomorrow is the actual day, but we celebrate today! Our little girl is growing up. Twelve years old, can you believe it?

For her birthday, we gave her this:


She had no idea what the point was. She thought it was for making t-shirts like she did in Chemistry class. Nope!

We decided to let her get her ears pierced.


For her earrings, she chose her birthstone - Yellow Topaz.


Happy #12 Elyse! You didn't even cry (but it did hurt, she said).

PIZZA, ANYONE?!!!!!

What happened? I don't know! Makes me so mad!


We are eating it anyway, wouldn't you?


Any ideas, I would love to hear them!

I took a fork and punched four holes around the side of the pizza and slowly pushed the crust down. It didn't crack, just pushed air out the sides.

The finished product:


It tasted fine! Go figure!

MISS CRAFTY!!!!!

Elyse has been knitting away. She decided to make a "Messenger Bag" for her friend, Emma. Emma's birthday was in October. Sorry this first picture is a little dark (I forgot to turn the flash on).


When the flash is working, you can see the bag. She did a GREAT job!


I hope Emma likes her present!

Elyse is going to buy some more yarn and make one for herself.

PCS & FAMILY TIME!!!!!

Dad, Zachary, Elyse & I went to Portage to see PCS's gym. How do we entertain kids for a road trip? Here is how:


What does Dad do on a field trip? Get cheaper gas (35 cents a gallon cheaper than VH).


Stone Ave. is under construction. They are putting in drains and redoing the road. It will be really nice when it is done - but now, not so much...


Ta-da! The new gym. The cheerleaders practicing - no more octagon practices:


Our precious tour guide:


Dan, Emily, and Betsey ran in the "Hot Chocolate Race" in Chicago today. Zachary, Elyse & I decided to go down to meet up with them, have lunch, give them Grace's B-day gift and just see each other. Walking to our lunch establishment - "Potbelly."


After a great lunch! Dan-O is pretty good at taking pictures.


HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Dan-O! Hope you enjoyed "some" of your day!