And kids are whining every day for this and that!
Nerd rhyming, I know, I know... From now I'll leave the rhyming to Dr Seuss. he did a good job.
As usual, I've been slow at writing on my blog! It's definitely the busiest time of the year. Family, Christmases, friends, crafts etc. I am in a discussion board group on Flickr, and we decided to be each others' secret santas! Through a site called Boogspace, we all signed up & then were secretly assigned the person we had to make something for.
I would blog about what I made and where it was going etc - but it's all secret till the 25th so better not spoil anything!!
The other day the waiting was getting to my kids (and me). I try to make traditions that we do every year, like the candelabras in windows and other Christmas decor, like I mentioned before. Another big thing for my kids has been the chocolate advent calendars! (of course) Well this year I was out waaay late trying to get some, and struck out everywhere. A few days into December, when I had forgot all about the calendars, I ended up finding some at Target! To make life more interesting, I made a "treausre hunt" for the kids. It really was only small index cards with short clues that the oldest one would read to the others. the clues lead them to the next hint, adding a few interactive things like "pick up ten toys each then go to the mudroom"...
The kids were great - with a little help from their pappa..
Some clues took a while to figure out, like the balloon I drew (they had two!) and the one I recorded on a play cell phone, but the whole thing lasted maybe ten minutes, if even that.
They ended in the mudroom where a last sign told them
"GOOD JOB! Now find Mamma!"
That was the best part. They couldn't find me, haha!!
Finally they got some help (I whistled) and found me behing the curtains in the kitchen, with their prizes!
The calendars!!
Since we were a few days in to December already, they got to open all the doors to that day. Quite the day. My oldest lastes maybe half an hour, then came and asked if we could do another treasure hunt?? Like, NOW!!??
I don't know about all of you, but every year I attend at least three or four Christmases. It started this year with "The girls' Christmas", then we'll move on to "Swedish Christmas", "Family Christmas" and "In-laws Christmas". Then we should be done. Anyway - the girls' Christmas here last night was awesome, of course. There was so much goodies we might have eaten half of it. I made the same recipe of buttermints (pictured above) that I found years back in a "Wonder Time" magazine. It's all powdered sugar, butter, salt and peppermint extract. Then add your coloring and voila! Gorgeous yumminess.
We all brought a gift, and played the "stealing" version of gift opening.
(for all who are lost - this means we all got a number, and #1 opens a gift from the pile first, then #2 can steal #1's gift or open another etc until the end, when #1 gets to steal or keep her gift. A gift can be stolen twice, or you can do a funny show to keep... This is great fun, since all gifts involved are super!)
I was number 1, and stole a friend's opened gift in the end... Hee hee.. I have been looking for so long for the perfect drinking glasses that are the perfect size AND CUTE. Well here we go! I got them! My only wish is that I could find more somewhere.
I have been really, really lazy getting any Spoonflower designs done, but finally cracked open the creative part of my brain again today. The weekly contest due today is "Bells (small print)". I had many many iedas, but was really hoping to try an idea I've had for a long time. I love stark designs that are derived from a photograph. I especially love silverware done in a "old copy machine" looking way. "Cartoonify" it's called in some graphic programs. Anyways - - the photo of the bells on the left ended up being my design on the right! Then I tweaked etc & entered a version in horizontal stripes to the contest. You can view it at http://www.spoonflower.com/designs/893695A few weeks ago I finally got busy uploading pictures of many, many swatches I have proofed throughout the years! I got more traffic to my Spoonflower profile, and in the end, more sales! I get lazy about this - and today, our camera broke completely, so I only have my cheese phone pictures to upload in the future!
I'll leave you with a photoshow of the swatch collections.
Find them all in my Spoonflower shop!
6 comments:
Recipe of those buttermints, THANK YOU!!!! Look waaaay too yummy. And, I LOVE the idea of a treasure hunt. Remind me of the one I gave those kids visiting us for Easter. Was great fun! :)
Lovely kids with some nice crafts. Great pictures!!!
Color Lesson Plans
Again: Glad that you kept blogging. You have so many good ideas. I think I'll do a "show and tell" on my blog soon too! (we've been busy w crafts and baking as well). Your treasure hunt reminded me of this years version of Halloween (here peeps don't celebrate it). Kids dressed up. I had a bag of goodies and a notebook each. Then I hid in a room and they had to knock on doors till they found me. They got a treat, then waited in that room while I hid in another one, etc... They LOVED it too!! :)
btw- our kids had to go without calenders altogether!!! (YIKES!!!) we went to at least 6 different stores looking... AAAALL gone. ONly time will tell how they'll recover (if they will) from this... trauma.
Kaisa, have mom send you some next year. She'd always buy chocolate calendars for me and hubby when we lived down south... (I know, spoiled brats we are!) ;)
@ sofia. They HAD a TON of calendars here too... but every time we went to the store we'd say "We'll get them soon, no rush!" well.... December 1st came, and there were NONE to be found!!! true story.
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