Operation Christmas Child

This Sunday we brought our Operation Christmas Child boxes to church, which reminded me to remind you that if you want to participate in charitable giving this holiday season, this is a great source to give through.  The concept of this project, for those of you unfamiliar with it, is that you fill a standard sized shoe box with a bunch of great stuff that you think a child needs/wants.  You pick whether you fill your box for a male/female child and what age group.  Better hurry though, box pick-ups are this week.  Here's why I like it... 1.) You can spend as little or as much as you want.  This doesn't require a specific dollar ammount; 2.) This is the only charity I can think of where literally 100% of your donations go directly to a child who needs them; and 3.) You can actually track your donation and see what country your box is dropped off at.  My kids love doing this, believe it or not, and for 1 day of this consumer-driven holiday season they are actually focused on someone besides themselves, which is refreshing as well.  Interested?  Find everything from boxes, to labels, to packing lists at http://www.samaritanspurse.org/index.php/occ. 

Excuses

If you follow this blog, you may have noticed that I haven't blogged all week.  My only defense for this is that I was in a mad rush to get ready for the Osborne craft fair which was today.  Take a look at all our goodies...

However, we didn't even come close to being sold out.  So if you're in the market for some cards, go on in to Shabby Shed on Main Street in Osborne and check out the selection there.  Shabby Shed can also be found online at http://www.shabbyshedfurniture.com/.  And since I missed Thankful Thursday this week,  let me just say that this week I am immensely greatful for a supportive family.  Thanks to those late night emergency room babysitters, those last-minute on-call bus drivers, and those infinately patient souls who saved me from taking three kids to McDonalds by myself!

Color Room L.O. Challenge #83

When photographed, the letters here don't really pop, but in the acutal layout they have some dimension & texture that makes them stand out a little more.  I feel certain that was info that you couldn't possibly have lived the rest of your life not knowing. Ha.  Happy Monday.

Thankful Thursdays

In honor of this month of thanksgiving, I introduce to you... Thankful Thursdays.  It is my goal in November, to be more thankful, so today I am thankful that I got to spend an entire day at home!  I desperately needed a day where I actually crossed things off my to-do list instead of adding to it.  And, I am thankful that it is almost bedtime.  With that, I will leave you with a pic of one of my to-do's for the day: get Alex's fall party snacks ready for school...

(In case you are wondering, these cupcakes are supposed to be pumpkins.)

Color Room Challenge #82 L.O.

This is not my usual.  Those of you who know me can attest to the fact that I am not a "pink" kind of gal. :)  But I had lots of fun composing this one...

As Promised...

Yes, I know I am a day or two late here, but I did promise these pics & I just got my photo card back, so here are the Halloween pumpkin pics I promised last week...
(Oh, and Miles and Jeni, don't be haters.  I think we all know who had the coolest pumpkin.  The sooner you admit it and move on, the easier it will be on everyone.)

From left to right: Miles - "Boo"; Jess - "Eloquent Fall Foilage"; Jeni - "Two Ghosts"; Josh - "Angry Bird";

BJ & Alex - "Grim Reaper"

It's "The Great Pumpkin" Charlie Brown!

Little Red Riding Hood

Alright, I couldn't resist putting these pics of last night up on this blog.  Hope you enjoy as many laughs as I have over these!