school pictures are back!

Dallin, age 5.4 - Kindergarten

Ellie, age 2.11

"you can't do that!"

I have a really funny neighbor.  He announced, from the intercom on his police car, "You can't do that!" last week as I was putting up Christmas garland on my railing.

I got an early start because, one, I was in nesting mode and chose to focus my "nesting" energy (or you could call it OCD) on getting ready for Christmas.  And two, because it took me two whole weeks to get everything up and out of the way.  I work pretty slow these days, and I have a "rewind button", if you will, called ELLIE.  She likes to take whole trees apart and scatter all the ornaments all over the house.

Anywho....I was able to get a few projects done along with getting Christmas put up.  Every year, I like to make new ornaments or decorations.  This "Jingle Bells" sign was fun and easy, but the magnet board below, which has been sitting, unfinished in our garage since who knows when, is the main accomplishment.  I originally bought a piece of metal at the hardware store, then Paul made the frame to fit the metal.  Then my smart father-in-law mentioned something about it being magnetic...because I bought aluminum and IT IS NOT MAGNETIC.   hmm....smart Kristen.  Long story, short, it is now magnetic and finished and hanging on my wall, months later!  (And you can't even see all the popsicle sticks or card board stapled to the back....because when you are finishing it at 11 o'clock at night, you do what you gotta do.)

 These "Christmas Tree" cones where a fun, messy creative outlet.  I can't find the link, but I will post it if I do.

Using what I already had, I painted, modge-podged, sprinkled w/ clear glitter onto cone shaped styrofoam.

The tutorial used spray adhesive and colored glitter.

Now, I am off to do all of my shopping online this year.  Hooray for amazon.com free shipping.

my silly turkeys

Three!!!

Ellie had a birthday, shout hooray!

 

We celebrated with pink, pink, and more pink!

 

And lots of fun presents, dress ups, Dora, Strawberry Shortcake, Pinkalicious...

I love this picture, it shows her personality to a T. 

anytime she sees Paul and I hugging, she will hug our legs and say, "I love my family!"

she often tells me she misses her "bruver", or "bro", while he is at school.

life would not be life without this little girl!

spitfire, cuddle buddy, sensitive, sassy

loves to dance, loves to talk, loves to sing

loves to read, loves nursery, loves her family

prays for her family, her toys, her neighbors, her friends

loves avocados, oatmeal, eggs, bananas, candy

funny, smart, loving, determined, sneaky

beautiful inside and out

I didn't teach them this...

"I'm Barbie.  Yeah!  People call me Barbie Stuart Duncan!"  -Ellie

 "Mom, I'm hot!......That means I'm charming." - Dallin  

seatbelts, please

I think Paul would really like this design!

I am a horrible "back seat driver".

dallin's check list

among all the backward question marks:

cat

gitddog (get dog)