How to make a short tree tall. AKA dealing with tall tree envy.

Yes.  I have a short tree, and have developed tall tree envy.

What do you do when you have tall tree envy, and a wee 6 foot tree?

If it were December 26th (how I love thee After-Christmas sales), I might rush out and buy a new tall tree, but it isn't.. so I am forcing myself to make do. 

What is my solution?

Oh my goodness, how did that insanely adorable baby get in the photo of my short tree?  hehe.

Here we go

I started with a side table that wasn't being used and I covered it with white sheet.

Place tree on top.

My short tree has an ugly skinny base to it, so I covered it loosely with a rolled blanket..

Then topped with a tree skirt.

If you're pretty comfortable in your ability not to bump into your newly lifted short tree, then you can decorate and enjoy.  However, I have unruly  rambunctious children, and decided to attach mine via fishing string to the wall.  Safety first, right?

Fa La La LaLa La La La La.

:)

-Courtney

Happy Thanksgiving!

Today and always I'm thankful for this group..

Hope you're having a great day celebrating with your family.  <3

-Courtney

Make this sweet baby cocoon!

Baby Liam at 5 days old

Awww.... poor tortured baby.  :p

I'd like to say that I created this pattern or that I even made it myself, but it was actually made by my mom using this pattern:

http://mrsmissymuffet.blogspot.com/2010/02/laurel-love-cocoon.html

Isn't it sweet?

-Courtney



Thank you!

Thank you to everyone who sent your congratulations on our new son!

I must admit I've been horrible about responding to comments.  I'm usually bad, but I haven't even thought about the blog in quite a few days. 

I've been busy holding little hands.

Soothing sweet baby cries.

Patting sweet baby bums.

And staring into the most beautiful deep blue eyes.

Liam is one week old today, and I'm not sure how we ever got by without him. 

Life.  Is.  Good.

<3

-Courtney

He's here!

...and he's beautiful.

Excuse the horrible cell phone photo.  :)

Mr. Liam Troy is 8 lbs, 5 oz and 20 3/4 inches long, born at 8:05 this morning.

We're all doing great, and we love our new little blessing.

-Courtney



MIA

I haven't been around for a few days. Life has been extra busy around here, and it might be a few more days-week before I'm back with anything more than a "Here's my new baby!" post. :) Yep, in about 36 hours we'll be welcoming our new little rooty-toot.

On a positive note, I thought perhaps the elusive nesting instinct would never kick in this time around but it finally did. About 2 days ago I woke up with a super amount of energy and decided it was time to start cleaning. Of course, my cleaning really didn't make things look better for most of the day...

But, at least the couch no longer has random cheerios or lego parts under it.

I'm officially ready to have this baby.  Everything is bought.  Everything is washed.  The carseat is in the car.  My packing list is made, although not yet packed.   I've also officially put on more lbs in this last month than I gained in the first 8 combined.  :/   We'll just pretend I'm having a 15 pounder and not the wee little 7 lb baby my doctor is predicting. 

LOL!  I officially can't believe I'm posting that photo.. but 'just keeping it real.'

I hope everyone has a great week and think about me on Wed. as I'm welcoming another beautiful little boy into the world.  :)

-Courtney

12 Days of Handmade Christmas

I've recently stumbled upon the Life in Grace Blog, and I've fallen in love with her 12 Days of Handmade Christmas series.

Life in Grace- 12 Days of Christmas

Hop on over and check it out.  She is on day 4, so go back and look at the previous days too!

Also, here is a link to the 2009 addition, which also has great ideas:

2009 12 Days of Christmas

I am SO making some of this stuff!

Fabric store, here I come!  :)

-Courtney

Most unconventional stocking EVER.

Oh face it, you know you're thinking about Christmas too.

Right?

Well, I was thinking about stockings this morning.  We all have matching stockings, and since we'll be having a new member of the family this year, I'll need to add another stocking to the pile.

Only thing is, I doubt I'll be able to find a matching one.  So, I got to thinking that I'll just make all of us new ones.

Enter google image search to come up with ideas.

I found this over at Southern Living, and just had to share.

I think this is just hilarious. 

My husband would think I had officially lost my mind.  We're already into unofficial territory, and I'm sure this would bump me right over the line.  LOL.  So quirky and fun though!

-Courtney



Our Halloween Weekend.

Otherwise known as the longest post in the history of man.  :p
I hope everyone enjoyed their weekend.   Ours was extremely busy, but I think the boys had a lot of fun.

Saturday my husband did yard work while I closed myself off from the world and concentrated on homework.  Trying to keep current with my classes in this last trimester, and now trying to get ahead a tad so things will be easier after the baby has kept me insanely preoccupied.   My new motto is - It will all be worth it in the end.   Someone tell me I'm right!  LOL!

I walked outside Saturday afternoon to see my husband sacking up a million and one pine needles.  Let's just say that some of my ideas aren't always the greatest.  :p  We were officially the trashiest house on the block when we were done transforming our garbage bags full of needles into this:

I even encouraged Brodie to draw creepy ghost faces onto quarter filled bags which I then hung from the trees.

Oh yeah, I went there.   haha.

Honestly, I didn't feel too bad about our trashy look when I saw several trick-or-treaters posing with our trash bags the next evening.  Honestly though, you'll see why this is so funny to me if you could see the yards of our neighbors.  Don't worry... I took photos, they're coming up! 

Saturday evening we took the boys to pick out pumpkins.

Yes, it was the end of October and my boys are wearing shorts and summery shoes.  Gotta love Texas.

Daddy- "Rylan, come draw a scary face on your pumpkin for me."

hahahah... the smallest pumpkin face ever!

I must admit that I really do have the best husband who is the best daddy ever.  While I was busy doing more homework on Sunday afternoon, he carved pumpkins with the boys.  (I did sneak in and take a photo or two).

Sunday evening (Halloween) we took the boys to a local church for their Trunk or Treat.  I was able to get this photo of all four of us before leaving the house.

Now, can you believe these decorations?  We were afraid that moving to a neighborhood with not many kids would be a little dull on Halloween.  Man were we wrong.  These were all ON our street. 

I believe that if we want to hang with our neighbors next Halloween, we'd better started planning now.  haha.

I only hope they get this excited about Christmas!

I hope you and your families had a spookily-safe Halloween!

-Courtney