Plans Changed

What is more fun than unpacking from a trip to two grandparents' houses at Christmas time (read "car full of spoiled grandchildren fun") ?? .... Adding to the mix one very sick little boy!  Ok so "fun" is not the correct word at all, but you catch my drift.  Poor Micah started feeling pretty crummy right before we left Ohio, where we visited family after Christmas for a week.  Actually I was hoping to post some fun pictures of our trip this weekend, but alas, plans changed.

Because when you have a sick kid... Everything changes.

Your heart just hurts and aches for them.  It's hard feeling helpless - to not be able to make it better.  It's even worse, I think, when they are so small and can't quite tell you what's hurting them. Micah managed to tell me "All done. All done ouch."...  In the most pathetic sounding voice you ever heard. It broke my heart.  The poor guy managed to tough it out through a 14 hour car ride over two days and I was so thankful for that.  I didn't want to stop somewhere along the way to pay a visit to the ER.

Trying to relax

resting in the hotel.. sad!

  I just wanted to make it to our home.  We did.. On Friday night.  So Saturday we paid a visit to a local ER.  Jacksonville friends... If you ever need to go to an urgent care might I suggest Crucial Care.    It is a fully staffed and equipped ER, without having to go to the ER.  It feels like a private doctor's office, not like a hospital.  The staff is so friendly and attentive. They even brought me a blanket and offered coffee or tea and water cold or room temp!! For a moment I thought I was at the spa! Lol.  Seriously though, I have had to take Micah there two times because he likes to need medical care on the weekends, and both times I have been very pleased with the care and service.

So my poor baby has tested positive for RSV, RSV pneumonia , plus had double ear infections and pink eye! Hot mess to say the least.  Breathing treatments have helped him and antibiotics have stopped him from pulling on his ears.  He's still a snot mess and just has that sick look to him. He is so sad and pathetic to look at.

I never got that run in outside like I was thinking about while in the below freezing temps in Ohio. But I did "run" to the store and pharmacy about 6 times.  I didn't get to unpack completely or take down my Christmas decorations.  But I did get to spend some extra time in comfy clothes and log some snuggle time that is rare for this fast moving boy. I didn't go to church today.  But God and I have talked a lot this weekend.

The start of my new year sure changed.  But, when you have a sick kid, everything changes.

It was Christmas

Time escapes us when it is the Christmas season. Some time flies because we are enjoying time and fellowship with family and friends.  Some time flies because we are so busy getting ready for those times. Attempting to keep that balanced is hard for me.. actually doing it is even harder.

To be honest I have a difficult time during the holidays. Fuses are short and tempers ignite quickly, erupting into full blown fires that never really get put out completely.  The embers are hot the whole season long.. waiting to engulf a spark needed to flare up again.  Sometimes it is just easier to speed through, put the checks in the box, and wait for it to burn out.  But each year I join many well intentioned moms in saying "I'm going to enjoy this year and not get caught up in the craziness."  Honest... Did you say that?  Well, I can't say that there weren't times of getting caught up and or stressed out.. It happens. It just does.  And if you never had that happen to you this year... Wow!

I do think, however, that by just being aware of the way this time of year can affect me really helped.  Striving not for a "perfect holiday season", rather, an enjoyable one. A real one.  Taking with it the stress that is rushing to get gifts bought and wrapped in time,  but remembering to pray for the special person it is for while doing so instead of complaining about it helped keep my mind on the reason we celebrate. Trying to take things one day at a time, having small goals to accomplish, helped move me through all the To Dos.  Taking time for myself and working out we're also key... Even if I was going over lists in my head!

It was a fast month of preparation and decoration.  There have been Christmases in the past that have flown by and after I ask, "what just happened?" Only to realize... That was Christmas.   This year I didn't place specific expectations to leave me feeling let down.  I tried to just take it as it was.. And you know,,, it now answers the question with "it was Christmas!"

Silver bells... Silver .. mason jar!

I made this quick centerpiece a few weeks ago (yes! i did it early!) ... but haven't gotten the chance to share it (or much) on here.  I know it's a little late to inspire Christmas decorating.. so Pin it for next year :)  lol! 

Of course It started with spray paint!  I sprayed a mason jar silver. The sleigh bells were from the Dollar Store .. and already silver. I had the red sprigs and the faux cranberries.  Add some cotton balls and a dish lined with silver from my Grandma... and there it is!  A statement of a centerpiece, I think!

To get the red sprigs to say put.. I cut a Styrofoam ball in half and stuck them in.

I am Loving the turquoise and red!  So Festive!!

linking:
Whatever Goes Wednesday 
Christmas Categorically Crafting

Glass Glitter Trees

"Easy Peasy Lemon Squeezy" as Addison would say... and that is exactly what this project was. 

I found these glass Christmas tree jars at Walmart.  I didn't know what I was going to try with them, but they had potential & clearly needed a makeover.

Glass Tree... less than $2

I decided that since i loved how the Glitter Bulbs turned out, why not try the same technique here.

Here is another set of the glitter bulbs.. so festive!

We whipped up thees trees in no time for an after school project one day on our back porch.  Yes, I am rubbing it in that we were on the porch in tees in December :)  sorry. 

Pour the Mop and Glow inside the glass jar and rotate it so that  the entire inside surface is coated.  Drain the excess.  Then sprinkle the "Extra Fine" Glitter inside and tap the sides to get it covered. (see post on Glitter Bulbs for extra fine glitter info.)

These would make great gifts... teachers, neighbors, friends :)  Who doesn't love a little glitter?!

Ta-Da!  Easy Peasy Lemon Squeezy!

I don't think the project took quite long enough... after was homework time!

linking...
Craft-o-matic Monday
Get Your Craft On

BELIEVE

These turned out cute .. if i do say so myself.  

 I have liked the "block words" idea for a few years now.. and it has never made the cut of things i could find time to make.  This year, however, was the year!  ...basically because it was done for me!  While Matt and I took apart some pallets for other projects.. I saw these cute- perfect sized- cubes.  So like any crafting wife... I asked him to take apart more of the pallet to get enough cubes.  (I realize I recently claimed that the crow bar is mine.. and it is.. but these cubes were a little tough so I enlisted help.)

Thanks Hun!

So I said they were done for me.. the cubes "appeared" as part of another project. check

                                                   silver spray paint (i had it of course). check

                                                   BELIEVE letters... I got those at Micheal's - already painted, glittered,

                                                   and on clearance. Check!                                    
    

A few things found new life.. as silver :)

Just glued the letters on and .. BELIEVE it or not.. I got it done so quickly!

The next photo was supposed to be one of the blocks on my mantle.  They looked so pretty. (and they will again.)  If you follow me on Instagram.. you saw my sad fallen mantel.  My wreath, made of glass beads on a styrofoam wreath form, fell and broke in a few pieces.  :(   Just after I had finished the mantel yesterday too.. finally locating the red glitter trees I was hunting for.  I didn't get a pic.. that was on the plans for today... but nothing goes as planned sometimes.  My baby has an ear infection...

sad boy

... and after the doctor visit we found this (made me sick!)

See the blocks?

so tonight i relaxed with a glass of wine.. my poor wreath!  (Micah is feeling a little better already with the medicine... I'm not really more upset over the wreath!)

not sure what i'm going to do in place of the wreath... my goal was to be done with the house by the 15th! and i was oh so close!   ... stay tuned!

Christmas Address

For some reason I am into having our address numbers worked into some decor on our front porch.  Maybe it's because I have been practicing our address with Addie.. or maybe since it is our address :) It's probably really because I never sent out an address update and everyone keeps asking me for it.. sorry!   who knows!
I liked the wreath that featured our 513 for the fall.  I decided to use the same numbers and make a Christmas display.. but for once.. I did not want to have a wreath (gasp!)  I didn't have a plan for what I was going to do but I walked out of Michael's with a few clearance items to go with the red sparkly ribbon I got at Walmart (seriously,  it was sparkly, cheap, and a big spool.). I went home and made and hung this during nap time. That never happens.. doing it all in one day.  I felt so accomplished.  But a short nap time it was and I didn't get to post it then.  So here I am... a week or more later.

You may want to throw something like this together if you have a Christmas gathering coming up.. the numbers are large making it easy to see from the road and at night.  :)

Wooden snowflake ready to be spray painted!

I added a coat of white to brighten up the G.  I also sprinkled it with some extra fine glitter. 

and hung it up over the start of the front porch decorating

10 years!

Last week, November 30, was our 10 year anniversary :)  In some ways it is hard to believe it has been 10 years.  I wonder where the time went.  Then, I think of all the things that have happened over the span of 10 years... and it's hard to believe it all fit in! ..  3 beautiful kids, 7 homes, 6 duty stations, so many trips visiting the surrounding areas of our temporary homes,  too many friends to count blessing us richly, deployments and various times apart,  and memorable homecomings!
We have learned to take life as it comes and roll with it.  I used to be so not flexible when life threw curves.. it really messed me up!  But between having kids and living a military life, I have learned to be "a willow and not an oak" (a phase that used to annoy me in grad school when my supervisor would say it).   I wish she knew how I appreciate that phrase now!
Last night Matt and I got to enjoy a night away thanks to some of those dear friends I mentioned...  they kept all 3 kiddos! Basically saints ;).  Matt arranged for a stay at the Bayfront Westcott House, an adorable little bed and breakfast right on the water in St. Augustine.. America's oldest city.
We had a great time talking to each other (wow) and not using a stroller!  And the weather was perfect to walk around till 11.. yes.. all kinds of crazy!

down town st. augustine

sipping some wine on the porch

the bed and breakfast at night

view from the porch during breakfast