X-mas Mini Session

Snow Day, Meeting Santa, and Other Christmas Shenanigans!

The first Snow Fall of the year I was ecstatic! A) Because I absolutely adore snow and B) It was going to be Ashton's first time playing in it! So we were way excited! I wanted to wait for Jake but he said to just take him out and we would go later that week. Uhm, as you can see below Ashton HATED it! We probably stayed out there no longer then 10 or 15 min. He cried the entire time! It was great! Definitely does not take after his momma.

We tried again that week when Jake got home. About the same feelings he had the first time! Score!

My grandpa throws a Xmas party every year and Santa comes to give gifts to the grandkids. This year was going to be Ashton's first time meeting Santa. I already knew he was going to hate him (my kid sounds like he hates everything on this post-he doesn't just all things christmas ;)). Lately he has hated any man with a full grown beard. And he is a complete stranger and he has no tolerance right now for that, so a recipe for disaster. All the grandkids were sitting in a half circle on the floor and Ashton heard the door open and saw Santa and INSTANTLY grabbed onto his cousin Irelyn. At this point I am laughing cause you can see the legit fear in his eyes.

So naturally I have to be an abusive parent and put him on his lap, and then the REAL fear set in. I'm talking blood curtailing scream and all! Regardless that they gave him a candy cane, he hated it!

Basically my highlight of the party! And here is a pic of my cute little family!

Another tradition we have is buying one new ornament every year. Here are ours this year:

And because it took me A LOT OF TIME AND WORK! Here are mine and Ashton's Stockings I finished this season!

This years neighbor gifts I wanted to do last year but found something diff. I finally got to do it this year, and I am so glad I did. It was easy and yet so cute! I gave a thing of paper plates, napkins, and paper cups. All Christmas themed. Then I attached this note:

"Our Christmas wish for you, 

less dishes to do!"

Turned out way too cute, and WAY easy!

And last but not least, here are this years Xmas Card! I love you all and am grateful for all those who continue to read my blog! I feel the love! Merry Christmas!

Gobble Till You Wobble

This year we were celebrating Thanksgiving with Jake's family! When Jake I put it together two years ago we decided to do it again. But the more we planned the more family was coming! So although we still hosted it we decided to do it at our cousins house. There place is much more roomier. I was in charge of the Turkey, Salad, and a Pie.

It was also our first Thanksgiving with Ashton so of course I dressed him up in the shirt I made! You can see how I made it here! But I loved how it looked on him and naturally we had to do our front porch Photo Shoot that we do for every holiday!

Isn't he a doll? Pretty much the cutest ever! I adore him!

Then we packed up the car with literally almost everything in our house and we were off! We got there and set up the tables with cute decor and the cute turkey's I made as name tags. They didn't turn out as I imagined but still cute!

While we waited for family the boys played football before dinner and after. I always tease Jake that he is old since he is turning 30 in April. But it was kinda funny, him, his dad, his uncle, and my SIL boyfriend all had to "tap out" of the game for some body injury or they were out of breath! Oh good times!

The food!! Oh the food was incredible! Seriously, I don't know if I had ever had such a good assortment and delicious food! That's what Thanksgiving is all about (well of course and being thankful) but seriously it was all delish! 

After we ate and were filled to the brim we played some games and more football and simply enjoyed the day!

We ended the night by going to my in laws and playing more games. After that we headed home! But the night was still young! For I had BLACK FRIDAY SHOPPING to do!

We started at nine and didn't stop till four. Here are some of the highlights

After I hit my head on the pillow my body didn't let me sleep past nine. So I got up and ate with my boys then convinced Jake to head out again to do more shopping! He was less then thrilled but did and I am so glad cause we got killer deals!

Overall Thanksgiving was AMAZING! Cannot wait till Xmas!

DIY Gobble T-Shirt and Glitter Canvas

This past week I had the bug. The "get your craft on" bug. It comes around at least once a month and even more around the holidays! I knew for every holiday I wanted Ashton to wear something festive cause I am such a dorky cool mom! I found two ways on Pinterest to mix on how to make the shirt and this is what I came up with. So I am sharing!

-Gobble T-Shirt-

What you'll need:

T-Shirt/Onesie
Felt
Fabric
Scissors
Wonder-Under (or any thing that will seal fabric/felt to cloth)
Iron
Hot Glue Gun

First you cut out different patterns or colors of fabrics into strips. For the length I cut 3 3 inch long strips. And 3 2 inch long strips. I used 6. You could use more or less. Then using felt, cut eyes, pupils, beak, and gobbler. I layed it all out onto the shirt until I liked how it looked.

After I hot glued the pupils to the eyes and the gobbler to the beak. Makes it easier to put on the wonder-under. After I cut a square of the wonder under as it came and traced each piece. Like so..

After you flip it over, and take your iron put it on medium heat and seal the glue to the felt/fabric. I left the white side on so the seal wouldn't come onto my iron. 

You then pull the white paperback and you will see an opaque kind of adhesive. It wont be sticky till to apply heat to the felt/fabric onto the shirt.

Now you apply it to the shirt with the glue side down. Apply the heat for about 10 seconds (longer with the felt, and make sure to apply extra pressure too)

After you do this to the all the pieces of felt/fabric put your hand inside the shirt and move it around to see if any of the pieces peel, if so just apply more heat and pressure. And Viola!

A new darling tee for Thanksgiving!

-Glitter Canvas'-

What you'll need:

Canvas ( I used 3 11x14)

Glue

Pencil

Glitter (any color)

Box

Hairspray

Q-tips

Now there is a couple ways to do this. Depending on your pattern/picture/words I did all three and free handed all three. BUT.. easier version print them of, trace the pattern with a pencil onto canvas (pressing the pencil hard) and then flip the picture over and trace again. It will lightly appear on the canvas.

After you have traced or drawn the project take elmers glue or any glue for that mater and outline your pencil and then go in and fill in the entire thing. This is what takes the longest but make sure to make it full. Its harder to go back and fill it in then it is to have to much. 

Now place your canvas with glue in a box. This is so you don't have glitter on every inch of your house (not that its a bad thing!) After take your glitter and shake it all over the glue. Once again use more then less. Now this is the tricky part, letting it sit until the glue dries! I did my other two canvas' at this point.

Once its dry, take the canvas board and shake it over your box making sure all the excess glitter comes off and goes into the box. Now your still going to have noticeable bits on the edges of your outlines. This is where the Q-tip comes in handy. Take the Q-tip and wipe around the edges. It will get most of it off.

Now this is the fun part (at least to me! I may just love hairspray) Spray the hair spray on the entire part of the canvas that has glitter on it. You can tilt it in the light and see if it has a sheen or not. 

Then once the hairspray is dry (shouldn't take long) you can touch your glitter and nothing will come off! Enjoy your masterpiece!

  

Our Forever Family

The past two weeks have been a whirlwind. A fabulous, overwhelming, emotional whirlwind. We officially and legally adopted Ashton on the 7th and then this last Saturday the 16th we were sealed in the temple as a family.

On the 7th we were scheduled to go to Court at 4:15 my stomach had butterflies the entire day and I kept having bouts of crying. I was so excited and nervous at the same time. We drove down to the court house with our little family. When we got there our family kept coming in. I thought it was going to be just my parents, my in laws, and Mark and Les. But my sweet sister Amy, surprised me by coming there with two of her kids. I of course, started crying. I was so happy! We entered the court room and waited for the judge. For some reason I had no idea that this would be like legit court. We even all had to stand when the judge entered. The judge was incredible! His name was David Mortensen. He was funny and lighthearted. He kept joking with us! They asked us some questions that they had to under law such as "Will we take full responsibility till Ashton is 18?" "Did we complete our 6 month placement?" Things like that. The last question they asked was our feelings towards the adoption? I had no idea they were going to ask that, so of course I start crying through my whole deal. But it was all fabulous. And after that, the judge said " I will allow you to legally adopt Ashton" it was really cool! It made all the hard ship and ordeals worth it! We were done! It was a great day

I had dreamed about being sealed to Ashton since we first found out we were prospective parents. So it was such an anticipated event for us that the morning of, I woke up and I literally felt like it was Christmas. I had been to a family sealing before and it was awesome, so I could only imagine what ours would be like. The fact that I would finally get to be with my little boy who was always meant to be ours was incredible. I sobbed through the whole day. I felt the spirit so strong. It was such a sweet day for us all. Although I cant share much, I can share that I know that little boy is ours and was always meant to be ours and being sealed in the temple to him only solidfied those feelings. Our Heavenly Father had a plan and we finally made that plan a reality!

 Last I wanna post the letter I wrote to Ashton when I made our appt to be sealed.

Dear Ashton,

I haven't written you a letter since a little before you were adopted. I figured it was time again. I was upstairs this morning texting a friend about how we are going to get sealed very soon to you. I looked down at your little face and got teary eyed. I always do when I think of going through the temple with you and your dad. I always get emotional when I think of the fact that I get to keep you, not just for a little while, not for this life, but for eternity.
I am sure you know, but in case you don't I want you to know I fought so hard for you. You were everything I hoped and dreamed about. But now that your here in our lives it's so much more than I could ever have imagined. I never knew that I could love a little boy so much. Even on the hardest days when I feel like a crappy mom and I think I don't deserve you I know this is what I am supposed to be doing. I know being a mom is my calling in life. It's such an incredible feeling.
Ash when I think of how you came into our lives and how it all worked out and how much of a miracle you are, it just overwhelms me. I know our Heavenly Father worked this out perfectly. 3 months into us adopting you, I was sitting there looking at you and I was over come with the spirit. And it just hit me that you were MINE! I knew before you were but it was just like for real deal! You were my little buddy in heaven and I am sure I sat there and said "Okay Ash, your going to come to our little family eventually, but you have to take a detour and come down a different way, but I will be anxiously awaiting you!" I know that sounds cheesy and lame. But I know its true! I know your my little guy. And sometimes I even get crazy thoughts, when people say "he looks just like you and Jake" I feel like thats cause your bits of me and your dad!

Anyways, I just am so happy your ours and that you will be ours for eternity. You have made our whole entire life! We love you to pieces! Love you Ashton Mark Frahm!

Love, Mamma