dear santa, its me again...

I have been an exceptionally good girl this year. I am trying so hard to be a good mom and wife. I try really hard to say my prayers and read my scriptures. I have tried on and off to be a runner, but I will not give up. I have made money for the family, and built my business. I have tried to be a good friend. I am sorry if I have fallen short in LOTS and LOTS of areas, but I can sincerely say that I am trying. 

Please don't forget about me!!!

You can get me anything, but incase you need a few last minute ideas... 

for my bike...

you can get these at payless... I really really really want some!!! I don't even care what color. I would even take two pair.  8 1/2 please!

or these, but they are more expensive... so...

you could download this from amazon...

This would be awesome, but we have talked about it, and I understand... But a girl can dream!! :)

Merry Christmas *santa* 

I love you. 

-Kristen

To do.

My to do before Christmas list now officially has more things crossed off than left to do. Feeling pretty good so far. Going to bed now.

jared made dinner tonight. Chicken bundles. Looks good... We will see. :)

magnet nativity and 12 days of christmas (free print out)

Every year I tell myself that I am going to do the 12 days of christmas for someone. Every year on December 14th I realize that I had already missed day one and I give up. This year, we are doing 12 days of Christmas as an activity with the young women I work with at church. So I am on the ball this time.

And FYI... Today is the first day of the 12 days of christmas. 

I thought the idea we came up with was super cute and if you find yourself with extra time today might want to use it too. Or you can just print this out for your family to use. I printed an extra set for my family. 

I am posting the print out for a magnet nativity set. We are delivering one piece each day.  I am also posting the word strips that go with each piece. This particular nativity does not have twelve pieces, so I supplemented with a few christmas symbols on a few of the days.

the documents are in a JPG format, so you should be able to just download them and print them on an 8.5x11 piece of paper. I am laminating mine as we speak and sticking a magnet on the back. Its perfect for the fridge, kem likes to hang out in there when I am cooking, so maybe she will learn something while messing with my fridge. 

When you print, make sure you tell the printer to fit to page. My printer printed at 94% of the size, just to make sure it doesn't crop off any of the picture. 

let me know if you have any problems

Have fun!

an adventurous tree

We have an ongoing debate in our home over christmas trees. I have always, every single year of my entire life, had a real christmas tree. so naturally I want to continue with that. Jared on the other hand feels that financially and logically a fake tree would be better. I win every time. :)

This year however, I compromised, financially at least. Instead of going to a tree farm and spending $30 on the perfect tree, we spent $5 on a tag to go cut down our own in the woods. Lets just say it was an adventure.

There are advantages and disadvantages to cutting down your own tree in the woods.

Pros                                              

a family adventure                        

excited to see the snow                

a nice drive to the woods                       

a hunt for an awesome tree          

fullfilment                                    

sentiment                                    

memories                                    

cons

an ungroomed tree

no snow to be found

Gas money

a hunt for an awesome tree

scrawny, mangey trees

bugs

pine needles

You get the idea. It was an adventure.

                                     

This puddle of ice was as close as we got to seeing snow. :(

then Kman wanted to take some picures. We got LOTS of pictures such as the following...

And TONS more like this one...

We finnally found the one (don't ask me why k man is wearing sunglasses and no coat.)

We got it in our living room and realized that we didn't get away with as much of a beauty as we thought. IT WAS HUGE and poofy and mangey. So I gave it a hair cut. 

It looked much better when I was done. Jared about had a heart attack when he saw how much I cut off. 

And so we decorated it...

My favorite ornaments are the glittery balls that I got on SUPER clearance at walmart a few years ago. They make me happy. 

And the cheap plastic snowflakes. LOVE them. I think I am a sucker for glitter.

It was a pain, and an adventure, but our tree is here and lighting our home. I love it and its uniqueness. 

and the winner is...

We listed all the entries and numbered them 1 to 40 and had our friends 8 year old daughter pick a number. (super scientific, I know.) She chose number 20. I was a little disapointed that she did not choose something a little more obscure such as 38 or 12 or... you know what I mean, but 20 it is, and that number belongs to...

Neil Vance.

Congrats Mandy (because I know Neil only entered for you!) you won a small chalk board. 

oops I forgot...

I forgot to add that you can purchase a menu board or a mini board by contacting Jared by email...

jaredTmoss@gmail.com

Seriously it would be such a great christmas present for the cook in your family!!!

My talented husband and a giveaway...

A few years ago, I told my hubby that I wanted a menu chalk board board for christmas. He followed through and made it for me. What a good hubby. :)

I receive so many compliments on it and people are always saying they want one. So He has perfected his design and he is now selling them!!!

Isn't this a beauty...

I love the distressed look. I think they are so fun. And what a perfect thing for either your kitchen or for an awesome christmas present.

We have given a few for gifts and people are always saying that it helps them eat out less, do their grocery shopping and remember what they were planning to make. Plus it is kinda fun to plan out the weeks menu. My husband loves knowing what is for dinner in the upcoming days.

And the awesome part is that he is making them, so you can customize them. Right now he is making them in four different colors, but he is totally up for suggestions. They are all hand distressed and antiqued, but you can order it without the distressing.

and he is also making small "to do" or blank chalk boards.

You can buy them now. For yourself or as a christmas present for someone you think is awesome. Or tell your hubby that you want one.

Full menu chalk board (14.5'' x 38.5''): $25


Small "to do" or blank chalk board (14.5 x 18.5''): $15


and Jared wants to give one lucky winner a small "to do" board.

And you get 2 chances to enter.

here is how...

1. Post a link to this giveaway on your facebook page telling all your friends how much you want to win.

2. Come back here and leave a comment telling me that you did it.  Please leave your Email address in your comment. (I have done a giveaway in the past where the person did not get their prize because I could not get a hold of them.)


And for your second entry, go to my photography facebook page and "like" the picture of the chalkboard. (I chose to use my photo page because it is public.)

PS... If you don't live in the Eugene Springfield area, you can still enter, but you will just need to pay shipping to get it to you.

Winner will be chosen by drawing and announced on Sunday, December 11th at 8 pm.

GOOD LUCK!!!

jingle over and over again...

I love christmas music. I LOVE it when k man sings. but I think I could eventually get sick of this...

You must sing it as loud as you can... and over and over and over!!!

I love it... for now!

Halloween costumes.

K man as a scary pumpkin for Halloween. More like the freaking cutest awesomest pumpkin ever.

Kem wore brothers elephant costume from two years ago. We had to spice it up a bit to  show off her feminine charm. I am going to miss that cute plug she can't live without. I love love love my baby girl.