of lizards & reading and such

WE HAD A WONDERFUL COUPLE WEEKS OFF FROM SCHOOL TO CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS.  THE GIRLS LOVED HAVING "SLEEPOVERS" IN EACH OTHER'S ROOM.  THEY CHOSE AMAZING GIFTS FOR ONE ANOTHER - LISTENING TO IDEAS FROM THE RECIPIENT TO BE ABLE TO CHOOSE SOMETHING THEY WOULD L-O-V-E!  I LIKE TO GET OUR CHRISTMAS SHOPPING DONE BEFORE DECEMBER...THAT WAY WE CAN ENJOY ALL THE FESTIVITIES THAT COME OUR WAY...CONCERTS, PARTIES & GET-TOGETHERS, CHURCH ACTIVITIES, DANCE RECITAL, (& WHILE THE GIRLS ARE YOUNG) THE T.V. SPECIALS, ETC.  EACH YEAR I LIKE TO MAKE SOMETHING FOR THE GIRLS...THIS YEAR IT WAS JUMBO "BUTTON PILLOWS".  AND THE REACTION FROM THE GIRLS?  TOTALLY WORTH MY TIME AT THE SEWING MACHINE FOR SURE!

WREN IS GOING THROUGH A "LIZARD" PHASE.  SHE DID ASK SANTA FOR A REAL ONE, BUT MOMMA EXPLAINED THAT SANTA WILL NOT BRING A REAL PET WITHOUT GETTING PERMISSION FROM THE PARENTS.  WREN'S PARENTS (ERRR, MOSTLY MOMMA) SAID, "NO!".  WE REMINDED HER THAT HAVING A FURBALL CAT AND A POOCH WERE PLENTY FOR OUR HOME.  SHE WAS OKAY.  BUT SHE DID GET VERY SPECIFIC ABOUT WHAT KIND OF STUFFY LIZARD SHE WANTED:  A BLUE, GIRL LIZARD - NOT A CHAMELEON, BUT A LIZARD...AND SOME FAKE FLIES SO THE LIZARD HAS FOOD.  LUCKILY, NEA & I DID SOME SURFIN' O' THE NET AND WERE ABLE TO FIND:

CHICKEN, THE LIZARD, WAS A GRAND PRESENT FROM LIL SISTER

JUNIOR - THE NEWEST LIZARD

CHICKEN, THE LIZARD & JUNIOR 

AND WREN LOVED THE LIZARD FROM SISTER!  NOT SURE WHERE THE NAME "CHICKEN" CAME FROM, BUT IT FITS.  ADDING IN "JUNIOR" A COUPLE WEEKENDS AGO AND THEY MAKE AN AWFULLY CUTE GROUP, EH?!

AND HERE ARE THE "READING CORNERS" IN EACH GIRLS' ROOM.  THESE JUMBO BUTTON PILLOWS ARE SUPER COMFY...I MIGHT NEED TO MAKE A COUPLE FOR THE BASEMENT, TOO!  A BIG HIT WITH THE GIRLS...THEY GET COMFY COZY AND DO SOME "ALONE READING"...OR TUCK IN A BUDDY OR TWO AT BEDTIME...AND IT HELPS THE GIRLS REALIZE THAT WHILE SHOPPING AND BUYING IS FUN, NOT EVERYTHING HAS TO BE BOUGHT...BEING RESOURCEFUL & CRAFTY ARE GOOD TRAITS TO HAVE. 

I THINK WREN MIGHT HAVE PUT IT BEST: 

"THESE ARE BETTER THAN STORE BOUGHT BECAUSE MOMMA SEWED IN SOME OF HER LOVE INSIDE!"

NEA'S READING AREA

WREN'S READING AREA

OH, AND WHILE I HAD A FEW MOMENTS OVER THE WEEKEND...I GOT THE PORCH A LITTLE "VALENTINED"!

$1.49 GARISH WREATH, 15 MINUTES, SCRAPS OF PAPER & SOME HOT GLUE CAN BE PERFECT FOR THE VALENTINE'S SEASON ON OUR FRONT DOOR

do u *heart* today?

this year, all things valentiney have included:

dinner date with hubs, while the girls enjoyed a disney-movie-night with an auntie.

chocolates in a heart-shaped box.
3 roses - pink chosen by each daughter and red chosen by hubs.
wedding & anniversary rings that look like new!  sparkles galore again!
more jewelry, in the form of pretty little earrings.
dinner with family.
oranges and apples for the girls' valentine's day parties (complete with "orange you glad you're my valentine?" and "you are the apple of my eye" stickers).
loads of glitter, purple and home-made goodness in each  & every card the girls gave to their classmates.  not too girly or mushy...just adorable and fun!
and while the crafting was in full-speed-ahead mode, a certain hubs took my car and washed it, gassed it up AND detailed the inside!  awe.some!

and then today, there were new dresses for the girls from momma and daddy.  there were valentines to a few people who were absolutely not expecting them (we love doing that!)...the girls loved how much those people appreciated their little gifts (and i am hoping that they are learning that being generous does not always involve a bunch of money...and that many times, giving really IS more fun than receiving!).

each girl had a class party.  both got cute cards. and candy. and candy. and pencils. and bracelets. and magnets. and stickers. and tattoos. and more candy.  they shall not want for sweets, that is for sure.

and then that was supposed to be "it".
and "it" was plenty!  and great!

but, then after a phone call...and an offer of an extra ticket...
i get to go to the amy grant & michael w. smith concert tonight!
and...hubs won a dozen roses at work...rumor has it that he's giving them to me...

i am beyond loved i do believe.