From Malawi with love

For those of you who don't know, my sister-in-law Jillian is serving in the Peace Corps in Malawi, Africa. She left in May 2008 and she hasn't been home since then. Some of my in-laws visited her this past summer - which was a dream of mine, but just couldn't work it out.










She is scheduled to come home sometime this summer, but we got the best Christmas present when she surprised us at a Christmas party Saturday night!


















Teagan, of course, was soooo excited to see her and was never more than a couple feet away from her all night. It took Tate a couple minutes, but by the end of the night it was like Aunt Jill never left! We are all so happy to see her in person and will be able to spend Christmas with her. She goes back Jan 10th, so we have plans to eat at the Pizza Haus and I think she has a list of meals she wants to enjoy before going back! I will have more pics from her stay as break gets closer, but I am just so excited to have her here!!























Before heading to the party we stopped at Bass Pro shop in Altoona to do a little shopping and just looking. This place is amazing! It was super busy, but we were still able to look around and take in all the displays and things they have to offer. Tate, of course, loved the 4 wheelers. Teagan was nice enough to sit on the back while he "drove". See the lips moving?

Once we got to Uncle Shane and Aunt Lindsay house (and after the Jillian surprise) the kids made some candy trains. The girls really got into it, but as you can tell Tate wasn't a fan. Why? Because he didn't want to save the Hershey Kiss for the smokestack. He couldn't understand why he couldn't just eat it. Poor kid!

Then there was cookie decorating.

Scary! We switched to a spoon after I realized Tate had a knife with frosting!

Then we capped off the night with the dads benchpressing the kids. As you can tell our 2 families have blended very nicely. And we wouldn't have it any other way! Thanks for having us Shane and Lindsay. It was a great start to Christmas!!

It's What Time?

Is anyone else finding that their evenings are flying by in the blink of an eye?
It is crunch time and while I am getting things checked off my list - and yes I make myself a daily list -I can't get done with it all.
Oh well, guess it comes with the territory. I did get some teacher's gifts off the list tonight. Our principals are 2 big Iowa fans, so I made this candy holders for their desks.

Pretty inexpensive at H.L. and used old Iowa scrapbook stickers for the lids.

Filled them with gold wrapped caramels and black licorice. I know not the usual Christmas goodies, but one of them is allergic to both chocolate and peanuts - I know, what a life!! Plus I wanted the presentation to at least fit their favorite team.

On to my biggest project of the week.

My sweet, sweet friend Micky took some pictures of my parent's farm a couple weeks ago and I wanted to display them on a window pane from their barn. I had to dig - and I mean dig, for this guy. It was in the best shape, plus I needed it to have 6 sections. That is years and years worth of dirt on there. And red paint too. AWESOME!!

I started by wiping everything down with paper towels just to get the loose 1st layer off. Then I sanded everything. In all honesty this whole thing only took about 1 1/2 hours. Better than I thought when I started!

Here it is wiped and sanded down. Panes clean, not completely, but SO much better. See the piles of dust on the garbage bag? That was nothing!!

Here is what I am thinking for the final product. I would like to either put a family picture in the bottom middle or vinyl letter with their name and the year they were married. Not sure yet and I need to decide how to frame the pictures. But, I have a week until Christmas Eve, so this might go on the back burner for a couple of days.

Speaking of Christmas Eve, we are getting ready for the man himself to visit. Here is Tate's impression of Santa: (I should preface by saying Brad had just dressed up as Santa for a basketball dinner and he stopped to see the kids - Tate didn't quite know what to think!)

Have a great Wednesday everyone!!

"The First Gift of Christmas!"

Can anyone name the movie? Its a Christmas classic.
So, I got started on the presents today and realized I still have gifts to get. I knew I had some, but it turned into more than I wanted. Oh well, it happens every year. Why would this year be any different?

















I borrowed the brown paper and cardstock idea from fellow blogger and friend Nicky. Check her out here if you haven't yet http://mommagetsreal-nicky.blogspot.com/. She does some awesome stuff!

As you might be able to tell Teagan had a hand in the wrapping. I had some glitter glue pens from earlier crafts, so she was in charge of putting the names on the gifts. I am pretty happy with how they turned out. Keep in mind that only about 1/2 of my gifts are done and what is left is in serious danger of being thrown in gift bags. I always start out with a lot of enthusiasm, but fizzle out pretty quickly.

The next couple of pictures are coutesy of Teagan. I always say she is going to be a photographer someday. She loves telling people where to stand, sit, or even has them pose!

I say she might have a future if she can get this turkey to do what she asks! It is not an easy task!

Another snow day tomorrow, but I might brave the elements and see if I can't get a day in. 3 in a row is WAY too many and too much together time! Have a great Thursday everyone. Be safe!!

Snow day to do list

I had to give props to Charlie and Pigpen since Charlie Brown Christmas was on tonight.

But, don't think that I did anything in the snow today! I am not what you call a snow bunny by any means. I am the mom who stays inside making cookies and hot chocolate and warms everyone up when the come inside.

I did get some stuff checked off my list though.

The kids and I were supposed to get flu shots today. I got mine, but both kids were running a low grade temp so those got rescheduled for Friday. I hate when things don't get checked off my list. I might hate it even more when the get moved to another day! Arg!

Oh well, off to the Pizza Haus for lunch and then...

I made the kids pose for Christmas cards during a blizzard. Tate's face says it all, but I got a picture and the cards are ordered!

I would have loved to use this picture, but check out the ginourmous (my word of the week by the way) snowflakes.

The last thing on my list for today was making goodies for our neighbors. Teagan helped with the muffins. I am pretty sure only because she wanted a snack!

And I made peanut butter cookies with peanut butter cups in the middle. Yummy! Good thing I didn't make many extras - they wouldn't last long around here! By the way - I use paper sacks to cool my cookies. They work awesome! The soak up any greasy/buttery extras and you don't have to wash them. Bonus!! My Grandma has done this for years - genius! I really need to spend a couple days with her to try and soak up all her amazing wisdom!

With that stuff off the list and already knowing tomorrow is another snow day, here is my list for the day:

Yep, thats it! I haven't wrapped one thing and it might be interesting trying to get it done with helping hands, but I have the day so I might as well use it. For all of you who get to enjoy another snow day - have fun!! But, no more after that until February! I would like to be done with school by the 4th of July!

Playing the Bowl Game

I don't know if any of you have heard, but Iowa football was pretty decent this year. Actually good enough to get a possible bid for a bowl game.

Which game you might ask? Well, thats a good question and one we won't know the answer to until tomorrow night. But at the Schaefer house we are hoping for this:

I have never been to Arizona and we have a couple friends who are planning to go with us if we are invited. Just to make you jealous, this is the house we have reserved if we get to go.

I know - just makes you want to pour a drink and sit in the sun doesn't it? My smooth talking husband talked the owner into "saving" it for us until we find out what is going to happen.

What exactly is going to happen has been the topic of pretty much every conversation around my house the past 2 weeks. There are so many what ifs that I have been cheering for teams I would have never gave a darn about before. For instance, it is 9:45 on a Saturday night and I am home by myself watching football and cheering for Texas. What has happened to me? A trip to sunny, warm, child-free Arizona. Thats whats happened!

I can't complain too much about watching the games. Especially when you get to enjoy this on a regular basis.

He is enough to turn any woman into a football fan! Need another pic? OK, here you go - hello Jesse, my football commentating love.

I guess we'll see what happens tomorrow!

Christmas Decorating

Warning: Very large blog ahead!

I love Christmas lights. I don't care where they are - on the tree, a house, a mantle, railing. You name it, I can sit and watch them forever. We did all our decorating last Saturday and while I have little projects I would like to do this may be it for this year.

Our tree is pretty tiny. I have been promised that once I have a ginourmous livingroom I can have a ginourmous tree. I am waiting patiently.

I got this wreath at Hobby Lobby last year for no more than $4 and have had the ornaments forever. I really like this look on the kitchen table. It could use a runner, but if it doesn't happen this year so be it.

This area is a constant thorn in my side. I have no idea why it is there, but it is so I have to find something to do with it. I found all these old books in my mom's garage sale box this summer. I can't believe she was going to get rid of them. They are so old school and I love them!

Found the tree at Hobby Lobby last year too. It didn't have the tag on it so the cashier said how about $2? And I said "Heck yeah!" I also put out the picture to remind Tate that he had no problem with Santa last year and this year shouldn't be any different. Its not working!

This picture doesn't do this area justice. I bought simple strand of white berry garland, wrap some white lights inside, and in the entertainment center. I love it! Simpe, but not too much under the TV.

The tree again. $4 worth of ribbon from Dollar General and discount red ornaments from Target last year and it was done. I also use a throw for my tree skirt. I just can pay $20 for one. Maybe a clearance buy this year.

The view from outside.

Of course, the reason for the season. I like having it displayed on the table, but this area needs to most work. Just not sure what to do. Right now I am praying that baby Jesus doesn't take a Nerf ball to the head. As time goes by my livingroom is turning into a makeshift football field. Not by my choice!

I got all of these for $1 each at Dollar Tree, used some blog suggestions, and turned them into this:

I really like it, maybe love it too! I added our trusty S and I have a $4 wreath for the front door.

These are Dollar Tree pick-ups also. The only problem is that by the time I am done shopping there I end up spending what I would have at Hobby Lobby. But, I walk out with about 20 more things!

Another under $5 tree from H.L. last year.

I couldn't blog about the house without giving credit to the hubby for his hard work outside. I love pulling up to our house with the lights and tree on. Its amazing how little it takes to give a girl warm fuzzies!

Thanksgiving review

I know it is a couple days late, but my always-on-top-of-things sister-in-law (wow, that's a lot of hyphens!) sent me some pictures of Thanksgiving with the Schaefer/Van Zee clan that I wanted to share.

Not a bad picture considering it was done with a timer and 4 kids under the age of 6. Notice Will attempting to escape and Carla holding on for dear life. It is also a pretty good guess that I am talking - imagine that!

The kiddos with their meal. Teagan had eaten at another Thanksgiving an hour before, hence the plate with a roll and jello!

Will really needs to grow up fast so Tate isn't outnumbered anymore!

This kid is a total hamball! But we are loving every minute!

Aunt Lindsay (you know, the cool one) let the kids "jump" on her bed for quite awhile. Us parents just sat downstairs thinking "just you wait Lindsay, just you wait!"

The crew. All four are mobile. All four have attitudes. And all four get away with murder when their Grandma Schaefer is around! What else could they ask for?

Kate and Tate. Yes, the names do get mixed up sometimes. Especially when the are both being yelled at by their parents at the same time, but they have both learned to run, and run fast!!

This will be the last post on this lovely Give Thanks background, so enjoy it one last time. Tomorrow starts the Christmas posts and up first is some of my decorating - or at least my attempts at decorating!