date two...{and a wish list}

our second date of our twelve dates of christmas was to one of our favorite places...barnes and noble!  ever heard the saying, "not everyone who wanders is lost"?  well, yeah, that's coach sal and i in b&n.  we could wander for hours, yet we always seem to find each other to compare notes about our discoveries.  as i wandered this evening, i found so many marvelous things that made me smile that i took photos for you so you could see...

 the fisher-price music box record player!!!  i actually picked this up and hugged it...i had one!  did you??

 i think my brother would love this...it teaches you how to speak wookiee by pushing the sound buttons for various situations, like socializing in the canteen or flying the millenium falcon.  very practical.

 my boys loved playmobil, and i'm diggin' the rv!  brought back some good memories from our xc trip in 2005...

with modern masterpieces you get to recreate artwork from picasso and other artists.  i love to color.

i have been wanting to read this book since discovering katie's website...



 ...and right next to katie's book was the other book i want to read!  so i read the first chapter...oh.my.  moving.  this author has a wonderful writing style and a story to tell.

 i have found myself searching for better picture books that tell the christmas story, and this one is so so sweet.  a must have!

i am totally buying this book for my nephew!  as a teacher who is frustrated with all the technology our kids are plugged into, this book is hilarious and fun!  you "press" the yellow dot and turn the page to find something has changed and there are new directions...instant gratification and multimedia old style- a book!

 these hedgehog babies were rockin' the hair!

 christmas around the world, a pop-up book was so incredibly beautiful and intricate...

 yah yah!  christmas shrinky-dinks!  {i had those, too.  all good moms let their kids do shrinky-dinks.}

wreck the halls makes you laugh out loud in store.

 the harry potter sweet shoppe kit includes directions for making all the delicious delights from the harry potter books....



national geographic is amazing.  the photographs are a beautiful way to see a small part of God's glory.

have you found anything worth reading in b&n lately?

just for you...{kim}...

so i *may* try to start posting more often...but no promises.  not sure why it's difficult.  sometimes i know it's because of life happening.  and sometimes it's because i have nothing to tell.  so let's see what i can share right now...

courtesy of julie abbott art

love love love this print...i saw it yesterday at carolina girls and almost bought it until i saw the price tag.  so i went home and told larry that i want it for christmas. :o)

on to christmas...we chose our tree at lowe's yesterday.  choosing the tree has actually become more difficult as the kids have gotten older, because it is a competition to see who picks *THE tree*.  that said, mom still gets the final say.  but it is some sort of honor to have mom choose the tree YOU pulled out of the stack. 

decorating commenced as we watched the carolina-clemson game...

the tree has a fantastic shape, we love it!  and we have new stockings this year, which i also love. {notice the dog has two}.

 this is on our front door.  normally we have a wreath, but i wanted something new and different.  i use this bucket every season and just change the flowers, so why not for christmas?  frugal me...this cost a grand total of $6!  bought it all at the dollar store, yah!

 my flamingo tree, sporting new pink lights that i got for 75% off at the end of last year!

we have several old ornaments that belonged to either larry's parents or grandparents.  this year i thought i'd put a few on the tree...

 and this is my playmobil nativity scene...david and jacob loved these toys when they were little, so we've had this set for many years.  {surprised to see the only piece lost thus far is the angel's halo}  the wooden barn, though, i bought this year at target for $2.50.  the set came with a cardboard one that is falling apart, and i thought the little wooden one was perfect!

now i know why i don't blog like i used to...i have two of my three children asking "when will you be done??"
and the dryer is buzzing...

time up.  peace out.

so far away...

i can hardly believe that a month has gone by. a lot has happened.

church camp.
school camp.
beach days at folly.
sleeping in.
staying up.
lots of reading. books books and more books.
grilling out.
friends visiting.
celebrating freedom.

but no blogging. i just didn't feel like it. call it the lazy days of summer...

i will post a few photos, to catch you up. me up.

just love green...

ok, becky is going to say, "I TOLD YOU SO!"

i saw this bag at target. and i loved it. and i left it.
then i went back today and i got it.

becky says i do this all the time with shoes...and she's right. but when i wait to make a purchase, i find that i really love the item and i really use the item. that's my defense. (smile.)

and better yet...this beauty is going to NYC with me next weekend!!!

more to come...