I'm alive, well.... maybe.....

So I got a sweet message from Amber making sure I was okay since I haven't posted anything in a while. Well, the past few weeks have been a whirlwind. I'm planning the branch Christmas party and I've been trying to get all of the decorations and such together. I have also been putting together the branch choirs and the actual Christmas program for the Sunday service. In between there has been music classes/piano lessons I'm teaching along with volunteering at Kelly's school, shopping for Christmas gifts at Unique Thrift (best thrift store in town) AND getting sick in the middle of it all. I had some weird virus that gives you flu-like symptoms for just a few days. Weird. So here's a few of the things that I find note-worthy:

1. I have found THE best gifts for the kids at a thrift store here in Louisville. I'm just ecstatic. Perfect condition, super cheap, and it's totally what the girls wanted! Kelly is super into diaries/journals and scribbles in them constantly. She always reminds us that they are private, but of course little sister finds her way to them to look at them. WELL, while I was at Unique Thrift, I found one of those "password" diaries where you have to say the password before it will unlock for you. Okay, this is a BRAND NEW item that normally costs $40. It also has a little movable lamp inside of it and a secret compartment as well. SO COOL. I got it for $1.30. I'm so stoked and I know Kelly will be too. Isabelle loves stuffed animals and big Barbie cars and I found both. I also got a couple of other really cool gifts there all-in-all totaling $21. Not too bad for a LOT of presents in really really really good condition or brand new.

2. After 2 1/2 months I finally finished the gift I made for my mother-in-law. I was soooo excited to give it to her and she absolutely loved it! (We exchanged Christmas gifts at Thanksgiving). She's way into bird watching and has been wanting me to crochet her something for a long time.


3. I'm in the process right now of making decorations for the branch Christmas party this friday. I'm trying to cut costs on decorations since the majority of our budget goes towards food. Once again I got some amazing deals at Unique Thrift. I showed up one day just trying to get some cheap ornaments and garland and such and they announced that all of their Christmas trees were 1/2 off that day only. Oh My Gosh...... I got one 4 1/2 foot tree for $2.50 and another 4 1/2 ft pre-lit tree for $8.50. Awesome!!! Then, we got another free tree from Shane's office. Now I'm making a bunch of paper snowflakes using Martha Stewart's instructions and those pom-poms that Candace showed us.



4. And last, but certainly not least, today is my mother's birthday. She's 49 years old. Okay, she's not 49 years old, but that's what I've been telling everyone for the past 5 years because I kept forgeting to actually ask how old she was. Turns out she's 54! She looks dang good for 54! (You know you do mom!) Anyway, I thought I would list just a few things that I love about my mom:

• All of my friends loved my mom growing up. She was like the cool mom that all of the kids wanted.
  
• She was literally the only person that could handle 5 super smart-mouthed kids that loved to push her buttons just to see if she would ever crack (she never did).
• She always made me feel beautiful and loved, and what more could a kid ask for?
• She's a dedicated wife and mother and a great role-model for me

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!!!!!