I got a "little" crafty....

Funds have been a little "sparse" these days. So I thought I would "try" and pull out my old crafty skills and put them to use. My niece got married in November, so I saw this quote and fell in love with it. I got a piece of 10 x 10 tile and then I rubbed alcohol ink on it and colored it red. I then used my sisters Cricut and did the vinyl lettering. I bought the frame with a 40% off coupon and they framed it free for me since I bought the frame from them. This was right near $20.

Every year my Aunt invites us over for a brunch or lunch around the Christmas Season and every year she does something special for us. So this year my sister and I decided it was time we return the favor. So we went to the store and put a few things together and then I made them. This is a glass box, that I once again, colored with a Carmel colored alcohol ink. Then placed the vinyl lettering on the front. Stuffed the inside of the box with lights and my sis in law made a beautiful bow that we super glued on top. It was VERY pretty....

This is a piece of canvas that I painted tan then glued some scrapbook paper on the side. Covered up the edging with a piece of ribbon and then put the vinyl on. This was a gift I made for a few of my girlfriends. This was around $15 even with the easel....

This was the second gift we did for my Aunt. Some exact thing as before just with a Christmas saying....

This is the gift I did for Daigen's preschool teacher this year from him and his two cousins. It's just a 10 x10 tile once again colored in alcohol ink and then placed the vinyl lettering on it.

This was my LAST project. I made 17 of these for my little nursery babies for Christmas. YEP, you read that right 17!!!! AND YEP that was for Nursery!!!! These were really cute and cost me $.50 for each of them. Daigen pre-k teacher donated the sticks to me. I then painted, super glued and taped the pictures to card stock and then to the back of the frame. Glued the little bows and hanger on them. They each now have a cute little ornament to go on there tree each year to remind them how special they each are to me!! :) I had ALOT of fun with making these this season. I hope those that received enjoyed them as much as I enjoyed making them...

Happy 40th

Saturday was my sisters 40th Birthday. She moved to Jerome in July, so the 4 of us decided to drive down Saturday and surprise her along with her oldest daughter Karlene. Here she is blind folded coming out of the house.

Kyle loading her into our car.......

"SURPRISE!!!!!!" I love my brothers face here.... She was sooooooo surprised and excited!! We went into Twin Falls and had lunch at Chilis then we went to a movie at the lovely Twin falls 12 cinemas. We never got a photo of us all while we were out and about. We had a great time and we were so glad she had fun. A special thanks to Kyle her husband.... your the best thanks for letting us steal her for the day!

Rod "cheesing" it for the camera....

Robyn..... well..... I'm not sure what the crap she is doing?? I think at this point we had all had it with sitting and we were getting a little delirious.

Here is Tash.... well Tash this was the better of the two pics I had. I don't know what you are doing either. I think the sugar from our Blizzards has "kicked" in.....

driving down the road..... we had just passed a dead deer I was hoping to capture the moment for everyone but didn't get my camera up in time...

"YIKES" our driver is passed out!!!

"WOW"..... great pics Robyn!!! This is how we all felt after our last bite of our Blizzard.... needless to say I didn't eat dinner that night.... Thanks guys.... I had a blast, it was fun to let loose and be crazy young again!! I love you all and Happy 40th to you Kimberly we love you to the moon and back!! :)

A whole lot of randomness

The "one & only" face!!! Caught pouting cause he wasn't getting his way....

"Don't I make the cutest girl ever!" He found my headbands in the bathroom drawer and came out looking like this.

Helping Mommy make banana bread..... he LOVES to cook, I think he just might be a chef one day

Bosten learning how to walk

bosten riding the scooter with Daddy.... he wasn't so sure about it...

WOW can we say... messy

oh.....crap...... look who learned to climb

daigen's snowman he made with his play dough

daigen's real snowman he made at G&G Clark's house on Thanksgiving day.....

with the help of Daddy.... they were sure proud of it!!

These are a few random photos from the Fall and Winter. Can't believe how fast time is flying by.

Christmas Eve AND Morning with the Kynaston's

So a few months back I got this "BRILLIANT" idea to have a gigantic family sleepover... um.... at MY house. When the 24th hit, I was saying to Dan "What the HECK was I thinking!" So 5pm arrives and family starts to arrive. The noise levels QUICKLY plummets out of control. "Take a slow breath AND breathe I have to tell myself all night." Around 6:30 we all sat down and had a nice Christmas Devotional from Karlene & Vaughn, then we each got to say something we were grateful for this Holiday Season. We then did the "cousin gift exchanges. Here is Daigen opening his gift. You can't see to well because he wouldn't look at me, but he was SOOOO excited...

Here is the finish product. he is in love with Toy Story right now.

Bosten was in love with ripping the wrapping paper....

Each year on Christmas Eve Dan and I get the boys matching jammies. This year they got Toy Story ones and matching slippers.

After the cousins exchange we sent the kids upstairs to watch the Polar Express. Here they all are enjoying the movie. This was of a VERY LONG night getting them to go to sleep!!!

Meanwhile, we "adults" had our white elephant exchange. Karston got some lovely bath gel and lotion!! :) Just what he wanted!!! :)

Robyn was soooo excited to get this Walmart village passed down from her big brother!!! But..... that wasn't the end of it........ Karlene snagged it right away from her! :)

Cade sporting his beautiful "Popcorn shirt" One size fits all.......

Around 11pm we heard Santa arrive and I waited until midnight when he departed and I got up and snapped a quick picture of all the toys he left for all the good boys and girls. You ask why he came so late..... well those "good" boys and girls weren't being sooo "good"

The kids have found the after math of Santa at 6:45am!!! everyone was so excited and had a great time seeing what Santa brought everyone.

More pics of Santa's presents.......

some of the adults admiring all the toys!!! "Oh.....to be young again!"

By 7am breakfast was being started. Yes, I know that's a bit early... but we Kynaston's LOVE our breakfast!!! Well one family had to be out of here by 8:30. On the morning menu was: Ham & Cheese Breakfast Casserole, French Toast, Cheesy Eggs, Hashbrowns,Orange & Cinnamon rolls. Yes.... to answer your question, that was WAY TOO MUCH FOOD!!!

Karlene and Vaughn doing a great job with the cheesy eggs!! What great team work you two do!!! :") Dan and Karston are laughing at Karlene cause we had to "trick" her to get her photo!! :)

Well, I must say it was quite chaotic most of the time, but really it was the BEST Christmas we have had in a LONG time. What great memories for us adults and especially our children. thank you everyone for making it a great night and a fantastic morning!! Love you all and I am so grateful for each and every one of you......

Christmas Sunday & Santa Visits this Month

Here we are right before church this week. All dressed up in our Sunday attire...

Here are the boys.... as you can tell Bosten is "very" fond of this. You will notice that this face of his is a reoccurring face in MANY of these pictures this post. (I think the terrible 2's have hit him already). HELP me pleeeeaaaaasssseeeee............

Nope, Bosten was NOT a fan of Santa this year....

He is "hiding" from Santa.... so HE thinks... Daigen was so excited to tell Santa that he wanted a Train Table..... oh... and Rosie. (the train) (Don't you love it when they start adding more items) :

A family picture. I was not a fan of this Santa, I think he was either "high" on something or drunk as a skunk...

Our ward Christmas party 2 weeks ago. We had a breakfast, then Santa arrived shortly after. Daigen really liked this Santa and talked with him forever....

Family picture at our ward Christmas party.

We are crazily awaiting the arrival of my WHOLE family. (well minus the Brown's) I came up with this brilliant idea 2 months ago, to have a giant family sleepover at MY house. (what the crap was I thinking) So needless to say we are going to be squeezing 12 adults and 12 kids in our house. Should be fun and let's pray no one gets sick like last time (7 yrs ago). This year I did not get cards out, but we would like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas. We are grateful for the many blessings we have been given and for the countless miracles that have happened to us this Holiday Season. We know that the Lord is near and very aware of our needs. May we always remember the true meaning of Christmas and may 2010 be a better year for us all. Much love...

First day of Snow

We had some record breaking weather the last few weeks. We even dipped into the negatives in the valley which hasn't happened in YEARS. We've already had a lot of snow for our area, but when you live in Idaho, it just doesn't stay that long. So, needless tosay you must get out when it arrives. Which is exactly what Dan and the boys did. daigen is having withdrawals from his daily bike riding so the first thing he wanted to do was... ride his bike. Sure enough he hopped right on and starting riding.

Bosten liked it for about the first 5 minutes, then he was DONE. Daddy started shoveling the walks and the sound scared him. (he is such a baby) OOPS... did I just say that out loud.

Bosten trying to figure out what the snow really is.... daigen still determined to get on his bike and ride the darn thing through the snow.

"Umm...... Mom could you help me out, the wheel is moving but I go nowhere."

AN ANGEL AMONG US

Friday morning Daigen decided he wanted to come and snuggle with me as I was waking up. So he brings in his pillow and a blanket with him, jumps up into bed with me and proceeds to tell me that "this is Grandma Karon's special blanket for me." In shock, I immediately ask "Grandma who??" He reply's "Grandma Kar...s..ton??" I then say, "no... who's special blanket did you say that was??" Daigen reply's "Grandma Karon, I said." I start to get chills. I have NEVER referred to my Mother as Grandma Karon, she has ALWAYS been Grandma Kynaston.

He then proceeds to tell me this: "Mommy guesss what? Last night Grandma Karon and I went flying. We got to fly to Heaven and see Jesus for a while. It was so fun. Then Grandma and I 'flied'back to my bed and she 'sleeped' with me for a while then she had to go home."

I wanted to cry so hard as he relayed this story to me. I miss her so much this time of year and to know she is sooooo near brings peace and joy to my heart. I am so thankful to know that my babies have a special Angel that visits often and helps keep them safe.