project 365 - day 365

Holy crap, day 365. Never thought this day would come. Of course I've pretty much decided to do the new Becky Higgins, Project Life, for 2010, which is basically the same thing. I am still undecided as to whether I will chronicle it on my blog, though. This photo is of another of Nicole's Christmas presents, and one that she desperately wanted - that kit to make the giant cupcakes. As seen on TV, natch. At least it's not an easy bake oven.

project 365 - day 364

One of the things Nicole got for Christmas was a little easel and some paintings to color in. This is her first masterpiece of the set. Technically not finished, but I'm fairly certain she's decided to be done.

project 365 - day 363

Merry Christmas! Once again, as usual, the kids got way too many presents. It takes forever to open them all, and mom is the one who has to ultimately clean up after all them all year long as they leave these new trinkets all over the house, but it's just so much fun to shop for them that I can't resist.

project 365 - day 362

I love how this picture came out. No, it's not snowing here in Florida, it's actually "reindeer food" that Nicole just threw, and I happened to snap the pic as it was falling down. I think the effect is pretty cool, though. We have been doing reindeer food with them on Christmas eve since they were babies.

project 365 - day 360

I love this bracelet! Of course, Nicole was quick to point out that they're not real diamonds. lol. That's okay, I still like it anyway. Pretty sure this one came from Cookie Lee.

project 365 - day 359

Rico, laying down in what used to be Jasper's bed. Jasper never had a cage, because I didn't cage train him when he was little, so I didn't figure he'd take to it when he got older, but he did have this bed in the kitchen that he liked to lay in. We never got rid of it, and now Rico seems to enjoy it.

project 365 - day 358

Now it is really getting cold here in FL, and the kids are actually having to wear jackets to school. We don't get that a lot here, so it's kind of novel. For about a week, and then we're all tired of it. My kids are fascinated by the fact that where I grew up, we had snow. I don't think they can even imagine what that is really like, since they've never actually even seen snow. The closest they have come is when it gets cold overnight and we get a little frost on the lawn. But those of you that come from the cold states know that is SO not the same thing.

project 365 - day 357

One of the existing decorations we put up again this year was the reindeer in the lawn. I love these guys. I just think they are so cute.

project 365 - day 356

We got another puppy picture from the breeder! This is our new guy, who still needs a name, at three weeks. Only five more weeks till I can meet him and cuddle him!!

pro⋅cras⋅ti⋅na⋅tion

I should be doing something productive. Screwing around online is not productive. I know this. And yet I cannot seem to make myself get up. Specifically, I should be working on a Christmas present that a) is going to be hours of work, b) needs to be mailed out of state, and c) I haven't even started yet. I think there is still a large part of me that is in denial over the fact that Christmas is just a week away. Sadly, my denial isn't really helping matters any. AND, to top it off, I'm completely freakin' exhausted today. As in I'm kind of counting the minutes till I can put the kids to bed and go lay down. Somehow it's not looking real promising for me to have a sudden burst of energy and get working on this particular project.

project 365 - day 355

I got some new Soylicious room sprays from Angie and they smell delish! You can really never have too many things to make your house smell good. There are my words of wisdom for you for the day.

project 365 - day 354

I did a massive overhaul on my master bedroom closet (not Perry's stuff, that's completely his problem). It's good progress, though overall I still have way too many clothes that I just don't use/wear, even though I got rid of at least half a dozen garbage bags full. I am always striving for more organization around here. Such a process, really.

project 365 - day 353

This year we got some new small trees for other rooms of the house, including this little guy in our room. You can't see it well in this pic, but it has really pretty blue and silver ornaments all over it, which go perfectly with our room decor. Our old tree in here last year was colored lights, but I think I like the all white lights better now.

project 365 - day 352

Every year as part of the Christmas decorating, we wrap the staircase with garland and bows and flowers and such. And every year this is one of the most frustrating parts of my decorating, because I can never quite get it how I want it. That, and the cats like to jump up and pull on it, so within a couple days it's all kinda jacked up looking. Oh well.

project 365 - day 351

Jefferson, back in his favorite spot. Unless you see the couch in a certain light, you can't even tell it's got about a million tiny cat claw holes in it. ;)

project 365 - day 361

Every year the kids make Gingerbread houses. Only this year I couldn't find kits for that, but I could find kits for Gingerbread trains, so I got those. As it turns out, they were a hit. So yay for trains!

project 365 - day 350

Flowers, from Publix. Unlike the ones in the red bucket, I am completely content that these ones will last just a week or so and then die. Cycle of life and all.

project 365 - day 349

Again I have bought new flowers and planted them in the red bucket. Again I shall wait for their inevitable demise.

project 365 - day 348

I am quite sure this isn't the first photo this year of one of us in the cage with Rico. In fact, I'm sure it's not. I don't know what it is with us, but me and the kids do tend to climb in there and cuddle him quite often. I imagine we'll do the same with the new guy once we get him. Only his cage will be even bigger, so it'll be an easier fit. Hell, maybe we'll all get in there together. lol

project 365 - day 347

During my Black Friday shopping with Grammy, I picked myself up a Cricut, because they were on a very good sale at Michael's. I couldn't resist. I have been wanting one for awhile, because they are just so much easier to use than my Wishblade. Woohoo. I am very excited with my purchase, and really really hope to catch up on my scrapbooking in 2010.

project 365 - day 346

Because I couldn't possibly feature a picture of Nicole with her trophy and not one of Owen with his...

project 365 - day 345

The kids had their awards banquet for football/cheerleading. I am so very glad we didn't miss it while we were gone on the cruise. It was nice seeing everyone again. Even though it's only been a little over a month since the season ended, it was like a reunion, because these were the people you spend practically every day with for three months.

project 365 - day 344

Home from the cruise and while we were gone, our new puppy was born!! Here is a pic that the breeder sent us, with him at 3 days old. I cannot wait to meet him once he hits 8 weeks! =)

project 365 - day 343

Okay, I'm just a kid at heart, I guess, because I always love the little towel animals that the room stewards make every day and leave on the beds. This one was one of my favorites, so I made the kids pose with it.

project 365 - day 342

The kids favorite part of the cruise, again, was the kid's room. They had different activities to do every day and night, and ours wanted to attend each of them. The kid's room director, Caitlin, was a lot of fun, and in this pic is engaging them all in a pillow fight.

project 365 - day 341

One of the coolest things we did on this cruise was tour an ancient Mayan Ruin in Costa Maya. It's amazing how the archeologists have unearthed these things, and how well preserved they are. We also learned quite a bit about the old Mayan predictions of 2012, end of the world, etc. Apparently the Mayan descendants believe that the world isn't truly going to end (good deal, right?) but that a time of change is coming, at least for their people. They believe that that change is coming in the form of a Mayan descendant coming into power again in their government. So, huh. I will take it, if it means the world isn't going to blow up or something.

project 365 - day 340

This colorful photo is actually of a Guatemalan cemetary. We saw this same place last time we were in Santo Tomas, and I thought it was beautiful. What's interesting is that they don't bury people underground, I guess because of the water levels, so they have all these colorful box crypt type things that they put everyone in. It's quite a sight to see, at least in person.

project 365 - day 339

A shot of the ship itself, from in port. This is while docked in Cozumel, where we did an interactive dolphin encounter. We got to swim with them, ride on them, etc. It was really just too freakin cool. I know you're wondering why I didn't make one of those pics my photo of the day, and I don't know if I have a really good answer for that, but rest assured those pictures will feature prominently in my "real" scrapbook. Whenever I manage to catch up on it. I think I'm something like 2 years behind now. Ugh.

project 365 - day 338

Formal nights on board ship are always among my favorites. Not only because I love to dress up, but because I really love to dress my kids up! And they do clean up pretty well, if I do say so myself!!

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**NOTE** The pictures from the cruise are being posted after the fact, but I am dating them for the date they took place.

This is the skyline as we pulled away from the Tampa ship terminal, on our way for a seven night cruise aboard Holland America's Ryndam. Destinations of Costa Maya, Belize City, Cozumel and Santo Tomas.

project 365 - day 336

The house is all decorated for Christmas! It went so much quicker this year, since we had not only my mom here to help, but Perry's parents, too. It really is easier the more people you have. Much less stressful, too, since we were done in plenty of time to relax afterwards!

project 365 - day 335

When Grammy and I went shopping for a few essentials at Walgreens, we came across this, and as she put it "just couldn't leave it in the store." It plays a bunch of different Christmas songs, and through the wonder of DVDs, my kids actually know who Charlie Brown and Snoopy are.

project 365 - day 334

This year we decided to get a new Christmas tree. Our old one was not pre-lit, which meant a GIANT hassle for my mom and I every year when we had to test lights and string them on there. Call me lazy, but I detest hanging lights. I can handle doing ornaments, but I think lights are nothing but a huge pain in the ass. So we went with a pre-lit one, with those led lights so that they supposedly will not burn out so quickly. I guess only time will tell on that one, but they rock this year, and are so much brighter than the old non-led bulbs. Loving it!

project 365 - day 333

Since we moved into this house in 2001, I have disliked our front door. At times hated it. It just didn't go with the rest of the houes - too dark, too plain, etc. Finally we have a new one, and I completely dig it. I would have liked to get the matching sidelights, but they were insanely expensive, so we took a pass on them for now. Oh, and of course our door opening, with the sidelights, is not standard size (shocking, given everything else we've learned about our house - you might recall this from the shower door replacement) so it was going to be a big custom job to do the sidelights, not just a plug and play like the door is. Thankfully the door itself is normal door size. And super cute, don'tcha think?

project 365 - day 332

When Maura showed me the holiday items PDF from Scentsy, of course I had to have this warmer. Since I go all out with Christmas decorations, naturally it only makes sense to have a red one to pull out just for the season. This will live in the dining room during the month and a half I'm decorated for Christmas.

project 365 - day 331

Forever ago I got an adorable set of red plates and little bowls from Southern Living. I finally decided I had to have this bowl plate stand thingie to accompany it. And isn't it adorable??

project 365 - day 330

So we ordered this shower door for our master bath like summer of 2008. Partly because ours was boring, and partly because ours was just wearing out. We had to special order it, because apparently, like most everything else in our house, ours was not a "standard" size. Apparently the builders here didn't figure we were off the rack type of people. They were wrong, but what can ya do? So we special ordered it, it came in, and then Perry told me he had no idea how to install a shower door. Why would I think he would, I guess is the question. He's not exactly Mr. Fixit. So the door sat in the garage. For over a year. And then finally we had a "guy" (you know, the guy, the one who CAN fix things) in to do some other work, and I said, "hey, can you install a shower door?" And sure enough, he could. One less thing in our garage, and one happy mommy.

project 365 - day 329

We have gotten into the habit of bringing Rico along with us to our various sports practices. Soccer really seems to be a good fit, because it's close by, so not a long drive, and it's only an hour, so he doesn't get too restless. And he seems to be a big hit with the kids, too. Not to mention there are often other dogs there for him to play with.

project 365 - day 328

For awhile now I have been feeding elevated, based on the things I'd read about it helping to prevent bloat, helping digestion, etc. But then the more I read, the more I realized I might not be feeding elevated ENOUGH. So I ordered new bowls, after a long and extensive search online, since most stores locally don't carry anything that is both elevated over 8 inches AND cute. This is what I came up with, and I completely LOVE them. =)

project 365 - day 327

So I came home and drove into the garage, and a bird followed me in. Then didn't want to leave. So, of course, I took a pic of it and left him alone. I figured he'd find his way out when he was ready to leave, and he did.

project 365 - day 326

I got this adorable Scentsy warmer from Maura for the kid's bathroom. Now it smells so yummy in there! I do love me some Scentsy!!

project 365 - day 325

Here's my girl, also ready to brave the cold. Girlfriend is ROCKIN those boots!!

project 365 - day 324

A shot of my adorable boy, all dressed for the (semi) cold Florida weather.

project 365 - day 323

Today we had to say goodbye to Jasper. He was 12 years old and had been a very sweet boy for a lot of years. It was finally just too much to put him through. He was diabetic, arthritic, senile and incontinent by the end. Still sweet, but just no more life left in him at all. We'll be getting his ashes and his urn will join those of Calvin, Spike, Milo and Sammy on the shelf. I know he's SO happy to be back with his Calvin. There was no other critter in the world he loved as much as Cal.

project 365 - day 322

Another fun day out at the fields. Owen's soccer team is fairly decent. I think he's probably been playing longer than most of the kids, so he tends to do better with the ball. But a couple of them are keeping up with him pretty well.

project 365 - day 321

I am taking a picture of my photo printer because I am mad at it. Do you have any idea how incredible irritating it is that for some reason I can't print TO it from the computer, only from the memory card directly by inserting it. That's just wrong. Because what if I want to print something that is not ON the camera's memory card? Then what? One would think that I could just copy a picture from my hard drive over to the memory card. But no, that isn't working either. I know you're thinking there is user error involved in here somewhere, and you might just be right, but I am choosing to stick with blaming the damn printer.

project 365 - day 320

Another shot of Rico. Can I help it if I have the world's cutest dog?

project 365 - day 319

This is a shelf of guilt. Well, it's actually books, but it represents guilt, because it's a bunch of crafting and decorating books that I've never read. Will I ever? Maybe. Hard to say. They all seem like such a good idea when I get them, but then they pile up (much like magazines - remember the magazines?) and then I never get around to them. I think I would need like a whole month off to catch up on all the little crap around here that I have the best intentions of doing and never seem to have time for.

project 365 - day 318

I just love this desktop background on Perry's computer. The shot didn't come out great, and I even tried taking it a couple times to see if I could get a better one, but luck just wasn't on my side. Aren't they cute!

project 365 - day 317

317 days into this this, and I have officially run out of things to take pictures of. I actually probably hit that point about 300 days ago. This is one shot of Sherbert. I tried about five times to get a picture of him actually looking at the camera, but it didn't work out. Not sure why he was being so difficult today. Usually he's pretty easy.

project 365 - day 316

Since I so rarely get a shot of Lily, when she's out and about and I have a camera handy, I can't resist getting a pic. And I do have to actually have the camera handy, as in already in hand, because if I have to move to go get it, she'll be gone. She's really quite the shy little thing.