christmas, nusz style.

here are some pics from our christmas.


sometimes they really do appear as if they all love each other.


showin' off the loot.


my mom got me this book....i love it so far! both hilarious and true at the same time.


i am SO GLAD it was not an over-the-range beer cooler!


nathan's beer holster. it will come in handy for lawn mowing, walks around the neighborhood, hell, it'll be handy for ANYTIME.


i LOVE these girls.


AND this baby! my benji.


my mom playing with benji and mater.


BRITT!! what're you doing?!


heidi is thinking of converting to islam.

hope you and yours all had a wonderful, blessed christmas.

thanks for looking!

sam goes skiing.

today we went to Crystal for the first time this season. it was one of those beautiful, perfect, clear, sunny, warm days that one usually only dares to dream about up here in western WA. it was also sammy's introduction to skiing. nathan spent the day down on the bunny hill with sam teaching him the basics, while katie and i ventured out on our own.


daddy getting sam ready in the parking lot.


all ready! (he reminds me of randy from "a christmas story" here)


first time riding the shuttle!


sam's first ski lesson (taught by daddy)




katie and i on the green valley lift


lunchtime. my pizza-monster worked up an appetite out there.


lookin' like a pro already :)


this mountain always makes me happy.

thanks for looking!

sandwich mats and superhero capes.

a couple recent things i've been working on. first, sam had a superhero b-day party to attend last weekend, with no costume to wear. a quick google search turned up quite a few crafty options, but i already had (almost) everything on hand to make this one by georgia leigh. i modified a bit, since i had a ton of red fleece on hand. mine was just one layer of red fleece, so it's not reversible, but on the flip side it was SUPER easy to make because fleece doesn't fray so i didn't even have to hem it! i used her picture as a rough draft for my pattern, and also her downloadable "superman" logo (although ours stands for "super-SAM" :) i also had the yellow felt and blue fleece on hand for the logo, so this was a super-economical project. the only thing i had to buy was the velcro for the closure. i made the birthday boy a cape/power-cuff as well, personalized with an "E".


superSAM, ready to defeat the forces of evil and save the world.


activating his "powercuff"


applique.

another project that i've had in the back of my mind for awhile has been reusable sandwich/snack wraps. i already try to not use baggies (for both economical and environmental reasons) but sometimes if i pack katie's lunch several days in a row the plastic containers that i use for her sandwich/snacks are in the dishwasher. and i'm lazy like that. i'd rather sew a NEW wrap for her sandwich than wash the one in the dishwasher LOL my friend gena posted a link to this tutorial the other day and i loved the sandwich wrap design. so i picked up some oilcloth and got to work.


i love how it turned out! it could easily accommodate a whole sandwich, katie usually just eats a half though :) you could also use it for cookies, crackers, grapes, etc etc etc.


and it fits perfectly in her lunchbox! (don't you DARE look at the pile of candy in there and judge me!! i'm trying to get RID of the halloween stash!!)

as always, thanks for taking the time to stop by and check out my little corner of the internet!

celebrating sammy.

sunday was my baby's 4th birthday. he is the sweetest, funniest, cutest boy ever. (i may be slightly biased, though.) we celebrated with family and a couple friends at what sam probably considers the "funnest place on earth", chuck e. cheese :)


big bro, little bro.


gabs and sam, lovin' the ride.


i thought this was *adorable*....austin leading preston around. preston grabbed his finger and wouldn't let go :)


feeding the ticket-muncher.


grammy/sammy.


sam opening a present and ignoring the giant mouse, while ella gives him a high-five.


sweet card from gabby (sophie helped her with it!)


modeling his new jacket.


gettin' some benji-lovin'.


cuppy-cake time!


lovely pic, i know, but somehow it was the only one i managed to get with katie and soph-ball in it.


the littlest party-goers, enjoying their cupcakes (or frosting, in benji's case).


sam and mommy ♥

thanks for looking!

halloween 2011.

sam's preschool class. they had a party and then paraded around the Y, stopping at the different departments to trick-or-treat!


a few of the *wonderful* preschool teachers: bozo, harry, and wonder woman :)


makin' the neighborhood rounds.


campfire girls.


this is a combo of being high on candy and deliriously tired.


happy birthday steve!! if i were going by the candles on your cake, you're 7 now? (P.S. loved the captain america steven!)


L to R:cheetah, dimi, texas longhorn, tigger, cow, austin, cowgirl.

hope everyone had a wonderfully frightening halloween!

thanks for looking!

homecoming 2011: a pictorial.

at the football game on friday, doin' the marching band thang.


halftime show!


the drummer's doing their stuff.


aus and his girlfriend meghan....i love this picture.


final score: olympic--26, klahowya--6. gooooo trojans!!


saturday, before the homecoming dance.


megs pinning on his boutonniere.


tying on meg's corsage.


are they not the cutest thing?!


meg's mom, melissa, served 10 kids appetizers, salad, baked ziti, and chocolate mousse for dessert. oh, and sparkling cider in fancy wine glasses!


me and my handsome baby.

as always, thanks for looking!