Nov 4 craft

Our craft for Friday, Nov 4 is Fudge Cookie Cutters! Since we didn't get a chance to practice it, I'm going spell it out for you here and hopefully, you'll have no problems at the meeting :0)

Items you need to bring:

• large-ish microwaveable bowl
• rubber spatula for stirring

Items provided:

• fudge ingredients
• cookie cutters
• paper plates
• foil
• decorations
• cellophane bag
• ribbon for tying
• gift tags

Step 1:

Place 2 1/2 c choc chips, 1 can sweetened condensed milk, and 2 T butter in your microwave bowl

Step 2:

While you are preparing your fudge, please have your moms choose a cookie cutter and wrap the bottom in foil

Like this

Step 3:

Microwave your fudge. Nuke it for about 2 minutes in 30 second intervals, stirring between each interval until completely melted. Might take more or less depending on strenght of the microwave.

Step 4:

Gently spoon your fudge into your foil-bottomed cookie cutter, pushing your fudge into all the curves and corners. This can easily be done by each mom with a spoon and maybe their finger (if need be)

Step 5:

Decorate with candy & icing. I didn't have the proper candies or icing as Christmas candy will not be on shelves until Wed/Thurs this week. So I did the best I could. This icing will not package nicely so it's going back and I'll have to come up with something else. But I will have little candies for decorating on Friday. Your finished cookie cutters WILL look better than this!

****Please note that these will need to be given time to firm up so the ladies will have to take the cutters home and package them after the fudge is solid (after refrigeration) and the icing has had time to become firm. DON'T rush it! You will be sad if you do! Wait until everything is firm and dry before putting it in the bag and tying with the tag & ribbon! Thx.

Jan 28 craft

Supplies :0) We have LOTS so encourage your moms to have fun!

I have 4 layers here but you can always do more... or less.

Thread the buttons on the wire

Thread the wire thru the holes in the snap clip and give a twist. I used a pliers to twist so it gets good and tight.

You can clip the excess wire with an ordinary scissors - it is very fine. Because it IS so fine, tell your moms to be careful not to twist TOO tight as it will break and then you'll have to start over. This is especially important if you are doing the fabric covered buttons because starting those over because of broken wire is much more complicated.

Cover the exposed wires with a piece of felt and glue.

This really doesn't do it justice. It is MUCH cuter in person! Colors are brighter and cuter :0)

examples

I'm missing a picture here but just imagine that you take your plier and remove the little loop (at the top of this photo) from the back of the fabric button. Then thread wire thru the holes, as pictured.

Then assemble your button, as we did at my house.

I cut these little flowers as a background to the fabric button. I don't love it but some might and it's an example of how to fancy it up!

Poke the wire thru the 2 layers of background fabric. It goes easily - just like a needle.

Then thread the wires thru the snap clip and twist. Then cut off excess wire - being careful not to break it.

Cover exposed wires with felt and glue

Various samples. I personally like the button ones more then the fabric but we have lots of options for our moms and there should be something for everyone. Feel free to make some for yourselves and those absent from your tables. I have 175 clips and tons of buttons so enough for everyone!

Merry Christmas 2010!

Seasons Greetings! If you are reading this "Christmas Letter" then you must have gotten our Christmas card this year. I'm afraid I'm terribly disorganized with my addresses and I know some of you got missed when it came to the cards. If you didn't get one and you want to, just drop me an email or comment and I'll send one out to you :0)

This year has been very busy for us! We started out in Washington DC and ended up in Seattle, Washington! You can't really move much farther in the continental US, right? Our year started out with a HUGE snow storm in VA where the kids had nearly 2 weeks off of school and we were trapped in our neighborhood for a long time. It was kinda fun but we did get cabin fever. The kids did great and Andrew spent many hours playing outside with the neighborhood kids.


Spring moved along quickly with a trip to NYC for spring break and Barrett's promotion in May and before we knew it, it was time to say good bye to Springfield, pack up all of our stuff and move across the country. The big kids got out of school the end of June and headed almost straight to sleep-away camp in Pennsylvania. They had a super time and were so happy to be out of the house while we packed up all of their stuff and put it on the 2 trailers that would meet us in Seattle. They love that camp and will miss the friends they made there but... there are always more camps so hopefully, we can find something just as special here in WA.


The kids and I drove from VA to CO on our own as Barrett was not allowed to leave the Pentagon yet. The trip went extremely well and the kids were troopers! We had a little break trouble at the border of Illinois and Indiana but it was quickly fixed and we were on our way again. We then spent 3 really great weeks in CO with my parents and old friends. We spent lots of time in the Springs and we got to see lots of sweet people that we can't wait to reconnect with when we move back in 2 1/2 short years (Yay!!)


Barrett flew out to Denver to meet us and drive us the rest of the way and while there, we celebrated Hannah's 2nd birthday. Where did that time go? Anyway, he also taught the big kids to water ski with the help of my wonderful parents who souped up their fishing boat so we could go fast enough to ski. It was great fun and a summer in Parker that the kids will never forget. We did lots of sewing, crafting, baking and all fun stuff that kids are supposed to do with their grandparents :0)


Then we were off again. We spent a little time in Ogden UT where we learned about the completion of the first transcontinental railroad and then we moved on to Boise ID where we floated on tubes down the Boise river and ate at a trailer trash restaurant. More great memories!


We finally made it to Kenmore, WA where we met the trailers and unloaded all of our stuff. Thanks to our fabulous storage room downstairs, everything fit! But we did have a garage sale and a few trips to goodwill. We finally all have our own rooms :0) Hannah was transitioned to a big girl bed, the rooms were painted and decorated to each's desire and we were quickly settling in.


School started on Sept 1st and while Andrew hit the ground running, it was a little harder for Hollyann to find her place in her very small, very exclusive class. After giving it sufficient time, she has made her way and is really happy with the girls she now calls friends. We still all miss our friends in VA, but these friends are good, too :0)


Barrett finally joined us for good in the middle of Sept and started his classes at the University of Washington on the 29th. It took him a little while to figure out this new "job" but is now all settled in and working hard on his classes and research. He is almost done with his first quarter and will move along after Christmas to a new set of classes and more research. He enjoys the campus and his independence and being back in school. I think he's going to enjoy his time here.


On just our second try, we found a GREAT church only about 15 minutes from home. Northshore Baptist has quickly become a home to us. We joined a small group, Sunday school, Andrew is in AWANA and Hannah and I enjoy both Tuesday Bible study and MOPS. We are quickly getting to know people and finding our place to learn and serve. We are busy with all the Christmas activities and are looking forward to 3 great years in a great church! PS - our new pastor is an Aggie! Bonus! (Not many of those way up here!)


So that's our year in a nutshell. We anxiously await visitors and really hope that many of you will take a vacation to the PNW and stay in our comfortable guest accommodations. Our door is always open so don't wait for another invitation - this is IT!


Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all of our loved ones, both near and far! We love you all and hope to hear from you this holiday season!


Love and Blessings,

Barrett, Suzann, Hollyann, Andrew & Hannah

Spring break in NYC

Barrett's promotion to Lt Col

Our little firecracker on the 4th

Waterskiing in CO

Golden Spike in UT

Letterboxing in Kenmore

Pumpkin Patch in Snohomish WA

Andrew's Baptism - Yay!!

Hannie & her BFF

We met Peyton and her mommy, Amy, in the nursing room at church. Little did we know on the fateful Saturday night, that we were meeting friends we would cherish for a long, long time - for many reasons! Our babies are only 2 days apart, with Hannie being a smidge older, and we have enjoyed watching them get bigger and bigger, growing from babies into little girls. Kenneth, Amy & Peyton are moving away next week :0( We will miss them so and will never forget Hannah's first best friend!

"Ham-hee & PeyPey" as Hannah says.

Animal Pancakes

It just so happens that my table leader at Bible study is the same sweet lady that is Andrew's Sunday school teacher. Not only has Ms Betty blessed us so this year, she and her husband, Garon, are the wonderful hosts of Animal Pancake Breakfast! Garon is hugely talented at drawing and creating any animal that is requested. We will never forget those special breakfasts with our Seattle-transplant-friends, the Isaacs!

Hollyann's monkey

Andrew's fox

Hannah's bunny

Exploring DC with the Fam

Grammy & Homer at the FDR memorial. Never really knew it existed and was very pleasantly surprised to find it delightful!

Grammy & Home at the Jefferson looking at the Washington. Who is the "professional" photographer that has the Washington coming right out of Sandy's head? Lame.

Aunt Kathleen, Mom & Dad at the Jefferson Memorial