2012 Christmas cards

Merry Christmas to you and yours from the Mathews fam. Here's a look at our Christmas cards which I purchased from Shutterfly for the 3rd year in a row, and my sincerest thanks to the coupon codes that saved me $82.75.

I love taking a look back over the past year and including some of the major points on our card. Gets me all nostalgic, ya know?

We have two more days of school left here and then we'll have a nice long break. Looking forward to seeing all of our family and of course celebrating Christmas with our kiddos.

Happy Thursday, friends.

an afternoon in the Son

Jetting back in time today to share a few pics that I never posted. This was a solid hour of free Fall family fun. Say that five times fast. A little magic was created with a leaf blower and the perfect amount of sunlight.

I can't help but think of the lyrics to Nichole Nordeman's Every Season as I look at these...

***

And even when the trees have just surrendered

to the harvest time,

forfeiting their leaves in late September,

and sending us inside,

still I notice You when change begins,

and I am braced for colder winds.

I will offer thanks for what has been,

and what's to come-

You are Autumn.

Love that song.

Love those words.

Love seeing God's handiwork in all of creation.

Love playtime.

And jumping.

And piling. 

And throwing.

Also love it when my kids do things like this so that I'm a part of it all.

Thank you God for afternoons in the Son.

p.s.- here's a video I found on youtube that beautifully illustrates what this song is all about- 

seeing God's hand in every season of life.

If you've never heard these words before, give it a listen.

Flashback Friday

Howdy Friends! It's flashback Friday time! Today's pic is from May 30, 2010, almost exactly 2 years ago, in honor of miss MM's birthday. This was taken by seester immediately after arriving home from the hospital with our little M squared. Our first official pic as a party of 5.

Yes, I'm trying to use my 5-year old as a shield to cover my swollen.up.self.

Yes he has pajamas that fit. He just chooses not to wear them.

Yes, the blanket in E's lap was actually covering MM 2 seconds before this was taken. Only home for 3 minutes and already she's stealing from her younger sibling.

The craziness of the couch cushions is still alive and well today.

And just 2 seconds after that photo was taken...

...well, picture time was pretty much over.

***

I'm back to completing my endless list of party prep projects. Say that 5 times fast. I'll be back next week with loads of pics, but I'll leave you with a sneak peek...

Happy weekend to ya!

She's going to the chapel and she's totally gonna get married

We interrupt our regularly scheduled Christmas crafts programming for an important announcement.

See this?

It's a blingy ring.

And it's on her finger.

A boy put it there.

She's totally a fiance.

Yup.

That finger belongs to my seester.

She works at the University with Big AL.

The boy also works at the University.

This is the setting of their story.

Aren't they cute?

They wear lots of crimson and white.

And they smile a lot.

Because they are in luv.

I wrote about my seester and her boy when they went to the Derby.
You may recall that I made her fabulous hat.

Wedding planning will soon be in full swing.

Color me giddy.

Giddy, do you hear me?

So excited for these two.

Congrats to Mal and Chad-

and to Chad:

Welcome to the crazy.

Kidding.

And since this post is already about to make me veklempt,

I'd now like to share some pics of the seester and I when we looked,

ummmm,

unfortunate.

Growing up in the 80's and 90's, we not only had horrible clothes to contend with, but also, horrible hair.

And glasses.

Good gravy the glasses.

You might want to put on some Depends.

Family Picture- circa 1990

The little boy in the pic is my seester.

Isn't she cute?

Thanks go to Mum for giving her that haircut so that I could show the internets this picture 20 years later.

And nice socks Mum.

Of course, I am fully ready for a flood as well.

And I have bangs.

And sheesh at the glasses.

Just sheesh.

Easter- circa 1989

That's Mal before the great hair chop of '90.

And those are two of our cousins.

Thanks go to Amy for posting these pics on fb so that I could steal them.

Taylor's (cousin) Birthday- circa 1988

Seester is on the left.

In the sweatshirt with the deer painted on.

(or is that a bunny?)

Does it really matter?

It's painted on.

And sheesh at the glasses.

Family pic- circa 1993

Why am I sharing these?

They're actually more embarrassing for me.

Too many unfortunate things to list about this one.

Mal, you win the prize for being the least unfortunate-looking one of the bunch.

No, my Dad is not wearing socks.

And where are my boobs?

Someone please tell me.

And Mum?

Good heavens...

Family pic- circa 2000

Whew.

Getting better.

Now seester is in the glasses.

But they're cute ones and don't take up half her face.

Isn't this fun Mal?

Family pic- circa 2008

There we go.

Much better.

Don't mind the hubs,

he's been screwing up family pics since 2006.

 That's all I have time for today-

and you're welcome Mals.

I'll try and dig up some more memories so we can continue to reminisce.

Nice, isn't it?

I loves ya. 

And Chad,

I'm so glad you two found each other when we all had better hair.

And clothes.

And boobs.

Happy Thursday!

craft fair goods and a photo dump

Since I'm still working my boo-tay off on things for the craft fair, I thought I'd give you a few hints of what I'm working on.

More detailed + finished pics will come tomorrow...

Not finished yet, but they'll be awesomesauce when they're done.

Memo boards/jewelry holders

Pennant banners.

Different colors.

Different themes.

Flowers.

On your lapel,

in your hair,

on your babes head.

Lots of flowers.

More later...

And now,

since I'm off to teach some music,

here's a few recent pics of the fam that I'm lovin:

enjoy

Happy Thursday friends!

And...if you'd like some Fall inspiration for your front door,

or your side door,

or your outhouse,

Rhoda's party went live this morning.

Check it out HERE.