The Nuffer Nest

Every year I try to take pictures of some fall decor in our house so that next year I have a starting point.  I have THE WORST memory so this blog entry is my memory.  I didn't take pictures last year and it was like starting all over this year.  It takes so much longer to decorate when I have to start from scratch each season/holiday.  Anyway, here's a little fall in the Nuffer house. I want to add some height for the above pumpkins, so I'm on the look out for some mix-matched candlesticks on Craigslist, at garage sales, or at a thrift store.  So this is still a work in progress.  I don't love it yet. We don't have a Thankful Tree yet, but we will after Halloween.  And it will probably sit behind the Happy Harvest sign.  Can't wait!

I am appointing myself the new queen of advent calendars!  I LOVE THEM!!!  They are so easy to make and they keep Jackson from asking me all day, every day when the next big day is will be here.  We have told him all summer that he gets to start school after his birthday, so now that his birthday is over he doesn't understand why it's not time for school.  I made a new advent calendar to countdown the days till school.  It think this one turned out cuter than the birthday calendar.  We're already down 2 days, so only 15 more days to go!!  WOOHOO!!

My biggest little buddy finally turned 4.  He has been waiting all summer for his birthday and it finally arrived!  He had a fantastic birthday filled with all his favorite things!  I decided to start having simple birthdays and leave the big parties for big birthdays.  This year was super simple.  I let Jackson pick out everything at the Dollar Tree- the whole thing cost me $5 tops!  Amazing!  Nothing matched and nothing coordinated, and my OCD didn't mind at all because it was all stuff Jackson picked out.  He picked the plates, napkins, the wrapping paper, and even decorated his cake himself.  It was a good day!  Fun for him and stress free for me!  Best birthday yet! Jackson's birthday morning started with decorating his cake!  He doesn't eat cake or ice cream, although, he was super excited to have a birthday cake.  If you asked him what he wanted for his birthday he would quickly answer, "a birthday cake!". ...

Jackson played soccer for the first time this summer and he had a lot of fun.  We learned that he's best at being the goalie because if he's in the field he'd rather pick the grass and smell the flowers (much to Daddy's dismay).  I did the exact same thing when I played soccer at his age, except I chased boys too.  ;)  He looks just like me and acts just like me so I'm not too surprised at this soccer skills, or lack thereof.  Anyway, he did have a fun time and has asked several times if we can go to soccer. Jackson and his coach.  He was so good with Jackson, and so patient.  Thanks, coach! And the team.

Well, it was time for Jim's company picnic and every year they have it at a small amusement park in town.  We took the boys for dinner and rides!  here are some pictures from our adventure.  Surprisingly Jackson was not afraid of the rides.  In fact, he went on some rides all by himself.  I don't have pictures of Austin on the rides because I was usually sitting with him and Daddy has those pictures on his phone.  Maybe I'll update this later.

A few times a year I have breakfast with some old coworkers.  Well, it was time for one of our "girls breakfasts" recently and I realized we had known each other for 10 years.  I look forward to our breakfasts and I love each girl individually for what she brings to the table.  We are all so different and diverse.  Anyway, I wanted to celebrate our 10 year anniversary with little cards, so this is the craft I came up with... I put together some cards for each girl.  Sorry I can't get the pictures to turn correctly. I made these little felt flowers and crafted them into bookmarks.  I got the felt flower tutorial here .  And I just added a little extra leaf to the back and hot glued them to paper clips.  I think they turned out really cute.  Just a little way to celebrate our friendships with each other.  I just adore my girls!

I already posted that it's time for Jackson to start school.  Well, that means he needs some new shoes to start school with and I have a couple coupons that will help get him some cute shoes at a discount.  We were at Target yesterday looking at their shoes and I remembered that I had already bought a couple pairs of shoes on clearance when Jackson was only a year or so.  I bought them because they were super cheap and I knew one day he would grow into them.  I keep a box of clothes and shoes that I've bought on clearance that Jackson will eventually fit into.  So I checked that box and sure enough there was a pair of size 11 tennis shoes right on top.  AND just guess how much I paid for those shoes years ago?  $2.46!  That's right!  Jackson has a new pair of tennis shoes for school this year and it cost me less than $2.50!  This find totally made my day!  Hip hip hooray for clearance shopping!! And to top it all off, the...

My biggest little buddy is starting school this fall.  I can't believe it's just a couple weeks away!  To put in perspective how huge this is to me I'll share a little moment in our house.  A week or so ago we got a letter from his preschool with some information and a schedule of the year's upcoming events.  I was doing dishes while Jim named off all the cute activities that Jackson will be involved in this year like, Jesus' birthday party, a Valentine's Party, picnics, and even a circus, not to mention we get to go to parent/teacher conferences.  I'm so excited for Jackson!  I was so overwhelmed with excitement, and shocked that it's almost here, plus a little bit of sadness that he's so grown up already that I just cried over my sink full of dirty dishes.  I'm tearing up now just thinking about all of it.  I just can't believe it.  It seems like just a few months ago he was teetering and wobbling as a new walker, and handing me any tiny l...

"Avoid the publicity of high positions and discourage the flattery of thoughtless friends" Ok, so this month I really did forget about the George challenge, good thing I avoid publicity in my everyday life.  It's so hard to avoid publicity, especially when the paparazzi is all over me these days.  I just shop late at night in a hoodie and dark glasses so no one recognizes me.  It's working so far!  ;) August's challenge:  "I would not knowingly wound the feelings of any, not even one who may have wronged me, but would seek to do him good and make him my friend" I'm excited about August's challenge because without knowing what the challenge for this month is I have been deliberately watching what and how I say things to people.  I am naturally VERY sarcastic.  I have toned it down immensely since I had children, but my words can still have a bite to them.  Anyway, I'm eager to try to become a more kind person through my thoughts...