A Quick Post

I’m still here.  : D  Just laying low.  : )  I’ll post a bunch of photos from Christmas soon!  We had a wonderful Christmas.  : )  And, honestly, I’m kind of sad that it’s over.  ; )  It was SO MUCH FUN to have a two year old at Christmastime.  I have spent the past few days playing with Emma, cleaning up, enjoying the tree (it feels like I put it up three days ago!) and working on a few online projects.   I hope that you all had a wonderful, meaningful Christmas!  I will post again soon and maybe take the Christmas decorations down from my little bloggy.  ; )

God bless,

Tera

Merry Christmas, Everyone!

Here are SEVERAL photos from the past week or two…don’t forget to check out Emma’s Christmas video greeting in my previous post.  : )

Helping Mama by decorating the envelopes for gift cards.  : )

Checking out the wrapped gifts.

 

Visiting the Christmas display at Macy’s in downtown Minneapolis.

My chandelier decorations…a bit of cedar, a string of fresh cranberries and apple ornaments.  It sure is festive!

Dancing with Grandma and cousin Isabel at our Christmas party.

Emma’s sweet and silly cousins Grace and Isabel in their new PJs.

 

May your Christmas be filled with JOY…and the peace that can only come from knowing the One who came as a babe and then dwelt among us to seek and to save the lost.

God bless,

Tera

Special Christmas Greetings

Turn the music off in the right column of my blog before viewing the videos.  Enjoy!!  : D  And, Merry Christmas!!

God bless,

Tera

Our Christmas Card and a Sweet Revelation

Our 2008 Christmas card...  Are you surprised?  ; D  The graphics are by Shabby Miss Jenn Designs.  The card was designed by me.  ; )

A sweet revelation... 

This week, I was strolling through Target with Emma in the cart.  She is my little chatterbox...always chit chatting or singing.  : )  That day at Target, out of the blue, she looked up at me and said, "Mama...I HAVE A MOM AN' DAD!!"  I was a bit surprised at what she had said...I wasn't surprised that she was able to say the words "Mom and Dad"...she has been able to say things like that for more than a year...I was just sweetly surprised with the meaning behind the words!  At first, I wasn't sure if she really understood the meaning behind what she was saying...but in the past couple of days, she keeps saying it here and there and exactly in context!  It blesses my soul to no end to know that my precious little girl KNOWS that she has a true family..."A MOM 'AN DAD"...who love her to the moon and back!

God bless,

Tera

Still here!!

I just have a lot going on with card orders and a special project AND we have a family Christmas party at our house one week from today!  I will post again ASAP and I promise that the post will include PICS.  ; )

God bless,

Tera

The Dollhouse Dilemma

Fisher Price used to offer "Hispanic" dolls for the Loving Family home but they have been discontinued. 

I do understand that families can be very diverse and it would be tough to feature dolls that would adequately reflect every ethnicity.  However, I think that discontinuing "Hispanic" dolls is a step in the wrong direction.  That does not impress me. 

However, I am torn.  I am torn because I really, really LOVE the Loving Family House!!  I have checked out the other dollhouses on the market  and...if I was a little girl, I would probably choose the Loving Family home over the other homes (although there are other good quality and super CUTE homes that are available and I have researched them).

So, after much thought, we decided to make a compromise that we feel would best reflect our family and our values.  We purchased the Loving Family home that includes a few "Caucasian" dolls and we also purchased dolls from another dollhouse set (Caring Corners) that are similar in size to the Loving Family dolls but are of another ethnicity.  It is important to us that Emma has dolls that are available to her that reflect her ethnicity and the ethnicities of others.  We have a multi ethnic household...  I am Caucasian with a German/Czech background.  Jason is 1/2 Filipino and Emma is Guatemalan...  I think it's fun that Emma will have a diverse dollhouse family...a family that reflects her own.  : )

I know that Emma is VERY interested in this dollhouse because she keeps asking me to "rewind" (love Tivo) the Loving Family commercials when they come on so that she can watch them again...hee hee.

Also...  I did contact Fisher Price directly to ask if they had any additional "Hispanic" doll families left.  Sadly, no.  So, I did respectfully voice my concern and displeasure.  ; ) 

God bless,

Tera

Happy Thanksgiving 2008

I hope that you will all have a wonderful day!

Do you need an extra dish to bring/serve at your big feast tomorrow?  If so, I have the PERFECT recipe for you!  I have made this scrumptious, quick and easy salad recipe several times...it is spectacular...the perfect salad for a holiday (or any day) and we will be bringing this salad to a big family feast tomorrow!  The original recipe comes from epicurious.com but instead of dried cherries, I use dried cranberries (Craisins work well).

Apple, Dried Cranberry and Walnut Salad with Maple Dressing

Ingredients:

1/4 cup real mayo

1/4 cup PURE maple syrup (Note: do not use pancake syrup)

3 Tablespoons champagne vinegar or other white vinegar

2 teaspoons sugar (I omit this...for me, the maple syrup adds enough sweetness)

1/2 cup vegetable oil

1 bag of mixed greens or spring mix

2 granny smith apples cut into thin slivers or matchsticks

1/2 cup dried cranberries or dried cherries

1/2 cup chopped walnuts, toasted

Instructions:

For the dressing:  Whisk the first five ingredients.  You really need to whisk well...the dressing sometimes looks like it won't come together, but it will...just keep whisking or use a food processor.  You will have to whisk again right before serving.  Use the dressing immediately or refrigerate until ready to use.

For the salad:  Put the spring mix, apples, cranberries and walnuts into a large bowl.  Add the dressing a little at a time and toss until the salad ingredients are well coated.  You might not have to use all of the dressing.  Enjoy!

Happy Thanksgiving!!

God bless,

Tera

A Little Project

Have you tried digital scrap booking?  If you like hand scrapping (or even if you don't) and if you aren't fond of the mess and the expense of hand scrapping, you should try digital scrapping.  : )  It is a new hobby and passion of mine.  I really enjoy it!

In the past two days during my free time, I have been putting together my first hybrid project (a project featuring both hand scrapping and digital scrapping).  I am THRILLED with the results!

I used the Pickled Petunias Luggage Tag Album by Shabby Miss Jenn Designs.  The album kit is great because it comes with all of the pages pre scrapped.  I love the fun colors and this is a good sized album...the pages are not the size of actual luggage tags (I am guesstimating that the pages are at least seven inches across).  ; )  I simply added my photos and journaling and an extra embellishment here and there using Photoshop Elements.  I printed the front cover page on my printer at home and I printed the rest of the pages at Costco and then I cut them out.  I used a glue stick to paste them onto the pages of the BasicGrey chipboard luggage tag album that I picked up at Michaels.  I used the luggage tag pages as a template to cut out a few of Emma's crayon scribble drawings and I pasted them onto the backs of the pages.  The kit comes with a ring to hold all of the pages together.  I tied a few bits of ribbon and rick rack onto the ring for an extra touch.  I love this album and I intend to give it as a gift...however, I NEED to make a copy of it so that I can keep a copy for myself...  The cool thing about digital scrapping is that you can simply print out additional copies of the pages of an album if you want more copies...I love that. 

You should try digital scrapping!!

Don't forget to check out my new blog! 

God bless, Tera

Where Did November Go?

Is it really almost Thanksgiving?  Can you believe it?  Wow! 

I am usually at least half way done with my Christmas shopping by now...LOL...but, not this year...I need to get started!!

Just a quick post today...  I'm still under the weather and I'm putting my feet up!

I'm a major Christmas music FAN!  I absolutely LOVE it.  You can even find me pulling out a few Christmas tunes in JULY!  ; P  I love putting five Christmas CDs into a five disc player and pushing "shuffle"!  Woohoo!  ; ) 

There are a few Christmas CDs that I currently have my eye on but I had to purchase the Sarah Groves O Holy Night Christmas album right away.  It's GREAT!  Normally, I prefer "traditional" arrangements when it comes to the traditional Christmas songs...however, I really appreciate all of the new twists that she was able to give to the songs that I know and LOVE.  Sarah Groves' style was an acquired taste for me but now I love her music!

Also, Amy Grant has a "new" Christmas album titled The Christmas Collection. 

Most of the songs on the new album have been featured on her other Christmas albums but there are there are also a few new songs included. 

I love the song "I Need a Silent Night"...I purchased the song on iTunes.  : )

 

Don't forget to check out my new blog.  ; )

God bless,

Tera

Sick

Hi all.  I'm sick.  I will spare you the gory details.  ; )  I am okay...I'm just trying to take it easy and I'm trying to be patient with my antibiotics.  : )  I'll be poking my head in here when I can.  : )  Don't forget to check out my new blog!

God bless,

Tera

The Outtakes

(Did I spell that correctly?)

I am usually an early bird when it comes to sending out our Christmas cards.  However, this year I am beginning to wonder if I will send out our cards before December 25th.  Why?  Because I cannot manage to take a "great" photo for our Christmas card.  I am finding it nearly impossible to take Christmas card worthy photos of our busy toddler.  I have tried three separate photo shoots so far...I have taken hundreds of photos.  I am exasperated.  HOW do you people manage to take great pics of your wee ones?

A few outtakes:

"Yeah mama...as if..."

"SMILE?  Okay, how about THIS smile?  Hahahahahaha."

"I am SO outta here..."

"She'll never find me in here...bwahahahaha...blasted Mamarazzi."

"She FOUND ME!  This chick just won't quit!"

"You're camera is almost out of batteries?  LOL...I wonder why...LOL."

"What did you say? You think that photo shoot #4 will just HAVE to provide you with the perfect pic?  Hahahaha...that's what YOU think!"

H E L P!!!

God bless,

Tera

Little Ladybug

* One large roll of red tulle

* A bit of elastic

* A few yards of red and black ribbon

* One bag of black pom poms in various sizes

* A stapler, a scissors and a hot glue gun

Use them all together and what do you get?

Emma's sweet little costume and new favorite dress up outfit.  : )

 

Oh, how I LOVE this sweet little BUG!

God bless, Tera

GIVEAWAY!!!

UPDATE: 

THE WINNER OF THE GIVEAWAY...  BEKAH!!  Congratulations, Bekah!  : )

-----------------------------

Do you like FREE STUFF?  I bet you do!!

Sign up NOW for my friend Tricia's one day only giveaway.  The give away ends at MIDNIGHT TONIGHT!!

HURRY!!  Click HERE for the giveaway.

And don't forget to visit my NEW BLOG.

God bless, Tera

Mommy's Lipstick and a New Blog

Toddlers and Mommy's makeup do not mix.  ; )

I have a brand spankin' new creativity blog.  It made its debut tonight.  Check it out.  : )  Enjoy your week!!

God bless,

Tera

2nd Referral-versary

Two years ago this past week, we received the call that would change our lives forever.  Our agency called to tell us that they wanted to talk to us about a baby girl. 

A few of hours later, we received an email filled with photos of the most beautiful baby girl that we had ever laid eyes on.  Seeing Emma's face for the very first time was one of the most powerful experiences of my life.  I will never forget that night.  She was teeny weeny itty bitty...barely five pounds...I loved her rosy cheeks and her lips...I could not wait to see her, to touch her, to hug and to kiss her...to be her mother.

The gift of Emma through the miracle of adoption...I pray that I will never take it for granted.  May God continue to knit our hearts together and may I be the mother that God has called me to be.

I love you Emma Grace.  You are special.  You are wanted.  You are precious.  You are loved.

God bless,

Tera

Our trip to the Apple Orchard

It's late, so I might not be very detailed in this post...I'll let the photos do the talking.  : )  I was about to blog last night, but then I noticed that the batteries were dead in our camera.  What good is an apple orchard post without pics?  ; )

Soooooo, without further ado, here are the pics from Tuesday's trip to the apple orchard:

It was a beautiful, cool day!  The leaves were absolutely gorgeous!

Emma loved seeing all of the apples and pumpkins!  She is a city girl for sure...she kept trying to touch, sit on and even hug the pumpkins but she kept on saying, "Oh, that's a yucky..."  and "Oh, that's a dirty..."  Hee hee.  She said the same thing about the straw.  : D

 

Pumpkin hugs.  : )

Emma loved sitting on the wheel of the John Deer tractor.

I love this one!

This really was an absolutely gorgeous place to visit.

 

So, do you think that she had a great time?  ; D

A good time was had by all!

God bless,

Tera