Goodbye 2013 & Word For the Year

2013.

Another year of living, laughing, learning and loving at our nest for sure. My word for 2013 was FAMILY. I can say with confidence, that I achieved a full focus and emphasis on just that- MY FAMILY.

With this blog post, our family blog will have an all time record of 151 posts this year. WOW! I frequently guest post at Oklahoma Women Bloggers, where I was featured as blogger of the month in May.

We now have a teenager who is in 7th grade and a 1st grader who is almost 7! Our lives are still full of sight words, reading, writing and arithmetic. Activities still include football, basketball, ballet, PTA and church.

We have had a few uh oh's in our physical health, Miss K received a nasty concussion early in the year and B ended up with a broken foot. Never ever tell your son to toughen up buttercup, or send him to school with a note to his PE coach that says the same, you will only end up eating your words and feeling terrible when you find out you made him go two days on a broken foot. He missed the entire season of football due to that injury.

There are many words to choose from for 2014.  I do have ONE word that stands out, but I am NOT sharing just yet.

As some of you may or may not know I am Happy First's assistant. For four years now Debbie Vinyard, the owner, has asked her readers/followers to come up with a word for the year. We created a group Pinterest board this year and invited people to pin those words/blog posts. In 2014, we would like to do that again, but would also like to feature more of those posts on the Happy First Blog. I would like to personally invite the you to send your Word Posts to us with links back to your own blogs & pages. You can email to: info@happyfirst.com. Here is last year's initial post: http://happyfirstblog.com/2013/whats-your-word-for-2013/.

What is your Word For 2014? Happy New Year from Our Nest to Yours!

Our Sparkle Box Season

What acts of kindness and generosity do you and your family participate in during the Christmas Season?

I asked this question on October 25, 2013 in a post in which I reviewed the book The Sparkle Box.  I didn't "toot" my own horn about what I was doing in my own home, because I'm kind of  personal when it comes to these things. I do share with you each year the pictures of my children giving Christmas Eve Gifts to the neighbors.  I placed our Sparkle Box on top of our curio cabinet and throughout the month of December, filled it with slips of paper that contained various acts of kindness that our family did throughout the month. 

Miss K, kept asking if I had put anything in it. I have a feeling she thought it should be bursting at the seams. 

On Christmas morning, before my children opened the unopened gifts, I gave them the silver box. I told them that since it was Jesus' Birthday, his present would be opened first. 

The kids were amazed at the things I had written down, some they didn't even think twice about doing, yet I wrote down. They didn't even know about some of the things their brother and sister had done. They thought it was "cool" and wish we could do it all year. I reminded them that their lights for Jesus can and should shine year around. 

I made these labels to use in our Sparkle Box
Click here to get a copy of this. You can copy and paste into Word.

And now, the 2013 Christmas Eve Gift pictures....I can't believe how my kids have grown. 

Elf on a Shelf with The 4-Crow's 2013: Week 5, until next year!

<center> <a <span class="goog-spellcheck-word" style="background-color: yellow; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">href</span>="http://the4crows.com" target="_blank"><<span class="goog-spellcheck-word" style="background-color: yellow; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">img</span> alt="the4crows" <span class="goog-spellcheck-word" style="background-color: yellow; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">src</span>="http://i638.<span class="goog-spellcheck-word" style="background-color: yellow; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">photobucket</span>.com/albums/uu106/The4Crows/ElfonaShelf2013_zps787f6f7e.<span class="goog-spellcheck-word" style="background-color: yellow; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">jpg</span>"/></a></center>

I can't believe their gone. I was actually sad to see them go back to the North Pole this year. The scout elves were fun, a little mischievous and taught very good lessons at our nest this year.

Here is our final week.

We received a Christmas Card from Elf on the Shelf, very cool!

 

The goodbye letter. I found the stationary on Pinterest. Finally. I also found the letter and reworded it a little. 

Do you have an Elf on the Shelf? Won't you please link up and play along once a week until December 26th? You can share seven pictures, a few, or just one of your favorite Elf moments/memories of the week. All you have to do is grab the above button and put your blog link in the linkup form that I will provide each week. I look forward to seeing all of the Elf games and fun you are having!

Elf on a Shelf with The 4-Crow's 2013 was posted the following Thursdays in 2013. Thank you for joining in on the fun. Until next year....don't forget, the scout elves can visit on birthdays! 

November 28

December 5

December 12

December 19

December 26

Merry Christmas from The 4-Crows

From Our Nest to Yours.....

A Very Pinteresting Christmas Day 15: For the Teachers

<center> <a href="http://the4crows.com" target="_blank"><img alt="The4crows" src="http://i638.photobucket.com/albums/uu106/The4Crows/AVeryPinterestingLinkupButton_zps10782225.png"/></a></center>

I can't believe today is the last day of 2013's A Very Pinteresting Christmas. I have had so much fun bringing you all the food, fun and crafts that I have found on Pinterest this year. If you missed any of my days, be sure to go back and check them out. Today is for the Teachers in my life, I mean my children's lives. I love those special people.

I made Peppermint Puppy Chow and Crow Bars for B's teachers and found these cute little Chevron bag toppers to go on the snack size baggies. How cute are these?  Perfect for a 13 year old boy to give to his Middle School techers, not too babyish, but then again the teachers still know his Moma made the treats so they are safe to eat. They even had guides to help me cut them perfectly. KUDOS to balancinghome.com! 

Miss K's teacher gets this:

I'm pretty pumped about this one. If you recall on Day 7, I told you about the craft we made during the Pinterest Party. It was these chalkboard clipboards. I followed the same exact steps but made my own template with her name and stick figure. I figure she can use it as a decoration outside her door or actually use it to take notes on. 

I prepared the clipboards ahead of time. I really do like the spray chalkboard paint.

Then I used wax paper, wax side down. The direction called for transfer paper. I still do not have a clue what transfer paper is. Then I centered the design sheet over the wax paper/clipboard and begin tracing over the letters with a pencil. 

 The wax left an impression like this.

I took a fine point white paint pen and when over where I had traced. Once dry, I lightly sanded over the letters to give it more of the chalk effect. 

Thank you for tuning in each day this week as I brought you "A Very Pinteresting Christmas" Linkup and if you have any Pinterest inspired activities throughout the week, be sure to grab the above button and linkup your ideas! "A Very Pinteresting Christmas" was 15 days of Pinterest inspired food, fun, crafty days of linkups that all can be used during this wonderful season of joy. It ran from December 2-20 here at The 4-Crow's.

Elf on a Shelf with The 4-Crow's 2013- Week 3

<center> <a <span class="goog-spellcheck-word" style="background-color: yellow; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">href</span>="http://the4crows.com" target="_blank"><<span class="goog-spellcheck-word" style="background-color: yellow; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">img</span> alt="the4crows" <span class="goog-spellcheck-word" style="background-color: yellow; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">src</span>="http://i638.<span class="goog-spellcheck-word" style="background-color: yellow; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">photobucket</span>.com/albums/uu106/The4Crows/ElfonaShelf2013_zps787f6f7e.<span class="goog-spellcheck-word" style="background-color: yellow; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">jpg</span>"/></a></center>

Elf adventures around our nest this week....

 What? I messed up on my days........sorry!  This elf business is HARD work! 

Please go LIKE this picture on Instagram. It's entered into a contest. 

Do you have an Elf on the Shelf? Won't you please link up and play along once a week until December 26th? You can share seven pictures, a few, or just one of your favorite Elf moments/memories of the week. All you have to do is grab the above button and put your blog link in the linkup form that I will provide each week. I look forward to seeing all of the Elf games and fun you are having!

Elf on a Shelf with The 4-Crow's 2013 will be posted the following Thursdays, hope you join in!

November 28

December 5

December 12

December 19

December 26

A Very Pinteresting Christmas Day 14: Melted Snowman Bottles with a TIP

<center> <a href="http://the4crows.com" target="_blank"><img alt="The4crows" src="http://i638.photobucket.com/albums/uu106/The4Crows/AVeryPinterestingLinkupButton_zps10782225.png"/></a></center>

Yeah, I totally stole this one from this pin/blogger at thatswhatchesaid.net. How could I not? The labels were free and the pin said,
 "Add some fun to your winter party with these FREE Melted Snowman Water Bottle Labels!! Print, cut, tape and enjoy custom water bottles for your parties!"

C-ute! I could not have made them cuter for my little Miss' Christmas Party at school than this. Love them.

I will tell you a little trick though, since obviously these are printed off on copy paper, do you ever wonder how to keep the labels from getting wet and how to make them stick perfectly? 

Packing tape. Lay your label on the stick side of the tape. Perfect size. The tape will act as a barrier between the bottle and the label. Leave about 1/4" at the end when you cut it. As you wrap the label around the bottle you will attach the label to the sticky side that was left. Pefect. No extra tape showing.

You are very welcome for that tip. Hope I was as clear as these melted snowmen. Aren't they adorable? One more day until party day. You still have time to make these!

Be sure to tune in each day this week as I bring you "A Very Pinteresting Christmas" Linkup and if you have any Pinterest inspired activities throughout the week, be sure to grab the above button and linkup your ideas! "A Very Pinteresting Christmas" will be 15 days of Pinterest inspired food, fun, crafty days of linkups that all can be used during this wonderful season of joy. It will run from December 2-20 here at The 4-Crow's. I hope you will join in on the fun!

A Very Pinteresting Christmas Day 13: Our 2013 Christmas Eve Gift for the Neighbors, Snow Button Ornaments

<center> <a href="http://the4crows.com" target="_blank"><img alt="The4crows" src="http://i638.photobucket.com/albums/uu106/The4Crows/AVeryPinterestingLinkupButton_zps10782225.png"/></a></center>

If you are a neighbor of mine, stop reading this post right NOW! Take your mouse to the upper right corner of your screen and hit the "X" button. Thank you. Whew, now that the nosy neighbors have quit reading this post I can share with you their Christmas Eve Gift. 

On Christmas Eve, before my children are allowed to open one single gift, they take a special gift to each of our neighbors. This has been a tradition of our now for 10 years. I believe that it instills in my kids that it is better to give than receive and that giving of oneself is the greatest gift we can give to others. I try to make it a crafty gift and have even baked. This year's gift is an ornament. A snowman ornament. I found this pin and immediately knew it was the one. Now I know mine is not as fancy as hers, she is a professional with an Etsy shop and all. 

Here is what we did: (we includes my 6 year old daughter)

1. Cut 4.5" shape with Cricut 

2. Painted three different sized buttons white, glued them on

3. Used scripture stamps to put a verse on the shape

4. Made a tiny fork bow for snowman out of bakers twine 

 (yeah this can be done, watch this video) 

5. Hole punched top and made a hanger out of bakers twine

I think they turned out pretty cute, and will be a yearly reminder of my kids to the neighbors for years to come! 

Be sure to tune in each day this week as I bring you "A Very Pinteresting Christmas" Linkup and if you have any Pinterest inspired activities throughout the week, be sure to grab the above button and linkup your ideas! "A Very Pinteresting Christmas" will be 15 days of Pinterest inspired food, fun, crafty days of linkups that all can be used during this wonderful season of joy. It will run from December 2-20 here at The 4-Crow's. I hope you will join in on the fun!