RESOLUTIONS

FAMILY TIME = WHAT'S IMPORTANT MOST!

I am not sure about you...but every year my resolution is the same...I actually have 3 of them and I interchange the order every year....the first is always LOSE WEIGHT (get healthy...eat better...whatever you want to call it), the second is GET ORGANIZED (some years I talk myself into believing--it's not about losing weight...it's about organizing your life...and the pounds will drop off as everything falls into place...as if no work is needed to get thinner)...and the final one is to SAVE MONEY (who doesn't need to do this?). So this year once again...I'm setting up my three resolutions...but I'm adding a 4th one to it and I may even make this number one. ENJOY FAMILY TIME. So many times I'm involved in the hustle and bustle of work...I truly want to spend more time smelling the roses...and the roses I'm smelling involve, playing with the kids, doing more crafts with the kids, making more time for my husband, just enjoying the truly simple things in life! This week I'm off from my job at the Martha Stewart Show...and it gives me the opportunity to play the role of stay at home mom...and I do truly love it. Yes it gets crazy...yes there are fights, yes there are times the girls throw things...etc. but through all the madness is one loving family who enjoys spending time together.

Last night I had a dream that my youngest 3 year old rebecca was back to being a newborn. I missed those tiny hands...small smile...and even midnight feedings. Time goes by so quickly that in a blink of an eye Graceann will be looking into high schools and even colleges...yikes. I want the world to slow down...but somehow it won't...it keeps pace...I finally figured out...it's me who can slow down. I can take the time to enjoy every minute and I truly will try! That's my resolution...HAPPY NEW YEARS!

THE NEW 40

So I turned 40...happy birthday to me...ok well maybe 40 +1...all right 40 +2...ok, ok...45...but that's the new 40 right?

My girls made made me this cake for my birthday...looks like we have some budding pastry chefs in the family...

look inside and see the unique colors....

Caroline and me on my birthday...

if you look closely on the cake plate my girls wrote...the big 35...they're catching on...

My husband took me to lunch and we had filet mignon and shrimp scampi...yum

oh...I almost forgot we started the meal sharing some calamari....

Happy birthday to me...

MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM THE DEYOS

Scenes from a very merry Deyo house...Gemma got what she always wanted...a spongebob DS lite game!

Pauline got an actual American Girl Doll...Rebecca!

What a great time we all had...and 3 garbage bags of wrapping paper and boxes!

Rebecca got her favorite Mickey Mouse block set!

Caroline can't wait to dig into her gifts!

She got to them pretty quickly!

Our beautiful Christmas tree!

Gemma and her gifts!

Santa got alot for everyone!

5 MORE DAYS...

5 more days til Christmas...can you believe it? My motto has always been shop by Halloween and be wrapped by Thanksgiving. However there are 5 days left before the big day and I'm still scrambling. It always comes down to "if I just had 2 more weeks". But you know what...if I had 2 more weeks I guarentee I would be saying the same thing again..."if I only had 2 more weeks". There's always more we can get done if we just had the time. I would love to have baked more, crafted more, and of course shopped more. But I remind myself while all of these things are great...it's more important to remember the true meaning of the season. Christ is born! And behind all of the scrambling I want my girls to know that this is the true reason of the season. With that in mind...here's my Christmas wish list...(in no particular order)

Peace on Earth!
Respect for World Leaders!
All Troops home with their family (since there is now Peace on Earth)
A White Christmas!
A Healthy and Happy New Year.
and finally new boots (that last one is particularly for my husband to notice).

Wishing you a wonderful Christmas!

THE TREE LIGHTING IN 7 MINUTES!

Not quite Rockefeller Center...but definately just as beautiful!

The Tree in all it's Splendor! Last night we went to the tree lighting in town. What a magnificent sight....when they counted down from 10 and turned on the lights--how magical....wait...that's not quite what happened. We were running late to the tree lighting (thanks to NJ Transit) and we were 7 minutes late....within those 7 minutes the countdown occurred...the Lights were on and half the town had drank their hot cocoa and ate their munchkins. I did a double take...was I more than 7 minutes late? No it started at 7 and we arrived at 7:07. My watch wasn't broken....had time stood still? Not exactly sure what happened...maybe we'll save this answer for the Twighlight Zone...nonetheless the girls had a good time. I was a bit disappointed because Pauline and Caroline won the tree ornament contest. Their names were called (in those 7 minutes) and they weren't able to collect their prize...we'll get it at a later date. Count all your Christmas Blessing because they too will disappear in 7 minutes and you'll wonder like I did where the time went.

Pauline standing at the tree....notice her winning snowman ornament in the background? It was actually made from recycled straw pumpkins...we called it our RECYCLED HALLOWEEN SNOWMAN.

Caroline did her own recycling too. She recycled a water bottle and made an angel ornament. She too won a prize for her efforts!

And in a blink of an eye...Santa Claus was there to grant our special wishes....(My wish was to recoup those 7 minutes!)

MARTHA'S CRAFT SALE!

Tee-shirt featuring one of my handmade buttons!

Homemade buttons!

My Craft table...featuring buttons, scarves, and outfits!

What a weekend....Friday night and Saturday I participated in Martha's 2nd annual Craft Sale. I sold crocheted and knitted scarves, along with homemade clay buttons. I also sold some clothes featuring these buttons. It was a huge hit and I had so much fun. Friday night was the preview sale with staff and family and friends. Saturday the craft sale was open to the public. I had so much fun meeting with fans of the show. It was such a hit that I sold out. If anyone is interested in purchasing more scarves or buttons....email me at threepluskids@aol ....and thanks for your support.

WHERE I'VE BEEN....

Ok...so it's been awhile since I've written. Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving. I did and I certainly have alot to be thankful. I've also been really really busy crafting, crafting, crafting! This Saturday is the Martha Stewart Employee Craft Sale and I'm selling homemade buttons, painted shirts, and handmade crocheted and knitted scarves. Last night I was up till 3 am working on projects. Tonight will most likely be the same....I'll let you know how everything turns out and promise lots of pictures!