Zapata, TX

This year for Christmas the Knobloch family went to Zapata, TX to visit the new snowbirds (J's ma & pa).  All 6 of us (J & me, Ester, Nathan, Corbin, & Matthew) piled into the mini van Friday night about 6:30 on the 21st and started the 14 hour trip.  A quote from my exausted husband "This is a once-in-a-lifetime trip!"  Haha.  We had a lot of fun and good chances to bond with each other.

My father-in-law is now the outlaw.  

We went to a rattlesnake museum in Zapata and the boys managed to get this rattlesnake all worked up.  I was glad there was glass between me and him.  I can't imagine coming upon one of these in nature!

Us kids got Mom & Dad a grill for their new trailer.  We decided mom got the grill and Dad got the coal. Haha!

Nathan teaching Ester how to cast.  The fishing was terrible but we all enjoyed the weather!

This is how they do speed bumps in Zapata.  I couldn't resist taking a picture:)

Christmas Picture

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!  

It is so nice when I have a cooperating husband to take our Christmas pictures.  I remember growing up that it was a struggle every year for Mom to get a decent picture with 7 boys either not happy at all or making funny faces.  I was just looking through some old attempts at Christmas pictures and came across an absolutely hilarious one.  Dad said he didn't know any of the people in the picture and wondered how in the world he got coerced into being in the middle of it.  I guess they turned out to be good memories now.

Cards, cards, and more cards

I was busy in December making card sets for customers.  I have several that like to give sets as gifts to teachers so here are a few that I made for them.

I try to make several of each one at a time to stock my supply and any future orders I get.  I do make a set of about 40 for my Mother-In-Law every year for her birthday so this helps me get a jumpstart for September:)

Finally... the Girls

So, since I FINALLY had the boys over.  The girls wanted to come again.  I thought... hmm... perfect!  I will have them decorate my sugar cookies for church serving!  It would take forever by myself.  Brilliant!

 Table set-up.  Put icing in condiment bottles which worked out well.

 Aunt Jill came over and helped us out.

Miss Lilah putting sprinkles on her snowflake

 Miss Haley decorating her gingerbread man.

Aren't they so cute!  We had a blast!  The best part was getting to blow up the air mattress and doing gymnastics on it.  

Boy's Sleepover

Awhile back I had a girls sleepover with Lilah & Haley and ever since then the boys have been wanting to do one.  In fact I had really good intentions to do a campout at some point over the summer and never found the time.  Then about the beginning of November I get a handmade card from Miss Haley that says something to this effect:
Dear Krystal,
I had so much fun when we had a sleepover.  You need to hurry up and have the boys so we can have another one.  Thanks!
Haley

The pressure was on... so I did one a few weeks later with the boys.

 We made these oreo turkeys.  I asked them how many they wanted to make and they said 20.  They made 4 and I ended up with 8 :)  The attention span wasn't quite as long as I had hoped.

 Gavin & Colton with there turkeys

  Gavin & Colton with their John Deere tractors they painted.  I found the kits at Wal-Mart and couldn't resist.  They had green paint from their hair to their toes and everywhere in between when they finished.

 Then we made these cute little pumpkins out of orange slices.

 This is the marshmallow shooters that we made.  I searched Pinterest for fun things to do with boys and decided this would be perfect.

However, I caught most of them being consumed

 Up close of the marshmallow shooter.  I recommend using 2 cups for stability.  They had a lot of fun!

Another thing I found on pinterest was this post that you would NEVER need helium again!  Just use vinegar and baking soda to blow them up.  Yes, it does blow them up.  No, it does not act as helium.  I was so disappointed!  Then, one of the balloons got popped and I had a mess of baking soda on my ceiling, walls, floor, refrigerator, window, etc.  Consensus:  Using your mouth is so much easier and safer.  Pin Fail

Gavin's tractor

While I was doing some cleaning up the boys went upstairs and were playing.  I snuck up close enough to hear what they were saying and get this picture.

Gavin:  I'm Tom and you are Jeri

Colton: no, I will be Corbin and I get the red Kansas Maid truck

Gavin:  Ok, now we need to haul some bread down to Oklahoma.  You go the plant and load it and I will take it to the scrapbooking room.  That is Okalahoma.

It was so stinkin cute to listen to them play like that:)

Playing Catch-up

Well, first of all I would like to say thank you to my wonderful cousin Janae for motivating me to get back into posting... haha.  I didn't even know anyone else read this blog so now I have some accountibility to keep me on track.  So last time I posted I was getting ready for a craft show.  Here are some pictures of the products I had there.  I did several tiles that have a picture frame backing on them.  Disclaimer- I am not a photographer, so sorry for any glaring, etc. on the photos.  I have no clue on where to even begin on choosing the right settings on my camera.

 In progress... a bunch that have taken over the guest bed.

 A bunch of ribbon plates that I vinyled

 These always sell out- they are perfect for teachers or grandparents gifts

And this is probably my best seller and my absolute favorite!