The Reason for this Season

In past years, during the season of advent, I have tried different ways to keep our family's focus on the true meaning of Christmas. There have been various attempts at advent calendars, participations in the Nativity reenactments at church and even singing "Happy Birthday to Jesus" with a birthday cake on Christmas. This year I came across the idea of having a "Jesus Tree" over at the Gresham Barn Sale.

Grasham Barn Sale ~ Jesus Tree

Since I LOVE decorating several Christmas trees each year and as of today (this can always change as I find my way up in the attic and decide to bring down "just one more") we have two full sized trees and several smaller trees set up.
The one we keep in our family room is dedicated to the ornaments that have special memories tied to them for each one of us. The children help decorate it. There are decorations from when Rob and I were children, our wedding and for our children's first Christmases. I especially love the ones made in preschool and elementary school that are decorated photos of the children with the year on them. Those hold such sweet memories and always evoke the funniest of comments.

This year I've dedicated the tree in the foyer to be our Jesus Tree.
For each name that represents Jesus, a decoration is placed on the tree with a tag attached that has the name written on it and the bible verse relating to the name.

GIFT

Prince of Peace

Vine

Redeemer

I am still working on coming up with new symbols for the names of Jesus. Right now I am enjoying it as each one is added.

From our 5 & 2 to you,

Acorn Wreath

Today I followed up on another craft. It all started at the Little League field about a month ago. I was trying to keep the kids busy so I asked them to gather some acorns for me to make a wreath with. I make one each year for the public library's silent wreath auction fundraiser. Well, a neighbor boy heard me and said, "I have a whole bunch of acorns at my house. My dad had me pick them up. Do you want me to go get them?" He seemed so eager so I said, "Sure." and off he went. My jaw dropped and the other parents giggled when Dakota came back with a wheel barrel FILLED with acorns from his yard. "Well that certainly will make plenty of wreaths." I didn't want to turn down his generosity so I took them home with me. Fortunately, I didn't have the problems that Michelle at Scribbits had.

Today I took a small grapevine wreath I had and started glue gunning them on. (yes, glue gunning is a word.... and if it isn't it should be.)

Here is the final result.

I want to make a large one for the library's auction. Oh and the fabulous part is that this project cost me $0. I had all of the needed items around my house and Dakota donated the acorns. Maybe I'll make another one for him front door as a thank you.

From my home at 5 and 2 Scotts to yours,

Baking Up Some Autumn Yummies!

Today I decided to bake up some special treats with Sarah.

 My inspiration was sweetup-northmornings.

I just happened to have the same Wilton muffin mold.

Here's Sarah helping me to make the brownies.

Sarah did a great job pouring in ingredients and stirring
She's also a great taster!

As we were baking I noticed the other leaves around us in the kitchen.

Loving Sarah's little fingers in this picture.



Sitting pretty on Grandma's plate
Wishing Gram was here to enjoy this moment with us.



A sweet little pumpkin

A little powdered sugar for some added sweetness

I love baking and making the house smell so yummy
on these cool autumn days.

Dressed up Oreos and Marshmallows for Halloween

So here in the Scott home we have decided to dress up our Halloween treats, or as my husband says, ruin perfectly good oreos. He hasn't tried them yet and I've saved plenty of naked oreos for him.

I can't wait to try one of these little yummies!

Here's a chocolate covered dressed up marshmallow.

Here they are all ready for Halloween!

Happy Halloween Everyone!

Hoping it is sweet, fun and yummy!

Ghost Wreath for Nana

It's been a crazy week, more so than normal. I've had one sick kid sent home, a sick little niece, Rob has traveled to New Hampshire back again for work, my mom in law had knee replacement surgery, I've run out of groceries, Rob drove to Rochester and back in one day (which is a 4 hour ride one way) and I have felt achy and nauseous the entire week. That's just the stuff on top of our normal week's activities between school, sports and church with 5 children.

Halloween is one of my mother in law's favorite holidays. She dons her favorite, sparkly witch hat and actually counts all of the little trick of treaters that come visititng.

We (our family and my sister and law's family) always join in and end our trick or treating at her house eating the pizza and chicken tenders we order as take out. We all look forward to this special family fun night. It looks like this year is going to be different. My mom in law is going to be at a rehab facility recooperating from surgery. I've been wracking my brain trying to find a way to make this holiday special for her still. My first task is to find out about visiting her on Halloween and taking our annual photos with all 7 of her grandchildren. We will have to make sure to bring her hat along with the new witch ear rings and Halloween shirt my sister in law got her.

This morning my littlest niece, who thankfully is feeling better, helped me make a ghost lollipop wreath for Nana.

 It still needs more ghosts but I am sure that the other 6 grandchildren will be happy to help.

I am hoping to bring it to her and hang on her door so she can still share treats with the nurses and staff at the rehab center. It's such an easy and fun, child friendly project (which I'm ALL about) that I thought maybe you might like to try it too.

As you can see Miss Anna is feeling MUCH better!

Thinking of you from 5 & 2,
Debbie

Sheet music, brooches, and bedsprings as Autumn decorations????

I have been having so much fun decorating for Autumn this week.

Come have a peek.....

Look at this great sheet music I found online from Duke University

So I print some out, cut it down, rolled it up and tied a little black ribbon around it.

Then I spotted a bedspring leftover from this project. I really like it just placed here.

What do you think?

So now the sheet music is keeping company with my 5 & 2 jack o'lantern and my festive bears wearing orange and black ribbons and a pin from Grandma's collection as a hat.

Here's a close up picture of her all dolled up with Grandma's brooch and 2 more of the sheet music pages.

I just love FALL!



Happy Fall from 5 & 2

To paint or not to paint

Am I the only one who has this ongoing debate with herself concerning whether to paint furniture or not? Black or White the two sides seem to go back and forth. I look at my favorite pieces and struggle to decide between painting them black or white.
Here is my library card catalog. So any thoughts? I am leaning towards painting it black and keeping the hardware silver.

What about this entertainment center? My walls are currently dark green in our family room so I'm concerned that black would not be enough of a contrast.

I really prefer plain wood for most of my pieces. Am I just afraid to commit to paint? Our downstairs rooms are what I refer to as fall colors, dark green in the family room, darker yellow in the kitchen, and a merlot in the dining room. I'm not sure if a "heritage white" or a black painted furniture would look better. Is there another choice that I'm "missing"?

Getting "nailed" this fall

So I've been "nailed" finding yet another fabulous idea.

Totally inappropriate title I know, but it did get your attention.

Isn't she lovely. A classic.

I just happen to have some decorative upholstery nailheads and then I saw

nailhead pumpkins @

Strictly Simple Style.

I can't wait to try this but in the meantime I still wanted to share this fabulous idea with you.



Peace be with you from 5 & 2,

 

Fancy Dancy or Simple Dimple?

My daughter's soccer team desperately wants new uniforms. My husband is the team's coach and found a great deal on new uniforms and now it's up to the girls to raise money to help pay for them. They've decided to sell snacks at they boys' modified soccer game later this week. Megan asked me to make brownies and even reminded me to pick up a couple of boxed mixes at the grocery store this weekend. I wanted to do something special for their bake sale and lo and behold Jackie shared these little lovelies 3 ingredient truffles at I Design.

 I am not a Fancy Dancy girl but I sure do like a Simple Dimple idea that makes me look fancy.
Anna was my sweet little helper.

And this was my sweet girl after we were all done.

Some moms (and dads) seem to have a signature treat that they send into school for their children's birthdays, for church events or bake sales. They are known for these litte delights. I am not known for anything special... unless having a 12 passenger van that allows us to give a ride to any kids who need one to the various sports or church events my kids are involved in counts. So we'll see how they go over. I also just remembered the little buttons that I made out of the pretzel snaps, kisses and m & m's.

Maybe I can make some snack paks of those for the sale too. You can find them at my other blog It's All Good Button treats.

My New BFF

In an earlier post I wrote about finding my Peace. I admit I had a wee little doubt that maybe I would lose my Peace as I had in the past. What I realize now (and even thought when it was happening this summer) is that this time my Peace is not dependant on place... which would have been pretty sad since I am only at the beach with my feet up reading a great book for one week out of the year. Today is a crisp upstate NY September day, with my tan fading but my Peace is right here within me and it is so good. Peace is my new best friend. We hang out together over coffee, chat in the car about the things going on in my life and Peace offers me a reassuring hand sqeeze. She shares in my joys and offers a hug during trying times. She is truly a freind who sticks by me during the crazy whirlwindy days, encouraging me to keep going because she knows that there is always a new corner in life to turn that could exchange all this craziness for something calmer and then we'll talk about how lovely THAT day is. Peace is there with me to care and support me through the trials and triumphs in my life. She doesn't just show up for vacations to the beach. No she is not a "good times gal pal". She also isn't just there for me when I feel like a mess and somehow feels the need to fix me. No, she reminds me to take a deep breath during the bumpy days and to breathe in the sweetness of the the good days. She is so precious to me and I plan on keeping our friendship strong for a good long time together. We'll be little old ladies one day sitting together sipping our coffe, mine with lots of cream and sugar, discussing all of these days. We'll share a smile because we made it there to that moment together.

Peace be with YOU,

A New School Year Begins

September 8, 2010 marked the first day of school for Nathan, Logan and Helen. Nate starts his first year as a "grader" and Helen and Logan start 3rd grade.

Nathan ~ the 1st day of 1st grade

Logan starting 3rd grade ~ it's difficult getting a good picture of him because the sun really bothers his eyes.

(Hence the shadows across his face)

Helen ~ our fashionista and is totally color coordinated in Pink, Green, & Brown

Megan  & Justin started school on September 10th

Megan is SOOOO excited to be starting 7th grade

Justin is starting high school and is keeping his excitement under control

Mom with her 7th and 9th graders! How did they get so big?

Dad with his big kids.

September 10th is also Rob's and mine 16th wedding anniversary.

 5 & 2 at 52,