It’s nearly Thanksgiving which means the time is ticking by for the most perfect Christmas card photo and more — and I mean much more…
Tis’ the season that looms ahead of me where I can tell you what I will be doing every weekend until 2011. I know I shouldn’t spend so much time on the little things but I can’t help it.
This year I want to have cute Christmas cards and I mean the cutest little cards EVER so help me God!
Last year I waited until the last minute and ended up with lame photo cards from a photo machine. Of course the picture of Hadley was adorable but the card itself was hideous and didn't have the same Heinsen household pizazz as my previous cards.
In the past I have sent some creative cards. A favorite card pre-Hadley is one where Robert and I with our dog Talley dressed in camo and blaze orange and posed by the Christmas tree with rifles. The tag line read, “Hunting for Santa!” It was a hit and I heard comments from friends and family near and far. The following year we took a picture outside by a blazing bonfire during a snowstorm and the tag line read, “Sending you Warm Wishes!” Now these were creative cards and trust me I didn’t come up with the ideas all by myself. The Internet helped. However, I did have to organize the photo, track down a photographer (my brother), decide that 50 shots were enough to choose from, finally choose the photo and order cards online. This is a task I need to get on now, and sadly I just thought about it tonight.
Add this to a list of growing tasks that need to get done in the next few weeks. As in, can you believe Hadley is going to be 2? Where has the time gone?
I can remember planning every inch of her first birthday party. Now it is birthday number two and I am in the planning stages for a Dr. Seuss spectacular. Thankfully the theme was easy to decide on and it offers room to roam in the decorating department. I have two weeks to finish planning the menu and grocery shop, purchase her big girl bed, order her bedding, make cupcake toppers, create pom pom balls — Yeah, I know what you are thinking, “What the heck are pom pom balls?”
I found them on Etsy, another site I LOVE! They seemed a little expensive to purchase pre-made so I Googled instructions on how to make them and have decided to go that route. They are medium sized paper dahlia-like balls that hang from the ceiling, thus creating a bright and cheery “It’s my birthday” look. If you are skeptical like my husband, who tells me that by making the pom pom balls I have gone overboard and am just causing myself some unnecessary stress, well you are probably right. But ask him and he will tell you that even though I may stress about it, it gets done. I live for party planning and added stress means a great party!
And, pom pom balls hanging from the ceiling along with cupcake toppers help create a special look and feel for a very special little girl. I purchased 280 sheets of tissue paper, and one pom pom ball takes 16 sheets so I have room for error. Maybe with a little begging I can get Robert to help!
I cannot be more thankful for the many blessings over the past year. My family has survived in this sluggish economy. We have a roof over our head with heat and electricity. I don’t want to jinx it, but currently all of our vehicles and appliances are working! Even though Robert wishes the Suburban would die, I pray it makes it another six months. We have a healthy happy daughter who reminds us daily of what life is really all about, a loving dog and we are blessed with a tremendous support system of family and friends.
“Thanks” sometimes doesn’t feel like a strong enough word. But it is what we all should say each morning as we start our day. I must remember to count my blessings first and then my tasks! Especially when I start making the pom pom balls!
