Oh Christmas Tree!

I thought I would show you my Christmas tree.  It's a fake we've had since we first got married.  It will be retired after this year, and it has served us well.  Someday I will have a family tree in the family room that has all of our sentimental ornaments and a fancy tree in some other room that is just for me to look at.  For now, this is it.  Oh, and for the record, the ribbon was evenly spaced around the tree, but my kids won't stop messing with it.  Gotta love it!

I tried to mix all of the family ornaments with the pretty ones and I like what I got.  My kids keep pulling things down to play with, so it doesn't look like this anymore.  :)

I got the ribbon and these balls on sale after Christmas.  They are pretty and plastic, so they won't break when my kids mess with them.

This little guy has been hanging on my tree since I was a little one.  It's from Germany (where I was born).  My parents got him when my Dad was stationed there with the Army.  My mom gave each of us a few when we moved out of the house.

This is also from Germany.  It's from the year I was born...at least that's what I've told myself all of my life.  :)

I don't know how old this is.  My mom made it and I loved it so much that she let me keep it. I also have an ice skating girl that my girls saw and immediately took up to their room.  They crack me up!

This is Mr. Wonderful's from his childhood.  My almost 3 year old LOVES is and plays with it under the tree (which is where he is currently "resting".)

This is also Mr. Wonderful's.  His mom gave him all of his ornaments when we got married.  This is one of my favorites of what he brought with him.

Don't forget my new linky party "Whatcha Got Wednesday".  It starts this Wednesday and I have a really fantastic project to share with you, so come back and show me Whatcha Got!

Whatcha Got Wednesday -- I have hair!

Remember when I did this?  Well guess what?  It is growing back. I actually got a haircut on Christmas Eve and I LOVE it.  I feel so cute and dare I say it...SEXY.  It has been really interesting watching my hair grow back.  I always parted it on my right side, but as it has grown back in, I've realized that it naturally parts on the left.  I also found out that I have a little spot in the back that grows BLACK hair.  So random!

Aside from being able to raise money for children's cancer research, I have had some really great experiences from doing this.  My kids go to a Montessori school (which we love) and so they are all about community and helping others and teach amazing values like honesty, respect, integrity, service, etc.  When their teachers heard what I was doing, each of them asked me to come and talk to their classes.  I was able to go in before and talk about it and read them age appropriate stories about cancer and loosing your hair.  Then I was able to go back in after and show them what I looked like with no hair and how it would be used to help someone who needed it more than me.  It was such an amazing experience and I consider myself lucky to have been able to participate.  Now whenever I am up at the school I have 50 little kids who want to come up and say hello and give me a high 5.  It is awesome!

Before:

After:

p.s.  We have been working our booties off at our house.  We are re-doing our kitchen and it is looking soooooooo good.  I can't wait to show you.  Stay tuned!

Now it's your turn.  Show me Whatcha Got!

1.  Link up the actual blog post, not your blog address.

2.  Grab my button and post it somewhere on your blog.

</P> <P></P> <P><BR></P> <P><center><table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://pumpkinpatchdesigns.blogspot.com"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9n72MKnKHiNCXzs3_dud692NJogyjAamFWqFusT7jeNt498fTDNmrNuAFX_H6ZjoFlQXoB5LKwyPy99_vHSSCMt4xneFKoXA9LVZku_vVVB9Wv48cmKPtG22S5JhBKsUnkDgqCtW0PEZG/s1600/pumpkin+patch+watcha.bmp" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right"> </td></tr></table></center></P> <P><BR></P> <P> 

3.  Check out what everyone else is up to and leave them some comment love.

Whatcha Got Wednesday--kitchen

When we bought our house it was with the understanding that we would be re-doing our kitchen.  A few months after we moved in I got some quotes on refacing our cabinets and I just about wet myself.  NO WAY could we afford it.

3.5 years later and we have decided to do it ourselves.  Mr. Wonderful is a VERY handy guy, so I have absolutely no doubts that he can do it.  He has 2 weeks off at Christmas, so we're going to hit it hard.  We did the prep work over Thanksgiving and I am so excited I want to do the happy dance everytime I walk into my kitchen.

Before:  Isn't that backsplash just beautiful?  And those cabinets...don't they make your heart flutter? 

After:  I know this pic is from a different angle and my countertops are messy, but can you see that we took down the backsplash and an entire row of cabinets that were hanging over my countertop Look at the 2nd before pic standing in the kitchen looking out and now look at the after pic.  Can you see it?

Anyway, more to come!!

Now it's your turn.  Show me Whatcha Got!

1.  Link up the actual blog post, not your blog address.

2.  Grab my button and post it somewhere on your blog.

</P> <P></P> <P><BR></P> <P><center><table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://pumpkinpatchdesigns.blogspot.com"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9n72MKnKHiNCXzs3_dud692NJogyjAamFWqFusT7jeNt498fTDNmrNuAFX_H6ZjoFlQXoB5LKwyPy99_vHSSCMt4xneFKoXA9LVZku_vVVB9Wv48cmKPtG22S5JhBKsUnkDgqCtW0PEZG/s1600/pumpkin+patch+watcha.bmp" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right"> </td></tr></table></center></P> <P><BR></P> <P> 

3.  Check out what everyone else is up to and leave them some comment love.

Whatcha Got Wednesday -- Kitchen update

Are you ready for an update? 

The lighting is done.  Mr. Wonderful took out the flourescent lights and put in recessed lights.  Can I just say how awesome it is to be able to SEE what I'm doing no matter where I am in the kitchen.  Heavenly!

The backsplash is completely DONE and I did it all by myself.  Mr. Wonderful was working on other stuff, so I jumped in and did it.  I even cut the tile by myself.  I'm feeling like Super Woman right about now!

Mr. Wonderful got the beadboard up an all of the ends/backs of cabinets and started framing everything in.  I'll prime and paint that while he makes the cabinet doors.  I also have to paint the ceiling so he can finish putting up the lights.

Now it's your turn.  Show me Whatcha Got!

1.  Link up the actual blog post, not your blog address.

2.  Grab my button and post it somewhere on your blog.

</P> <P></P> <P><BR></P> <P><center><table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://pumpkinpatchdesigns.blogspot.com"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9n72MKnKHiNCXzs3_dud692NJogyjAamFWqFusT7jeNt498fTDNmrNuAFX_H6ZjoFlQXoB5LKwyPy99_vHSSCMt4xneFKoXA9LVZku_vVVB9Wv48cmKPtG22S5JhBKsUnkDgqCtW0PEZG/s1600/pumpkin+patch+watcha.bmp" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right"> </td></tr></table></center></P> <P><BR></P> <P>

 

3.  Check out what everyone else is up to and leave them some comment love.

Whatcha Got Wednesday--Christmas!!

First I would like to say that today is VERY special day!  It is my 10th anniversary.  When we got married we decided that we would spend our 10th in Europe.  Yeah, that's not happening.  Instead we're getting a babysitter and spending a night out on the town.  Someday we will take a big trip, but it won't be today.  :) 

Anyway,  we had the BEST Christmas!  Santa was good to us this year.  It was full of the 3 F's...friends, food, and fun.  Here are a few pics of the week.

Now it's your turn.  Show me Whatcha Got!

1.  Link up the actual blog post, not your blog address.

2.  Grab my button and post it somewhere on your blog.

</P> <P></P> <P><BR></P> <P><center><table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://pumpkinpatchdesigns.blogspot.com"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9n72MKnKHiNCXzs3_dud692NJogyjAamFWqFusT7jeNt498fTDNmrNuAFX_H6ZjoFlQXoB5LKwyPy99_vHSSCMt4xneFKoXA9LVZku_vVVB9Wv48cmKPtG22S5JhBKsUnkDgqCtW0PEZG/s1600/pumpkin+patch+watcha.bmp" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right"> </td></tr></table></center></P> <P><BR></P> <P> 

3.  Check out what everyone else is up to and leave them some comment love.

INTRODUCING...

Me...I'm back and I'm ready to get this blog chugging again.  I needed that break so much and I am really grateful for all of the kind words and warm wishes you all sent my way.

Aside from taking a break, I also thought long and hard about what I wanted to do with The Pumpkin Patch.  I missed blogging and I especially missed seeing all of the awesomeness that seems to pour out of each of your fingers.

When I started this blog I intended it to be a place for women to come together and uplift and support one another.  I hoped it would be a place to find inspiration and acceptance and friendship.  Somewhere along the way I got more worried about followers and how many people visited each day than about my original goal--to help people. I never intended it to be a parade of just how many crafts/projects I could get done in one week, but that's what it eventually became.  Don't get me wrong, I still love crafting and working on projects.  I still want to see what you all have come up with and I still want to show you what I'm working on.  I still want to share recipes and kid's crafts becuase I love to cook and I love to do fun things with my munchkins. However; I'm not going to try and squeeze more into my days that can reasonably fit around taking care of my family.

With that being said, here's the new game plan.

I plan to post Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.  If I have more to say in a week, then I'll post more often.  If I don't, then I won't.  Wednesday will be dedicated to you lovely ladies.  I'm starting a new linky part to replace the old ones.  It's called "Whatcha Got Wednesdays" and is open to ANYTHING you want to show off (except nude body parts...and anything else that isn't family friendly).  I'll have the linky up by 12:01 am every Wednesday and once I get people linking up again I'll feature 3 projects from the week before.  I will start hosting Watcha Got Wednesdays next week (12/8/10).

Here's the button in case anyone wants it.

</P> <P></P> <P><BR></P> <P><center><table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://pumpkinpatchdesigns.blogspot.com"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9n72MKnKHiNCXzs3_dud692NJogyjAamFWqFusT7jeNt498fTDNmrNuAFX_H6ZjoFlQXoB5LKwyPy99_vHSSCMt4xneFKoXA9LVZku_vVVB9Wv48cmKPtG22S5JhBKsUnkDgqCtW0PEZG/s1600/pumpkin+patch+watcha.bmp" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right"> </td></tr></table></center></P> <P><BR></P> <P> 
p.s. A special thanks to Sunny who sent me "thinking about you emails" at the exact moments I needed them. You didn't know it, but you were answering my prayers. Thank you.

Watcha Got Wednesday

Thanks so much to everyone who linked up last week.  I had no idea if anyone would link up at all and was very pleasantly surprised that 14 projects were linked up.  You people make me smile so much!!! 

I'm still sick and have done absolutely NOTHING for days, so I have nothing to show you.  But I still want to see what you've been up too.

Now it's your turn.  Show me Whatcha Got!

1.  Link up the actual blog post, not your blog address.

2.  Grab my button and post it somewhere on your blog.

</P> <P></P> <P><BR></P> <P><center><table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://pumpkinpatchdesigns.blogspot.com"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9n72MKnKHiNCXzs3_dud692NJogyjAamFWqFusT7jeNt498fTDNmrNuAFX_H6ZjoFlQXoB5LKwyPy99_vHSSCMt4xneFKoXA9LVZku_vVVB9Wv48cmKPtG22S5JhBKsUnkDgqCtW0PEZG/s1600/pumpkin+patch+watcha.bmp" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right"> </td></tr></table></center></P> <P><BR></P> <P> 

3.  Check out what everyone else is up to and leave them some comment love.

Grab a button!

Here are all of my buttons.  Help yourself to whichever ones you want.

All you have to do is copy the html code, log in to your blog account and go to the layout tab.  Click on "add a gadget" and then on "html/java code".  You don't need to use a title, just paste the html code in the box and click save.

Main Button: 

Whatcha Got Wednesday

 

</P> <P></P> <P><BR></P> <P><center><table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://pumpkinpatchdesigns.blogspot.com"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9n72MKnKHiNCXzs3_dud692NJogyjAamFWqFusT7jeNt498fTDNmrNuAFX_H6ZjoFlQXoB5LKwyPy99_vHSSCMt4xneFKoXA9LVZku_vVVB9Wv48cmKPtG22S5JhBKsUnkDgqCtW0PEZG/s1600/pumpkin+patch+watcha.bmp" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right"> </td></tr></table></center></P> <P><BR></P> <P>  

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