Post-Christmas Crafting Craze

After Christmas ended, so did the good weather out here in Texas. It was a little rough for us desert rats. Cold, wet, dark and gloomy. Jason, once again, convinced me to take down the Christmas decor before the first of the year, and our house was looking so dreary to me. Not to mention, I was going stir crazy. 

What was a girl to do?

I busted out Pinterest, started a new board and began pinning valentines decorations like a mad woman! With my inspiration in hand I began scavenging the house for supplies. 

I found a large scrap of burlap that's just been screaming to be used. I made two of the "love" banners from the above picture . One for me, one for a friend. Then I found the metal "you make my heart smile" sign in my craft bin. I bought it over a year ago for $1 and never put it to use. I framed it with an extra bit of burlap and added the hearts to the bottom. Love it!

I remembered we had an old canvas the kids had scribbled on in the closet. I pulled that out, a couple coats of paint, some glitter, and bam! Valentine art. 

Next I raided my scrap paper box, and spent one whole movie cutting out different size hearts, which I sewed together into a garland. 

I remembered I have some old valentines fabric that was given to me, but I never found a use for. With a little help from Emilie, I now have two cute pillows!

I also made some fun little stuffed hearts from some red and pink scrap fabric I had. 

I did spend a whopping four dollars at the dollar store for glass candle sticks and styrofoam cones. I spray painted the candle sticks white, and with my trusty glue gun and some fuzzy yarn I whipped up these fuzzy trees. 

Lastly, I found some little canvases in my art supplies. I drew a few straight lines in pink sharpie and painted rows of hearts on them. Added some yarn and the little puffy hearts, now I'm in love! 

I'm a little early for valentines day, but I love it nonetheless! 

I'd been wanting to take Carmella to downtown Ft. Worth 

to see Santa for a couple of weeks now, ever since the ward

Christmas party that Santa failed to 

show up for. I decided to wait

till all the kids got out of school so Adelaide and Ivy could

go too. I'm so glad I did. The girls had a fun time with Santa

and Ivy was surprised to find out that Santa knows a 

thing or two about My Little Ponies. He even knew who her

favorite pony, Derpy is. He made each of the

girls feel special as they talked about what they 

wanted for Christmas. He was a really great Santa!

Of course after talking with Santa we had to stay to play,

and take a few pictures around Sundance Square.

Merry Christmas,
From the Poyfairs

Trick or Treat!

Halloween was pretty great this year. Carmella dressed as Queen Elsa, and totally lived the part. She spent a good amount of time freezing anyone who disagreed with her. 

She pooped out about 3/4 of the way through trick or treating. As we were turning to go up to another front door she said "Not another house!" I pretty much carried her from there. 

Adelaide was Dorothy. She was a little unsure about this particular costume, until I told her she would be getting a new pair of sparkly red shoes. Then, when I said we could take Jazzy to be Toto, she was all in! She kept asking people why they didn't have any treats for her dog. Jazzy may not have gotten any treats, but she sure got a lot of attention. 
She had her share of petting,and snuggling with everyone.

Ivy was sort of the star of the show. She kept ahead of us, leading the way, and clucking at nearly everyone. I heard several people say hers was their favorite costume. 

 Emilie went as a troll this year.  We worked together to make her horns.
I think they turned out pretty good. She got to take two of her 
friends with us last night. They had a great time. It's sad to me that she is getting so big.
I think her trick or treating days are numbered.

After we took the littles home, I took the big kids over to our friends haunted house. The girls were so excited to go. Till we walked in that is. We all went in together. I kept going on through lauging and having a great time. I turn to say something to the girls, and they are all gone!
I called for them, but I heard someone say they got scared and left.
So, I finished off the haunted house alone. It was a good one this year too! I guess the big kids, weren't so big afterall!! 

This is the "Mom you said one more picture, five pictures ago" look

Coming Up for Air

I haven't posted anything for a while on here, and it really is not like me to be radio silent for so long.
I feel like I can't move on with this blog until I address the elephant in the room. It has been extremely hard for me to move on with my life since my brother Thomas died. He passed away unexpectedly at the end of August, actually it was the girl's second day of school. I left in a rush to be with my family, and many things here at home got dropped or put on hold at that time.

Since being back home I have struggled to settle down into normal life again. Things are getting better now. I fight myself most days to get out and be around people. My instinct is to hide away from the world and lick my wounds. I have been committing myself to do things with people. That way I have no excuse, I have to get out; I have to smile and chat. I have been scheduling things at my house during the day. Filling up my rooms with other moms and children, with laughs and smiles, and noise. It helps me to forget, for a while. I dread when everyone leaves, the emptiness of my house is too much. I hate when it's time for me go home from being out with people. I don't quite know what to do with myself.

It's getting better though. I don't cry all the time anymore. I can get myself up and moving without much of a struggle anymore. Life keeps on moving, and it's taking me with it. I feel like I have been drowning, slowly sinking below the surface, but now I can feel myself rising up again. I have broken through the surface of the water and taken a breath.

I'm moving forward, and with that movement comes updating our family blog.
More to come soon,
I promise.