Homemade Banana Cake AND Cream Cheese Icing? oh yea I did..

So, my husband loves food. We joke that I am just not a good cook. He is an amazing cook. He says I don't put enough effort into my cooking, and that's why it isn't good, but when I do put effort in, he says he loves it. I think he's just being picky haha

This last week, I did not make a huge dinner for Xmas, but I did cook a few things. I made chicken alfredo, which he loved..I didn't think it was that hard, but whatever. I don't use jar sauce because I think it tastes like ... well I don't know but whatever it is it is NOT good. I make my own sauces for everything. That's effort right?

I also ventured out and made a banana cake with cream cheese icing.. completely from scratch. Now I'm sure there are a million women out there that probably do this every day. I'm not one. I haven't made a complete cake from scratch in years, and I have only made icing 1 other time. Yea..I don't know what came over me. However, this time it turned out spectacularly delicious!! It is soooo much better than any icing I've ever purchased, the cake is so good..like wow..I made that..I almost made myself a badge to put on my apron.  Then I remembered I need to make an apron too, so those are on my list...but I swear I'm gonna do it.

This cake recipe was in an old old OLD book I got from my mom. All the recipes are handwritten by women long gone now, that did this stuff all the time. I bet this wasn't even their most favorite recipe..I bet they'd hate my cake...but it's ok, cause they aren't here and my peeps in my house love it!

I also love the icing. It is a super basic recipe, I think, it's only 4 things mixed together. But I'm telling you if you ever make it yourself, you will ruin yourself for store bought icing.. Plus, you'll probably need a dentist, as this stuff is super easy to just eat off a spoon..not that I would do that..but my kids may have stolen some spoons.

I'll post both recipes, and I definitely recommend trying them..even if you just try the icing...it's so good! I am not a cake decorator I am a seamstress, so yea, that explains the poor frosting job on my cake! haha

Banana Cake

• 3 1/2 Cups Mashed Bananas (4-7 very ripe bananas)
• 2 cups Granulated Sugar
• 2 Eggs
• 2 tsp Vanilla
• 1 1/2 stick of butter
• 4 cups All Purpose Flour

Mash bananas in a large bowl, add butter, sugar, eggs and vanilla, mix on medium speed till blended. Add flour, mix well.

Pour into prepared cake pans. (I butter/flour mine, you can use your own method I assume)

Bake on 350 for about 30-35 minutes. 

I made mine in 2 8" round pans, and it took about 33 minutes in my oven. 

Cream Cheese Icing

• 1 brick Cream Cheese
• 1 stick of  Butter
• 3 1/2 cups Powdered Sugar
• 1 1/2 tsp Vanilla

Cream together the butter and cream cheese, then add sugar and vanilla, continue to mix on low until well blended. You can add powdered sugar if it is too wet for your liking. 

These recipes probably aren't very different from anything on the internets today, so feel free to just google it if you'd like to see other options! I know every time I look up recipes, I tend to fine 74 links to basically the same recipe haha I mean how many different ways can you seriously make a sugar cookie, right?

So, there it is, I hope you try to make your own treats! I know sometimes it makes me feel a little less sad when I bake something up and it actually turns out yummy! 

No matter how hard today seems, no matter how much you're struggling, remember, I'm here with you..struggling as well, but we have to just keep breathing, and just keep going! Hugs to you <3

Confession time..

Ok..so I have a confession...are you ready?

I have special needs kids.

Yea, I know, doesn't everybody now?

I think that's the first time I've ever typed it. I have just assumed the dr was wrong, I knew I just had to parent them differently, it was something I was doing wrong, that's why we were having so many issues and struggles with things. It wasn't a problem with them, it was me and it was definitely fixable.

I have now come to terms with the fact that my kids are not necessarily going to graduate early, or have straight A's, (even though we homeschool, I just can't manage to make myself shell out an A for Math to my 7th grader who is honestly still struggling with 3rd grade math).  They may not even go to college...and that's ok..right?

I see all the time on social media and even in real life everywhere I go, when I do manage to get out of the house, all these moms excusing behaviour and always saying "oh they're (fill in condition here), they can't be any different, that's just how they are."

I get it. I totally do. Some kids have conditions that legitimately determine how they process/react/behave etc. I empathize and sympathize with these families dealing with seriously disabled children.

However, I've never been a mom to dismiss or excuse my own kids behavior based on any kind of diagnosis they have received, mostly because I've never whole heartedly believed the diagnosis was accurate. ADHD is common in my house. It is also one of my least liked diagnosis. I feel like it is thrown at any kid who just needs a different outlet for their energy, so we have not medicated since hearing that in my kids dr. office. I always strive to teach my children how to behave, how to use common old school manners, things that are not so common any longer, and I have always been told by complete strangers how amazing my kids behave. I have a lot of kids so I think it is more notable in public restaurants, for example, when they do behave.

I remember one specific incident, we were at a local restaurant, on a Saturday night, so of course it was busy. We had 5 under 10 at the time. We sat waiting and ordered and ate and we were waiting for our check when these people came over and said,

 "Excuse me, we just wanted to tell you what a wonderful job you're doing with these children. We sat down a little nervous our dinner would be interrupted being so close to a large family with young children, and we were pleasantly surprised that your children were un noticeable. Thank you for teaching them well"

I think that is one of my proudest moments as a mom...no, it is THE proudest moment I've had so far. 3 of those children had been diagnosed ADHD, and 1 has Tourettes.

I know these problems are scaled and I know someone will read this and be like "Well my child is a more severe case, you probably got a bad diagnosis, they can't be ADHD if they aren't being crazy all the time."

I know, I've heard it all before. I have had other mothers tell me I don't have special needs kids, I just say that so I can seem better than them when my kids don't behave like theirs...WHAAAAA??? Really? Is that even really a thing?? I mean, I know it does seem like everyone wants to be special, but are we seriously pretending our kids have conditions now? What is that/?

Before you tell me I'm probably being unfair and bragging and judging these other moms, I'm not..at all..I am saying that you can still teach your children how to behave even if they have special conditions. Are they going to be just like "normal" (what the hell ever that word even means anymore) kids? No, probably not, but they can be proper polite children if taught that.

Yes, it takes way more energy for me to teach my kids things that I think should just be easy peasy. Yes, they make mistakes. Yes, I make mistakes. Yes, it's harder for them and me to get through some things. Yes, we do have days that are absolutely chaotic evil and feel like we are swirling into the 12th level of hell.

No, I will never just let them use any diagnosis as an excuse to behave poorly. That is basically my whole thing.

So, as always, no matter how hard your days or nights are...no matter how hard the struggle seems right now...just keep breathing..just keep going...I do. <3

Working up new designs...finally!

I embroider. I love to sew and embroider. Now I've even started to really enjoy digitizing my own designs. I decided to start trying to digitize because my kids love lots of really obscure fandoms that I can't always find designs for to purchase. I would love to say I had to start digitizing because of demand in my Etsy shop but it isn't haha

I have been trying to make time to sit and digitize designs for some time now, since summertime! I have just always got so much happening it seems. It's like I have to leave the house every single day for some nonsense reason or another. Then I'll be out for hours, even if I just have to run to Kroger or Target..or Thor forbid the W place...My mom works there back home, and I still can't stand to go there. I only go when I have absolutely no other option.

I have 2 designs in my shop that sell...a Harry Potter bag and a Dungeons & Dragons bag with a clever Chaotic Stupid alignment saying. I love them but I have other bags that I love in the shop, that just don't sell. I have a list of things I should try to put in the shop to push things other than the 2 popular designs, but I am honestly thankful anything is selling! My hubby says he's so proud of me, and tries to make me see that I am really good at this...my inner me tells me he's just saying it because he has to, and I'm just lucky it was xmas time, other wise nothing would sell and I'll be seeing the bad reviews pouring in after the bags people bought are given as gifts....but I'll try to ignore the me and listen to hubby for now :)

I have started digitizing emblems from books we love called Seven Deadly Sins. It's on Netflix right now, but we have loved it since we read the books. My oldest said he wants to get the sin emblems as his first tattoos...I guess I'm glad he's planning ahead..right?

I'm not even sure what I will do with the designs when I get them right...maybe I'll just make patches for the kids or just embroider them onto their bags..who knows.

Otherwise, for most items that I plan to sell, I have a few digitizers I absolutely love to buy my designs from, because they are amazing talents and everything I get from them stitches beautifully every time, so it really isn't worth the effort of doing it myself, when I can throw a few dollars in their account and have a perfect design ready to stitch..definitely saves me hours and is worth every penny!

Giving! Find a little Pantry in your town, and FILL IT!

We live in a town that is really much bigger than it should be. It is right next to a military base, and it just keeps growing. I am ready to move somewhere smaller and less congested. However, I do like that every now and then, I see something that makes me feel warm inside and think that this town does still have some nice generous people here.

We love to go Pokemon hunting with Pokemon GO and we found a "Little Pantry" next to one of our Pokestops recently. A Little Pantry is a cute little cabinet, that you can leave food in for people in that immediate neighborhood to have if they need something to eat. I love it. This particular Little Pantry, is in a trailer park, and I know there are a lot of kids, and maybe they might need dinner or a snack one day when they get home from school.

I remember when I was young coming home and not having any food in the fridge or cabinets, and searching for enough change to go to the little store behind my apartment complex to buy a cake mix for .88 that I would then just take home and make with water only because we didn't have eggs or oil/butter to make it properly. Wow, showing my age there, when was a cake mix .88 at a little convenient shop? I also remember they had the little pints of Ben & Jerry ice cream for $1...OMG..wow I am so old! hahaha But going without, really made me realize that there isn't always going to be someone to take care of you, no matter how young you are, so I tend to have a huge soft spot in my heart for people that may not have food..I never want anyone to feel like I did when I was younger.

SO we decided that whenever I go get groceries, we will grab some things to take to this little pantry. I don't know if there are very many people stocking as using what is stocked, as it barely has anything in it whenever we come by. I try to fill it up whenever we can, thankfully it's small so even spending a small amount makes it look pretty full :)


This last time we hit a sale at Publix BOGO on pasta and sauces and we grabbed a bunch! I love that my daughter loves taking stuff almost as much as I do! She will suggest going even on days I'm not shopping, and say "but mom, we have all this stuff in the pantry we aren't eating!" I usually reply with, "yea, not right now, but we will need to have something to eat until the next grocery day, right?" haha But sometimes she still gets me to gather some stuff and make a run over to drop stuff off. It's pretty close to us so it's easy to do.

So I suggest looking for one of these little pantry boxes in your town, or if there isn't one, build it! Find a neighborhood that may need things available for less fortunate or struggling families.

Another great little thing, is a Little Free Library. Fill it with books you've read and don't need any longer, and then people can bring their read books and choose a different one to read, and it just keeps going..I love these so much!

Just remember it doesn't take a lot to do something meaningful for others. Even when you barely have enough yourself, there is probably someone with even less <3

No matter how hard it seems, today will be gone in the blink of an eye, if tomorrow comes, even if it isn't better than today, it will pass as well, just keep breathing, just keep going...I do..see you next time :)

Thank you notes...SEND THEM!!!

I just spent about 30 minutes to send thank you notes for each gift that my family received from the JGXM 2018! I love love LOVE sending thank you notes! If you receive a gift, please send them a thank you note! It doesn't take much effort and I bet the person that sent that gift will really feel so much better about sending it...I would.

I remember a couple years ago, one of my husbands friends was having a baby, and my super thoughtful hubby says to me, "hey babe, why don't you knit them a blanket?" 

Inside I cringed, I knew that handmade gifts are just not received very well anymore, and I wasn't certain these people would be ones to appreciate it...but then I thought, well I would love it so they will too! Knit the thing! So I did, I went and found yarn, needles, a pattern..and stitched away..until I had a lovely blue marbly colored blanket, that I just loved so I knew they would at least like it.

I send it over to them via my hubby, to his friend & his wife, and waited patiently to hear back over the next couple of days....my hubby sees his friend every day at work so after about a week, I asked my hubby about it.."Hey did John or Melissa say anything about the blanket?" 

"no, why?" he replied

"oh no reason, just wondered if it was the wrong color or anything.." I said, hiding my disappointment and holding back the lump in my throat while feeling that all too familiar tingle in my face of impending tears.  I know that seems silly, and I must be such a sissy to let that kind of thing bother me..and maybe you're right..I am extremely sensitive. I know and acknowledge that I am one who definitely falls under the definition of an empath...although I don't know much else about those people..I should research that.

So of course, I was very distraught for a while about this and tried very hard to justify why they hadn't simply said "thank you"..I wasn't expecting them to gush about how beautiful the blanket was or how my skill as a knitter was just breathtaking! Although, they would have of course because it was and my skill is exceptional! haha <3 However, a simple thank you would've make me feel better. 

I even thought that maybe Melissa would've said thank you if we saw each other, because that's what women do, and surely this was just a miscommunication and her hubby just forgot to tell mine...blah blah blah...but it wasn't. I ran into her at Target, and she had her baby and older sons as well, we chatted for a bit, with no mention of the blanket..even as I mentioned how nice the blanket she had on her baby seat was..although it wasn't the beautiful hand knit one that I had spent hours knitting for her.

Oh well, another day where I cry the whole way home...and am greeted by my kids saying "what happened? Why are you sad? Did you see a stray animal you couldn't bring home?" 

Ok so the moral of the story...SEND THANK YOU NOTES!!! OR AT LEAST SAY THANK YOU IN PERSON IF YOU DON'T WANT TO USE A STAMP OR SEND AN EMAIL!

Wow...that was interesting...

Wow, it's been a while, I kind of got caught up helping with the James Garfield Xmas Miracle, and spent a lot of time on the computer only doing that. Which, I don't regret one minute of, however, I have come to find out that someone on there, was so cruel and pulled a for real Grinch on a bunch of people. They went into their lists, and clicked the items "purchased elsewhere" so that the item would show as purchased and these families, thought they were getting items for their families and children.  Yet nothing came. So, now there are so many people posting on there about not receiving anything, it's just sad. I am thankful that we have received everything we did, and that the kids had a few things to open. If my list would've been Grinched, we wouldn't have had anything. I feel so sad for all those people. I don't understand how anyone can seriously purposely maliciously do something that will obviously affect so many in a negative way, with no chance for personal gain whatsoever! I mean seriously what could they have gotten from doing this?? Maybe they had a list of their own up and wanted less competition, so they thought their list would get filled if there were less lists overall?? I can't even imagine..I am so sad for those people.

So here it is...Xmas...ok..well, ok... It's just not the same this year. I know losing family members of course makes things weird..but I just haven't felt the same.

Thanks to the JGXM on the bloggess blog, my littles and nieces/nephew had some stuff to open. They all seem understandably out of the xmas spirit as well..I think we will try to make some cookies or something this afternoon and maybe put on A Christmas Story and let whomever isn't doing cookies play some games.

What are some of your Xmas day activities? Are you bakers? gamers? cookers? Do you make a huge meal for friends and family? Do you just hang out in your apartment like it's any other day that all the stores are closed and you realize you should've gotten milk yesterday before everything closed? When do you take the tree down? Do you even put one up? I bet you guys have some great creative ways to get through the days :)

We are just hanging out wishing we got milk yesterday haha  Well, I'm also working on a couple orders this morning that came in over the weekend, then I'll be heading in the house to keep everyone else distracted till bedtime.

Until next time, have a great day, or a mediocre day, whatever kind of day it is..just keep going..I do <3

Christmas is getting sooooo close!

Yea, I know it comes around every year, same time, same place..every..year.  I wonder if I should just raise the kids without Christmas. I know I know...some of you may be gasping with disbelief at such a thought...but I have what I feel are pretty valid reasons.

#1 We don't do Santa anyhow...I never wanted to put the effort into lying to my kids for years just for them to find out the truth and question everything I ever told them...plus, I'm greedy and I want proper credit for any gift we buy the kids...My hubby works so hard all year, and anything we are able to get for them I'm not giving credit to some make believe fat man in a red suit! hahaha

#2 I just can't afford it anymore. Yes, I know, we chose to have these children, and we chose to take in the extra 4 children, but honestly, I can provide a home and food and love to all of them...I just can't afford even 1 gift each anymore. A few years ago, we only had our 5 at the time, and it was hard to get just 1 gift for each one. I don't buy nonsense impractical items for my bunch. Again, that's my choice, I know. So if I am buying them something I want it to be something they really want, something they can use and something that will last. I'm not a dollar store toy buyer, so that I can throw them away in 2 weeks.

#3 I think it is sad to have no snow on Christmas. We live in the South and it is always gross and rainy and sad outside. I miss North Eastern snow, from when I grew up.

#4 I have had to rely on outside sources for the last 2 years...I am so not the kind of person that asks for help just because. I will exhaust all of my options and then re-evaluate if what I thought I needed is really needed! Only if I can validate it after that, I will try to find help to achieve whatever it is. I don't like depending on others. Humans are unpredictable. I am the kind of person that likes to know what is happening, what's going to happen, and what will happen after all that....I like to be prepared. I can't be prepared relying on others.

So in short, I think I'm just feeling a bit discouraged today. 1 of my sons birthdays is coming up on the 22nd as well. One more opportunity for me to disappoint him. Maybe that's it, maybe I am so stressed and depressed because I know that even though I don't like depending on other people, all of these small humans depend on me...and it seems like I just keep letting them down more and more...I hate myself for that.

If you're feeling similar this holiday season, please just try to remember to love all of your peeps, give extra hugs and cuddles, and just keep going..with tears streaming and a box of tissue in tow, just keep going...I do..

Wishing everyone, or maybe just one, who reads this little bit, the warmest and happiest holiday season. Whatever you do or do not celebrate :)

Project Night Night and a little note of encouragement

So, I follow another blog, The Bloggess, and every year at Christmas time she sponsors a huge gift giving shenanigan for kids and families who would otherwise not have any thing. I found it last year and it was an amazing gift for us. I was hoping to return this year to purchase for others, however, that hasn't worked out for us, since my husband changed jobs in April, we have been barely able to keep rent paid, and so I went back again to post a wishlist instead of shop wishlists.

This year is extra strained since we are taking in 4 extra littles, my nieces and nephew, since they lost their mom. They will likely be with us until spring, so I was completely freaked out when I then remembered as they sat in the living room with my kids, that I now have 11 kids to not be able to buy anything for Christmas.

What does that feel like you ask? Well, I felt like I couldn't breathe. I felt the hot rise in my face, the tingle in my ears and the blur of tears filling my eyes...it felt like I was falling into a deep dark pit and I couldn't find a hand hold to hang on to to pull myself out. I felt hopeless. I know my kids are generally pretty cool and understanding about our inability to purchase frivolous nonsense, and even when they need things like coats/shoes/underwear (gasp!) and I can't immediately hop on amazon and order what they legitimately NEED...they never ever whine or complain..they quietly wait, wearing whatever they have no matter the condition and are extremely grateful when I am able to give them the new item.

I know there are so many people in my situation, or worse even...I am not even familiar with asking for help. I missed all the sign ups this year for local charities, as I have never had to ask before and had no clue sign ups end in October! yea, clueless..So, I had to go back this year to The Bloggess and hope to get on the list of Garfield.

Now, something you should know before you think, oh cool, free stuff let me run over there! It started yesterday, and if you aren't seriously prepared and can get your list up in the first 12 hours or so, it apparently fills really fast. I have been slightly distracted with recent  family events, obviously, so I kinda dropped the ball..I didn't get my list up until today...Plus, it's probably the longest list on the page, so I'm sure that will be a deterrent.

You see, I was reading her update, and people have already not been following the rules. She has a short list of rules, you can only ask for books/toys for kids, and possibly coat/socks..she has a $$ cap so that more kids can be helped, but of course there are always those people that just want to take advantage of others, especially at Christmas, because so many people are so generous in December.

Plus, she plugs this adorable little program called Project Night Night, that helps children experiencing homelessness. She sells her books and calendars and advertising space and puts most if not all, of her profits into that project. It's pretty amazeballs, you should check it out.

I hope all of you, or just the one of you, who comes by to read this, finds hope and help if you need it this holiday. I understand how dreadful it can be, I understand how dark it may seem, and I understand the feeling of helplessness you may be feeling. I understand it all too well...but you gotta just keep going..for all the people in your life, for your littles, and just for yourself...don't give up...keep breathing, keep going, keep eating, keep loving your littles everyday...hug them more kiss them more play more games and read more stories...even if you have tears streaming down your face as soon as you wake up to the time your reading Chicken Sisters at bed time...just keep going..I do...

A little fun

So I had some requests come in so I've been working on bags galore! So of course I should have expected (not should of expected; that drives me mad when I see it on social media!) that my thread would be running low...and it was definitely low...so I had a little game of thread chicken and posted it up to my fetal YouTube channel...literally my first post...I love YouTube and I have wanted to start uploading for years! 

My son has a channel and I whole heartedly encourage and support him but I've never been able to get anything up because I get too nitpicky and decide no video is ever good enough. 

So this time I just did it! No thinking, no screening or editing...trust me you'll know I'm not faking if you check out the video haha

Hopefully, it will grab a couple views and it will get me rolling with that as well. It's supposed to be tutorials for knitting and sewing/embroidery, so I guess we will see how it goes!

 If you wanna come along for the ride ( be sure to keep your hands in at all times, it may be a bit bumpy, unpredictable, and more than slightly chaotic) please check out my channel here.

If you like video games and want to check out my son's channel you can do that here.

He's 16, has Tourrettes and is thoroughly committed to his channel, so any views/likes/subs really get him totally chuffed!!

Leftover Turkey....what do you do with it?

So with a family of 9, only 8 eat real food, the youngest is still my best milk bar patron.  We get a big turkey every year. Like a 25+ lb bird..I don't know where these birds are being raised or how they are getting so giant, but I'm thankful for them.

With that being said, we still have a good tupperware of leftover turkey to contend with for about a week after the fattening day. This year, it was only 1 container but it seems like nobody wanted leftover turkey,..so I decided to get a little creative. I made a weird turkey soup sauce gravy concoction..and it was really yummy.

I just decided to wing it, since I had so much success recently in the kitchen creating stuff to put over rice for the family. My new obsession with rice is due to realizing how my weird steamer actually works!! It's not an instant pot thing..I won't spend that much money on a thing that I can't decide I can't cook without. This steamer I have was given to me by my mom, so free is great. If you're curious its a Hamilton Beach something, with 2 clear containers on the top and a black/stainless bottom..I'll try again as I do with every post, to get a picture to load and post..I bet it would make this so much more exciting for you to read :)

Anyhow, so I make rice a lot. With rice, I need things to put over it. We are big on bulgogi, since my hubby's trip to Korea over the summer, however, even that can get boring, I'm told. I don't agree, but apparently it's not solely my opinion that matters.

So this sauce stuff...I put about 2-3 Tbsp. of evoo and 1 Tbsp of butter in the saute pan, on med/low heat, chopped up one medium onion, let that cook for about 5-7 minutes until the onions are mostly transparent. Then I throw in about 3 cups of leftover turkey, maybe more, I'm terrible at measuring, and season with salt and pepper. I let that cook for a while browning the turkey bits just a little. Then, I add 2 cans of beef broth, 1/2 can at a time, waiting for it to reduce before adding more. with the last bit of broth I add a can of mushroom soup, and 1 cup of sour cream. I turn the heat low and let it simmer for about 15 minutes. To serve it we just put it over rice or mashed potatoes if there are any of those leftover, but that's a really big IF..my people love my mashed potatoes. I'll share my method for those sometime as well.

So what do you guys like with rice?

Christmas Cards... Do people even mail them anymore?

Are Christmas Cards even a thing still? I remember when I was small, my mom loved getting and sending cards, and would hang them on a string with clothespins on a wall. I remember scribbling my name on a few for family, but never the ones that were to be mailed to others because they had to look neat and tidy. I remember thinking how important you must be to get a lot of cards at Christmas. I don't get any cards at Christmas now...I never have..how weird, right?

When I was in my 20's, I wished I had friends/family from lots of places so I could send cards out and get them in return to put on my string on the wall...that was a depressing year. I went out and bought a box of cards and sent to every address I had...which, let's be honest was only like 12 ish? and all of these were really family members...which I guess makes it more depressing that I didn't receive 1 card back!! Yea, not even 1!! Not even from my own mom, who used to be sooooo dedicated to the Christmas Card ritual.

I decided maybe it was me, maybe I sent them too late, or maybe my in laws weren't card sending people...ok no big deal. So we moved on and I let go of the idea for a while..Until this year!

I am working extra hard and a bit recklessly I'm sure, but I found a group on the FB that is only for peeps that want to exchange cards! How amazing! I had come to think that FB was purely for sharing weird (although hilarious at times) memes and fake news..but I found it..and I'm so excited!

I have received 4 YES 4!! cards and sent almost 36. The only issue I really have with card sending is the absurd postage cost! I really feel like it is showing my age, but I swear I remember when a roll of stamps was $29....yea, I know, I'm old..but good grief..is this why no body sends Christmas cards anymore? 

I mean, yea, I know, everyone is busy and everyone is on FB, Insta, Twitter, etc..but I feel like something as small as a hand signed Christmas card could do so much to make people feel better during the holidays.

Especially older people, NOT that I'm that old, but elderly people, that may not have family that visits often..I just think it might be nice for them to receive mail. I hope someone on my list is one of those people that really enjoys receiving cards. I hope I can make their holiday just a little nicer this year.

And yes, I do let all of my kids sign their names :) Except for the baby, he is only 5 months old after all...maybe next year!

I hope all of you receive all the joy and happiness you need this holiday, even if it is just a meme or ecard on FB or other platform <3