The Toy Box Years: Kiddie Christmas Card Exchange

The Creators of the Toy Box Years

The creators of the Toy Box Years are my two beautiful daughters and wonderful, handsome soldier husband.

"Nani" (our oldest) is a 11 year old 6th grader who loves Taylor Swift, ballet, books, fashion designing and sewing. Ask her what she wants to be when she grows up and it changes daily to anything from "an artist" to "a teacher" to "a singer/dancer". Nani is also currently fighting a battle against brain cancer -- recently diagnosed in June 2016.

"Nudgie" (our youngest) is a very smiley, very happy, very giggly, very spirited 8 year old 3rd Grader who's favorite toys are anything that gives mommy an anxiety attack - ladders, stepstools, the climbing wall at the playground. Like her sister, she has a love of reading and coloring, loves gymnastics and still provides mommy lots of snuggle time!

"My Marine" is my high school sweetheart. We've been married over 20 years and met when we were 17. (You do the math....) His favorite toys are Blackhawk helicopters, the lawnmower, our steam cleaner, and microbrew beer bottles. My husband is also my hero in that he proudly serves his country as a Blackhawk crew chief (hence his favorite toy!). And need I say that there is nothing hotter than my man in uniform!

All About Me......

Once upon a time I had a career and worked in the corporate world. Once upon a time, I dreamed about leaving that all behind to follow my true calling -- being a wife and mommy.

The first part of my calling was fulfilled in 1995 when I married my Marine (now soldier) and my love. Little did I know that being a military wife would change me in so many ways and that because of that, I would have an extended family all over the world from Japan, to California, to North Carolina.

The second part of my calling took a little doing, but I finally achieved that dream in 2004 with the birth of our first child, followed 4 years later by her baby sister.

So now, when someone asks me what I do for a living - I simply smile and say proudly that I'm following my calling - I'm a mommy and a wife -- and I couldn't be HAPPIER -- I'm living in the Toy Box Years!!

Our Kiddie Christmas Card Exchange is in full swing! I'm so thrilled with how many participants I got to sign up! And the girls are so excited to get started!

On Thanksgiving weekend, we pulled out our supplies and got cracking with making our cards! I made a couple to get them started and to show them what kind of cards we were making. Then I let them loose with the paper and glue!

And while the girls and I were hard at work making cards, My Marine and Zoja were working hard doing this.......

And finally - the finished cards!

I had the girls sign the cards too. I asked Nani to sign Nudgie's name too, but Nudgie had ideas of her own. I just love how she's "writing" her own name!

It was a happy day here yesterday when we got the first cards in the mail!!

We're planning on getting the rest of our cards finished up and in the mail on Monday! So those who signed up -- keep checking your mailboxes!!

Stay tuned for more Christmas Card Exchange updates!