A White Christmas (I still can hardly believe it!)

I was the first to wake up on Christmas morning, which is a miracle. My little one is usually an early riser. I got out of bed, and the first thing I did was peek out the window in hopes of seeing a little snow on the ground. I didn't really think there would be any, but it was Christmas morning, so I just had to check, you know?
The rest of my family got up soon after. We enjoyed watching the boys open their gifts, and then headed over to my parents house for breakfast.
Sometime in the middle of breakfast, someone said those magical words..."it's snowing!". We all ran to the windows and watched as the snow (that we could barely see) fell. It wasn't long before it was coming down harder and sticking to the ground, and I realized, I was going to get my white Christmas after all. We played in the snow, and obliged my mom by letting her take family pictures in the snow. It was Grayson's (our youngest) first time seeing snow. It was so much fun watching him experience it for the first time, and watching our older son enjoy it again!

Grayson enjoying the snow for the first time

Jackson, our oldest son

Grayson, our "baby"

Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas

Photo Credit

I've been sitting at the computer, drinking my coffee and catching up on blog reading. I can hear my husband and two little boys playing in the other room...the sound of laughter (and dinosaur roars). I love those sounds. We had breakfast together as a family, I am going to meet two wonderful friends for lunch and then I am hoping to talk my husband into going to see some Christmas lights tonight. Then tomorrow, the festivites begin, starting with a visit from a dear friend of mine and her children, followed by our annual Christmas Eve dinner with my husbnds family, and then Christmas Day with my family. Isn't this time of year wonderful? I mean, truly wonderful. The reminder of the birth of our Saviour, sweet time with family & friends, relaxing, delicious food, watching the children open their gifts, Christmas movies and music. It truly is (to me) the most wonderful season.  

Here's to wishing each of you a wonderful, blessed Christmas. 

Photo Credit      

Photo Credit

Photo Credit

                                                                  

A Sweet Reunion

I wrote this post a couple of weeks ago, and it has just been sitting here, waiting for the right time to be published. This evening is that time. Because, you see, I have been feeling a little down today. Lost and broken friendships have me feeling discouraged, inadequate...sad. But then I think about the two sweet girls in this post. I look at old pictures of us together. I sit here with tears in my eyes while writing this just thinking about how much I love them and how thankful I am for the friendships I do still have. The ones that have stood the test of the time. For them I am eternally grateful. So, here it is. The post that has been waiting for this night.

Last week, my good friend Susan came into town for a visit. We became friends in high school, and for several years, she and I (and our friend Sherry) were all but inseperable. We did everything together. We laughed together, cried together, took vacations together, fought with each other, we even lived together for a short period of time. These girls were my very closest friends. And last week, after six long years apart (Susan lives in Illinois, Sherry & I still live in the same town), we were together again. We got to laugh together again, and cry together again. It was wonderful to be with them. I feel like they know me in a way that no one else does. They know all of my secrets, and all of the stupid things I have done, and there is something very special about having friends like that. Friends who know every good and bad thing about you, and love you anyway. Friends who feel more like family. I am truly, deeply thankful for friends like that.

Unfortunately, ALL of the pictures I took turned out either too dark or too blurry to use. So, here are a couple from, oh, about 12 years ago. Please forgive the poor quality. And I sincerely hope they don't kill me for posting old pictures.

Susan, Me & Sherry

Susan (if I recall correctly she was making fun of the fact that my mom sometimes accidentally wears two pairs of glasses. We love you Mom!)

Family Picture Day

A couple weeks ago, the lovely and talented Melissa Beaver took our family pictures. Here are a few (okay, more than a few) of my favorites. I really love them all so much, but I did try to narrow it down, believe it or not! :)

This one absolutely cracks me up.

6 Years Ago

Six years ago today, I married this man...

He is my best friend, my biggest supporter, the one I laugh with and my shoulder to cry on. He is a wonderful husband and father. I couldn't have been more blessed.

Christmas Finds

My goal this year was to either make most of the gifts I am giving, or buy handmade (as much as was possible). I wanted to share some of the great finds I came across while shopping for my friends and family. I am not listing all of them, of course, because that would give away some fun surprises :)

#1 Fingerless Gloves by This Cosy Life. These were a little Christmas gift for myself :), and I also gifted a pair to my Cold Hands, Warm Hearts swap partner, Angela.

#2 I love these Retro Christmas Tree tags from StampGirl45 on Etsy.

#3 Pinecone necklace from BlackStar

#4 I also ordered the Tree Crown necklace from Beauty Spot for myself. It came today, and it is just a lovely in person. I love it!

#5 Felt ornaments by Fishes Make Wishes

#6 Hoot Hoot Wands by Uff Da Designs. I have been looking for "boyish" wands to get my boys for Christmas, and these fit the bill perfectly!

#7 These Classic Car Holiday Cards from Silhouette Blue make me think of our yearly trip to the tree farm to pick out our Christmas tree.

After putting this post together, I came across a couple more items that just had to be included...

#8 Heart Garland by What. No Mints? 

#9 Live Simply print by Dazey Chic 

I hope this gives you some great ideas for (last minute) shopping! 

I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas...

Two years ago, my sisters and I took our children to see Santa Clause. I was 6 1/2 mo. pregnant, and my oldest was 15 months old. After a long wait, a baby that was extremely cautious of Santa Clause, and a $21 photo of my large pregnant self sitting on Santa's lap holding my little one, I swore to myself I would never do that again. Well last week, I did it again. My older sister and I took our kids to see Santa. I am SO glad that I didn't keep the promise I made to myself two years ago. Even though neither of my boys would sit on Santa's lap (and who can blame them. Here boys, sit on this big strange mans lap), Jackson (my oldest) held his hand and talked to him for a few minutes. But the real fun was found in the "snow room", a round room with falling "snow". The kids LOVED it!

My sweet little (baby) Grayson...

I know these photos are blurry, but I love the way they show how much fun the kids were having. 

* Also, I have a giveaway going up today at Much Love, Illy. So head on over, check out her adorable blog, and enter to win a store credit to my shop.

Cold Hands, Warm Hearts

First, I want to say a big thank you to Sandy and Ilene for hosting and coordinating the Cold Hands, Warm Hearts Swap. It was such a fun, creative way to get to know other bloggers, and get a few goodies in the process! My swap partner was Angela of My So Called Chaos. I wish that I had thought to take a picture of all of my items wrapped up in the box they came in, but I was so excited to receive it that I just tore right into it. Angela did a great job choosing my items, and I love everything she sent! 

I currently have a little bit of an obsession with mustard yellow and gray, so you can imagine my excitement when I saw this beautiful scarf, and this adorable ruffle headband! And these fingerless gloves...I LOVE these gloves! They are totally my style. She also included coffee (yes, the bag has already been opened. I'm a little bit of a coffee addict), chocolate, and a cute little keychain. I could not believe all of the wonderful gifts that she included! I truly love every single item!

Wordless Wednesday

Well, almost wordless. I just want to say that this is one of my favorite pictures ever.

Christmas Flag Garland

I love to decorate my house for Christmas. There is just something about having the house festive that feels warm and cozy and very, well...Christmasy. I'm always looking for inexpensive and creative ways to deck our halls. When our oldest turned three (back in Sept.), I made bunting flags to decorate with. I thought a Christmas take on this would be perfect to hang on our mantel and some of our side tables.

This is how I did it:

First, I gathered any fabric I had that looked "holiday". I then cut out a 5x5 piece of paper to use as my pattern. I used pinking shears to cut out my squares, because I like the way it looks with the zig zag edges. You can, of course, use regular scissors.

Fold the squares in half, and using a ruler, draw a diagonal line on the fabric using a fabric pen (you can also use a pencil for this). Cut along this diagonal line to make your flag. Make sure that the folded part is facing you, so that when you open it up you will have a flag.

For the last step, I sew the flags, one by one, into bias tape. Bias tape can be purchased at any fabric or craft store.

And there you have it! A great alternative to traditional garland.