Happy birthday Jesus

More commonly known as Christmas, but today is in fact, the day we set aside to celebrate Christ's birth. So it's really a big birthday party and we've already received the best gift of all-- Jesus. God gave us his only son, who was born into our world-- all God, all man-- to save us from our sin so that we can have eternal life. "But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions -- it is by grace you have been saved....For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith -- and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God -- not by works, so that no one can boast." Ephesians 2:4-5/8-9, emphasis added by me. So we run around making, baking and buying in an attempt to celebrate this special day. We do that because God gave us a gift and the wise men gave Jesus gifts, but I pray we don't lose sight of the real reason for this day. It's not about the gifts we give or even the ones we receive because, as I said, we've already been given the best gift of all and the only one that truly matters. Jesus.
We were dead in our sins before Christ. And then He gifted His only son- Jesus Christ- who came to give us eternal life. What is more deserving of celebration than that?

Happy birthday, Jesus. Thank you for the gift of you. Merry Christmas to you all.

Our Christmas

Merry Christmas Eve! Because we always have other commitments on Christmas Day, our tradition has been to celebrate our Christmas morning on Christmas Eve. We started our morning by snuggling up in our bed, reading the story of Jesus' birth from Luke chapter 2 and a prayer. Then we took the kids downstairs for gifts and stopped for a picture on the way down.

 Daniel and I have been really excited because Will's big gift this year is a bike! After taking him to several toy stores and practicing on many bikes, we chose a Spiderman one. I know, you're not surprised. What's especially cool about this bike is it's white....and Daniel's first bike was white. I just love little nuances like that, makes the moment even more special to me. He got a few other things and stocking stuffers, but this was the big deal.

Yes, this is totally a fake smile. He came down earlier to grab
his toy car  and saw it...he confessed later

Little Miss Maggie Moo received some good stuff too but you know I gotta tell a long story about a gift or this just wouldn't be a blog by me. I wanted to buy Maggie a kitchen for her birthday, found one on Craigslist and almost purchased it, but the seller was kinda wishy-washy. I would inquire, she'd answer, I'd inquire further, she wouldn't respond and this went on for a few weeks before I finally gave up on her and decided to keep looking. Well, at Maggie's birthday party I told this story to my cousin and she told me her daughter has a kitchen that isn't used much anymore. After discussing this with her daughter, talking about a fair price, we decided she would bring the kitchen down at Thanksgiving and I would pay her by crafting party decorations for her son's first birthday! I mean, talk about a win-win!!! So, she and her husband did indeed load it up and deliver to us at Thanksgiving. Daniel and I didn't see any point in making the kids wait until Christmas to play with the kitchen, so we re-assembled it when we returned home. Due to delivery timing, it's like half birthday/half Christmas gift.

So I felt a little bad that Will has more to open than Maggie, but I have to remember that nice, big play kitchen. She did also receive a Little People home and loves it! She really enjoys imaginative play and talking so it's right up her alley!
After Will opened a couple presents he hugged me and said "Oh this is all I wanted!" Now, if you didn't grow up with me, you can't fully appreciate him saying this. I was quite a happy child and when I opened presents, at least at Christmas, I would say "it's just what I always wanted!" To everything. So, either I wanted a lot or I was very appreciative of everything, haha. Also, I kinda squealed the phrase...like I took it up a few notches. Probably broke a window or two. I asked Daniel if he prompted Will to say it and he said no. So my little man caught the excitement!!!

Daniel and I spoiled each other as always. We've discussed holding back many years, but we genuinely enjoy buying gifts for one another. I usually insist on not spending money on myself  throughout the year (though I have actually spent $ on crafting this year) so he doesn't like to miss the chance at holidays. Still, I can't go crazy so when I found a coupon in Clipper for a discounted gym membership I was sold, he's been wanting one for awhile. I also found a great deal on Amazon for the Lord of the Rings Trilogy on Bluray. After a movie from the kids and a couple stocking stuffers, I closed the checkbook.

What did he get me, you ask? Well, let me tell ya. The Help, Facing the Giants, a book and a printer! I know, it may sound bogus and a few years ago I would've thought the same thing. I mean, no way you're gonna get me a printer! But a couple weeks ago I mentioned it to him because mine does not produce the best prints and it's no fun to see your hard work print pixelated and faded. So this was a really good choice...we've already set it up, done some test prints and beautiful!! In fact, I didn't know just how poor my print quality was until I saw the comparison. He really wanted to get me the Cricut Design Studio and I really wanted it, but it was sold out everywhere! Unless he wanted to pay a premium and I want very few things enough to pay twice what I've seen elsewhere.

 Not a big deal to most people or children, but seeing Maggie sit independently while reaching up to play is HUGE! This does not come naturally to a child with tone issues and is a big step for her. I started tearing up and am now as well.

 Will said, "I'm workin' from home today!" then packed up his laptop and said, "bye, I'm going to work!" Yea, he doesn't pay attention to things around here at all.

We've had a great day and still have some Christmas festivities to come! Thank you to my husband for my wonderful gifts and providing for our family, both at Christmas and all year long. I love you so much!! And thanks to my children for listening as I read the bible this morning without complaint. I'm so happy and grateful to have started the morning in God's word and focusing on the reason for this season. MERRY CHRISTMAS!

G's Christmas
The evening of Christmas Eve, we went to G's house (Daniel's mom) and opened gifts. Like the genius that I am, I forgot my camera, so no pictures for me. Normally I let the pics do the talking for me, but I'll have to talk instead. Maggie got an adorable ladybug wheely bug which I remembered to photograph at some point over the weekend! Both kids got books and puzzles plus Will got some cars, trucks and this singing/dancing sock monkey that Maggie happens to looooove. Daniel and I opened our presents as well, it was a good time. We brought our presents the weekend before, so we did all the receiving here. Merry Christmas, G!

Granny's Christmas

This past weekend- December 17th- we celebrated Christmas at Daniel's Granny & PawPaw's on his mom's side. Years ago, before Daniel and I even got together, Granny moved her family celebration to the weekend before Christmas so as not to conflict with other family events. I know this because I ask questions like that, always curious how traditions form-- why the weekend before-- we didn't do that when I was a kid. But the early tradition has served well over the years since all the grandkids are grown, married and additional commitments have arisen.

 After all these years, it still amazes me the vast array of food displayed at this Christmas. Now don't get me wrong, Daniel's other events and my family events throw down both quality and quantity as well...nobody is leaving hungry by any stretch of the imagination...but Granny's event takes it up a notch. There's several dips & chips, cheese & crackers, a veggie tray, sausage balls, pinwheels, punch, you get the idea. And those are just the appetizers! Then we dig in to turkey & ham, mac-n-cheese, baked beans, rolls, fruit, you name it. And if at all possible, save some room for dessert 'cause there's plenty of goodies to go around.
The kids play- outside if it's warm enough- adults work and chat, we all eat, open presents and enjoy each other's company. It's always sad to watch Christmas celebrations come and go so quickly, especially since weeks or months of planning is usually involved. We had a great day!

Will's Christmas party

Little man's class party was last Thursday! I always enjoy visiting his class and being a part of his special pre-school experience. I wasn't signed up as a party mom this time, so we just showed up with a gift for Mrs. Cheri and hung out. They served pizza, apples, goldfish and juice boxes and several of the kids, plus his teacher passed out gifts. The moms in his class are super creative! Will received a little treat bag with a Christmas tree cake (one of Daniel's faves, and yes, he did share with daddy), little candies and a class photo, a santa hat filled with goodies and my favorite, peppermint playdoh with a bell cookie cutter. I saw a recipe online for gingerbread playdoh a few weeks ago and almost made some. I love how she colored one red and left the other white to look like peppermint! So cute. Plus, we received a parent gift Will made last week in class- a framed poem with his handprint. And Mrs. Cheri gave him a book and train matching game that we opened at home. It was a good day!

showing us his big bites!

All Will's treats/gifts 

 Will made this shirt earlier this month and all the kids wore them on party day

In the midst of making gifts for Maggie's therapists, I decided to make some for Will's teacher as well. While shopping, I found a nice jar I was going to personalize and add iced sugar cookies. It was here, in fact, I decided to make cocoa in a jar for the therapists. I bought a larger jar for Mrs. Cheri mostly because I wanted room for cookies, but never got around to making them. I did, however, personalize it and add goodies. We also made cocoa for his teacher, but put in in a mug- a small one- Will insisted.

More crafts? Why, yes please

Several years ago...sometime before the kids...I made a few themed gift baskets for Christmas gifts. For one reason or another, I didn't make that a tradition but have always wanted to make/bake/create baskets again. I was certain I could make it happen last year, but the season came and went so this was my year!  A few months back, I decided Maggie's therapists would be the perfect audience and began jotting down ideas (details below).
But first I want to talk about the gift I made for an auction because well, I made it first. We held a fundraiser auction with our friends from our Sunday School class this year and I decided to decorate blocks to auction off. I know, sounds exciting right? Well, I made a set for Maggie's room earlier this year, which was inspired from Etsy.

As I considered what to make over and over, I finally thought, "why can't I duplicate those blocks, but for Christmas?" Then a lightbulb went off, "why not add something on the flip side!?" So that's just what I did-- one side for Christmas and the other for any time. I had just finished the Joy to the world decoration for the entertainment center, so I decided to do that. I made Maggie's before the Cricut, so lettering was easier this time around.

Looking back, I should've added some ribbon or a bow, embellishement of some kind like I did on Maggie's, but you live you learn. Winning this item also came with the promise to personlize the "Bless Our Home" side with their last name on the bottom block.

I wanted to make really nice baskets for our therapists but still needed to keep costs reasonable, so here's what I came up with:

• something sweet...found these cute, green mini-tins on clearance at Michael's late summer/early fall and grabbed 'em up hoping to use them for Christmas baskets
• embroidered towels
• pillar candle- embellished...found this idea on a Hobby Lobby pamphlet
• cocoa mix...found a recipe online and reasonable glass jars at WalMart
• personalized name badges...girls only
• the "basket" would be a Christmas tin or box....found some cute tins at JoAnn's for half off plus used a coupon off total purchase-- the red ribbon tied around each tin was included in this purchase and the filler is from the dollar store.

I made these for my mom last year as part of a thank you for keeping things going while we were in the hospital for Maggie....one of the nurses there told me how to make them. 

 All Maggie's therapists use badges, so I made a couple personalized ones for the women. She has one male therapist and I just didn't think I could make these look masculine and Daniel agreed.

Each item is embellished with scrapbook paper, cutouts, ribbon and/or sewn pieces. Each basket also has its own theme-- stockings, ornaments or snowmen and the paper used for the candle, truffle tin and cocoa top is consistent within each basket.

Two of the three therapists' towels have their last name, so I didn't include a close-up of those.

So those are my 2011 Christmas baskets! They were a lot of fun to make, but involved a few late nights! :)