Christmas -Part 1

Wow...I'm finally able to take a few minutes to try and post again. I trust you all had a blessed Christmas!

Thank you for all your well wishes...my tummy bug is better but now both my husband and I have that cough that seems to hang on. But I'll take this over the first one any day!

Our snow finally...finally...melted. Only the piled up high snow banks remain as lumps now...reminders as the rain falls and temperatures soar to a balmy 45 degrees. But we did have a white Christmas, and on Christmas Eve the girls spent an hour building snowmen with the neightbor girls...


As most of you who either now or once had young ones can relate to, our Christmas morning was full of excitement...
And even though we had cut back on spending, it seemed Santa still brought the girls so many things! We were grateful, knowing not all parents have the privilege of seeing their children receive so much.
We were also grateful that seemed excited even over the little things too...like boxes of crayons and hair barrettes. Way to melt our hearts!

They each got a cute little cowboy hat, which their daddy borrowed for part of the morning. Guess he should have asked Santa for one, too!
And my big homemade project ...non-seamstress that I am...was making each of the girls a new-sew fleece blanket.
Although it's suppose to be easy, since making anything like that is new to me, it was a bit challenging at first! Especially sneaking in time to make two of them.
But it was well worth it to watch them receive them...they absolutely loved them.
(I want to thank Barb of Chelsea Morning for showing a tutorial of this awhile back...the minute I saw it, I knew it was something I wanted to try to make for my girls! Thanks, Barb!)

And this year I got some snazzy clothes and earrings...but most of all, I got one main gift from my husband this year. A very exciting gift...
That's right...a new laptop!
WOW!!!
For years, I've wanted one because the four of us share the one computer...and with home school assignments, my writing, blogging, ect...it can be rather challenging keeping all of our family items on one computer. (And when I was sick last week, it would have been such a luxury to check my e-mail from my quarantined bedroom.)

Now at last...a real laptop! Thank you, Sweetie!

That evening I was feeling under the weather again, so my family went on to the big family gathering with his siblings and I rested at home. You'd think I'd have felt lonely, but it was a much needed rest in the cozy Christmas living room, watching It's a Wonderful Life and other Christmas gems.

Because of icy roads, it would be the next day before we could go get my mom, who as most of you know, is 81 and lives an hour away.

But once we did, there would be more wonderful times in store...let me just say that my mom still knows how to have fun, even at her age!
But more on that in Part 2!

Now, I hope to finally have some time to visit some of you...in between cleaning up the after Christmas mess and catching up on laundry!

Blessings!

Winter Wonderland

What an incredible week...the good, the bad, and the beautiful...

First of all, our entire northwest region has been engulfed in a deep freeze for over a week now...
allowing some of us only a small window during last week to get last minute shopping or errands done as the roads temporarily cleared. Then, last Saturday it hit will even more vengeance, dumping a foot more of snow in many places- followed by freezing rain- and then more snow!
They say this is the worst snowstorm in our area in 40 years!
Sadly, all of Sunday's church services for canceled on Sunday- but some are going to hold Candlelight services on Christmas Eve no matter what.

Thankfully for our personal area, there was no wind...but not the case in other areas just a few miles east.

Because the last huge storm was in 1968, maybe that's my memory of having the livingroom window up in Washington state with snow up against hit higher than I was tall!
And maybe it was then I built this guy behind me...with the help of my daddy...



Unfortunately for me, something else hit on Saturday...a nasty stomach virus! For me, these things are the worst! I holed up in my room (and bathroom) with a fever, thankful that my husband was home to entertain the girls...but I was pretty miserable to say the least.
I'm on the mend, now...but have a few "remnants" hanging on.

So, if I haven't stopped by yet to wish you a Merry Christmas, hopefully you'll understand why!

It's frustrating to be not quite well at Christmastime, but then I remember that I still am so blessed compared to so many others. All those fighting more serious diseases...or those with not enough food to feed their children...no presents under the tree.
I don't know about you, but I can really feel sorry for myself sometimes! So it helps to keep things in perspective when things aren't going perfectly...and to purposely thank God for what I do have!

But on the "beautiful" side, here is our street...

And this was my view from my "sick room"- and it's still like this today...

And the girls sure have loved it...
Here they are playing with the neighbor boys on Sunday...the girls found a sheet of ice but weren't sure if they could lift it... so the boy gallantly did...

Yesterday, my husband came home early from work and played with the girls...


So...now I need to attempt to finally make those Christmas cookies with the kids...and wrap the last of my presents.
And in between, I hope to visit some of you...

But if I don't get to you personally...please know that I wish you a very Merry Christmas...filled with God's peace!

And if you haven't already seen this, please take the time to watch this video...all the wrapping and tinsel just falls away as we view the Gift...

Show and Tell #25 - More Special Christmas Treasures

First of all, I'm sorry for being so behind in visiting each of you...but this last full week before Christmas has been filled with the usual last minute rush, I have to confess. On top of that, we've had a week of crazy winter weather...first a little blizzard with wind chills hovering at 0 degrees- unheard of for our area! Then it warmed to a balmy 34 and we were able to play in the snow...but tomorrow a HUGE snowstorm is on it's way- more like a blizzard with wind that could reach up to 45 mph! If you don't hear from me after this, you'll know our family is huddling in the dark by the wood stove telling stories with chattering teeth. So please pray that our power stays on!

It's Show and Tell Friday again, and I wanted to share just a few more ornaments from our "eclectic" Christmas tree! (Be sure to stop by Kelli's for more wonderful show and tells!)

As I said, ornaments from childhood, hand made ornaments, as well as ornate ones I've acquired all make their home together on our tree. Here are two of the most recent ones to move in- made by my little six year old this month. She did these all on her own- completely her idea and with no help at all! Santa's sleigh...

And this little guy...he's only paper so am not sure how long he'll last, but he's here this year! ;)
As for store-bought ornaments, last year my husband gave me this beautiful light up crystal angel...the photo didn't turn out, but trust me, it's beautiful...

And here is a little old fashioned girl I just fell for when I was in Michael's a few years ago...
And now, back to home made again...

this is one of three very plain cardboard bells that are very special to me for several reasons.
It was made on my very first Christmas!

My mom was watching my three cousins that day and together they made these little bell to commemorate my first Christmas...my boy cousins were 4, 5, and 6 at the time.

This particular one is Kenny (my mom had to print his name, he couldn't do it on his own yet).
Kenny would become a special cousin to me over the years- he even sent me cute little cards when I was a teen and could always make me laugh.
Sadly, he passed away from a heart condition three years ago, so this bell is especially treasured.

All three bells- made only of this flimsy cardboard- has survived these past 45 years! Isn't that amazing?

And lastly, here is the the reason we celebrate Christmas...
When as a single gal, I sold Christmas Around the World, and I purchased this set. Now my husband and children are blessed by this as well.

One year, we each wrote a note to Baby Jesus stating something we were struggling with- perhaps getting too frustrated with a sister or feeling afraid- and placed it here on the manger on Christmas Eve. We then prayed together as a family over all the struggles, giving them over to Jesus...

Thank you for stopping by my show and tell. And may you feel Him near to you this season!

A Little Christmas Tour

Wow...my 3rd year in a row joining in the Christmas Tour of Homes hosted by Boomama!

It seems to me that either last year or the year before, I was busy inviting you all in by way of taking pictures while a windstorm raged outside.

This year, again, a storm hit our area...but this time along with the wind, a ton of snow and frigid weather have joined forces.
A snowstorm was predicted and by Saturday we knew there would be a good chance that the last day of the big performance might be canceled. Still we were hoping...but sure enough, this morning it came. And yes, the last of the performances were indeed canceled!

And here in our area, we're use to a little dusting or some wet snow that melts the next day...but this time the tempatures are dipping into the teens with a wind chill making it hover near 0! Yikes....

So, um...do come in out of that blizzard!

Yes, if you look behind you, that is indeed my husband and girls...taking a very brief zip down the road with the sled...but they will come in after just a moment, since it's way too cold out there!

As you come in, you'll notice our very tiny little entryway spruced up for Christmas and having a fresh coat of paint on the wall...


And just next to it is our end table. Towards the back is my crystal Nativity candle set that I've had from before I was married.

Before we see the rest of the Christmas decor, would you like some egg nog? I know...you either love it or detest it, so if you'd prefer, I have lots of flavored teas...Our family just drinks 'nog' from the moment it hits the shelf in October until that last one is sold in January...

Anyway...
Across the room is our fireplace mantle. We're not crazy about the brick, but at Christmastime we don't even notice that we don't like it!

Here it is with the garland lights on...so cozy...


Next to our mantle is my "It's a Wonderful Life Village". My mom and I began collecting these pieces before I was married...and now my own family loves it, too!

In fact, one year my husband bought me the "It's a Wonderful Life" train. It doesn't currently work but we like to set it up by the village, of course...

And then there's our Old World Santa...

We had gone to an office party three years ago and everyone bought a white elephant gift...where people can "steal" someone's gift if they don't want to pick a new one out of the box. The people at my table were laughing as I kept nudging Santa farther and farther under my chair...oh, how I wanted to take this guy home and not end up with some obnoxious gag gift!

And last but not least, is our one and only tree...the tree I spotted right away this time and guarded as fiercely as the old world Santa...
I've never had a "themed" tree because ever since I was a child- and now as a parent- my Christmas tree has always had childhood ornaments both bought and homemade, as well as ornaments people have given me over the years.


I have a couple ornaments from our first married Christmas (one when my husband was on deployment and one when he was home the following year)... and of course my girls' first Christmases...and even three very simple cardboard bells made by cousins and mom on my own first Christmas...I'll show these on one of my next posts!

But just like with some of you, so many ornaments represent something significant in our life...bring back special memories...remind us of our own childhood Christmases.

I have yet to put our the special Navitiy set, but hope to do that tomorrow...every year it goes atop our piano in our little family room\office. Perhaps I'll show it to you later...but I know you have to run now before this storm gets any worse! It's really blowing out there...
Bundle up, now! And thank you for stopping by again at my little Christmas Tour!

Show and Tell # 24

I can't believe how long it's been since I participated in a Friday Show and Tell!
But before I have to jump into this final weekend of my girls' Christmas performances, I wanted to post once more and join in!

And though I have some beautiful and ornate ornaments that I have collected through the years, I thought that this time I would show two little ornaments that are not so ornate! But they hold a special place for sentimental reasons...

The year I was sixteen, my mom had the idea to make wooden soldiers out of old style clothespins...so together, she and made about 10 or 15 of these little guys...

(Sorry about the lighting!)
I have several of them to put up for my tree every year -and so still does my mom.
On the back of their heads is the year- '79- painted on them by us... (yep, giving away my age!) but it's nice to know exactly when we created these gentle little toy soldiers.
I'm hoping that they will continue to hold up even longer - so that some day my girls can each hang some of these originals on their own Christmas trees!

Also...not nearly as cute and oh so simple...one of the tin foil bells my mom also made together. I'm not sure how old I was when we made these, but it was most likely even before the year of the soldiers. One remains in my possession...and although it is just plain foil bell, it's amazing to me that it has survived somewhere around thirty years of packing and unpacking!

Now that I have two little girls of my own..and my own mom is now 81...these simple little ornaments remind me of our special mother\daughter times...moments to look back on and treasure.

And if you think making simple home made ornaments with your children won't really amount to much in the long run, let this be proof that not only might the actual ornaments survive for years to come...but the memories that you make together will, too!

For more Show and Tells, visit Kelli at There is No Place Like Home.

And although it is going to be a bit of a challenge after our final five concerts, I hope to show more our little place all decorated on Monday during Boomama's Tour of Christmas Homes! See you then!

Whirlwind Weekend!

Whew...three shows down, and seven to go!

But more on that in a moment...

Our whirlwind weekend started with the girls' opening night of their Christmas program. We weren't going to watch it, though, until the next night so my husband dropped them off while I stayed home to work on the gifts I'm making them.

Then, the next morning we were off to get our tree!

The day was just gorgeous...and we found our tree within seconds! This is unheard of...usually when it's cold and rainy, it takes us a good half an hour to find and agree on the right one. But our tree was pretty much just a couple feet from where we parked our car this time!

My hubby had to admit it was a beautiful tree, but it didn't seem right to chop down the first one within seconds, so he went off to look some more.

But after a few moments we all agreed...this was the one.

Especially since we were right there, guarding it and all...

After their daddy did his regular duty of cutting, he then for the first time- half jokingly- had the girls try to carry it. Usually they help him- and my youngest has only touched the end of the tree as she did.
But this time, they actually each grabbed an end!
Now, granted, it was only about six feet to our car but I was shocked that they were actually big enough to do it!

"Heave Ho!"

That afternoon, I readied the girls and myself for the next two performances.
My husband and I then dropped them off for the afternoon show and then went on a little short date where we ate at a cafe... then back to the church to sit with them while they ate a little supper provided by the church...then left them with those in charge to go upstairs and save seats for relatives joining us for the evening performance!

Whew! (I'm breathing hard just reliving this...)

But it was so nice to have some family with us last night to see it...


The show itself was just beautiful.
And when the children came up on stage, hubby and I started snickering because our oldest was obviously trying really hard to win the "best smile gift bag" that was being offered at each performance to ten lucky winners. I mean, she was giving it her all!

So needless to say, when she didn't win, well, the exhaustion of all the last couple days caught up with her and she shed some tears of disappointment.

But this morning I talked with her and told her to just forget about the prize. Her smile will be more genuine when she thinks about praising God, and blessing the people that came to this show and need to see some sweet smiles...and to just have fun!
She was feeling better after a good night's sleep, so I think all of this made sense to her.

But really, both of them did wonderfully- as tired as they were beginning to get, they both really put a lot of effort into it and their daddy and I were proud of them!

Now, I'm off to take them to two more performances in a few moments...(and you can guess that tomorrow we're going to take it easy on the school work!)

Here's just a few seconds sampling of the program- enjoy!
(Success! I think it's working now! You can't see my girls since my video won't let me do close ups, but at least it gives you a feeling of the show!)

Christmas Rush

Are any of you feeling the Christmas crunch?

Well, I am...mostly because of our children's schedule this year.
They are privileged to be apart of a very spectacular Christmas program put on by the church where they attend Missionettes.
It's quite the deal...adult choir, teen choir, live orchestra...we're talking big, here, folks!

Tonight marked a 3 hour rehearsal for them...then tomorrow is "dress rehearsal" and Friday is the first of ten...yes, you heard right!...ten performances! Five this weekend and five next weekend!

Are you beginning to feel just a bit winded just reading this?

I guess I didn't realize how many performances were involved...but yet, they love being a part of it all! The leaders are incredible and it's been so rewarding for them since my oldest joined last year.

But it is going to be a challenge to find time to all go to the tree farm together and cut down our perfect Christmas tree. At least, in the daylight!
But somehow, we'll figure it out...

I think I understand how easy it is for families- especially we moms- to allow stress and demands take their toll on us at Christmastime.
So much to do...
the home has to be perfectly decorated...must attend parties...send out those Christmas cards...buy and make gifts...wrap, wrap, wrap...
And somehow, in the midst of it all, we need to teach our children about the real meaning of Christmas.

So...what do we do?

I think that just as so many of us cut back on spending when there's a financial recession...when we start to feel overwhelmed, we need to start cutting back on activity.
For example...sure, I've written a Christmas newsletter every year for ages...but would the world stop if I skipped a year?

Don't you think that too often, the demands we face are sometimes put there by ourselves?
At least I know that's true of me.
Sometimes, we just have to let some expectations and activities go...and know that it's better to make simple memories with our families, rather than hurrying this way and that.

But all of this said, I'm not sorry we've committed to our children being in the choir. I believe it was the right thing for them...they love it, and in fact- although I won't be sitting through the show ten whole times, I am looking forward to seeing it at least once because I know it's going to be spectacular!

But since we do have this rather heavy commitment, I need to remind myself to relax my other commitments when possible...and to relax in general!
To give our family plenty of "down time" when there is no agenda at all.

And I'm going to really try not worry about the little things. Like getting our tree.
Because when I stress the details, I lose focus on why we're even putting up a Christmas tree and decorating our home...which is to celebrate God's love for us in His sending Jesus.

So, today I'm going to just trust Him that all the little things will come....the tree, the decorations, and perhaps even the newsletter... maybe.
But most of all, I want to keep my focus on the One we're celebrating and take time to enjoy the simple joys of this season.

What about you...do you sometimes have to find ways to try to slow down at Christmastime?

*Edited to say that I can't believe how many little typing mistakes I found and corrected just now...must have been all that stress I was writing about! :)