It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas

The signs of the season are prevalent in our home. The tree has been trimmed, the decorations carefully placed, and the stockings. . . well, the stockings are hung on the back of one of our kitchen chairs awaiting a proper place (yet to be decided) to hang until Santa's big night. Here are a few of my favorite decorations...

The Tree, all decorated in red & silver (wrapping paper on all the presents match). This year, the bulbs have been left off, but the tree is adorned with pine cones and snowflakes (and of course the beautiful fireplace screen my mom painted to keep Max & Jordyn away from the tree).
Then there's the three trees on the coffee table,

the advent calendar with the bowl of ornaments,

and one of my most cherished decorations, the porcelain reindeer & sleigh that my mom painted (isn't she just the craftiest lady you've ever met).

I hope you all had a very wonderful Thanksgiving weekend, and are looking forward to the Christmas season as much as I am.

Chrsitmas Crafts

I've had a few inquiries about my Christmas craftiness, so I decided to show you all what I've been doing in my spare time for the past few months. I made Dad Zugner this Americana rag quilt (don't worry, we gave it to him yesterday before he headed back to Maryland).

I've also been making ornaments for our Christmas tree. All of the ornaments I've used in previous years are breakable, and I have a strong feeling that our Christmas tree will get pulled over this year so I decided to make some Jordyn friendly ornaments.

I've strung bells, made bead candy canes, wreaths, and snowflakes. I've decorated pine cones, and am in the process of making paper strip ornaments. Needless to say, I've been keeping busy, but I'm almost done. A few more ornaments, and Mom Wilson's gift and then I can relax and enjoy the Holiday season!

'Tis the Season...

For SHOPPING! I just heard on the radio that parking at most of the local malls is above 80% capacity. That's a lot of people. We haven't gotten into the whole spirit of Black Friday, we enjoy sleeping in way too much (that, and the chances of you actually getting what you woke up early for is slim with the crowds around here). There is one thing we're planning on getting today, and we have a good chance to get them. These cute little boots are 50% off in an early bird special (8-11, that's my kind of early bird). Erik's has wanted to get Jordyn some boots for a while, and who could resist these cute things at 50% off. Well, were off to claim our prize. I hope you all had a very Happy Thanksgiving, and a happy shopping day to you all!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Thankful

During this time of Thanksgiving, I want to give a special thanks to parents. Not just my parents, but Erik's parents as well. My Mom & Dad flew in for a visit this past week, and we greatly enjoyed having them here. We wish we could see them more often, but are grateful that we get to see them as much as we do (Jordyn & I have gone to Utah 3 times so far this year, and are planning on going again in Dec.) I am also grateful for Erik's parents. His dad is flying in from Maryland to spend Thanksgiving with us, and at this moment, his mom is watching my little monster so I can get things done, and take a bit of a break from her (Jordyn's separation issues and constant neediness over the past few weeks is starting to wear me down). So here's to you Mom & Dad Stratton, Dad Zugner, and Mom & Don Wilson.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL THAT YOU DO. WE LOVE YOU A TON!!

To Do List...

1. Bake Rolls --- Finished

2. Laundry --- Almost Done (last batch is in the dryer)

3. Make Pies

- Pumpkin -- Cooling on rack now

- Pecan -- tomorrow

- Coconut Cream -- tomorrow

- Chocolate Cream -- tomorrow

- Apple -- Bought (I don't do fruit pies)

4. Vacuum -- Finished

5. Sweep/Mop Kitchen Floor -- (Swept twice so far today, sweep and mop again tomorrow)

6. Dad Zugner's Christmas Gift -- Finished

7. Mom & Dad Stratton's Christmas Gift -- Finished

8. Mom & Don's Christmas Gift -- 1/2 way

9. Erik's Christmas Gift -- Not even started

10. Jordyn's Christmas Gift -- Finished

11. Have time to enjoy the Holidays -- To do

Pictures with Santa

This evening, for FHE, we went to the local mall to get pictures taken with Santa. We saw him there this past weekend, and thought we'd get Jordyn's pictures taken care of before the mad dash began after Thanksgiving. We figured that all would go well since Jordyn is a very friendly little girl and has never had a problem with strangers. Well, we figured wrong. Erik placed Jordyn on Santa's lap and she SCREAM, I went and picked her up and comforted her and tried to tell her that Santa was just a Papa (grandpa), she looked at him and said Papa, but then when I went to place her in his arms, she started to SCREAM again. So this is the pictures we got...



nothing. Maybe next time?