Friday, December 26, 2008

Quilt Tradition

My mom started a tradition when I was little of making and giving quilts for Christmas. I also have started this and the kids (all 2 of them!! LOL) on my husbands side all get a quilt. They don't get one every year, but every few years after they wear out or the kids have outgrown that size. This year was Jessica's turn. I bought the fabric before Thanksgiving but didn't get the quilt finished until 1 hour before they arrived for Christmas!! Silly me.
Here are pics of the finished quilt.

The front of the quilt.

The Backing.

Jessica's dad enjoying the quilt!!

Tuesday, December 23, 2008

My Frugal Christmas

I have tried really hard this year to not spend a lot of money on gifts, and to just use the things I already have. So I looked around to see what I could see.
#1 3 no longer needed sweaters. 1 acrylic(cream) and 2 wool (which I felted)
#2 1 Hat pattern at my mom's house.
I think they turned out pretty amazing!!
(I did purchase the lace/ribbon trim on the cream hat, the pearls I already had on hand.)


Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Our Christmas House

Welcome to our home for the Holidays!!!






PS
I collect santas!!!

SNOW









A few pics of the neighborhood and the girls playing in the snow.

More Gift Ideas

Here are pics of canned gifts!!
You can do it too...just wrap the can with various (scrapbook) papers add fibers and embellishments and the gift goodies and you. are. DONE!
Manicure set--nail file, polish, etc.
Note set...mini note cards, pen
Cookies in a can...any cookie dough wrapped in parchment and add to can!!



Country House in the Snow

When we moved to town 3 years ago it was with mixed feelings.

Thankful we had more room...(now we are cramped again!! o, well)
Thankful we were closer to our lives.

Missed the deer/elk as our pets.
Missed the quiet.
Missed the privacy.
And of course the SNOW!!!
Every winter approx. 18 inches of snow was the norm for us! We loved it!!
Allen took the girls up there Sunday afternoon and then again Tuesday evening.
There was 61/2 inches of snow!!!

I am still counting my blessings even if it is with less snow!
(We still own the property so we can go play whenever we want to.)



Sunday, December 14, 2008

The Tree

Well, here is the TREE!!
Merry Christmas!!


Tuesday, December 9, 2008

Wrap it up

Christmas is coming and with it comes the wrapping of all the packages!!!
Wrapping paper is one thing that just is not in my budget!!!!
I usually wrap the packages in natural craft paper, stamp it with a tree in green, and add a raffia bow in either burgundy, or natural. My supply of FREE craft paper is dwindling down to almost nothing (Boo-hoo), so I am going to try being a little more creative with my wrapping. I have plain brown grocery sacks I will use as gift bags, I also have some cans that I decorated, that I can use for small gifts.
I will try and post some pics of how it all turned out.

By the way... the plain brown paper matches our homes decor!!
Natural, woodsy,outdoor kinda feel.
Also, my girls do not like it at all!!!!! They want the pretty (expensive) stuff that just gets all ripped to shreds and then we toss it out. I must be getting old, because that is such a a waste to me. Just throwing away good money!! UGH
So if I re-use and recycle then I don't feel so bad. And free always make me feel good, even if we do rip it and toss it!!
(I know I am silly)!!!
Merry Christmas to all!

Monday, December 8, 2008

Christmas Musical

"All I Want for Christmas" was the title of our children's Christmas musical at church.
Both my girls were in the program and Allie had a leading role.
What is so amazing about that is Allie is very, very, very shy and has a difficult time talking to people. However, if you put her on stage she will sing, dance and now even do some acting!! We are proud of all the children in the musical!!!
The setting was a toy store and the toys come to life. A little girl along with the toys act out the Christmas sory. While re-enacting the story the little girl comes to realize the true meaning of Christmas!! Christmas is not about getting the coolest, or most popular toys. The true meaning of Christmas is JESUS!! I pray all who read this will come to know Him and have true joy in your lives!!!

Allie was a Miss Glamour doll:



Ella was a Jack-in-the-Box:




The whole cast and crew:


The stars of the show:

Wednesday, December 3, 2008

Christmas #1 and counting

Well, the Christmas season of gift giving has officially begun.
While my sister from Kansas was here, we decided to exchange Christmas gifts.
I did not realize this until less than 24 hours before the exchange!!!
I had things ready to go that would be perfect for everyone except my nephew.
Boys are difficult for me. He is a teenage boy that likes to cook, sooooo here is what I made him.


Here is what you will need to make your own personalized cookbook:
1 - 3 ring binder w/clear pocket on front cover
Page protectors
Assorted recipes
Cover page

I found clip art online and added the border and title. Printed this out and slipped it into the clear pocket.
Printed copies of recipes(I have made)and put into page protectors.
Put page protectors into binder and you are done!!!!

He loved the cookbook and is ready to try the recipes and add his own.
This was a quick and inexpensive gift!
I already had the page protectors and the binder cost me just .99 at Grocery Outlet.

I did need to purchase a gift for my Brother-in-law, but I found it at Grocery Outlet also.

The total for this gift exchange cost me $3.98

I gave my niece jewelry I hade made and my sister an assortment of thank you cards I hade made.
Everyone loved the gifts.
Even though it was short notice and very, very frugal the gifts fit the person and were well liked!!!
I say we are off to a good start!! Hip-Hip hooray!!!

Tuesday, December 2, 2008

Thanksgiving weekend

We had an absolutely crazy Thanksgiving weekend.
Thursday the 4 of us had a quiet traditional Thanksgiving dinner at home.
We left at 7:30pm to pick up my sister and her family from the airport.
We picked them up and then took them to my parents house. Stayed there a little bit and then went home. Friday we got up and got ready for Thanksgiving at my mom's house with the whole fam except for 1 sister. We had things to set up at the church before dinner as the next day my sister (who flew in)and her hubbby were renewing their wedding vows after 20 yrs. of marriage. The "reception" was a surprise 70th birthday party for my dad. So as you can tell we had a lot of stuff to do!! And yes, we did lie!!!:O
I did get my flower girl shirt done.
The re-wedding ceremony was very nice.
Dad was surprised and enjoyed his party. We had lots of pics taken. (Professional pics too!!) This was the first time all 26 members of the family were together under one roof!!
Enjoy the pics!!

This is me 22 pounds lighter and in my new-made-by-me flower girl shirt!!


The four of us.

From 6........

To 26!!!!




Dad's party was a train theme. He has always been enthralled with trains!!

We all survived the craziness!! It was nice having the whole family together, even if only for a short while!!