Merry Christmas!!!

I couldn't be more thrilled to have our entire family together to celebrate the birth of our Savior.  Everything seems to be bought, wrapped and in order.  Now it is time to sit back and enjoy the chaos and bliss.  I can't wait to wrap myself in the love of family and friends!

I pray for everyone's safety in their celebrations and travels, and wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a blessed New Year!  

Simple Christmas Wrapping

My first real job was wrapping gifts at a department store during the holiday season. I have been obsessed with wrapping pretty packages ever since.

This year I wanted to do something different, but simple.

This is just your basic packing paper, raffia, and inexpensive cheap gold ornaments from Walmart. Super easy and budget friendly! I love how the gold star looks with the brown paper.

For the kids packages I wanted to do something a little more fun.

Same concept. Just Christmas paper, raffia, and a candy cane.

Now I just need to focus and get them all wrapped!

    

Christmas Ham

I don't know why I continue to be surprised, but Cracker Jack "hammed it up" at his Christmas program last night...just like last year.

For some reason, I expect my very verbal and charming toddler to suddenly have stage fright.  I truly thought I would have to run up to the stage and dry his tears...rescue him...

Nope.
Again, shocked.
Hundreds of parents staring at him...so what.
Can't see his Mommy...who cares!

But..It's the same little guy whose teachers pry loose from my legs each morning.  The one, who shrieks so loudly, I can hear down the hallway as I rush to my car. Before I burst into tears myself.

No disappointment here...I was beaming with pride.

Jude did great too!  I just expected him to be easy-going about it...just like he is with everything else.

It amazes me what these wonderful teachers accomplish with my baby boys.

Jack 2010

Jude 2010

Jack 2009

Another New Tradition-Christmas Baking

I've never really been a baker.  My mom has always been in charge of desserts at holiday dinners, so I haven't been forced into it either.  To be honest it intimidates me.  Planning and cooking Thanksgiving dinner equals bliss.  Baking for the holidays...not so much.

During another late night of blog browsing, I found this post from My Blessed Life.  Just the pictures alone will have you reaching for your keys to go stock up on semi-sweet chocolate!  Halfway to the store, I remembered I have no idea how to perform a soft ball test or how to identify the consistency of melted caramel.  The amazing thing about this list of treats is the recipes are REALLY EASY!

I enlisted my friend Mel, with promises of dinner, wine and a sugar coma, and together we started a new Christmas baking tradition.  We tackled the Peppermint Bark, White Chocolate-Covered Oreos, and Homemade Twix Bars.  I am proud to say they were all a success...our judge being they lasted about  45 seconds in the office kitchen this morning.

We kept the children happy and involved at bay with the jobs of "spoon lickers".  They were more than eager to take on the responsibility!

Our Tree

Our tree has been up since a week before Thanksgiving. The early arrival doesn't normally happen. In fact it never happens. I am usually trying to get the tree up a couple of weeks before Christmas. The Christmas spirit must have tracked me down early.

We are still using an artificial tree. Jer and I always intend to get a real tree, but everyone in our household are victims to severe allergies. We are just not ready to take that chance, especially during the holiday season.

There is no real pattern or theme to our tree. We have some basic bows, and most of the ornaments are keepsakes given to us. Each year, we let Delaney pick out some new ornaments for herself. Now Jack is doing the same, and next year I think Jude will be old enough to at least point and say "mine!" My plan is that when my darlings grow up (sob) that I will send all of their ornaments with them to put on their own trees. Bug is now jabbering about how she can't wait to grow up, so she can TAKE her ornaments and have her own tree. Last month she couldn't wait to grow up, so she could drive to the store and by her own food consisting of Fruity Pebbles and candy. I can't wait to hear her next reason to become an adult!

Cracker Jack's favorite ornament is...you're going to be so shocked...wait for it...

A robot! He surprisingly has left it alone. I keep telling him it's hot. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that he doesn't figure out that I am telling him a big fat lie anytime soon.

Delaney Bug's favorite is a pair of ice skates that Jer and I bought her as a treat our first year as a family. She insists that it was hung VERY high, so that Jack didn't "smash it."

Of course we don't know what Jude's favorite is yet, but his first ornament is this cute little snowman. Complete with cubby cheeks to match his own.

Jer and I have two favorites. One is a glass ball that we picked up in Hawaii when we got married. It has a bride and groom amongst paradise. The other is a frog prince. I found this while traveling the first Christmas Jer and I had met. It pretty much sums up how I felt...I had finally met my prince.

And of course, the tree would not be complete without a Cracker Jack touch. It makes a perfect home for his Fisher Price nativity set. Complete with the ornaments that he does manage to pull off, and his "Baby Hezus".

Check out Sarah's linky party to see some beautiful trees...

Jack & Daddy Chats

A daily scene between Jer and Cracker Jack...

JER:  Jack, what does a cow say?

JACK:  Moooo!

JER:  That's right!  What does a snake say?

JACK:  Ssssss!

JER:  That's right!  What does a car say?

JACK:  Vroom!

JER:  That's right!  What does a tiger say?

JACK:  Roar!

JER:  That's right!  What does a robot say?

JACK:  Dee doo, dee doo!

JER:  That's right!  What does an owl say?

JACK:  Who! Who! Who!

JER:  That's right!  What does a shark say?

JACK:  Da da da da da da!

JER:  That's right!  What does Darth Vader say?

JACK:  Haw-ker, haw-ker!

JER:  That's right!  What does Mommy say?

JACK:  Grrrrrrr!

JER:  You got that right, buddy, you got that right!

JER and JACK:  (Hysterical laughter)

Glad I can make 'em laugh!

Christmas Craft-Peppermint Candy Rosette Hair Clip

As you can see…

I have been obsessed with making fabric rosettes lately.  They are definitely one of the latest trends in the handmade world. Their versatility is what drew me in.  You can attach them to purses, sweaters, tees, and scarves…shoes even.   I am so in love with these whimsical little beauties!

I {heart} them so much that I am coming back from my handmade gift hiatus. All of my nieces and the boys’ teachers are getting some sort of fabric rosette accessory this year for Christmas.  I swore off handmade gifts about 17 years ago during the season of the hand painted Christmas tees.  The sight of puff paint still gives me hives.

When it was time to come up with a Christmas craft to share with the blogging world, I decided to do a spin-off from the fabric rosette…the Peppermint Candy Hair Clip…

Don’t you just want to make one for the little girl in your life?  Here’s how…

You will need:

• Fabric-I used a red & white stripe cotton to resemble a peppermint candy.
• White Felt
• White Tulle Ribbon
• Hair clips-I like alligator clips the best.
• Fabric Glue-I prefer Aleene’s Clear Gel Tacky Glue
• Scissors

1.  Cut or tear a strip of fabric about 1 inch wide.  I make my strips about 22 inches in length to get a small rosette.

2.  Tie a knot in at one end of the strip of fabric to create a center for the rosette.

3.  Dab a little glue on the knot.  Start twisting the fabric around the knot to make the rosette.

4.  Continue adding glue, and twisting and turning.  I like my rosette to be wrapped fairly tight, but you can play with how tightly you wrap your own.  Keep gluing and wrapping until you have a little tail.

5.  Dab a little more glue, and attach the tail to the back of the rosette.

6.  Cut about a 6-inch piece of the white tulle ribbon.  Twist the ribbon in the center and glue onto the back of the rosette.

7.  Cut a circle from the white felt to make the size of your rosette.  Dab fabric glue on the felt circle and clip.

8.  Attach to bottom of rosette over the twisted white tulle ribbon.

9.  Trim the white tulle ribbon to desired length…and there you have it!

A peppermint candy hairclip!  I can’t wait for Delaney Bug to see these.  Hopefully she will love them as much as she loves the candy itself!

Check out some more holiday craft ideas at...

The Teleporting Toddler Strikes Again!

Cracker Jack lived up to his reputation today...no doubt.  While I was out braving the crowds at Walmart, I stopped to check on the boys by sending Jer a quick text.  This is what I get in return...

"Caught red-handed!!!!"

"I looked away for 2 seconds while cleaning."

"Bathing BOTH of them now."

"Jack thought he'd fix his bro's hair too!"

Jack had obviously teleported again...ending up with his hands straight into his hair pomade!  Sigh...at least he knew how to use it.

The good thing about getting texts like this while battling the crazies at Walmart, is that I pretty much forgot about the holiday chaos.  I was too busy laughing hysterically and causing everyone to think I was the one who was insane!

Dollar Store Decorating-Christmas Version

I'm at it again.  The decorating bug has hit me this holiday season for sure.  I stopped by the local dollar store and the $1 Spot at Target to get some dollar cheap decorating inspiration.  I wanted something simple and clean that wasn't going to take me a ton of time to whip together.  This is what I came up with...

I purchased a few packages of plastic Cracker Jack-proof ornaments.  They are just the basic round balls in several classic colors with a few glitter to add some sparkle.

I pulled out almost all of my glass vases and a few serving pieces.  When I was teaching I worked part-time for Pottery Barn for several years.  During that time, I took advantage of their amazing employee discount...as you can see!

I cleaned and shined the vases, arranged the ornaments, plopped in a couple of candles, added some red tulle around the bottom, and there you have it!

A cheery, classic Christmas vignette that took very little time and even less money.

Check out many other Christmas decorating and frugal ideas over at The Shabby Nest, Rhoda's, Between Naps on the Porch, and...

         
link up parties.  There are some amazing ideas to see and droll over!

Starting New Christmas Traditions

The first year Jer and I were married it was our turn to have Delaney Bug on Christmas.  Even though I was VERY tired and VERY pregnant with Cracker Jack, I was determined to continue the many Christmas traditions I had as child with Delaney.  Candy canes on the tree, birthday cake for Baby Jesus, and a cousin gift exchange are just a few of the many small activities we began with Bug that year.

The next year I was pregnant, AGAIN, with Baby Jude and EXHAUSTED from chasing Cracker Jack around.  We continued the traditions and activities with Jack that we started the previous year with Delaney, but failed to start any of the new ones I had planned.  I felt guilty for a bit, but then decided to give myself a break…it was an exciting and overwhelming year to say the least.

This year is different.  Most days, due to the fact that I am not growing a baby, I am energized to make new Christmas memories with Jer and our sweet kids.  Elf on the shelf, making Christmas candy and advent calendars are some of our new traditions this year. 

Completely unplanned and by surprise, which is totally not me, we started a new tradition today.  My friend Mel convinced me that we needed to visit the downtown Dallas Neiman Marcus' window displays.  It was A.M.A.Z.I.N.G!  So glad we did.

If you know Cracker Jack, you know he LOVES rockets and robots, or “bockets and bobots”.  He was over the moon, that Neiman’s theme this year involved a ton of retro rockets.  

It was like Santa had delivered his presents several weeks early…he was in awe!

I really didn’t think the boys would care much about seeing the decorations and such, but even Jude was excited and happy to join in on the merriment.  

We were so touched.  Jer was in tears over the boys’ delight, but you're not allowed to tell him that you now know about that.

As you can see, sitting on Santa’s lap was not so traumatic due to the fact that he was sitting in front of a too cool gigantic rocket.

  

Well, maybe just a little...

Jack was so enthralled with all the rockets that he was convinced that every skyscraper in downtown Dallas was a “bocketship”!  

How did I get so blessed to have such a stinkin’ cute and charming little boy!?!

What an incredible day and a great new Christmas tradition!

If you live in the area, it is a MUST see.

What are some of your families' Christmas traditions?