GAME ON!

We had an amazing Christmas with all the grandparents at our home. Just a few games were played over the course of 4 days!

Blokus, Uno, Pictureka, Scrabble, Yahtzee, Hungry Hippo, Wii, Life, Bananagrams, Chess and more along with fun for Tom and Lisa at GameWorks!

Special Delivery

We have had many boxes arriving at our door over the past week keeping the UPS man and the Post Lady very busy. BUT the most anticipated deliveries will be hitting the doorstep over the next 36 hours. BOTH sets of grandparents are due to arrive to spend a very Merry Christmas at our home. I really can't even put into words how excited we are for this opportunity. The girls have been talking about it since it got organized over a month ago. We feel extremely fortunate that

• The grandparents get along well and are willing to "share" their holiday time with the other
• They are making it extremely easy on us, not having to travel away from home or worry about how we are dividing our time between families
• We will be able to have a warm and relaxing Christmas day, staying in our p.j.'s as long as we want and leisurely wasting the day away. In fact, I have decided that we are postponing our formal dinner for the day after Christmas. Instead, we will have a large brunch with homemade cinnamon rolls and then graze our way through the rest of the day with veggie, meat and cheese trays; finger foods and Christmas treats. This way nobody feels tied to a timeline or forced into the kitchen to cook or clean.
• And most of all we will enjoy quality family time. I am predicting lots of game playing, puzzle building and book reading over the next 4 days.

We hope you all have a Very Merry Christmas and are able to spend it with those that you love. And we hope that you are able to relax and ENJOY your time and not feel rushed or stressed by the little things that sometimes get in the way of the enjoyment!!!

Merry Christmas to All!!

More Family Craftiness

I have a few craft projects that I have been working on that I want to share but can't reveal the suprise for the people who will be receiving them so will need to wait a few more days. So I will share what the girls have been working on. They have been busy making all sorts of homemade gifts for people. I think it is so important that they do this and not just hand over a gift that mom bought at the store (though we will of course be doing that too).

Nora has decided her "talent" is making necklaces so that is what everyone is getting. It was so cute the day she was making mine in secret. I could hear her sounding out how to spell my name as she wrapped it and made a tag. She was very proud.

Madison has been dabbling in a number of different projects. Her problem is that she gets big plans in her head and gets them started but has a hard time staying focused through completion. This is a bookmark she made for her teacher Mrs. B...... I was extremely impressed with her hand stitching and she did a great job keeping focused with this one. She has created her own "design company" and is hoping I will help her with a blog to display her creations. If her Santa wish is granted she just may have alot more goodies to share (and mommy will too!!).

Tom gets crafty

My craftiness must be wearing off on Tom. It was Ugly Christmas Sweater Contest at REI today. Tom went to Goodwill to find one but there were none to be found. I have heard these are a HOT item on the second hand sales floors and you must start looking for them in October. Who knew?? Instead he found a plain read sweater and a bag of Christmas Crap. Sorry, no better term for it.

Before

After

Not bad for under $5! He did need lessons on how to work the hot glue gun. Do you think there is any chance he will wear it for us on Christmas morning??

**UPDATE** - HE WON FIRST PRIZE!!! I think that handmade element had to buy him a few extra points! And the fact that he claims to be a Grinch about the holidays but then will go to the extra effort to do this.

Add on funny story - once he was done with his masterpiece we were sitting on the couch watching tv. All the lights were off with just the Christmas tree lit up. I kept looking across the room at the tree and looking at one ornament in particular trying to identify it. Finally I say something to Tom and he fesses up that it was one from his goodie bag that he threw up there. If you have seen my tree you would know there are LOTS of ornaments, but I can identify the origin of each one so don't you dare try to sneak in an ornament on me. Even funnier, Madison walks by the tree this afternoon and immediately asks "Where did the new ornament come from?"

Christmas Elves

Making their special deliveries

My contribution was homemade french bread and garlic bread seasoning put into festive shaker bottles. Nora enjoyed helping with the mixing of ingredients.

Christmas Kiss Treats

The girls made their contribution for our neighbor Christmas treats this weekend. Tomorrow I will attempt my part so the girls can be holiday elves and deliver the treats. That is their favorite part!! Hopefully I don't eat all their treats before then!

Ten on Ten - Holiday Edition

It's beginning to look alot like Christmas

and this is how it looks in our house

Oldest ornament on the tree - 35 years old, made by my Grandma Johnstone

Newest ornament on the tree - crazy noodle creation made by Nora 3 days ago at preschool

My favorite childhood Christmas decoration - Candle Powered Carousel my mom passed onto me

Another sentimental favorite - given to me by my Grandma and Grandpa Nelsen

It stills has the little nametag taped onto it with my name written in my Grandma's writing.

Christmas village awaiting the next attack by the Killer Cat

The torture begins:-)

Christmas countdown Leggo Style

No shopping bags for me, just Amazon boxes delivered to my doorstep.

Santa photos through the years, waiting for the newest arrival.

Holiday Happenings