Traditions~

We finally decorated our tree last weekend.   WooHoo!

We love our tree. Although, I think we all agree that with our tall ceiling, we would like it to be larger.  We have decided we are going to watch those after-holidays sales and see if we can find a big one.  It won't be easy as we love the fiber-optic part of ours so...well, if you see one, let us know! :)

The one thing I didn't love while we were decorating, was losing Grandma's reindeer ornament. It wasn't actually lost as you can see, however for a short time, I thought it was. It really upset me and I found that I am quite attached to things of my past. Much more than items from my present.  This also applies to things that belonged to the girls when they were small too. I have most every toy they were ever given. (I figure I'm lining my self up to open a vintage toy shop someday!)

This ornament once belonged to me mother. In fact I can't even tell you how old it actually is, but I believe the story goes, that she bought it the year I was born for our first family Christmas tree. That makes it...well it's been around a while. Ha!

Anyway, I am not so deluded that I find these things more valuable than being together and the memories we are making when we are but I do love to hold and treasure the items from my past. They take me back to those times and remind me of my life, by touch.

Do you do this too? What do you have that is special to you?  This reindeer is one of my most treasured Christmas items. Some day I will share a few other favorites with you as well. I have many!

We Believe!

Kelly mentioned to me a week or so ago that I haven't been blogging much lately and she's right. So I resolved to catch up just a bit.

While we were in Anchorage for Black Friday Shopping Cali spotted Santa in the mall. Now we know this isn't the real Santa but still she wanted to check him out a little closer! But not too close!

I finally talked her into getting near him as long as I went with her but she didn't want to take a picture with him by herself!!!  So in an attempt to sway her, the big two took a picture with him. It still didn't work. 

She decided she would take one with the girls but not alone!

Then we decided to do the family thing, thinking that might make things better. (By the way, I'd been up since 2:30 am and only had about 4 hours sleep.  This picture was taken about 2:00pm and I was dragging. I know I look like pure H*!L! but I was doing it for my baby!) It didn't do much. 

I did however get to give Santa some bunny ears without him knowing. :)  

And then Scott did it to me, without me knowing. Dang, payback is a pain isn't it?

Finally I got Cali to sit on the chair by him, with me. 

It was a bit awkward so I told her I was going to stand  but when I realized she hadn't noticed I'd moved away, I made some serious sign language at Amber, who had the camera and she tried to snap a picture. It was my tough luck that Cali figured it out before she got a good one. It might have made the lashing I got from Cali worth it! 

Oh well, there's always next year! :)

By the way, don't you just love the rain boots? Yeah, I didn't check her bag to see what she'd packed before we left and Scott let her dress herself rather than using the things I'd brought for her! :)

Grandpa's Finally Gets His Christmas Present

My Dad was in Florida for his birthday this year. While he was gone, I planned on getting his Christmas present completed finally. Turns out it couldn't be done until he got home but at least it's finally done!
Doesn't his little sports car look awesome with tinted windows. All the young guys are jealous!

Christmas Highlights

I know everyone scrambles to catch up on news just following the holidays. I'm no different. I thought I'd have more time to post during the festivities but the facts are it is a hectic time of year. That being said, I wouldn't change it for love or money.

I love every minute of having my girls home from school and I love everything about the holidays. I am one of those who heads out the door at 4 in the morning on black friday, not only to get things started but also just to be out in it. I have fun and enjoy the spirit. I am not disillusioned. There are always grumpy people and things are harried but, I still smile, say hello to strangers and have a great time.

On Christmas Eve I'm back out in it again. Long enough to pass folks I know and wish them a Merry Christmas. I laugh at the excitement that lingers no matter where you are or what you are doing.

Here a some pictures from our Christmas. Christmas eve we most often go sledding although this year we saw a movie since there was no snow. That = no pictures. But we did open our PJ's so we'd have lovely pictures come Christmas morning.

You will most certainly have to click these to make them larger in order to see everything. I collaged all the pictures or there would be a photography overload!

Christmas morning we spend at home then we head to Grandpa's house in the afternoon and stay there until we can no longer stay awake.

It's a Wonderful Life!

Merry Christmas from Scott Chris Cori Cassi Cali

Wishing you Joy this Christmas
& Peace on Earth for us All

Annual Christmas Band Concert-Part 2

This is NOT the video Cori wanted me to share but it is the ONLY one that would load. Still they are doing fabulous.

Making Friends

Last year the girls and I participated in our first ever swap. I thought it would be a nice experience for them, kind of along the lines of a pen pal. I also thought it might be fun for whomever we were matched with since we were from Alaska and I imagined it wasn't everyday people met other people from here.

It turned out so fun. Our first swap was a Christmas book swap. Cali was matched with a little guy from down South. Actually not too far from where our Grandma lives.

After the swap Cali talked often about Sam so a few months later his Mom and I decided we would swap a little package again. And a new friendship was created. Cali still talks about Sam, like she's known him forever!

We decided to do a little book swap again this year. Cali received hers from Sam the other day. She was so excited. I sat her down in front of the tree and she went to town on the package.

It included a book titled Stick Kid and also It's a Wonderful Life for Kids. The Stick Kid book rolls off the tongue so easily and it has instantly become a Cali favorite. I hear it is also one of Sam's favorites and I can see why.

It's a Wonderful Life is my most favorite Christmas movie ever so it was extra special to read the book to Cali.

I am so glad we leaped into doing the book swap last year. I really believe Cali will have a far-away friend for years to come. And what a nice family to befriend!

Wordful Wednesday 12-16

This tradition was started for us by Holly. She started taking oranges and peppermint into Wren's class every Christmas. When he moved to our school years ago, she did it there too. When he left for the big city the year after my girls longed for the tradition so we decided to do it ourselves. And so it began that every year since we have taken in an orange and a peppermint stick for each child in the class.

This year I had to buy almost 60 oranges. I wish you could have seen my buggy in the store. And the people staring at me as I kept adding more and more oranges. I decided to take them into school early to give the teachers opportunity to use them as a bargaining tool. When I dropped them off I could here the giggles and squeals of the kids. They were excited. I suppose it's become tradition they look forward to also.

If you've never done it, here's what you do:

Roll your orange on the counter over and over until it gets nice and juicy. The skin will be weaker now so dig your thumb into the skin making a small hole; too big and you'll be wearing the juice. Poke you peppermint stick into the orange and start sucking. The juice will melt the peppermint stick enough so that it becomes the straw. Drink until you can no longer.

Enjoy your new Christmas time tradition.

***You can only use the old fashioned peppermint sticks for this, NOT the ones you hang on your Christmas tree.

Annual Silly-Gift Christmas Party

Well, we've done it again. And it was a success!

Our annual silly-gift Christmas party was this past weekend. As usual, it was a blast.

Lots of silly gifts, Tons of laughter and many, many wonderful memories.

If you've never heard, every year we have this party and every year some of the players are the same and some different. This year there were 25 exchanging participants. Our biggest group ever.

We do 2 rounds of exchanges, one less expensive and one in the twenty-ish range. Usually, everyone goes home with a nice (or decent) prize and one could easily be questionable.

There is always the contest of bringing the most coveted gift. And there are a few other notable categories too.

This year, my own personal favorite gift, which I did not take home I might add, was the singing, dancing Christmas Tree hat. I loved it!

As for the most coveted present of the evening, I would say it would depend on who you asked. Holly ended up with a picture frame full of group photos from past years get-togethers. It was definitely a trip down memory lane. It seems to have gone so fast.

Grandpa seemed to be the leader in choosing the best gifts this year. I was the winner of a HUGE bottle of wine. The bottle is easily 2 feet tall. I didn't get a picture but since I will be sharing it with Grandpa on Christmas, I will be sure to take one then. He also contributed a quesadilla maker and an awesome hand-crank lantern.

Oddly enough, the huge root-beer mug we brought was a hit with the younger set. And bacon flavored jelly beans had to be the weirdest gift of the evening.

Regardless of who got what, we do our best to make sure the kids leave with something that makes them smile, so there is always some after swap trading going on. The kids had fun and everyone got something cool, silly-fun, amazing or awesome.

There was also some singing and dancing happening. Look out American Idol! If I can figure out how to load videos again. I may have to share one with you.

With 5 of the kids graduating this year and 2 of them already in college, (We were grateful they still came this year!)I wondered aloud how many more of these parties there would be.

Then I realized that there are still a few in elementary school and middle school. We might squeak out a few more, Lord willing. I have such a great time when we are all together and I know, even if they don't right now, that one day my kids will look back on these days with laughter and joy. They will know what it's like to enjoy the love of great friends and at the end of the day, it's one of the few things that actually matter. The rest is only details.

HERE'S TO GOOD FRIENDS!

They are growing up TOO fast!

Seems like yesterday they were in preschool painting cute little Christmas pillow cases.

We still get them out every year. I really should have Cali make one of these.

A Night for Princesses

The girls had their annual school Christmas Show last night. It was Cori's last one. Man, I don't typically get goofy about the girls growing up but there are a couple things hitting me rather hard lately. Just looking at them last night pulled at my heart strings. Yikes, gotta keep it together!

I took them to have their hair done. I don't usually do that but being older, I thought they might like it. The little-bit didn't go but I don't think she would have sat for it anyway.When I picked them up, they were glowing.

A couple notable quotes from the evening-

Cassi- Oh My Gosh Mom! I LOVE my hair, the wedding is tomorrow!



I also took the girls for dinner after the show. We went with Cori's (boy-shhh!) friends family. On our way home I asked her, did you feel pretty tonight? You sure looked beautiful.
She replied (with all her sporty-girl sarcasm) "Well, I didn't get all princessy feeling like Cassi or anything, but yeah, I felt good."



And Cali's for the night- "MOM! When does this thing end! I am ready to go now!"

Wrap it Up

I know I've posted about this kind of thing before. I just thought you might like the reminder. Since most of us will find ourselves in a crunch some time during this holiday season, it's good to know there are a few tricks that will save the day every now and again.

I didn't take step by step photos because I am certain you can figure this out.
But here is our finished product. For the record I was not actually in a crunch. I was trying to find a unique way to wrap a gift without the recipient being able to figure out what is was based on the size or shape of the package.

We have a family/friend party coming up next Saturday and we do a gift exchange. We do one for twenty-ish that is a good gift and one for five-ish that is a silly gift.

I have a really hard time spending my money on an item that the recipient will throw away when they get home so I try to make it fun or silly but not ridiculous.

This gift contains a good gift. :) And pretty great right? No chance you are going to figure out what is in it.

Anyway, this started out as a hot chocolate container. This afternoon I sat Cali down with a bowl of modge podge and a large sheet of red and green tissue paper. I didn't even paint it first because I knew she would likely layer on mountains of shredded paper. And I was right.

I noticed one spot that I could see some wording so I drew silver stars all over it and wrote Merry Christmas on it too. Now I don't notice a thing.

And I can tag it: Frugal, Recycling, Craft for All Ages, Homemade and so much more. :)

Creativity, please flow my direction

I signed the girls up for the Holiday Ornament Swap again this year. We participated last year and enjoyed it a lot. The anticipation of looking each day for a padded envelope that was sure to house a sweet, delicate little handmade treasure brought many happy moments here.

This year there the theme is fairy tales. When we heard that, we were thrilled although we originally ready it as fairies still we thought fairy tales were great too. That was until we started to determine what we were making. Being a no-sew family, hmmm, we are struggling a bit.

Months ago, I had decided if we had the opportunity to participate again Cali would make salt-dough ornaments. I envisioned a cute little snowman...well, I can't find a snowman in any fairy tale I know.

I have perused the internet looking and looking. Today I decided to try this.

I still used salt dough but I had to make this guy. (Don't laugh at my skills- I am challenged, I know it!)
I kind of thought maybe Cali could paint them if I made them but I've since decided the older girls can use mine as a model and try their hand at these. Cori has enjoyed some clay projects lately so I am hoping she will take these on. I 'll keep you updated.

Seriously, can you at least tell what or who it is? Do you know the tale?

*Edit- here he is painted.

I'm on an Upcycling Kick

If you are someone I'd typically send a Christmas gift to, you may not want to read any further as I may be sending packages like the one ahead.

I think you would call this a 'kick'. I have been recycling all my cardboard cylinder containers of late to make a grouping for pens, pencils and scissors. I have an ugly little plastic drawer-thing I use and I want to gt rid of it. When I have enough containers I will tie them all together and use it on the end of my counter rather than the plastic drawers I have now.
While I was finishing a cylinder the other day I had one of those, OH that would be cool moments. And here is what I was thinking.

I think you can buy the super sized spool of Jute at Joann Fabric's for about $6.00 and you might even find it elsewhere for less. Add some raffia and a cute tag, stuff it with some tissue paper and you've got yourself a darling little gift wrap.

Of course, I am thinking Christmas but I imagine you could do this for birthdays too.
The Christmas can above is a big, wide Tang container. I would imagine coffee cans, oatmeal containers and many other things would work just as well.

These are super easy for the kids to make. Mine have done several with me. I start mine with a glue gun at the bottom(a Mom's job), then I use modge podge; painting the can while I'm wrapping, about an inch around at a time. I end the jute with a little more hot glue when I hit the top.
Do you have any upcycle ideas you'll be using for Christmas?

A visit with Santa

We had the opportunity to visit with the real Santa again this year. You may not be aware but last year Santa left a photo of himself in front of our tree for the girls to find Christmas morning. He was eating the cookies we made for him and everything.

We heard that he would be taking time out of his busy schedule to visit Kenai again this year so we hurried over to see him. It was incredibly exciting to see him in person after knowing he'd walked through our house and ate our cookies last year. Wow!

Cali doesn't remember him much and was a little nervous about meeting such an important guy. It took her a little while to move in but she did end up getting close enough to get a couple Christmas card photos.














Cassi was VERY excited about seeing Santa again. She was quite prepared to put on her best face and tell Santa everything she thought she might want for Christmas.




















Cori isn't sure she still believes. Actually she says she is sure but as she gets older she is certainly more wary of people she doesn't know well. She also is thinking she is a little too old to be posing with Santa but I guilted her into it one more year.





















We managed to get a couple of them all together but Cali seemed to be looking over her shoulder the whole time.




For the record, I probably wouldn't have taken the to see that Santa guy had I known they would be whispering in his ear that they wanted a puppy. And even then, I didn't think he would really bring a puppy all the way from the North Pole on a sleigh.

Here's hoping you all had a nice chat with Santa this year as well and that he made your Christmas wishes come true too!