The Chalkboard

So this summer I found a small chalkboard at a garage sale for $0.50.  I've been meaning to try it out.  And who doesn't love incorporating new traditions into Christmas???

Here's what I've done with the chalkboard the last few days...

I realized a couple days in, just having words wasn't working for the kids.  So from this point on it's just pictures and maybe a word or two.  They knew exactly what the Gingerbread house meant and they were so excited to see it.  It's a good opportunity for me to brush up on my drawing skills too.  As you can see by said Gingerbread house, they are quite rusty! 

First Christmas Craft of 2013

Upcycled Christmas cards.  I saved last years cards to repurpose into cards this year.  The process and results were really fun. 

Putting up the tree

Sunday was pretty lazy, but we did put up the tree.

Thanksgiving at Grandad's

For Thanksgiving we made the long haul to Kentucky.  It was a brutal 11+ hours in the car there and nearly that long home.  We left Wednesday morning and arrived that night.  We had a lovely visit with the family and left again Saturday morning.  It really was a whirlwind, but I'm so glad we got to spend some time with the Kentucky family! 

Here are a few shots:

After dinner on Thursday, we did our Christmas exchange:

R was thrilled to get a scooter and a helmet for Christmas:

 This is the sunrise right before we left.  Not only is Kentucky beautiful, but Grandad's place is especially beautiful. 

The fire stacker...

R's mama-made gift in all it's finished glory!

Notes for next Christmas...

For next year:
NOT AS MANY GIFTS for the KIDS! Seriously, one big gift and one small gift from Santa and a couple homemade gifts from me is ENOUGH! 

Make more cloth gift bags... start in July.

Have the kids help out/make more gifts.  R loved making and doing.   On the day of Christmas have him be the "elf" and hand out gifts.   He loved it and did a fabulous job.

Buy the one small gift from Santa on Black Friday.  It really had the best deals.   Buy all other purchased gifts at this time too.

Don't get the big gift until the last minute.   R will change his mind a billion times between Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Hem adult Christmas jammies. Two years in a row of tripping over our pant legs sucks. 

Merry, Merry Day!

I hope you are feeling as merry and bright as we are.  A lovely day was had by all and it was so nice to spend it with Nonna and Papa B. 

Gifts for the children

I adore making gifts for my children.  It fufills both a desire to provide for my children and a creative need to work with my hands.

So, here are a few more goodies for the babes for Christmas...

Wooden tree for R and a Cell phone for S.

S's cell phone is made from an old sweater and various buttons from my stash. 
Nothing purchased for this project!

A Wee Tiny Elven

R is convinced that Santa's helpers are called "elven".  One is an "elven" and the plural is "elvens" (where does he get this stuff???)...  So I made them a wee tiny Elven...

This is one of the smallest peg dolls.  I haven't worked with this size before and my proportions came out a bit wonky.  Overall, I like it!

Christmas Sensory Bin

Stocking Stuffer Swap

LOTS of goodies to sort and ship... almost done!

One-to-one Swap

For the first time, I decided to participate in a one-to-one swap.  In these swaps you craft for another mama and she crafts for you.  No theme, you just decide what to craft after getting to know her better.  So, my partner has two kids.  A six year old boy and a 3 year old girl.  I thought they would enjoy a stacker.  Lord knows my kids adore our rainbow stacker.  My partner mentioned that her kids might like a gnome home and that became my inspiration.  So here's the finished product...

It needed some greenery, so they are getting the 3 little shrubs too.  And one extra little surprise.  :)

Off to work on the fire stacker for R.  It was his "mama made" request for Christmas.