Christmas pics

Hi everyone!

I hope your Christmas was as special and wonderful as ours was. We had a wonderful day at home just being with family. I wanted to post pics while it was still fresh in our minds. I didn't take many pictures on Christmas, but I had a few to show of our fun day.

Here we are making cookies for Santa! As you can see, everyone really got into it. Aubrey got to choose what kind of cookies we made, and he thought that Santa would like sugar cookies, so we had fun and made a big mess making Santa cookies. I know he loved them. (So did Mrs. Claus)

Aubrey and Mallory both got things to ride on this Christmas. A bike was all Aubrey asked Santa for. Actually he asked him for a "four wheel bike", which I had to translate to Santa meant a bike with training wheels. After we left Santa, Aubrey was upset because he had forgotten to tell Santa he wanted the bike that had a water bottle on it. I assured him that Santa would know. And sure enough, Santa came through. Aubrey couldn't even wait to get outside to ride his bike. Fortunately we have a long hallway, so he got to practice a little inside. Our hallway has miles and miles of Aubrey riding various toys up and down it. Mallory always wants to ride on Aubrey's four wheeler, but she isn't big enough yet, so she got her own little "four wheeler".

Bompie and Grandma Bonnie came over for lunch and we had fun playing with them. Then the Higgins clan came over for dinner. I channeled my inner Paula Deen and made her Peppermint Cake. It turned out good, especially with Mayfield Peppermint Ice Cream. Perfect for Christmas!
I'm always full of mixed emotions when Christmas is over. I love the decorations and special days, but I'm also ready to get back to "normal" (whatever that is). So today I am cleaning and putting away all our decorations. It actually feels really good and refreshing. It's still nice to have Aubrey home and all of us able to stay in our jammies for a long time in the mornings!

Also, if you would like to win $150 worth of Cosmo Cricket scrapbooking supplies, head over here Leah, not my sister, is giving them away. She is a wonderful designer for their team, so check out her blog. You will love it!

Merry Christmas!

I can't claim this as my own. I got this from another blog I visit. I think it is a wonderful reminder of what is important. At least it is for me!

1 CORINTHIANS 13 CHRISTMAS VERSION

If I decorate my house perfectly with plaid bows, strands of twinkling lights and shiny balls, but do not show love to my family, I'm just another decorator.

If I slave away in the kitchen, baking dozens of Christmas cookies, preparing gourmet meals and arranging a beautifully adorned table at mealtime, but do not show love to my family, I'm just another cook.

If I work at the soup kitchen, carol in the nursing home, and give all that I have to charity, but do not show love to my family, it profits me nothing.

If I trim the spruce with shimmering angels and crocheted snowflakes, attend a myriad of holiday parties and sing in the choir's cantata, but do not focus on Christ, I have missed the point.

Love stops the cooking to hug the child.

Love sets aside decorating to kiss the husband.

Love is kind, though harried and tired.

Love doesn't envy another's home that has coordinated Christmas china and table linens.

Love doesn't yell at the kids to get out of the way, but is thankful they are there to be in the way.

Love doesn't give only to those who are able to give in return but rejoices in giving to those who can't.

Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Love never fails.Video games will break, pearl necklaces will be lost, golf clubs will rust.But giving the gift of love will endure.

Merry Christmas!-- Author Unknown

I hope you all have a very merry and blessed Christmas! See you after (with lots of pictures)!

Love to you all.

S.

Busy little elves

Aubrey and I have had so much fun today just crafting and baking together. I started last night

getting two layouts done. I had this Crate paper I wanted to play with and this perfect picture of Mallory, so I sat while we watched The Grinch again and had fun. I also updated our Christmas card/Santa pictures album. It's a small album that I put our family's card and Santa picture in each year. I love looking back at these each year. So much changes in a year.

Today we were very busy. I altered an "H" I had here and didn't know what to do with it. So, I decided to make it a Christmas "H". I added some paper and fibers with jingle bells. It will hang on our "H" wall during the Christmas season now.

Then Aubrey and I went to work. We began by making banana bread. My mom's recipe is the best, and I had some ripe bananas so we used them up. Aubrey loves to help cook, so he mashed the bananas and mixed it all up with the mixer.

Next we made a couple of ornaments from kits I picked up for him somewhere. I try to keep things like that on hand for times like this. He had so much fun making them, and even named the Snowman "Snow". How original!After we finished the ornaments we put together a Nativity set I also found somewhere for him. (probably Wal-Mart or Hobby Lobby) We worked together on this because it was a little small for a little guy like him to do on his own. Aubrey did draw all the faces on Mary, Joseph, and baby Jesus.

Finally, I finished some ornaments I have been working on for my family. I put our Christmas card picture on them along with paper, ribbon, buttons, fibers and jingle bells. I just think jingle bells say Christmas. I love them.

So, it was a fun, lazy, busy day here. More to come this weekend!

It's the little things

D. laughed at me the other day when I got so excited about Aubrey getting dressed and ready all by himself. He said, "It's the little things, isn't it Sarah?" I told him that in my life the little things were what do it for me. It is the little things that bring so much happiness to me most. I think we anticipate the big moments and holidays so much that we overlook the little, small things that most would not consider special, but they really are if we treat them as such. Sometimes it is an actual material little thing that makes me happy such as my morning heaven these days, Millstone Peppermint Coffee. My first sip every morning is one of the best moments of my day. Some might think that sad, but it's just because it is comforting and warm to me.

Sometimes, it's just doing little things with my family, like Aubrey and I decorating cupcakes and making candy pretzels and magic reindeer food. I have really had to work at not being antsy if the cupcakes aren't really pretty or we make a big mess while doing these things. I have to be honest and say it wasn't my finest moment yesterday when Aubrey poured almost half a bottle of sprinkles on ONE cupcake. He reminded me, "Mom, you said I was in charge of the sprinkles!"

So, I apologized and we moved on, and just swept afterwards. Lately it's been playing "horsey" before bathtime. It is so much fun to hear these little ones belly laugh as they are riding the horse. So precious!

Anyway,the holiday we are getting ready to celebrate focuses on a little thing. A really tiny baby born to set us free and save us from our sins. Baby Jesus. Let's keep reminding ourselves that sometimes the littlest things are the most important. You all have to know that I'm writing to myself as much as anyone else, so keep me in your prayers as you check in!

Whew!

I haven't posted this week, mainly because I have been knee deep in "stuff"! We have had a busy week of holiday preparations, places to be, etc. I really try to guard against being so busy at this time of year, but some things you just have to do. I've also been struggling with a sinus infection since last weekend, so I've been moving a little slower. We did get to visit Santa, which was a success with both children. Aubrey was so cute with him, although he forgot to tell him that the bike he wants has a water bottle on it. We assured him that Santa would know. Mallory didn't cry, but didn't smile either. She just took it all in. I got to finish most of my shopping, so that was helpful. Overall, just day to day stuff. I am getting ready for my annual Christmas Cookie/Treat Exchange tomorrow. I am excited about that. I made my cookies yesterday and they are super yummy. I also made Pretzel Turtles, which I'm sure everyone knows about, but they are my fave and super easy to make. Here you go:

Pre-heat the oven to 200 degrees.

Lay pretzels on a non-stick pan.

Put a Rolo on each pretzel.

Bake the pretzels until the Rolos get glossy.

Take them out and put them on wax paper.

Press a pecan onto each Rolo.

Wait to cool and then eat.

In the words of Rachel Ray, "Yum-O"!

I hope everyone is preparing not just their homes for Christmas, but also their hearts. Here is a verse from Mark 1 recalling the prophet Isaiah. "Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for Him." Let's make our paths straight for Him to find us ready for His arrival this Christmas. I am really working on keeping my focus on Him and the true meaning of Christmas this year.

First pub (and a little confession)

I just had to let everyone know that my first published scrapbook page is now online at Scrapstreet. I have recently started trying to get my work published and this is the first page that made it. You will love all the great layouts and projects as well as ideas over there. It's a great site for digital scrappers too. My layout is in the "birds of a feather" section, page 3. I just had to share my excitement.

Also a quick confession. I was so excited about my advent calendar, and I still am. But the other night when I was opening up all the boxes of my Christmas decorations guess what I found? Yes, an advent calendar. Purchased last year at Pottery Barn when they were 50% off. So, I am going to sell it to a friend, but just had to confess that I am really goofy at times, and having children and being busy just sucks the brain cells right out of me. Can any of you relate?