Year End Shares...

We had a wonderful Christmas...

Mac's Angel Program was absolutely darling. It touched our hearts and got us so much in the Christmas spirit! He sang his little heart out and knew every word of all the songs and poems. We were so proud of him!
A visit with Santa was exciting! This year, Elan was the first one on Santa's lap and the last one off. He had a lot to talk about!

Mac asked for Indiana Jones LEGOS, Anna wanted a Zhu Zhu pet and a Leapster 2, and Elan, well, all he wanted was a big, red, fire truck. Santa delivered all that and more!

Christmas Eve was another day full of holiday tradition, family fun and my mom and dad handing out gifts like they were trying out for Santas job.
I truly enjoyed the holiday season. I thought I was more prepared, but wasn't and ended up getting a bit stressed at the end, not being able to finish a few things, but all in all, it was great! Next year is the year I will be prepared in advance! Gifts have already been purchased, notes have been made for gift ideas, and laugh if you will... I have already made 30 Christmas cards to send for 2010. Until then, you want to see my card that was sent this year? Thought so...
I made a pocket card. This is the front...

This is the inside card when you pull it out...I wrote my message on the back of the pulled out card. I only made a few of these and all of them were a bit different. I also sent about a dozen random Christmas cards that included Christmas trees, stockings, presents, etc. The rest (all 80 of them) were photo cards. So, if you didn't get a handmade card, I'm sorry. Next year you will!

I hope you have a wonderful New Year! Blessings in 2010!

Advent Calender

I am ALIVE! I have been working like a dog the past two weeks getting out stationery orders and finally finished a HUGE project I was working on for a client. Now that I made everyone else's Christmas gifts to give and cards to send, it's time for me to do my own! Yay!

So, this past January, I found a Making Memories Advent calender kit on sale at Target. That week, I made it so I would have it for Christmas. I put little treats and notes of fun things to do in each of the little boxes. The kids have loved every minute!

I hope you are enjoying your days before Christmas! Baking and wrapping today!

A Special Card...

Every year, I make only a few extra special cards. Usually, I make them for the people that have touched me in some way. This year, I made a special masterpiece for my Uncle Gene. Uncle Gene is one of my mom's older brothers. He is hilarious, always has a story, a smile on his face, treats my mom and her sister like they are queens, appeals to the boys because he truly is disgusting. He also had a special bond with his mother, my grandmother. In the card below, Uncle Gene is pictured with my grandmother on Christmas Eve (I believe this photo was taken in 1998). This is a special card not only because of the picture on the front, but also because my grandmother was the one that started our holiday Traditions. Christmas Eve begins as our family sings "Silent Night" together and is celebrated with gifts, food, family, stories, pictures and love. Sadly, my grandmother passed away a few years ago this January, on my Uncle Gene's birthday. She is remembered every day, but mostly at Christmas time. She baked, cooked, made gifts (such as crochet afghans and slippers, stuffed animals and little purses), she loved the decorations and lights and was so full of joy, love and tradition. To me, that's what Christmas is all about... Tradition.

Since Grandmommy died, Uncle Gene has sent me a card at Christmas time. The card is usually super funny or gross, but it's what's on the inside that counts. He takes the time to write a special memory of a Christmas past: a story, an old photo of a decorated mantel, a family secret, and so on. I save them, I cherish them, I love them! I look forward to Uncle Gene's card every year... I hope he likes mine!

Meet Lucas Snowflake!

Hey there! Finally feeling better... shew! It was a rough 6 days of nasty cold and cough. It wore me totally out, and had to go to bed at 8:30 a couple nights in a row. But now, woo-hoo! Feelin' great!

So, December has begun... a month full of traditions, magic is in the air and my kids are wound up tighter than a yo-yo! They LOVE Christmas, just like any other child, but they really love it because our friend, Lucas Snowflake arrives the day after Thanksgiving.

That is Lucas Snowflake (our Elf on the Shelf). He watches the children and at night reports back to Santa of our daily events- naughty or nice. A couple of times now, Mac and Anna have left Lucas little notes and presents that they make, which in turn, I stay up after my bed time to reciprocate with a letter of thanks and gratitude. The letters from Lucas are always adorned with snowflakes! They are so excited to get up in the morning to see where he has hid and what he left for them.

I thought it was so cute when I heard Anna and Elan talking to him one morning and Anna said, "Lucas, Elan wants a new pappy for Christmas because his is broken with a hole in it." Mama's gonna get him that new pappy... and I know I shouldn't. 'Tis the season to make wishes come true!