I just wanted to show everyone some of our Christmas stuff. We bought a new tree this year. We have hated our old tree for years, and actually had it up with lights on, then decided that we really hated it. So we went out and came home with a 7.5 ft, pre lit tree! I love it! It fits the window spot perfectly. And it looks so good from the outside looking in. I didn't notice when I was taking the picture that I cut off the top- oops. There is an angel up there (sorry about the blurry pics).
This is our first year of actully putting lights up on our house. I think we never did it before because we haven't had our own house - it's just not the same decorating some one elses house for the holidays. We had intended on putting up more lights - around the windows and down the other two posts, but I think we just settled with what we have for this year. I love it! I love coming home from work at night and our house is the only house still lit - looks so Christmas-y! See the tree? :)
For a few years now, I have been wanting to have home made stockings. I didn't really know what I wanted. I first thought I wanted knitted stockings - so I attempted to learn to knit - solely for the reason of knitting Christmas stockings - well, knitting is not my thing. So, I learned to crochet, thinking I can crocket stockings, but I never found a crocheted stocking that fit my idea of what I wanted. So finally this year, I decided to sew some. So I went out and just bought a bunch of different fabrics - came home, mixed and matched and this is how they turned out!
I LOVE THEM!!! Exactly what I had been wanting for years! I threw out our old store bought, boring stockings (Jake still has his origianl stocking that he grew up with - he will not part with it, so just us girls got new ones). I just found a stocking pattern online and went to work.
This one is Maddie's. She fell in love with the fabric before she even knew what was going on. She was so excited to see the final project. I just love the holly berry on the cuff.
This one is mine. This was the first one I attempted - the demo. It love these fabrics together - very home made to me.
Sierras stocking. She wanted a red stocking, but I didn't want to use plain red. I didn't have much to work with, since I only bought a few fabrics, but I think she is happy. I didn't really know what to do to embelish it- I thought it looked a little masculine - so I added a bow with a button. Now it looks girly. I love ribbons and buttons! I am very happy with the stockings- I just hope they hold up for Christmases to come.
Actually, we are probably his new neighbors. This coyote has been being brave lately, coming out during the day. We heard plenty of coyotes yipping this last summer during the night, but this is the first I have seen one during the day. I've seen him a few times in the past couple weeks just walking in the fields behind our house. Kind of fun to glance out the window to see if you see him. But I wouldn't be disappointed if he mysteriously disappeared for good....
Sierra had her first Christmas program at school lastnight. Sierra was Mary. They did a little summary of the birth of Jesus, then the kids sangs a few songs. Sierra was pretty much clueless about what was going on. I wish they would have told us which songs the kids were going to be singing, so we could help them out at home, but they didn't tell us anything. It was short and sweet, and fun that they had a Christmas program at her preschool. Maybe next year she will get it a little better.
This one is Maddie's. She fell in love with the fabric before she even knew what was going on. She was so excited to see the final project. I just love the holly berry on the cuff.
This one is mine. This was the first one I attempted - the demo. It love these fabrics together - very home made to me.
Sierras stocking. She wanted a red stocking, but I didn't want to use plain red. I didn't have much to work with, since I only bought a few fabrics, but I think she is happy. I didn't really know what to do to embelish it- I thought it looked a little masculine - so I added a bow with a button. Now it looks girly. I love ribbons and buttons! I am very happy with the stockings- I just hope they hold up for Christmases to come.
Whale
Turkey
She copied the snowman that you can see off to the left. If you notice in her drawing, she added the two patches on the front of the snoman, one of the patches has a button on it. I think she did a pretty good job!
Snowman
Person.
I was confused by this one at first. I thought it was a dinosaur or dragon. Sierra kept saying it was a hippo. Then that night when we were reading books I saw the hippo. She copied the hippo character in the Sandra Boynton books. Then it all made sense. It looks just like it!
Butterfly
Here are our 2009 Christmas ornaments! My family has always had the tradition to make a new ornament every year. We have done it ever since I can remember. Even though all of us girls are out of the house and have our own families, we are still doing the tradition. This year we decided to make a house themed ornament since Nikki, Lena and I have new houses this year. My ornament is on the left. Sierra's is in the middle and Maddie's is on the right. I love this tradition and am happy that eventhough I am way up in Montana I can still join in. :)
Megan and her friend Bianca came with us. They were fun and dressed up. Jake and I didn't.
Maddie was so stinkin cute, but I was having issues with the camera and couldn't capture it. But I got a good 'flashy' picture. Just picture a little 2 year old ladybug running like 2 years do, wings and piggy buns bouncing - big grin from ear to ear- so cute!
The girls were very interested about the whole pumpkin carving process. Sierra thought the guts of the pumpkin were cool. Sierra carved a bat (with Jake's help), Maddie carved a scary castle, Jake carved a skull, and I carved a regular jack-o-lantern.
