When Christmas Comes

It's the most wonderful time of the year....

I love that the house is decorated, there are plenty of cookies and treats to eat and family time abounds. A couple extra days when hubby can be home with us and we can relax and just 'be'. This year it seemed especially significant that while we awaited the Christ child, we were also embracing our last Christmas as a family of four and eagerly celebrating the upcoming birth of our newest addition. While still several weeks away, it has not been lost on us that baby will be our most precious gift yet.

I thought I'd toss in photos of ways we've been enjoying our Christmas days.


Gingerbread (pre-baked, pre-packaged) House on Christmas Eve

One of my favorite things, celebrating Christmas at church, amidst the poinsettias

Birthday cake for Baby Jesus

Christmas smiles and sibling love

Christmas morning gift opening

All sorts of goodies for me

Full hearts and a happy, healthy family

Any wonder that this is my favorite time of year?

Hopefully your household is still enjoying the days of Christmas and is happy and healthy too!

White Christmas Greetings

From Our Front Door...

And our Winter Chalet...

Where another seven inches of snow fell yesterday evening and last night......

To Yours, whether it be white, green or brown out your window....


Many Wishes for a Merry Christmas!!

Morning At My House

Nestled in the forlorn parts of snow covered MN, an up-too-early child wonders. And an out-of-sorts-too-tired-yet-to-be-awake mom, begins another day.


My boy: "Is the 24th the first day of Christmas?"

Me: "No, Christmas Day is the first day of Christmas. December 25th." (said for about the millionth time in the last week)

My boy: "Oh. On the 25th then Santa comes!!!"

Me: "Well, yes, but more importantly Jesus is born. That's what we celebrate, remember?"

My boy: "What??!! Jesus gets born all over again??!!"



Oh goodness, little boy, can mommy finish her coffee first before we get into a discussion on the true meaning of Christmas? Child of mine, have you really missed the point every time we've discussed this?

I sense a long day ahead.

Last Minute Gift!

Simple and Easy? CHECK.

Inexpensive and Fun? CHECK.

Kid-friendly? CHECK.

I've done gift mixes in the past and always enjoy giving them. The recipient even loves them too! I prepared these the other day within minutes. I happened to have the extra jars to swing it and used those this time. In the past I've even sewn up some super-beginner type gift bags for each mix in inexpensive Christmas fabric or scrap fabric I had at home. Be creative!

All finished up, including the tags with instructions:




Would you like to give it a try? Here are the recipes I used:

Apple Crisp Mix

Cinnamon Pancake Mix

M&M Cookie Mix

Friendship Brownie Mix


I found a whole sleigh full of jar mix recipes at Recipe Goldmine that would be fun to try!

Advent Daybook

For Today...12.16.10

Outside My Window...it's definitely winter. Temps. are warmer than they were over the weekend, but still only in the teens. A few inches of snow fell again overnight.

I Am Thinking...about Christmas lists/gifts and Christmas plans.

I Am Thankful For..a warm house and plenty of reasons to just stick around the house these days.

I Am Praying...for Christmas peace and joy for those around me who need it. And maybe a Christmas miracle or two.

I Am Reading... Where Angels Go and numerous other Debbie Macomber Christmas books. Easy, quick reads that I can enjoy when I've got my feet up.

Baby This Week...weighs close to 4 lbs and is about 18 inches long. He/She is starting to be a little less active, but has hiccups quite regularly. We'll see what the doctor says next week and if I'll have that last ultrasound.

Favorite Pregnancy Foods...fruit and summer sausage (still). The cookies all stashed in the freezer don't even sound appealing most days, but that's probably a good thing.

Around The House...decorated for the season. Reminders why it's the most wonderful time of year.

From The School Room...daily lessons through next Wednesday, along with simple Christmas projects. Big success for Jonah in learning to read and actually eager to do so.

From The Kitchen...attempting to create meal plans, but without much success. Eager to find something that sounds appetizing. Christmas baking is complete.

For The Rest of The Week...perhaps a trip to the theatre to enjoy The Voyage of The Dawn Treader as a family; coffee with a friend on Sat., weather permitting; an evening Christmas get-together Sat. evening.

One Of My Favorite Things...the rocker/recliner we bought last winter. Although simple, it's particularly cozy and inviting for this pregnant mama.

Picture Thought I Am Sharing...




Find more daybooks at The Simple Woman's Daybook.

New Header!

Ever see those fun and creative headers on someone else's blog and wish you could do that too?

I have SO MANY times!

Thankfully, a bloggy friend recalled my mentioning header frustration despite how many times I've tried. She sent me a link with a tutorial on how to leave aside the complicated PhotoShop way of doing it and try it in Picasa.

It worked!

Did you notice my header? This was my first attempt and it was MUCH easier doing it using this tutorial vs. the many times I've tried doing it in photo editing software.

Click on over to Clover Lane if you're looking to freshen up your header/banner or just looking for simplicity in achieving it.

Wordless Wednesday (Almost)

Our family in cut-outs, created by the kids and myself:

Aren't we cute?