Happy Birthday Jesus

Thank you Lord for the best gift of all.

I love the time we have had with family.
I loved seeing how much they appreciated their gifts we chose.
I wanted to take a few moments and remember about the best gift.

We are flying home tomorrow (Jeff & I). The boys are coming home and we will finally get to celebrate Christmas with our small family. Everything is ready and waiting for the excited sounds of the boys as they see their bulging stockings and the early morning wake up to open all their gifts. I wait all year for that moment.

I never updated but we did finish our projects...we strung popcorn and cranberries

I also made the silhouette ornaments and my "S" monogram wreath.

Since I believe Christmas is a frame of mind and not just a day, I am eagerly looking forward to getting home and having my family all around as we drown in wrapping paper and ribbon and watch their precious faces as they see what they are given. I can't wait to drink hot cocoa and apple cider and nibble on Christmas snacks. I'll see you all soon for new years!!

I just had to leave a picture of the view from the back deck of Jeff's house in Mass where we just had a wonderful Christmas with our family. We love you!

wrapped around his little finger

(Davis coming home from school, Jeff in the kitchen doing dishes)

D: Hey Jeff! What is this paper for? Can i have it?
(J looks over and notices it is leftover christmas wrap)
J: OK. What do you need it for? (with D you just never know)
D: It's a surprise!
(5 minutes later he comes back and asks Jeff to sit down)
D: Merry Christmas! (handing him a small "package")
(Jeff opens the package and discovers a quarter)
J: WOW! Are you sure you want me to have this? (Davis is very big on saving and a quarter is a big deal)
D: Yes, I saved it for you.....but there is something more in there too, just make sure you don't tear it.

This is the point when Jeff discovers the true gift. A handmade certificate that says:

World's Best Step-Dad

Could there be any better gift ever? And yes it is proudly displayed on the fridge!

Excessive energy painting

What is that you ask?

It is the result of all the excitement from holiday decorating still churning through me at 11:30 pm at night when there are no more twinkle lights to hang, garland to create or Bethlehem villages to arrange and something in me is begging to create something great.

OK...great is a relative term but my 8 year old thinks I created a masterpiece!

Do you remember a few posts back when I showed off my new painting for over the couch? It was my inspiration for this project. I have a table/lamp combo that needs a makeover in a big way.

So far all I have changed is the lampshade, but I think it has huge impact. I have been thinking about it for a long time but I couldn't decide if I should. I really liked the idea of painting the shade and because it is across the room from the painting I wanted to mimic it to create some cohesiveness. BUT I also worried if a painted lampshade would make my painting less artistic and more design. The painting was a very big release for me and when I started I had no idea how it would turn out, I felt like I was just releasing myself and I didn't want to lose that feeling I get every time I look at the painting. When my sister in love Kelli was visiting over Thanksgiving I mentioned my idea to her and she thought it was a good one so it is thanks to her that I took the plunge :)

Guess what? I painted the lampshade and i STILL get the feeling!!

These are the AFTER pictures:
you can see the painting in the background along with our Sam sleeping on the couch
The little strange things on the top are tiny Santas hanging from the top of my shade (thank you Davis)
I still need to decide what to do with the ugly white post, the ugly brass thingy ma bobbee and how I should treat the table/legs part. Any suggestions? PLEASE help me out. It is better with the shade but it still doesn't go with everything else.

Comments, Comments, Comments!!!!!!!!!

decorating heaven

(a dark picture of my garland that doesnt do it justice)
I love to spend time planning and preparing when I decorate and I especially love just jumping in and making a huge mess and coming out with something that is beautiful to me and makes my family feel at home. Christmas decorating gives me all that and more.
(this is a picture of the garland close up)
I have a tree in every room....not just every bedroom but EVERY room in the house. Some rooms like the bathrooms and kitchen have small ones, but the ones in each of our bedrooms are my favorite! The big one in our living room is our family tree. It has the collection of the boys ornaments that are added to each year and lovingly remembered as they are hung. It also has all the ornaments collected as we travel and a million memories from our families and our trips. That one is special and i'm usually crying before all the ornaments are hung. This year I am planning on stringing popcorn and cranberries (i'll let you know how it goes).

The bedroom trees were each planned according to the person who lives in that room and are the most fun :)

***Davis's is a candyland dream and we have collected candy ornaments from all over. He also has candy garland and lights and the most elaborate room because he takes all of my castoff decorations and finds a place for them.
***Michael's is new this year because he finally has his own room and is of course "Colt's blue". So far it just has white lights and balls but we are on the lookout for sports and colts ornaments and will probaby make some.
***Travis is my patriot and his room has an american flag and a texas flag hanging on the walls along with a complete red white and blue thing going on and so he has the Texas tree.
***Jeff & I used gold and blue to pick up the accents in our room and also put on the first ornament we ever bought together every year together. He holds the branch and I hang it. That is part of the rule, each person puts up and decorates their own tree.


We did all this yesterday and it felt so good i ended up with so much energy at 11 pm last night I took on a project that I have been undecided on. Thanks Kelli for the push! (more on that to come)