Christmas Decorations Day 7

Today is Saturday. We made a trip to Deb's this morning to pick up the embroidery machine. I/we only use it once in a blue moon, and today was that day. And if I never see that machine again, I could be very happy! It's so darned frustrating to use for being such an expensive machine. Anyway, I got done what I needed to and it's soon to return to Deb's for continued storage. Out of sight, out of mind!

Here's my last session of Christmas decorations for this year....

This is a cute wooden nativity. The artwork is done by Julie F. Young, an artist frequently seen in The Friend magazine. I love her simple, clean lines and happy people.


The porcelain and gold nativity was one we got the day Emma was born. We had Matthew with us and we saw it and decided it needed to come home with us. The colorful one was one we got at the Kierland Home store many years ago. I just liked the colors on this one.

Two years ago, Skyler had my name for the ornament exchange. Deb helped him and made this adorable decoration. It’s so “Deb”! I love it a lot! Thanks, Sky. There was supposed to be a small, vintage glass bulb sitting on the white button, but I dropped it and it broke. I have since replaced it and it looks beautiful.







These are photos of various decorations that we've acquired over the years. The porcelain one-piece nativity was a gift from Dan and Chris to us the first year they were married. As you can see, we like a variety of styles in our Christmas decor. Each year I enjoy getting out our decorations and reminiscing about when we got them, who made them or gave them to us and things that we associate with those people and Christmas. It's a ritual I don't ever want to give up.

Tonight we're doing our final gingerbread house for 2008 with Abby, Dallin and Luke. It will be Luke's first time, so we'll see what happens! We're going to look at a few Christmas lights in the neighborhood with them, too. It should be fun.

Later...

New Home Construction

We started (and finished) a new home construction today. The Trimble girls came over before Libby's soccer game to make their gingerbread house. There was once a day when all three of our kids and their families gathered on the same day and we made three houses, but those days are gone, it seems. Everyone is so busy that this year we're doing each family individually. But that has its perks, too. Less chaos, no competition, more personal time with each family. So that works, too. Anyway, as soon as the girls came in the house, we got started. Eliza and Libby eagerly talked and planned what they wanted to do, while Hattie and Ellie ate candy as fast as their little hands could put it into their mouths! I'm surprised neither of them got sick. It was so funny to watch. We'd encourage them to put something on the house, but no, they'd plop it into their mouths! Eliza and Libby nibbled a bit, but they got really creative with their house. I can sure tell that they're maturing and letting their creative juices flow.

We'll be making Brian and Kamille's family house next Saturday! So it's two down, one to go! It's a tradition that we've done since Matthew was a year or two old and he's nine now, so it's been around a while. In the beginning, the parents did most of the decorating, but not any more. They mostly sit aside and the kids go to town with the houses. I'm so glad of that.

After the construction project, the Trimbles headed out to Libby's soccer game, and no, she didn't play. She won't even step a foot across the sideline into the field. She has a great time at practice, but she says that there are too many people "watching" during the games, so she's yet to play. Oh, well.

Mark and I took off for the east valley. We picked up Hattie's Christmas present from a lady I met on etsy.com. She (and her mom) make quiet books and that's what Hattie (and Erin) wanted for Christmas. It's pretty cute. Then we went looking for a few other gifts we needed to find. We had a little luck, but still have a couple more items to complete our shopping.

Jan and I worked HARD yesterday/last night on a new project that we'll be teaching at Scrap Happy Sisters in February. It's a book that could be used for Valentine's Day, an anniversary, or just because. It's about the love story of a husband and wife. It's really going to be cute. We have everything cut and planned out, but we still need to finalize pictures, embellishments, etc. I'll post some pics when we finish.

This week will be another busy one....taking Dad and Aunt Dovetta to the airport, an Enrichment Meeting, shuttling Dallin and Luke, picking up Eliza, Libby and Abigail after their early release day (we'll have to do lunch or something!!), Eliza's chorus program and gingerbread house with the Surprise Mabees. Whew! I'd better get some sleep!