Christmas Cards

I wanted to share some Christmas cards I created for the BFF.  I had tons of fun playing with these.  Let me know if you want a card created to print or even just to post online.

Joy to the World

. merry christmas .

I was a slacker mama this year.  The kids have Christmas pajamas, but somehow they didn't make it on their bodies.  Jaxton had his on just before the picture, but spit up on Santa.  Christmas was different for us this year in a few ways.  We had several firsts.  It was our first Christmas with three kids.  And it was also our first Christmas to drive home Christmas Eve to have Santa come to our house.  In the past, we've always been at my parents house and Santa came there.  Now that the day is done, I can honestly say that I miss being at my parents house.  I've cried a few times today just thinking about what we're missing by being there.  We ended up having a good day despite my emotional start.  

I must say, Christmas with three kids was a lot of fun.  I cannot wait to see what next year holds.  The joy, excitement, happiness, and wonder on their faces is so much fun to be a part of as a parent.

. 364/365 .

it's been a lazy day here.  my mister has been out all afternoon dove hunting for the first time ever.  i just received word that he's on his way home, which is a good sign.  mainly a sign that he's alive.  the girls and i haven't done anything and mommy needed some fresh air, so 4-wheelers were the best option for entertainment.  they love these things and i'm so very glad santa brought them this year.

. 362/365 .

i love seeing the joy in my girls' eyes at christmas.  it really makes me sit back and think about life.  i wish i was able to see the little things as things of pure joy and happiness.

. 359/365 .

santa came!  this year, the girls really wanted one of those big battery-powered jeeps for christmas, but we talked them into asking santa for their own 4-wheelers to prevent future arguments over who gets to drive.  yes, sometimes i do think ahead.  i really think they'll love these.

. 358/365 .

i can't believe it's christmas eve!  the girls choice this year was a brownie and milk for santa.

. 355/365 .

we leave tomorrow to go to my parents house for karsyn's birthday and for christmas and i just now started wrapping presents.  i've been a little busy ... or, i guess i should say, busy being not busy.  wrapping presents has been the least of my worries.  and wrapping presents is my least favorite christmas thing to do.  if i could hire someone to do it for me, i would.

. 354/365 .

my in-laws got me a new jo totes camera bag for christmas!  i LOVE it.

. 353/365 .

it's 4 days post-op and i've done nothing.  literally.  for 4 days.  so, here's another picture of our christmas tree. 

. 350/365 .

i don't have a picture to post that i actually took today because i'm stuck in the hospital, but i couldn't pass up sharing this project that we did with the kids.  it was my mother-in-law's idea and was perfect!  the kids loved it.  it's a sugar cone, green icing, m&m's, marshmellows, and a gummy star.  how cute (and yummy)!

. 347/365 .

i've always wanted to have this amazing advent calendar for us to do each year.  and i want to have traditions with our girls that they want to carry on to their own families some day.  last year, we did christmsas books, which was wonderful.  not only did we get to read new books each night, but we instantly got 25 new christmas books to add to our collection. 

this year, i want to focus on the activities that we can do as a family to celebrate christmas and the birth of jesus.  i got a box of 5x7 envelopes and some scrapbook paper and made my own advent calendar.  these things can cost some good money if you buy them and i had seen several cute ones on etsy.com that i'd love to have, but didn't want to spend the money to buy.  this was super easy and i'll have these envelopes now for years to come.  each night, we open the envelope and do whatever activity i have written down in there. 

sidenote : luckily, my girls can't read yet.  this december hasn't gone by my plans so far, so i've had to improvise every single night.  hopefully we get back on track.

. 344/365 .

although it's not the best picture, here is our christmas tree.  complete with stockings hanging nearby.

. 343/365 .

a little more JOY filling my house.

. 342/365 .

a close up of the paper chain that we made for our tree this year out of strips of scrapbook paper and lots of hot glue.  i love it. 

. 340/365 .

. 339/365 .

looking around at my house and my christmas decor, christmas cards, etc. it appears that my theme for this holiday season is JOY.  and i love that.