Presents!

Look what Joel got me for Christmas!

Now I just need to work on my sewing skills! 

AND

He got me this nativity set that I LOVE!!!

Pretty, pretty!

Ashley and I exchanging pretty, pretty packages!

Later, we played Pretty, Pretty Princess.

It was pretty, pretty fun!



A new tradition!

                                                Heather told me she was going to get me an ornament for Christmas.
                                                               I never would have guessed that it would be a pickle!

Apparently you are supposed to hide it in your tree each year.

Whoever finds it first gets a special surprise.

I'm not sure how this will work with just Joel and me playing,

but maybe it will be a good time in the future?!

Thanks for the everlasting pickle, Heather!



Deck the Window!

Look what we did!

We hung balls with thread!  (obviously)

I think next year I might try hanging them with ribbon.

That might look even better!

Here's how they look with a nice, snowy backdrop!

Family Talent Show!

Thanks to Chris's bright idea, our family had a talent show this Christmas.

It was quite entertaining!

Here is a picture of our "talent".

We played "We Wish You a Merry Christmas!"

We're a talented family, I tell you! 

And this picture is just too cute not to share!

Chris & Jessica's 5th Anniversary!

Happy anniversary to my sweet sister and brother-in-law!!!

They decided to celebrate by going to Pigeon Forge for the night...

their first time away from their boys overnight!

Joel & I were nominated to take care of Josiah & Caleb.

 

We've been having a good old time here at Shady Nook!

We ate pizza, played, and watched a little bit of Charlotte's Web!

Jessica & Chris have been reading Charlotte's Web to Josiah every night.

Josiah knew that I was going to bring the movie for us to watch and was sooo excited!

BUT he only made it through about 30 minutes and then couldn't fight sleep any longer.

All three of the boys (Joel included) have been asleep since 8:00! 

I guess it's time for me to get some shut-eye.

There's no telling what time they'll rise & shine in the morning!

Ornament Wreath!

Today I want to tell you about a really nifty Christmas craft!

All you need is a wire coat hanger and lots and lots of ornaments (around 80 I think).

I saw this idea last year and planned ahead and bought my ornaments at an after Christmas sale!

First, you bend the coat hanger into a circle (as best as you can).

Then you cut off the hook part of the hanger and untwist the metal at the top.

After that, it's easy!  

You just start stringing the balls onto the wire!

I would suggest using some big and some small ornaments.

Now, as you can see, my wreath turned out great!

Jessica ran into a little trouble...

her balls kept popping off!

To solve this problem, you should undo each ball from its hook,

and then glue them back together FIRST!

We skipped that step, 

but thankfully my ornaments decided to stick together!

From this picture you would think that my wreath is being proudly displayed on my front door, but it is not!

I like looking at it myself too much, so it's hung on the inside of our door!  

Maybe I'll share it with the world next Christmas!