Christmas Journal 2013

I'm so excited to start working on our Christmas journal for 2013. I took some time yesterday to pull out all of my Christmas related scrapbooking supplies.  I ordered a few new things and pooled them all together.  I'm thinking I may try to divide the supplies up by color and style. This would be ideal for going back through the years and putting together an album for each Christmas season. I would love to see all of those memories gathered together in a way that makes it fun to pull out each year and remember what we've done years past. I love traditions and memories we've created together. I am also looking forward to making new traditions and memories as my family grows and our lives change. 

Here are a few pictures I took of the supplies I sorted yesterday.

Embellishments, washi tape, Rhine stones, ribbon, brads and pictures from an album I need to finish. 

Letter stickers, tools, 3x4 and 4x6 cards, more stickers and large 12x12 patterned paper. 

Christmas journals, more stickers and a large metal container that I spray painted and used to hold all of the supplies when I needed to set Christmas aside and work on Project Life. I think I may repaint it as I'm not loving the pink color. 

After I sort through all of my supplies, I will post what I'm planning to use for our Christmas Journal 2013. I would call it December Daily because that's where the idea came from but it's not just December that ends up in our journal. I often start with decorating which happens in November and preplanning, Black Friday shopping and craziness.  I'm also going to be journaling past the 25th of December so I won't use 25 Days of December either. When I started this in 2008, I just called the album our Christmas Journal.  I guess I'll stick with that unless I come up with something more fitting. 

Post links to your albums in the comments, if you'd like.  I'd LOVE to follow and see inspiration and what your family is doing/enjoying this Christmas season.   I also love to see what traditions other families share. 

Too Far Behind

Our week is flying by and I'm too far behind on these posts. I don't know if I'll be able to catch up but I do intend on finishing the December Daily album. I will try my best to post more pictures of that when I have a few extra minutes (we're watching Polar Express in a few minutes).

My husband's grandparents arrived on Monday afternoon. They surprised us by bringing his mom along. It was a good surprise. We unloaded Christmas gifts from their vehicles, chatted for a long time while the children played. Around 4:30 we all decided to go out to dinner at Bugaboo Creek.

The food was yummy and we came home stuffed! I didn't get much sleep that night because I was trying to finish up gift wrapping and printing pictures for frames that were gifts. I think I was in bed by 1 and up by 7:30 to do more printing. The frames we bought held 14 pictures but they were odd sizes. I had a hard time finding the right pictures and getting them sized just right to fit. This project turned into a 3 hour chore Tuesday morning. The end result was really nice and I believe his mom and grandparents will cherish them.

After they left on Tuesday, I was able to clean up and get some things ready for that evening. I helped host a middle school Christmas party for kids in our coop. There were about 35 middle school kids and about 10 or so siblings. They had a great time. We played some games, walked around and looked at Christmas lights on the property of the people who hosted the party at their house. Their light show was really neat. They decorated cookies and took part in a White Elephant gift exchange.

I didn't realize how tired I was until I got home and laid down on the couch. I was asleep in no time at all which is not like me at night. I'm usually wide awake and have to read to get my mind to slow down enough to fall asleep. I slept through the night and was awakened by my husband early the next morning. We have yet to slow down. I'm looking forward to a calm and peaceful week next week. I really need it.

We're still doing our Advent Jesse Tree. I really love the ornaments from this swap. Some of them are so beautiful and creative. And, Jotham's Journey has been a wonderful book! I highly recommend this book. Everyone I had talked to told me how wonderful it was and now I see why. My children are always asking me to "read just one more chapter...please". They love it.

It's time for the movie so I should sign off. I'll be back soon and hopefully with some pictures of my December Daily album.

Coming Soon

Sorry I've been away and haven't kept up with posting everyday. We've been gone all weekend and today I'm going to be cleaning and finishing up on decorating. My husband's grandparents will be here tomorrow to spend the night with us! Exciting! They're coming up from Florida and will be leaving on Tuesday morning. I hope to have some time to post more on Tuesday and catch up with all the pictures. I created the December Daily but as I'm adding information and pictures, I'm also tweaking the pages a bit. I do have some pictures of that that I'll post before I'm off here until Tuesday. I have to take more pictures of the updated pages. These are just of Day 1. You'll notice that I haven't figured out how I'm going to hold it all together. I may use rings but I haven't made up my mind.

December 7, 2008

Paper Snowflakes

We spent some time learning how to make snowflakes out of paper, today. I had trouble getting everyone interested at first. Well, I should say I had trouble getting 2 of my 3 children interested. As you can see, one was eager to get started. When I finally got everyone at the table, I realized that if I did all of the folds for my oldest and youngest, they could spend hours making snowflakes. The folds were frustrating for them. My middle child caught on quickly and had no trouble.

I handed him a sheet that I printed off which showed how and where to make certain cuts. Once he made his first snowflake, he was hooked! I couldn't get over how he seemed to have a natural knack for designing these snowflakes. Each one he finished was so pretty and detailed. He started experimenting with making the the center larger and smaller. Using different cuts for different shapes. He loved putting a star in the middle. After the first 3 snowflakes, he was no longer using the sheets but creating his own. They were all so beautiful!

Lauren had a great time making snowflakes and didn't use the templates at all at first. She did a great job, too. She had so much fun.

Another ornate snowflake from Davey. I just couldn't get over how well his snowflakes were turning out.

They figured out how to take the top part they cut off to make a smaller snowflake. They were so cute!

She's not my crafty one. I think she only made about 5 or 6 snowflakes and she wasn't happy with them. I thought they were fine and looked much like the very first snowflakes I attempted when I was in school. This often happens with her attempts at anything crafty. Once she spends time learning and perfecting, she does a great job. I love her scrapbooking pages, especially. It just doesn't come naturally to her like it does my middle child. And, I think the snowflake thing was a fluke for my youngest child. He normally doesn't do anything crafty but he loved making these.

We still need to set aside some time to make the snowflakes out of Borax . I was really surprised that they spent about 2 hours making the snowflakes out of paper. So, we ran out of time.

Comforts of Home at Christmastime.

I wanted to take pictures of some things that I find comfort in during the Christmas season. Some of these things are just pleasing to the senses. Like...

Smelly-good candles.

David found these candles for $5! They have the best smell and they last for a very long time. The name is Reflections Powdered Sugar Cookies and then on the side it says Soy (he thinks that finding the candles with soy may be a key ingredient to the long lasting and stronger smell. These candles smell so yummy; as if we're actually baking cookies. He found them at Wal-Mart and we bought several to last through the season. We keep these lit just about the whole time we're home.

I also enjoy the Glistening Snow candles made by Glade but I use these in my bathrooms and bedroom. Their odor is pretty strong as well.

Peace On Earth

I picked this CD up recently and LOVE it! I love Casting Crowns anyway. I'll put the CD in while reflecting during the day, cleaning or wrapping presents. I'll usually listen to a sermon while crafting but I think I'll plug this in next time. It's a great CD and helps me to focus on what this time of year is truly all about.

Celebrating Advent

These moments are so very precious to me.

I haven't taken pictures or written everything we've learned and done during Advent. I can say that this has been the first year that I've been so determined to dedicate the entire month to advent and I think we've been so blessed by it. God has shown each of something to take to heart. I have had them each take turns in reading scripture. It touches my heart to see them do this. I know that, little by little, they are hiding His Word in their hearts.

Jesse Tree Advent Day 7

Joseph's Coat of Many Colors

It's hard for us to understand how it is that God loves us and yet we have troubles that come our way. Joseph's story is one I love to share with my children (Genesis 37 & 50). Despite all that he went through, it was used for good in God's perfect timing.

"And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, for those who are the called according to His purpose."

Romans 8:28

December 6, 2008

We were invited to A Place to Play for a birthday party.

A Place to Play is really neat. They have taken an old building and filled it with large blow up play areas and slides. They have separate rooms for parties and a smaller room for toddlers and babies not yet ready to play with the big kids. My children love going to A Place to Play! They always burn off lots of energy and have so much fun. I think this may be a great place to take them while I'm trying to get some lesson plans done in the very near future! Like, say, oh next month. They could easily spend a couple hours there provided there is a snack and lots of water to drink.

I'm not sure what they sprayed on these slides but they were so slick and it made for great sliding fun. I was tempted to slide down them myself. Maybe next time :P

After a few hours of playing we realized that it was getting late and time to leave. We grabbed Wendy's for dinner and headed home to do Advent and watch a good movie with Daddy.

Jesse Tree Advent Day 6

Jacob's Ladder

Jacob was Isaac's son. He was traveling to a distant country to find a wife. He felt alone and tired so he laid down to nap. He had a strange and wonderful dream. He dreamed that he saw a ladder and the angels were going up and down this ladder and God was at the top of the ladder. God told Jacob that he would be blessed because of God's love for him. When he awoke he knew that God was with him and his life would never be the same. To read more go to Genesis 27 & 28.

We talked about how God is always with us. If we're feeling alone or tired, we can call out to Him and He will be there as He showed Himself to Jacob in the dream. Sometimes God reveals Himself to us in our dreams. I know He has to me several times.

"Behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places, whither thou goest." Genesis 28:15

Our Diesel boy chillin'; shades, magazine and all.

To wind down for the evening we all watched a Christmas movie together. I took this picture of them sprawled out on the floor. They usually call this camp out night which means they all get to watch a movie and fall asleep in the living room. This has always been a special time for us and so many memories we'll cherish. Sometimes it truly is the little things and traditions we do that mean the most to us. Even the dogs enjoy snuggling down. Notice Dixie under the blanket with her head on the pillow. Cute!

December 5, 2008

Beverly came to see us today. She recently came down to stay with her mom. She brought her 14 year old son and 8 year old daughter with her. I was so happy to see them. She is someone I hold very dear to my heart and have since we met in high school. She has always been an inspiration and encouragement to me. They are going through some really hard times but I know the Lord is with them. He will bring them through these tough times and to His glory! While she was here, I was determined to get a picture of us together. The last time we had our picture taken together was right after she got married. We were shocked when we realized that she and I had known each other for almost 20 years!



Jesse Tree Advent Day 5


Today's ornament is a lamb! My children thought this ornament looked rather peculiar. I though it was a very creative way of doing a lamb. The lamb represents the story of Abraham and his son Isaac. Abraham had only one son, Issac, and he loved him very much. God asked Abraham to sacrifice his only son to Him. This was a great opportunity for Abraham to show God how much he trusted and loved Him. The children immediately drew the parallel between Abraham and his son, Isaac and God and His Son, Jesus.

December 4, 2008

We have 2 trees sitting in our living room. We have our Christmas tree on one side and our Jesse tree on the other side. This is the first year we've done the Jesse tree so I wanted to take pictures of it. I found a little place beside the living room couch to keep it. It's close to the fireplace and books. I kind of enjoy seeing this little tree with it's Jesse Tree ornaments separate from the big tree. Initially I was going to put our Jesse Tree ornaments on the big tree. I'm glad I decided not to do that.

Jesse Tree Advent Day 4

A camel and a tent. This ornament represents Abraham and packing up his whole household to move to a different country in which he was not familiar with because of his obedience to God. We talked about his obedience to God and that he was to be blessed with a new land and many children. We also talked a little bit about how Jesus would be a descendent of Abraham (Abram).

Our Nativity Scene

This nativity scene has been a favorite for a couple years. Judie bought the individual pieces at the dollar store, of all places. I thought they were really pretty to be from the dollar store. Each year these have been placed somewhere low enough to be seen and played with. So far, they are holding up really well with no broken or cracked pieces.