Category Archives: Holiday Time

Dec 8

Homemade Christmas Cards

Making Christmas Cards is one of my favorite Christmas activities. This year I really wanted to use what I already had on hand. I went through all of my supplies, and found Card Stock that would do the job. I needed a few more cards than I originally thought, so I visited our local $1 shop, and found holiday printer paper that I could embellish.

The cards turned out great, and even Thade was impressed with the embossing. Now I just need to get the Christmas cards addressed, stamped,  and into the mail box for Christmas!

Dec 6

Decorating Around the House

I think I’m finally all finished with the indoors, but the outdoors are another story. There are plenty of lights that still need to be hung, but the weather is a little too cold for me to be doing that today.

We have lots of little Christmas touches all around the house. There are plenty of Christmas Stockings for Santa to fill too.

The boy’s have a Little Tree in their room, topped with one of their favorite NASCAR ornaments. They both really love the Christmas lights at night.

How are you doing with your Christmas decorating? Are you all ready for the Holiday season, or are you waiting to start decorating for just a little bit more?

Dec 2

The Christmas Parade

Sunday night was the annual Christmas Parade downtown, and it was cold cold cold.

We found a pretty good spot though. It kept the kiddos out of the wind and out of the itty-bitty snowflakes too.

It was a balmy 34 degrees, so the kiddos huddled together under a fleece blanket, and waited patiently for the Parade to start.

There were several Christmas themed Floats, and horses pulling carriages too.

This year the parade moved along pretty quickly, everyone must have been really cold on the floats too.

After the parade we drove around town and looked at Christmas lights. Both of the boys are so excited about Christmas this year, they just can’t wait one minute longer.

This weekend there are lots of Christmas activites going on around town, and I hope to take the boys to a few of them… If the weather cooperates.

Nov 29

Thanksgiving Pictures

Thanksgiving week was filled with lots of yummy treats from the kitchen.

There was plenty of dessert for all.

The kiddos were anxious for everyone to visit on Thanksgiving, but the kitties napped in the sunshine all day.

Thanksgiving was filled with tasty food, big hugs, and lots of fun! After dinner we all played a round of Apples to Apples, and everyone had a great time. The kiddos had fun too, and way too many homemade goodies.

Nov 8

The Holiday Blues

Dylan and I were picking up a few things at Dollar General, when this cute little lady came up to me, and said hi. She asked how old the baby was, and commented on all of the Christmas decorations already in the store. She then said, “I love to see all of the Christmas decorations, but that time of year always makes me so sad.”  I had to admit it, and I told her “me too…”

I love Halloween, and all of the fun that Thanksgiving brings, but the very next day my happy mood turns to sour stresses. It has been this way ever since I can remember, I just don’t do well with the stress of the holiday season. I love the meaning of Christmas and spending time with my loved ones, but I don’t love the endless shopping, the blatant commercialism, and the never ending stress of gotta have more. I constantly question every purchase that I have made, and stress over every little mundane detail of the big day, and I just wonder how can I get through the holidays without suffering from an ulcer…

I am determined to change, and do my best to get through the holiday season with my sanity intact. This year I’m doing things differently, and we’ll see if it helps any.

  • I love to bake, and baking homemade goodies really makes me happy. I’ll be baking more cookies, and giving them as gifts.  The kids and I will also be taking cookies to our Church, hospital, and to many of our friends and family.
  • I will keep the Christmas decorating simple. I will be putting up less and therefore there will be less to take down when the holidays are over.
  • I will be making my own Christmas cards. I love to make paper crafts along with jewelry, and spending a little more time creating these crafts might take away a little stress.
  • I will be skipping the “Package Christmas Pictures”! The kids hate to go, and it is never an enjoyable experience for any of us, not to mention those pictures cost way too much! I’ll be taking pictures when the kiddos are in happy moods, and printing them locally. Eliminating the “Package Christmas Pictures” will also save a lot of  time and gas. Before I would have to drive 30 minutes with the kiddos to take the pictures, and then drive 30 minutes home, then it is another 30 minute trip (usually in bad weather) with the kiddos to pick the pictures up, and pay way too much, and then 30 minutes home. Yeah, I’m so done with that.
  • I’m also skipping the big holiday meal. This one might scare the family. I’m going to cook a smaller meal, and take a little time out of the kitchen, so I can spend a little more time being the full-time hostess.
  • Last year we instituted that the Christmas festivities would be starting in the afternoon. This really helped a lot. We could spend plenty of time with the kids on Christmas day, and the kids were a little calmer too. I know this was tough on the Grandmas, but it was really great for our family. We spent the morning together hanging out stress free in our jammies!

Do you have any tips or traditions that keep you calm during the holidays?