Just a Little Catch Up Post

Well...this is what it looks like at my house today. (This is my backyard! Pretty, huh?)

It's been snowing all day~ and we were without power for about 3 hours this morning. Luckily, we were at church...and our church has a generator backup.

(Is it just me, or has Mother Nature been a little Bi-Polar this year? Bi-Polar...get it?)

 I'm okay with the snow though, because this post is about *shhh... Christmas! *shhh...

Thankfully, I was not sick for Christmas this year. In pain, but not sick! :)

I was more organized than I have been the last couple of years~ but I had a lot of projects going on...so it was a busy year. So busy in fact, that on Christmas morning when all was said and done, I found myself thinking, "That's it? All that work, and that's it?" :)

Here are 2 of the projects that I was working on:

First, microwave heat packs. We have one of these that my mom made for us several years ago. My kids all fight over who gets to use it. So I came up with the idea to make everyone one of their own!

Brilliant idea, if I do say so myself!

I used flannel, and had so much fun looking for different patterns for each family member.

They are filled with field corn~ I prefer the corn over the rice filled ones.

These were a big hit! And they have been well used at our house!

Project # 2:

We had family pictures taken in 2010 and I still hadn't gotten them developed. So I made a set of these for each of the kids.

I love the collage!

 Rick & Emily had a similar idea and had a large family picture developed and framed for me! I'm still trying to decide where I want to hang it~ but I love it!!!

Here's a picture from Christmas morning. Apparently after the stockings were nabbed.

It was a fun Christmas!

We did our Treasure Hunt tradition of Santa hiding one present for each of the kids, and then leaving the first clue in their stocking. 

Shane asked for more difficult clues this year.

And one of the boys (not Shane) had a complete emotional melt down over his clues. It's funny that the kids have such a hard time figuring out their own clues, but are able to figure out their sibling's clues pretty easily.  This is the first year we've had one of the kids have a complete emotional breakdown though... I guess there is a first time for everything. :)

Another tradition that we have in our family is the Jackson family party on Christmas Eve.

I took this Christmas Carols to play. Originally I was going to do "Minute to Win It" but ran out of time (ha ha) to get it pulled together. I already had the Christmas Carols game~ but it ended up being a lot of fun!!! My mother-in-law always ends the evening by telling her "Christmas Star" story~ which she has been telling every Christmas Eve for probably 40+ years.

This is the last project I want to share:

Emily made this beautiful Advent Board for me!

I love it!!!

I need to get a big easel so I can display it next year.

Each of the date squares has a different picture of the Savior on the back, so each day you turn the square over to display the picture of the Savior.

It's really pretty~ and such a nice visual reminder of the Reason we celebrate Christmas.

(I've also seen another version that is done with family pictures and the wording at the top is "Tis the Season for Family~ also a really great idea!)

I've seen a few of these online, but not many. If you want more details (measurements, instructions) just let me know~ I'd be happy to share.

And finally:

A view of the front yard.

This is My. Front. Yard.

Snow is still falling. Hopefully Emily will be able to make it down the hill tonight!

I now return you to your regularly scheduled FEBRUARY!