December 25

Favorite gifts

December 24

December 23

Our Christmas Eve tradition

December 22

Out for dinner with friends.

December 21

Christmas crafts with the cousins

December 13-20

The stomach flu hit our family this last week, and I promise you don't want to see pictures of that, so in lieu of a picture each day, I'm posting some of the best shots from my family Christmas, celebrated yesterday. Enjoy!

Alli started off the gift opening and was quite excited about a new tea set.

I love this picture. It's my dad's "you shouldn't have, but I'm glad you did" face. My brothers and I went in on an ice-fishing tent for him. That should give him something to do now that he lives in the frozen tundra of WI.

Mom was equally shocked and excited about her Kindle. I am a bit jealous. It's really cool.

Elijah wanted equal billing with my Dad for the pearl earrings he picked out. He referred to them as "marble" earrings, and was quite proud of choosing them for Grandpa to get Grandma.

Cool kid.

Alli made and decorated a cupcake.

My niece, KaraJo, got her graduation present early. I made this quilt for her and couldn't wait until May to give it to her. I reminded KJ that she had to graduate, or I come and take it back!

Another pic of the quilt. I loved making this.

December 12

My favorite Christmas movie.

December 11

Allison's stocking is being embroidered.

December 10

Decorated cookies with Grandma.

December 9

This photo is from Thanksgiving, but I had to share it. Like uncle like niece!? :)

December 8

Ready to watch the Christmas specials.

December 7 - Gift Idea

My day was made the other night when we were at The Machine Shed and I came across this product: Beer BandsA few years ago, my mother-in-law received a gift of small colored plastic tabs that fit on your drinking glasses to differentiate between otherwise identical glasses. It was perfect for the weekends the whole family descends on the homestead and we have drinking glasses scattered throughout the house. It also cuts down on dishes, since we could drink out of the same glass all day.

My sister-in-law, Noelle, found these ingenious markers at Crate and Barrel, and a couple of years later, when I finally decided to get myself some, the workers at C&B had no idea what I was talking about. I've been looking for something similar ever since.

Fast forward to last week when I spotted these in the gift shop of a restaurant. Intended for beer bottles, because they stretch and give like a strong rubber band, they are perfect for drinking glasses, also. I snatched them up immediately.
Each package comes with 12 bands (2 were missing for this photo) all stamped "mine". Of course, after coming home and checking Amazon, I found them for a dollar or so cheaper than what I paid, but I'm supporting local business, right?! Here's the Amazon link if you think this would make a great gift, or perfect for a stocking stuffer!

December 6

Watching the snow (albeit flurries that didn't stick around too long).

December 5

Pink cheeks mean she's too cold to play outside anymore . . .

while this one's pink cheeks shows the fun is just getting started.

December 4

Nightly Advent reading.

December 3rd

Admiring a display of gingerbread houses at the Grand Geneva.

December 2nd

Doing school at the Grand Geneva.

December 1st

Inspired by my friend, I'm going to **attempt** to post a picture each day this month to remember our Christmas traditions. Here's December 1st - the Advent calendar is loaded and ready for the countdown to begin.