So the count down to Christmas has been fun, crazy, busy!  I decided that I wanted to do a more “homemade” Christmas this year, so I started after Thanksgiving working on my many projects and presents which included: 8 pair of jammie pants (plus helping my neighbor make some for her girls), 8 “Sassy Aprons” for my girlfriends, plus one apron for Spencer, 3 fleece blankets, 6 little dollies.  I stayed up many nights until one or two in the morning working on these projects.  Little did I know HOW MUCH WORK a homemade Christmas is…however it will be one to remember!

Chris spoiled me and got me a new Nikon D-5000 DSLR camera…can’t wait to bust into that and start figuring out all that it can do!  Baby steps!  Spencer also got a “kid” digital camera from both sets of grandparents and used it ALL day long today!  He loves it and will hopefully leave my camera alone now.  (Crossing my fingers!)  Chris got a new golf bag along with golf lessons in the Spring and Josey got a little kitchen, that Mrs. Claus put together all my herself, and stuff to go in it and already loves it! 

TRADITIONS that I love:  making Gram’s cookies with my dad and sister before Christmas (marshmallow rolls, snowballs, skillet cookies, pepperkaukers, sugar cookies, birds’ nests, and whoopie pies), BINGO on Christmas EVE along with the yummy dinner, going to see a movie as a family on Christmas day (Princess and the Frog), playing games with my siblings on Christmas day (two new ones that are great: Ticket to Ride Europe and Killer Bunnies), a quarter in the bottom of our stockings, reading Santa Mouse on Christmas Eve.

I LOVE that we spend ALL month focusing on the birth of Jesus Christ.  His humble birth and all that surrounds it!  I love that Josey knows who baby Jesus is and that his mommy was Mary and his daddy was Joseph! I love the music that helps me feel the spirit and draw closer to my Heavenly Father!  MERRY CHRISTMAS all!