Christmas = Peace, Love, and Joy

What a wonderful, yet relaxing celebration it was. Christmas Eve day was our busiest day. We visited my beautiful in laws at noon that day, and we had such a wonderful time. It was a bit hectic, but a blissful hectic with 8 little cousins running around ranging from ages 2 to 11. We enjoyed a turkey feast and then the opening of gifts shortly after. Dessert followed after that for those who still had room in their bellies for more. Grandma Karen (my mother in law) found them the most unique gifts. All of the older children were given marionettes that bared an uncanny resemblance to each cousin.


Everyone absolutely adored these! The 2 youngest girls were given sweet little doll houses that you could tell were going to be treasured for many years to come.

This year we found an equally unique and special gift to give to my beautiful mother-in-law. I shopped online at The Vintage Pearl and found the most perfect necklace for her.

It is called the layered circle of love and was hand stamped with all 8 of her grand children's names.
Later on Christmas Eve, we enjoyed dinner at my parents' home. Soon after we gathered around their beautiful tree to open gifts.

The girls were delighted (which may be an understatement) to open their gifts and find new lalaloopsy dolls to add to their collection.


The girls and I had made special Christmas ornaments for everyone this year. It has become somewhat of a tradition for us actually. Last year we made snowman ornaments made from infant socks, and this year we made cinnamon cookie cut out ornaments along with feather filled clear glass ball ornaments.

They turned out quite lovely I think.
We then had to hurry home so that we could set out snickerdoodles and milk for Santa and carrots for his reindeer and then it was off to bed. On our way home, we admired all of the beautiful Christmas light decorations.

Then 8 a.m. on the dot Christmas morning we were awakened by a very excited Xiera announcing that Santa had come! We rushed trudged sleepily into the living room to see what the jolly old elf had brought.

I believe there were two little girls who made it to Santa's Nice List this year!

I hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas and has a wonderful and safe New Year's this weekend.

It's Beginning to Look A lot Like Christmas

Our tree is up...

And decorated with our favorite treasured ornaments.

The stockings are all hung and we have a new little friend who came to visit us from the North Pole.

Her name is Holly and she is such a sweet yet mischievous little elf. She has been very busy popping up in different places in our home every morning. She is Santa's spy and she leaves us every night to tell Santa Claus if the girls were being naughty or nice.

The girls simply adore her as do I! :)
Last week Xiera and Zella took another art class making Christmas ornaments. They made many different kinds. They made puzzle piece wreathes, stamped Christmas cards, gingerbread people, and glitter ornament balls.

I am finishing up the last of my custom Christmas orders this evening and mailing them out in the morning. I am really cutting too close this year. Note to self: **Remember to switch your Etsy store to vacation mode right after black Friday to ensure all orders will get out in time for Christmas.** I have come to realize that people do not read the BOLD notice at the top of my store stating that I am no longer taking Christmas orders after December 2nd. I have pulled many late nighters because of this but even with the lack of sleep that I have had, I still have been very pleased with a few custom orders I have created.
One of my favorites was this custom stocking hat I made. It is reversed in color compared to my original Holly Jolly Elf hat and features a holly leaf and berries on the front cuff band with a red pom pom ball dangling from the end instead of a bell.


It turned out VERY cute I think!