Size Doesn't Matter

So another homeschool mom asked all of us other blogging homeschool moms to post some of our Christmas decorations. Here are a few of mine.

We decided to spend Christmas in Meridian, at Levi's parents house, so we are closer and can see everyone, without driving in on Christmas Day. We are staying over and waking up there on Christmas morning. They have a big tree, so I didn't see the sense in getting our own,real tree, like we do every year. If we won't even be using it, what is the sense? I am if nothing else, practical. My MIL informed me that not having some sort of Christmas tree was simply Un-American. So here is our tree, its not much of one, but it is a Christmas tree. The boys just put some of our favorite ornaments on. We thing it is very cute, and it looks very festive on our hall table. So you see - size does not matter with Christmas trees.

 

I bought this Christmas card hanger about 7 years ago...I have not been able to find another like it since. It is just a cord with red and green plastic clips. The clips are awesome for holding the cards. I save the prettiest cards each year to display later. As we receive new ones I take some down, but it is nice to have the old ones up to fill up the cord, it makes a nice display.

 

I love these snowflake ornaments we made 3 years ago. We made tons of them. We gave them as gifts that year to neighbors, friends, and family. We still had about 20 left over, so I love to use them around the house to decorate for Christmas and hang on the tree.

 

This is my Christmas centerpiece. I really like it. I wanted to take a picture of it now, because I am not sure how many more years it will last. The kids keep picking the Little fake berries off of it and exposing the white foam underneath. I would love it if they could create a kid friendly floral arrangement, that was virtually indestructible...I'd buy it!!

 

This is our Nativity Set, it was generously given to me by an old neighbor who didn't want it anymore. It was hand made by her SIL. I reluctantly took it. It is beautiful and a large sized Nativity, so it is a nice display for the true meaning of Christmas. We love it and hope to one day find a stable big enough for it.



These are just a few of the special things we decorate with for the holidays. I love to take the boxes of Christmas stuff out of storage, dust of the tops and revisit all the little treasures each year.

1st Place in Meridian Christmas Parade

We got the call this morning we won 1st place in the Meridian City Christmas Parade for the best theme riding group. Wohoo!! We get a big trophy and everthing.

So here is what I created for Tanya's Meridian Christmas Parade Entry, with one weeks notice and a $50 budget.

The Three Wise Men and the Star.

 

 

 

 

Josef and Ian in the Ward Nativity

 

 

 

 

Cardboard Testimonies

This is a video from my Grandma and Aunts Church in Lake Hazasu, AZ. It's very moving. I hope you'll take a moment and see Gods hand in your own life. (My Aunt Shawnee is the one with the Insecurities sign)


Calvary Cardboard Testimonies from Sean Haynes on Vimeo.

Let the Sun Shine In

Usually I open all our blinds in the morning to let the sunlight in. I love the sunlight to fill the house during the day. Oliver watches me do this everyday. If I get busy and forget to do this routine right away,he will try and do it for me. He will go around the house pulling down on the blind cords as he says "'e mornin' ime!" If he can't reach one, he will call for me, "'is one, 'is one, do 'is one!"

Talents...what talents?

I try really hard to hide my talents...so I am not found out. Unfortunately my very best friends have seen me in action and know who to call on in a pinch. Shh! don't tell anyone else.

I got such a call from Tanya, asking me to throw together a parade presentation in a week. The parade theme is Snowball fights and Starry Nights. I need to decorate a camel, 2 horses, and their riders. I wasn't sure how to fit in the Snowball Fights part of the theme, but going on what I had to work with I thought the three wise men and the star would be our best bet. Not extremely original, but this is short notice after all.

Tanya and I spent the day with a $50 budget running all over town gathering supplies to make three wise men costumes, and props, and a sign to put over the camels hump advertising her Grandmas Ranch in Star.(Yes, It is a real baby camel.)

Because I love Tanya and her family, I am donating my time and talents to the Parade. Tanya is coming over tomorrow to be my assistant as we quickly throw together some costumes and props.

Actually I love to do this sort of stuff, it is fun, and challenging, and gives me a rare creative outlet. I am off to bed now, exhausted from shopping and imagining and look forward to a day of cutting, glueing, and sewing tomorrow.

Killer Bunnies

Levi's family is completely addicted to the game Killer Bunnies. We played it most of the Thanksgiving break. The starter pack for the games is reasonable priced, but you will get addicted and want to get all the add-on packages, which adds up. It's marked for ages 11 and up. The object is to keep at least one of your bunny cards on the table (alive), gather some carrot cards,which ultimately puts you in a lottery for the winner. The person who has the correct carrot card is the winner! You must do all this while others are putting down cards that could for example -have your bunny abducted by aliens. We highly recommend the game, so go out and get it and play it with family and friends. But WARNING -be careful Killer Bunnies is addicting.