Christmas is over....

...and we survived! The kids woke up about 5:30. The got all the grandparents up before they came to knock on our door. The hubby put them off to about 6 a.m., but then we went ahead and got up. The hubby wanted to slow the present opening down just a bit, so that we could get pictures of everyone, so it was a good thing we got up that early. We just finished breakfast and got the turkey on when more family started to arrive. All in all, it was a wonderful Christmas, as I knew it would be.
The homemade gifts were a big hit. I don't think my daughter has put the doll down since she opened it. The ponchos were oohed and ahhed over as well. My mother-in-law got me a box of horseshoes for the hubby to make things out of. One of the things she put on the card was a beautiful cross, so I think that's the first one I'm going to ask for.
The family has now all left, most of the mess is cleaned up. And there's now time to breathe again! I hope everyone else's Christmas was just as wonderful as ours!

Look at my dolly

This is going to be a quick post. I still have a lot of little things to get done today before family gets here.

I wanted to post a picture of the doll that I crocheted for my youngest.

I haven't given her a name yet. I thought I'd leave that to her new mommy. ; )

The hubby just called, asking if I've started on my list of to-do's. He said that he saw the cutest sign. A clean house is a sign of a broken computer. Ain't it so, ain't it so! ; )

I think I might start making dolls. I've seen some of the cutest little things, and apparently there is a book available. Too bad my girls are outgrowing toys. I could still make one or two for them to put on their shelves. My youngest and my mother-in-law collect dolls. After Christmas, I may just have to check out that book!

Well, I really need to go get things done! It would be a shame for all that work over the last couple of weeks go to waste just because I can't get motivated today!

Merry Christmas everyone!

They're coming!

Just one more day before family descends upon us. We're ready...mostly. I still have to clean the frig out, do laundry (I've always got to do laundry!!!) and go to the grocery store. Not bad for a list that started as a full page long. I've even got 98% of the presents wrapped.

We watched A Christmas Carol last night. It kinda reminds you of what's important in life....friends, family, etc.

Well, today is going to be a short post. Here's another picture from our trip to the Dickens festival.

Merry Christmas to all, if I don't get a chance to post again!

Some ideas to make it go further

We've all had those years where for some reason or another funds were tight. Maybe there was illness, or an unexpected loss of a job, or more recently the price of gas. Here are some things that I've done in the past to make my dollar go further.

1. Dollar Stores - We've bought some really good things at the dollar store (the ones where everything's a dollar or less). I've even found some good items for the adults on my list. My mother-in-law loves classical music and I've found her some CDs there. Journals, calendars, pens, jewelry, books, candles, etc. all make good "filler" gifts. I also buy my wrapping paper and gift bags there.

2. We don't put out any gifts until Santa comes. That way the kids don't have time to count how many things there are. They go from nothing under the tree to BOOM! The surprise factor really helps.

3. I make as many gifts as possible. Crafts aren't always cheap, but a little creativity can go a long way. My mom collects oil lamps. One year I found some at the dollar store. I put beads inside and tied raffia around the necks. It really dressed them up, especially since she wasn't going to burn them anyway. We've also made decorative stepping stones. I type "cheap crafts" or "cheap gift ideas" in a search engine and then choose the best gift for the person I'm making it for.

4. Have Christmas with someone else. We've done Christmas morning with grandparents or aunts and uncles. Then there's gifts from you, from Santa, and from the grandparents, etc. all under the tree at once.

5. My hubby and I have waited to exchange gifts after the first of the year when we get our income tax refund. We still have stuff to open because our parents give us gifts.

6. Clearance shopping. I've hit the mother lode this year with things on clearance. The hubby and my dad are both hunters. Stores have started marking things down because deer season is almost over. The other thing is my middle daughter like camo.....BINGO!

7. Here's one of my favorites. Once the kids got a little older, we included them in the gift giving tradition. We make a list of who's going to be at our house on Christmas morning. Then we give them the money and everyone piles into the van to go shopping at the Dollar Store. Adults are available to help, but the kids choose the gifts, pay for the gifts and then wrap the gifts. My kids don't get an allowance throughout the year, even though they are expected to do chores, so this is another way of rewarding them. They do a pretty good job at picking out things they know the recipient will love. It's more gifts under the tree, and it allows them to focus more on giving than receiving.

8. My mom used to (and probably still does) buy things all year. If she finds a good price on something she picks it up and puts it away for Christmas. I'm not that disciplined, but it might work for someone else. ; )

9. I always try to buy at least one thing on the kids' lists that they really want. Then they're so excited about that that they forget about the other things. Make sure to collect the lists so they can't go back and compare! ; )

10. More is better. We buy one big gift and bunch of little gifts. By big, I don't mean expensive, I mean size. The more they have to open the bigger they remember Christmas being. Again...Dollar stores! Also, something I learned from my mom, I wrap everything individually. Instead of a box of makeup, I wrap the eyeshadow, the blush, etc.

God answered our prayers and Christmas worked itself out this year. I hope he answers yours too!

Christmas Present

Our kitten taking a nap in our tree.






Are you as tired of all the commercials for the "perfect" Christmas gifts as I am? You can't escape them! Retailers want us to believe that the only way to show our love is to go into quadruple digit debt for each member of your family. The ads really bother me the years that money is extremely tight and I'm already on edge about the family's happiness.



I wish I could be more secure about the whole thing. I know I have wonderful children and they're going to love whatever we give them. I know that our children's love isn't attached to a price tag. Things always work out...so why do I have this knot in my stomach? I think i'm going to make that a New Year's resolution, worry less and leave more in God's hands.


We only have about a week before the family starts flocking to our house. I have sooooo much to do before they get here. Isn't it funny how we try to go out of our way to make your house perfect for people you see every day just because it's the holidays? I haven't decorated as much this year as I usually do. I love Christmas and decorating, but hate taking it all down! This year we decided to make things a little more simple and decorate less.

Christmas Past

I've been scanning photos to share our collection with our oldest, who's moved away from home. I came across these old photos of past Christmas seasons.

Things have changed quite a bit in the past 30 something years!