Getting Creative

When we decided to downsize, I didn't really think the whole storage thing out completely.  Especially the storage of the holiday decorations and surprises that need to be hidden during the season!  Our living space is wide open, which I 

L-O-V-E.  

Except when I am needing to be a little secretive.  

Like now.  

So this morning I woke up and got creative.  

I turned my bedroom into "all things secret" central.

I just love this photo I found online.  I keep anticipating to see him and his furry friend each time I enter my room!

I can't guarantee that the kids won't go inside, but I'm okay with that.  If they want to spoil their own surprises, that is entirely up to them.  As for you...I can't let you in either!  After all...it says...DO NOT PEEK!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It won't be long now.  Looking forward to a couple more days of enjoying time with my family, making new memories and the anticipation of Jesus' birth once more.

A Little Holiday Cheer

In year's past, we have always done several outings to get it into the holiday spirit.  This year life has taken over and we've been crazy busy keeping up with the day to day rituals and activities.  Now that we are officially on winter vacation from school, we decided we needed to get in at least one fun thing--minus watching movies or listening to carols--to remind of us the beauty of this holiday.  So yesterday morning I did a Google search for holiday events.  To my surprise there were not many left that we haven't already done every year since the kids were little.  I really like to do at least one unique holiday experience each year.  I'm big on tradition, but I also enjoy experiencing new things to remind me that each day is a new adventure. Finally, after searching for about 20 minutes, I found one.  

The Trail of Lights in Denver. 

As luck would have it, just as the five of us piled into the Jeep (we invited Pam to join us for this adventure),  it started snowing.  We sang carols all the way to Castle Rock, where we use a gift card burning a hole in my wallet and ate Chick-Fil-A for dinner.  During dinner, we witnessed a man receive a job.  While he understood English, he only spoke Spanish.  He used an interpreter to answer the questions, and ended up getting hired right on the spot.  I am sure that was a wonderful Christmas gift for him and his family.  To find employment in crazy economic times.

The closer we got to our adventure the harder the snow started coming down.   What a beautiful night to walk around looking at Christmas lights.

Let's get this party started...and Mister in the background looking directly at our camera.  Would you mind stepping to the right just a little bit?  Don't mind the green hue to this pics.  It's just a little alien action.

Even though Nana looks like she's had a few too many Hot Toddy's, it was really just the lights shining in her eyes and the freezing feeling in her toes and fingers causing her to look like this!

 Waiting in the cold and snow to take a ride on the horse drawn carriage seemed like a good idea until we found out there was only one carriage and the line was deep enough that it would be 2-3 more go a round's before we'd get to ride.  Needless to say, we passed. Fortunately, each of us has experienced a carriage ride in the past, and we knew we wouldn't regret not partaking in this part of our adventure!

This tree was a sight to be seen.  We were amazed by all of the lights and the how each branch was meticulously lit up.  I can't imagine being the crew member on the ladder or cherry picker wrapping the lights around the branches.

It was a bit chilly, but skipping along the trails and stopping off at the warming hut to thaw our tingling fingers and toes made the evening merry!

 

The holospex glasses that we "invested" in made our lights look like giant snowflakes.  Craig insisted we all bob our heads back and forth while using the glasses to make it look like the snowflakes were dancing.  Quite a site to be seen!

No, she didn't grow a foot and a half over night.  She simply wanted me to feel like a shrimp as she stood on a rock!

I just love these guys!  They make me smile no matter what  we do together.

After seeing their barn all lit up for the holidays, with a wreath so pretty, I decided I was going to look into getting electricity added to our barn for future Christmas'!

 After walking the entire ranch and visiting the Hildebrand house twice, we decided we'd  had enough chilly weather and needed to warm up with some hot cocoa. For those wondering, we had to visit the house twice because Nana decided to stay at the firepit and warm up her fingers and toes, while the rest of us continued on looking at lights. We knew she wouldn't want to miss out on this part of the experience, so Emaleigh and I took her back to have a peek! 

We hopped back in the Jeep and wow, was the snow really coming down now!  

What a wonderful winter wonderland!

 

 

Again, as luck would have it, we drove right by our favorite donut shop.  Every time we drive up to the mountains to go skiing, we stop by the only Krispy Kreme in Colorado to grab breakfast.  Well tonight, we decided to stop and have dessert!  And a Sunday morning treat before heading to church!

Hot cocoa and a festive donut, made for a yummy dessert!

 And to all a Good Night!

Advent

I must say that this advent season has me appreciating Christmas in a whole different way then in years past.  Like so many, I love this month.  The decorations, the lights, the gifts, the foods, the anticipation of the remembrance Christ's arrival.

Now that my children are getting older, Christmas is taking on a whole new meaning for me.  Don't get me wrong.  I still love the shopping and the wrapping and the keeping secrets part of Christmas.  I'm not afraid to admit that selecting a variety of gifts for my family is one of my favorite ways to express my creativity.

But this year, God is doing a good work in my heart.  He is opening my eyes to the importance of remembering Him throughout this season.  It began a few weeks ago when our pastor started a new sermon series on Joy.

Then it lead to an accidental click on a website about the advent season and relishing in the joys of how the old testament is as equally important in telling the story of Jesus' arrival as the story found in the new testament.

I am so appreciative for my growing love for Christ by diving into His Word and seeking His wisdom to know more about God and our purpose for life.  Finding my personal relationship with Christ over the past 20 years has been quite a journey, and I anticipate that each year He will find me in a new place.  I pray that this season will open me to deeper levels of understanding and that I am following the direction He is guiding me towards.

I am so blessed to have such a loving God.  One that has gifted me with a wonderful family, great friends and an ability to learn and grow in my Faith.

I pray that each of you can find some kind of Joy this holiday season.  Perhaps an outing with family.  Lunch with a friend.  Laughter with a child.  A smile with a stranger.  Wherever it may be--I pray that you appreciate each moment you are given.

A Gift

As a first grade teacher, I often receive gifts from my students during the holiday season.  I am so grateful to my families for even doing this--especially during such hard economic times.  While it feels like our economy is building itself back up, I have to share the story of how I acquired this little village.

You see I have always had a fascination with the Christmas villages you see throughout the stores during the holiday season.  In fact, I started my own collection about 12 years ago.  I loved it very much, but was very frustrated with how much room it took to display it.  I would bring it out every year and struggle to find just the right place.  When we moved to our current home, I simply could not find a place to display my village, so I donated it, with a heavy heart mind you, to our local Goodwill.

Then something magical happened last year.  As I was opening one of the gifts from my students, I received this--

 a Christmas village building.  

 

It appears to be a church, but with the bell I wondered if the child that gave it to me thought it was an old school house.  Either way, it just didn't matter.  You see,  I love Jesus so much, and I know He put a passion for teaching in my heart. To many this would be a silly gift, but to me it meant so much.  It honored my love for Jesus, as well as my joy for teaching.  But the best part of this building was that it was a miniature version of the villages I have loved for so long.  It really brought joy to my heart to have one small piece to remind me of the peace I feel when admiring these imaginary towns.

Well, the story does not end there.  As I was wrapping up my own Christmas shopping last year, I stopped by our local dollar store to pick up a few odds and ends.  (I just love the bargains I can find there!)  Well on one of the end caps, I happened to see my church/school.  I couldn't believe my eyes.  Not only did they have my church/school, but they had so many other meaningful buildings.  

The bookshop.  

My passion for teaching children how read is something I will never be able to fully explain. I gave that up long ago! 

The Train Station.

This makes me think of my grandmother, Betty B.  Her grandfather, Grandpa Barclay, was a train conductor in a time that probably looked much like this village scene.

The Pet Store.

Oh, how could I not pay tribute to Lilly and Quinn in my little village.  These two dogs have added so much joy (and a little frustration) to our family's life in the country.

The Toy Shop and Gift Shop.

 What village is complete without a toy shop for the children and a gift shop for the grown ups?  Besides, everyone knows how much I love to shop!

 

The Church.

Since the original building was up in the air for me, I needed to be certain to have a place to honor Jesus!

I can't even begin to share the joy I felt stumbling across these 3 inch gems.  And the fact that it fit well into our budget made it that more special.  A whole whopping six bucks to make my heart feel larger is really priceless!

Well fast forward to this holiday season, and another trip to our local dollar store.  This year, I happened to find the miniature people and accessories that complete our village. The village is now complete and I can sit and enjoy this magical scene. For me, it's a reminder to slow down during this Christmas season and  enjoy the simple things in life.  Listening to a great advent sermon to guide my week ahead.  Strolling the streets looking for the "perfect" gift for a loved one. And just taking time to enjoy family and friends. 

 

 

 

But the absolute best part of this village is that it fits neatly onto one shelf of our TV cabinet. No more struggling to find a home for something I enjoy so much.

A very Merry Christmas Village that will be enjoyed for many years to come!

And a Very Happy Thanksgiving...

Today is Thanksgiving.  While this isn't my favorite holiday of the year, there are many things that I enjoy about celebrating it.  

Spending time with family and friends--wonderful.  

Eating a delicious meal--great.  

Watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade in my jammies--lovely. 

But the best part of this day is how my family is allowed to simply be.  No school, no work, no commitments--just BE.  

I don't mind the hustle and bustle that life offers each day.  I consider it a gift that I am given the many blessings to be able to have a full and busy life.  But I am especially thankful for this one day of the year when I can leave all of that behind and just sit in awe of the slowness of it all!

On a side note--our daughter completed the state requirements (reading the state driver's manual, taking a 30 hour driver education class, passing a written and vision exam and paying the $14 fee) and after spending 2 1/2 hours at the Department of Revenue yesterday, she walked out with her driver's permit.  

C-R-A-Z-Y...

We aren't old enough to be the parents of a driver.  Well, okay.  Obviously, we are old enough, but my mind must surely be playing tricks on me.  

It seems like we were just loading her in her car seat to take her to Grandma's for her first Thanksgiving. 

Maybe just starting Kindergarten with her cute little braids and fashioning her brand new glasses.  

But surely not a 15 year old who stood in line to take a written exam to be able to learn how to drive.

Or a delighted teenager holding her temporary paper permit that will be replaced by an official one in 30 days.

Surely this can't be the same little girl that I envision in my head when I think about my daughter.

 

 I really am so very thankful on this sixteeth Thanksgiving being a mom to this simply amazing young lady.  

We are so proud of you Emaleigh Rebekah. 

Anticipation

The Annual Cutting of the Christmas Tree Adventure is coming quickly.  Permits go on sale next weekend.  In anticipation of this annual tradition, I decided to decorate my house with a couple of reminders.

So I have this obsession with red trucks right now.  It might be that we've moved to the country and I really think our farm should have a truck.  When I close my eyes and imagine what it would look like, I picture something like this:

Complete with the Christmas tree in the bed.  Well not all the time.  Just towards the end of November to the beginning of December!

For now, I just have to have to settle for the toy version of this truck. And as I wait for the annual cutting of our Christmas tree in the next couple of weeks, I decided to add a little inspiration to get me in the mood.

Last year I saw this fabulous pillow cover at Pottery Barn, but I couldn't justify spending the money it cost to get it.  Well, when I decided at the end of the season to splurge, they were all sold out.  Even online.  

I searched high and low.  But no luck.

I ended up printing a picture of it and framed it because I loved it that much.  But it just wasn't the same, so I threw it away.

I was still thinking about this pillow this past summer, so I decided to check out Ebay.  To my delight it was there.  But then I looked at the price and it was twice as much than what Pottery Barn was selling it for.

Well fast forward to this past October.  My cousins were here for a visit and we stopped in the store to check out their fall merchandise.  Well, you should have seen my face when the clerk was showing this pillow cover to another customer.  I immediately asked if they were selling them again this season.  She said yes.  I purchased it right then and there.  I didn't even finish looking through the store.  And I must say that I am so glad I did.  It reminds me of all the years Craig and I have taken the kids to the mountains to trek through the snow to find the perfect tree.  Carting it home on top of our car (we've had 3 different ones since we started the tradition) looks just like this.  Minus the fact that our car has never been a red woody version like the one in the pillow.  Oh, but that would surely be delightful!

ooohhh....I'm really excited about this one!

 So last year, I was perusing my arch nemesis--Pinterest--when I came across this bad boy.  It's not that I don't thoroughly enjoy seeing all the wonderful ideas that others out in the world are posting. It's just that once I see an idea I like, I can't help but make it happen. And I do believe that Pinterest will lead to my demise one day. Sometimes being a crafter isn't always that great!  

Any way, I saw it pop up again a few weeks ago, and then not long after that I saw a version of it outside one of my favorite home decor stores-The Gatherings.

Well after inspecting the price, I knew I would be able to recreate it for far less. 

So last weekend it was brisk, but sunny.  The boys were taking advantage of the nice weather and decided to hang our outdoor lights.  (While we won't turn them up until after Thanksgiving, it's nice knowing they won't have to slip on an icy roof to hang them.)

 While they were busy doing their thing, I took it upon myself to head to the barn and see if I could find some old lumber that might do the trick.  While I didn't find exactly what I wanted, I managed to find enough scraps.  I thought I might need to recruit the guys to help me make the cuts I needed, but with a little persistence, I managed to make all the cuts and assemble my sign all by myself.  First time ever.  No offense, Mr. Mann, but you were busy, and I was determined! 

 After watching you use this tool for the past decade, I decided it really couldn't be that difficult.  And to my surprise, it wasn't!  Go me.

  After getting all the small parts pieced together, I brought it inside to paint.  It was a bit windy and I didn't want to get any dirt on my fresh coat of white.  Well, I guess the puppies didn't get the memo.

So then, I used my fancy schmancy ruler and some plain paper to make the letters.  From scratch mind you.

 

Next up, was painting the letters red.  It is for Christmas after all.

I was really fascinated when I got to this particular part of the painting.  You see, I decided to get a little bit done while waiting to drive the kids to school.  My stopping point left me with these letters.  JC.  I  couldn't help but smile and think of my Lord and Savior.  He is the reason for the season.  Plus it really made making this sign that much more meaingful.  Had I waited to paint until returning from carpooling the kids around, I might not have even noticed this.  Love it!

And here is my finished project!

 Even Lilly wanted to get in on the photo ops!

As I am passing through with a load of laundry, or making the long trek back from Pam's Place, I am delighted to see this from the window.  What a lovely view for the season.

And the best part of this whole project is that it was free.  Yep, FREE.  Woo hoo!  I was able to use supplies I had around the house. 

 I love the anticipation of the Christmas Season and I am so excited to have this as the first decoration to bring me such "joy" throughout the next month.