Brad and I have grown addicted to Settlers of Catan over the past few years and this year for Christmas I gave him the new version of the game. Over Christmas we were able to play with Brad’s sister and her husband as well as some close friends. Last night our friends came over and we actually played twice! Brad won the first round a little too quickly so I talked everyone into a second game even though it was pretty late (this is not an uncommon phenomenon…late night Catan playing). By about 1:00am I had won (see all the orange on the board? That is me)!!! Woo Hoo! I also have to share that I won even without a Metropolis! I was so proud of that little accomplishment!

We tend to pack up Christmas pretty quickly around here. It makes me a little sad to pack away so quickly after Christmas but with little ones and all of the little ones items I find myself longing for a little less stuff around. We do leave up our outside wreaths which we have on all the windows until sometime around Epiphany. While packing away the Christmas items this year I realized that I had forgotten to share the Wise Men. The Wise Men were made by my Grandmother and are priceless to me. I remember them always sitting on her fireplace as I was a little girl and they have always intrigued me. I love the way that they were painted and have stood through time.
Coming soon I promise pictures of the crafty Christmas that we had. We have one more Christmas celebration to go on Tuesday.

Christmas Eve brought trimmings to my mailbox which I won on the Making It Fun Blog! How fun to see some of Michael Millers Ruffle Rac and Bias Trim in real life and it is just as wonderful as the picture make it to be! It is definitely something to look forward to in the New Year! I believe that J.Caroline Creative will be carrying the whole line…soon! I also received the last batch of my J.Caroline fabric order from her 12 days of Christmas sale. I am really excited about it and to find that it goes well with my trimmings, which got the creative juices flowing. It will be fun to see what all gets created in the New Year!

Yes, I am a huge fan of after Christmas sales! I always go in with one particular Christmas item in mind that I would love to add to the decorations and I always end up with something a little different than I went after…funny how that works! This year I was after an Advent Wreath! We went to a few different places and I looked around online as well but I just could not find the perfect one. The first store that we looked at however I did find Christmas cards for next year (thats right kids it is to much to make the gifts and the Christmas cards so something has to give a little…sorry). The Christmas cards were 50% off so that was a super deal!!! I just have to remember where I put them next year though! That could be tricky! I also found a wonderful little (big) inviting Nativity set (the picture doesn’t capture its full beauty). Oh, I fell in love with it very quickly, just ask Brad, before he knew it we were carrying it around in a basket! It was a great deal as well with 50% off! I can hardly wait to set it up next year. I know just the place for it! We also refreshed the wrapping paper and tag supplies as they were running low at about the third stop. It to a wonderful deal at 50% off. Can you tell that I am a sucker for the sales?

Luke 2: 8And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. 10And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. 11For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. 12And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. 13And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, 14Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

Nope, not finished with making Christmas gifts yet but I did finish the doll for Charis. She has been a few weeks without a face but now she is officially finished and has eyes and even a wonky little mouth. I need to work on the whole face thing a good bit more but I am really excited with the way that the doll turned out for my first attempt at softies. They are quite involved but I really enjoyed it. I used this free little tutorial and really did not have to many problems at all. We shall see how Charis feels about her on Christmas morning but I am trying not to get my hopes up to high!

We celebrated Brad this week! Charis had a blast with Daddy’s “packages” as well as making a little cake for him! She picked dinosaur sprinkles for his cake as well as a few other random sprinkles. It was so much fun to watch her “stir” and help me with the cake. We had so much fun preparing together. Here are a few details from the fun evening. Happy Birthday to the most fabulous Hubby and Daddy-O ever!!! We love celebrating you!

It has been a pretty long day at our house! Cai has the Croup and Charis is tired of being couped up! The kiddos are in bed though and sleeping at the moment so I am trying to accomplish a few more Christmas gifts (I know, if I wasn’t buying fabric some of that time could of been spent on these gifts and I could be a little closer to done but alas). Just in case you were wondering a tired state, a rotary cutter and a deadline really are a bad mix it turns out. I got a little carried away while cutting out some fabric and just rolled over half of my finger. Ouch! I may wait to turn on the sewing machine until after I have rested a bit! I had to borrow one of Big Girls (Charis’s doll) band-aids. Charis cannot stand band-aids but it turns out that her doll loves them all over her body. I am thankful that the doll likes them though so that I can have a band-aid this evening!

for buying gifts for others not for myself! This is what I keep sharing with myself but also I do not listen well…I can explain though! J. Caroline Creative has been having a 12 days of Christmas sale with fabrics priced at unheard of prices! I had to partake in these unheard of prices of course so here are all my fun buys! I have another batch still on its way in the mail as well (I know I know I know). The trim and ribbon were under a dollar for a yard! The Joel Dewberry was $4.50ish a yard and the Alexander Henry canvas was a steal as well! Just couldn’t pass it up I tell you! The next picture are all of my Alexander Henry finds from (are you ready for this) Joanns! I have found some Alexander Henry there in the past but never this much in one trip and some of the really popular patterns at that! They had a few other prints as well but as it is the season for gift giving (for others) I did try to control my purchases a little! They were not on sale but I was afraid that if I waited for the sale this weekend it would all be snatched up. I cannot wait for crafting in the New Year!

I love gift giving! I also like gift getting but that is another story. I got to give the first of our handmade holiday gifts today to some of our friends so now I can share! Yippee! Charis’s friend Drew got a scarf and his sister got her late Birthday/Christmas gift of a hair bow holder. Drew liked his “bus scarf” so that was fun to see. Yippee for handmade Christmas gifts!!!