What I got for Christmas

Courtesy of my WONDERFUL HUBBY. . .

and my fabulous parents.



Try not to be TOO jealous.

Christmas Documentation, Part I

I have to document it right? What I did for Christmas. So here it is in a two-part series. First, Christmas Eve.

Fried Turkey-a-la-Lil' Bro
I wonder what it could be?

This year we were with my fam for Christmas. So the festivities start on Christmas Eve with us. We all get together and get to open one gift. And every year it is (SURPRISE!) jammies. I personally love this. I heart jammies a whole lot and I love to add to my collection. The guys, however, are not so keen on it. I take that back. My BIL is VERY keen on it, it's Hubs, Lil' Bro and Dad that aren't so keen. Anywho, no difference this year, we all got in our jammies, and got the "Santa" gifts ready for the kids. I was really excited about spending Christmas with the girls this year. I think it is because they are old enough to understand it. It makes it more fun.

Rawr.
Hubby is SUPER excited about his jammies.
Getting the girls stockings ready.

So jammies, goodies and setting up presents. That's Christmas Eve! Part II coming real soon to a computer near you.

The Parental Unit

Me & the Hubby
My sister is going to kill me.
Just testing out the girl's walkie-talkie's to make sure they "work".

Merry Christmas

I hope you and yours have a day you wished for, lots of love, lots of laughter and plenty of goodies. Here's a little of my favorite Christmas movie. Merry Christmas internet!

Merry Christmas Eve!

Santa is coming!

More Family Fun

On Sunday we had our final family Christmas party. This side of the family is the smallest of the 4 I have. Yes. FOUR. Maternal, paternal, paternal and in-laws. I'm exhausted.

This was just a small gathering with my grandparents and my aunt. My g-ma is so cute you just want to squeeze her. She is a pocket-size grandma. The kind you want to carry around in your pocket all day with you. Her house is filled with vintage things and handmade things. I always love going there because its like a little time travel.

My grandparents actually gave both my sister and myself a set of vintage mixing bowls. Apparently she bought them years ago and saved them for us to give at just the right time. I love them because they are brightly colored and a little beat up.

Love my G-ma like you love me

My grandma is the cutest grandma in the world. She is under 5 foot, from Arkansas and makes the best Southern food and Sweet Tea this side of Georgia.

For as long as I can remember my Grandma has been sewing quilts, pillows and everything else. Her and my Grandpa used to actually travel around and sell their stuff at craft fairs, but due to get older and health they just can't do that anymore.

So we are launching a new venture for the sweetest little Grandma on the block. Sweet Mary is her new Etsy store. We are starting out small but we will keep adding things if it does well. Right now we have a few quilts and some slippers. Her quilts are completely hand-made and so beautiful.

So internet it's time to give back. Go check out her store. Send this post to all your friends and family that have a computer. Drum up some business for Sweet Mary. No one deserves it more. (Also if you are interested she has well over 200 vinyl records, some still in the plastic! If you are a collector or know someone who is and are looking for something let me know!)

Is it me. ..

I cannot help it. I nearly cry everytime I see this commercial. I dare you to watch it and not laugh!

The Graduation of a Firefighter

My sister and my brother-in-love have a had a really hard time the last couple of years. Due to circumstances that were out of their control their lives have change in ways they never thought imaginable. But they have stuck together and weathered it all supporting each other and being each other's biggest cheerleader. Saturday night was realization of a dream and the beginning of a new season.

For seventeen weeks my BIL woke up and went to the Fire Academy by 6 a.m. He was there until 4, 5, sometimes 6 o'clock at night. He lost around 20 pounds, and became a lean, mean machine. While he was playing with the firefighters my sister was running their family business, overseeing the ordering of materials, taking care of the employees and the bills, all the while taking care of the house and the girls. They were both just a little tired.

JL's class started it with 45 people. By graduation they were down to 35. They had drill instructors, fitness instructors, class room time and tests. It wasn't easy, but he finished!

We all went to his graduation on Saturday night and I think it is safe to say that at some point in the night we all got choked up with pride. He had worked so hard and come so far!

Congratulations J. We love you and we couldn't be prouder!

Sew happy

I wanted to have a handmade Christmas. I wanted to make each of my loved one's a gift to show how much I care. I'm so funny. That SO did not happen. I did however make one really cool gift.

Chapstick holder.

Handmade by ME!

I picked Aunt C's name for Christmas this year and I knew just what I wanted to make her. I had seen a bag like this in a magazine and had even made one similiar to it for a swap a did a few months ago. However this time it was much more time consuming and for whatever reason just seem to keep stumping me. I did however finally finish it and I am very pleased with the results. So cute I almost kept it for myself!

Took her forever to figure out I made it!