Viola!!!
After Ms. Corrigan read The Polar Express to the class, the teachers served a hot cocoa bar with fresh whipped cream, mini marshmellows, crushed peppermint, and colored sprinkles.
One second greader declared it "the best hot chocolate" he had ever tasted! Thanks, Buddy!
After hot cocoa, we got a call from the office that a very cold package had arrived from the North Pole. Our jingle bell necklaces had been shipped via magic straight to our school. They were still cold even!
Next was J-Man's school party. We decorated the teachers,
decorated cookies for our snack,
played a little bingo and M&M straw grab,
made reindeer food to leave out for Rudolph on Christmas Eve,
and made adorable snowman pins out of buttons (sorry no close up photo), and jingle bell door hangers.
Somewhere in those days, we even managed to decorate gingerbread houses at home
and our family Christmas tree.
There was also a grown- up dinner party complete with leg of lamb, cocktails, and peppermint ice cream cake somewhere in the mix. How did I miss getting photos of that? Hmmmm......
Poses...
Popcorn and cocoa...
and Jaxon's constant reminders that the movie is about a train!
Catching up...
Day 19. Friends- wow! I am overwhelmed just thinking about all of the amazing friends that I have.
Day 20. My kitchen- I spend the majority of my day there and love every minute of it. Okay, so I wish it was self cleaning. I don't enjoy that part, but every other moment I love my kitchen.
Day 21. My Kitchenaid mixer
Day 22. My Kitchenaid food Processor- I REALLY do not know how I EVER survived before I had this. The Man got this for me for Christmas about three years ago, and it was my favorite Christmas present ever. I know most of you would prefer jewelry or chocolates, but give me a kitchen tool any day of the week, and I am putty in your hands, Baby. I use the food processor on a daily basis often cleaning it and using it multiple times for one meal. There are so many things that I never even attempted in the kitchen that are now so easy and I do on a regular basis. Love it love it love it!!! If you don't have one, put a GOOD one on your Christmas list this year. You will not regret it!!!
Day 23. DVR- I love never having to watch commercials and being able to sit down at the telly and watch what I want to watch whenever I want to watch it.
Day 24. Wood burning fireplace.
Day 25. A gas starter on the wood burning fire place! I would never build a fire by myself if I had to build it from "scratch."
Day 26. Sewing Machine and Embroidery Machine- my creative outlets. I don't use them as often as I would like, but I am very thankful to have them when I am feeling crafty.
Day 27. The unsewer (otherwise known as a seam ripper). I would NEVER be able to use the items listed on Day 26 if it were not for the unsewer. I am even better at unsewing as I am at sewing.
Day 28. See yesterday's post... I'm thankful for food!!!!!
Today. I am thankful for lazy days to hang out with my family and play!
In joy, Troye
Apparantly if you wanted orange tie dye, you needed to purchase it weeks ago because there was none to be found. We ended up using a paint spray. That was scary.
Then, Amy and I decided it would be best to just add the rest of the dye to water and soak the shirts in the sink. 
Of course Friday was the rainiest day that we had in Georgia all year, so I was very afraid that we were going to turn into oompa-loompas. The gods were in favor of us retaining our current skin tone though, so no early Willy Wonka costumes this year.I know that you all would be way too excited to see the block that I made in Betty Sue's quilting class today (yawn). But instead, check out what I made...
It's a shiv! I made the world's first quilting shiv. Stay out of my way. You never know when that might come in handy!
I closed my van door and hear subsequent cracking plastic at which point it was too late to do anything about my ruler hanging out of the door.
Oh well...
So, I had to remove that entire seam, turn it ans try again. If at first you don't succeed, try, try again. Wow, am I good at that one!
Finally!
While we were in Birmingham last weekend, Nikki and I each made an apron together. We had so much fun working, laughing, stitching, creating, staying up late, and laughing some more. 
Blake even had to save the day and preform a few repairs on Nikki's sewing machine. I must say that I was super impressed with his willingness to even attempt to repair a machine that he knew nothing about. And he was successful. You da Man, B!
The finished product...
A reversible Emmeline apron. How cute is that? All manner of cuteness.
Barefoot in aprons on the front porch.
This is what the kiddos' hands looked like.
And they all turned out well- amazing, huh?
Even Baby Ethan!
They were all very proud of their painted hands.
And, here's the finished product!
This one was fought over during a cut throat game of dirty Santa (more info to come in a later post).
And this one won awards
And some matching bags...
Do you have any good stories about handcrafted gifts you’ve given or received? Not really.
Do you have any great gift compilation ideas (a grouping of gifts just perfect for certain recipients?) Coffee Cozies with matching bags and/ or book/Bible covers. A starbucks giftcard is another great addition with the coffee cozy.
Name one thing on your personal wish list. Since I already got my embroidery machine- and am obviously putting it to good use- the only thing on my wish list is the Magic Box Plus Embroidery card software. And, it looks like that one might stay on my list for a while. :)
Do you make and sell things that would make fantastic gifts? I don't really sell anything although if someone would like to pay me for anything, I will be happy to sell to the highest bidder. :)
Traditions
What is your favorite family holiday tradition? The boys and I have a birthday party for Jesus each Christmas. Keep your eyes peeled for a posting with photos from that next week. And, Santa brings three gifts to each child in our household to remind us of the three gifts that the wise men brought to Jesus.
Have you started any new traditions with your family that you didn’t practice growing up? Too many to list here.
What do you love most about the holiday season? Time spent with family and friends. Food!!!
What do you like least about the holiday season? Harried schedules and negative attitudes.
Anyone close to your heart that you’ll be missing this year? Thankfully, no.
What is your favorite holiday food? Hmmmm. That one is difficult. Anything with cranberries, pumpkin, apples. Seriously, how am I suppossed to narrow that one down. I give up.
Do you have a great recipe to share?
Great easy recipe for those cooler evenings when you don't have time to cook because of the approaching holidays.
Sundried Tomato Pasta
Place three to four frozen chicken breasts in a crock pot in the morning. Pour a can of rotel (you choose the heat) on top, and then dump half of a jar of Classico brand Sundried Tomato Alfredo Sauce on top. Cook on low all day. When ready to serve, shred chicken between two forks. This will seriously only take a couple of minutes because the meat is so tender. Stir in the other half jar of alfredo, and serve over hearty pasta.
Made with My Cool Signs.Net
