oh christmas tree...

Tree facts:

* always real. Sometimes from a tree lot, but the last few years from Lowes.
* always white lights, never blinking. My family had colored blinking lights on our tree when I was young, so maybe that's why I like them the opposite. I think colored blinking lights are fun for outdoors.
* lights only. For a few years, I did gold bows and gold glass ball ornaments. For a few years, I did red bows and red glass ball ornaments. Now it's just lights and family ornaments. Some are coach sal's and I from childhood; some are from when we were first married; and others are the children's that have been added over the past (*gasp*) 15 years...




I'm really crazy (so says coach sal) about my wrapping papers and ribbons coordinating and looking *just right*. Last year I actually did not like how it all looked once I got it under the tree, so I unwrapped some gifts and went and bought new paper. I was justified in my thinking- the new paper looked fan-ta-bulous.

I am especially pleased with my choosings this year- I think it looks superb! I also love the idea of using our family photo as gift tags (I made wallets in black and white). That idea I took from the internet last year.



When coach sal and I were dating and engaged in the late 80s, Ziggy was the "big" card character. We were always sending each other Ziggy cards and paraphenalia, and we were in constant competition to find the coolest, newest, HEY-where-did-you-find-that-one Ziggy card. This is an ornament from when we were first married.



This ornament celebrates our first Christmas married.

Another story that makes me think of was the year 1994, when we closed on our first house on December NINETEENTH (yes, you read that right). Can you imagine how distressing that is to a Christmas elf like me??? I bought my tree that year right after Thanksgiving because I was afraid to wait until the 19th- what if there were no trees left? No good trees? So it sat in a bucket of water on our townhouse screened porch until we moved. (Yes, we moved the tree- at least it wasn't decorated).



This is our hand-tatted angel tree topper. It came to us in 1992. I went to the ladies' Christmas party at church, where we played the present-trading game. I was number ONE out of about 50 ladies, so at the end I could go back and steal anyone's gift. I had THE prized position for the game. So I chose first, and chose this angel, made by one of the eldest women in our congregation (she had been brought from the nursing home, out for this special evening, and had created this angel herself). When it was time to trade, I said "no, thank you". I LOVED my angel! They all thought I was being *nice* because she was so elderly, but really, I wanted my angel! She still sits atop our tree...



Now I'm sure you've seen the NEW "Elf on a Shelf" this year? Well, here's OUR elf, which has been in coach sal's family since he was a little boy. He says in their house the elf hid in the tree each year, and they had to try to find him...


...coach sal thinks it's funny to have him peeking up the angel's... (ahem...)... SKIRT!

For shame...he's gonna be on Santa's naughty list!



This is my very favorite childhood ornament- the baby in the nutshell. It was given to me by a family member who had gone to Germany to visit. I loved dolls and babies, so I always like pulling this one out and hanging it in a special place, where the baby was cozy and safe. Sometimes I would take it off the tree and play with it in my dollhouse.

This silver bell is coach sal's from childhood. It reminds me of a partridge in a pear tree. It rings like the bell in "It's a Wonderful Life". Sounds just the same.

I hope you enjoyed the tree tour! What are some special traditions of your family tree?

the courage of a mouse...

This afternoon when school was out (teeny tiny hoorah inserted here), I went with my students to see The Tale of Despereaux.

I'm going to go ahead and tell you that it's not like the book...but it is. The story is told differently, but the message was still the same:

Courage. Hope. Love. And no fear.

No fear. Despereaux wasn't afraid like the other mice. He was driven from within, a force stronger than himself, that desperately sought the light...the hope.

I think the story is a beautiful one. A fairy tale of-sorts. But not for those who DO have hope, who do search for The Light.

I'm also going to go ahead and tell you to go and see it. You may cry. But you'll leave with a sweet feeling of the season.

tomorrow, tomorrow...

I LOVE YA, TOMORROW- YOU'RE ONLY 38 minutes AWAY!

btw...tomorrow is our last day of school before Christmas break...(can I hear a little WOOHOO, people???)

the big brown truck delivers...

...little brown packages of Christmas surprises!

Why are these in my van? I met the truck as I was leaving my house. I simply couldn't let them sit on the front porch. And besides, the driver is used to seeing my happy-smiling face...almost every day.

If you haven't ordered online this year, you have really missed out.

Simple. Easy. DELIVERED.

a wee bit of craftiness...

I used to sew a lot. I even made maternity clothes with my first pregnancy. I also used to cross-stitch in the hallways of USC, as I waited between my college classes. Funny how time changes things.

Along comes a girl...a very cute one, for whom sewing rears its head and says "Hhhhmmm, I could MAKE that, even cheaper, even cuter!" Sewing for a girl is fun. And so are fabrics, they're like pieces of scrapbook paper- I just collect them, I love every swatch I see and I'm always wondering, "What could I make with that?..."

So I find myself occasionally giving in to the machine's call, and Friday I even tried my hand at applique for the first time. I was rather impressed with myself- and my machine.

I'm going to put star buttons on the tops of the trees (you did know that they were trees, right??). I'm also going to be in a lot of trouble, because when Ms. Margaret, my other (awesome seamstress) mother sees this, I have a feeling she's going to make me answer the call of the machine more often. (But I'll never sew as beautifully or as talented as she...NEVER.)

My wee bit of craftiness for today.

merry christmas to me!

OOOO, my!!!

Do you see this little beauty??

This is my Christmas present from coach sal (it WAS his idea-however, I did do the ordering for him).

Can you say PINK and CUPCAKES, two of my favorite things, all rolled into ONE?

Is this not the cutest apron?

Ok, ok, I know, it's just an apron, but I LOVE LOVE LOVE it and I can't wait to wear it while I bake and cook...although I think coach sal may have other ideas...

Thanks, Whitney, for the link- go visit Flirty Aprons to order your own- and they're 20% off right now, too, YUMMY!

happiness is friday...again!

Here I am, a week later. Hard to believe another week has gone by. It's been a stressful blur.

I stayed home from school yesterday and today. My stressed-out gut had had enough field trips and assemblies and stuff for one week. I've actually felt better this afternoon, so I've been sewing since I had the time and felt like sitting. (I'll show you soon what I made!)

Mary E had her last dance class yesterday, and as I watched her short dance performance, I realized that she really is a talented and beautiful young LADY. I mean, I KNEW that, but watching her made me realize she is really growing up...I just know I'm going to BAWL LIKE A BABY when she performs in April in "The Nightingale".

I also have to brag a bit on Jake-e, as we affectionately call him. He is SO SO very conscientious and organized for an 11 year old boy. Two examples-

I found a December calendar on the kitchen counter, with info for his Latin exam next week methodically laid out, day-by-day, so that he'd know what to study. I assumed his Latin teacher had made the students do that. "No, mom- I did it. I'm actually a day or so behind, but I wrote it out so I had less to do on the weekends, so I can catch up". WOW. Ok.

He was also supposed to go hunting last Saturday with his Uncle L. On Friday night, he informs me that he can not go because he has a project due on Monday and he has to finish it. If he goes hunting, he won't get it finished on time. WOW WOW. Ok!

He obviously does very well in school because of this, and better yet and unlike his mom, he's not a stressed-out-study-machine-everything-has-to-be-just-PERFECT. He's just very effficient. His future wife is going to LOVE it.

We have a basketball-filled weekend. And the boys have exams to study for. And I have to *try* (the operative word) to do some more Christmas shopping. I am also having lunch tomorrow with one of my bestest buds! And coach sal and I have a Christmas party to attend Saturday night.

Whew...enjoy your weekend! Happy Friday!