Holiday Frivolity

Ok, so I know haven't posted a whole lot this month, but really, you didn't want to read what I would have written. Ok, it wouldn't have been that bad, but I have been ridiculously busy, so it would have been really quick! Here, then, for your reading/viewing pleasure, is some of what I've been up to this holiday season!!

We went to the town's Old Fashioned Christmas where we....

...won stuff at the fishing pond...
...painted our faces
...decorated some cookies
...walked down the street for some hot chocolate and doughnuts...

...and saw Santa (we met up with TJ's best friend from church, Cayden)...

We had lots of fun. The only not so great part was when the balloon lady gave TJ a purple hat with a pink bow. Not so macho. Hmmm....

Later in the month, I had my staff Christmas party. Its always formal, which is super fun. I LOVE getting dressed up. While I was in Great Falls for black Friday, I found this AWESOME fabric at Joannes which I LOVE! It totally inspired me and I got it to make a gown for the party and here it is...

And these are the lovely ladies I get to work with!

We decorated a Gingerbread House. Ok, I did the icing and TJ, with minimal help from James, put on all the candy. TJ really has a mind of his own, wish there was something I could do about that....

and here is the finished product...

We went to our ward Christmas party. I didn't take any pictures while we were there, but here is TJ just as we were about to leave!

We did some baking...

some nuts and bolts (courtesy of James)

...some chocolates (waiting to be dipped)...

...some peanut brittle...

...and an army of gingerbread men (and ladies)...

We spent Christmas Eve with James' family...

We got some pjs Christmas Eve which we wore while opening presents at our place Christmas morning. James was such a sport to wear the pants I made. He really isn't much of a pj kind of guy!

TJ wore his toolbelt forever and was too busy hammering everything in site to really focus on opening presents for a while...

We went to Manda and Tem's in the evening on Christmas Day to open some more presents and play games, where TJ got his big present from Grandma and Grandpa Thornhill...

I'm not sure who was more excited, James or TJ. So fun!! And here is TJ wearing his new robe I made for him and the great slippers Cheryl made for him. So cute! I love them!

Finally...

Ok, so this past month has not been the best for me. Usually, I'm super into Christmas, but this year, I just haven't really cared that much. I'm still nowhere near as excited as usual, but I am feeling more Christmas-y. We went to our ward party tonight and it helped me remember that, even if I'm not excited about the gifts ecetera I am excited to have the opportunity to reflect on the birth of our Savior. Merry Christmas everyone!

I Just Couldn't Resist...

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

I Heart My Label Maker!

If you have been anywhere near my sewing room lately (and if you have I sincerely apologize) you would have seen something like this. Ok, actually this because these are the pictures I took of it!

All of my stuff was spread throught the dining room and my sewing room and was EVERYWHERE!! I've been so sick I just haven't had the energy to do more than what I absolutely had to do, so cleaning got put on a way back burner. But, Tuesday, I decided enough is enough! With my handy dandy label maker in tow, I got to work! And now, here is my beautiful sewing room!!

All that fabric is stuff I've got projects in mind for. Not Christmas projects, just sewing-in-my-spare-time (lol) projects.

It probably won't last because I've got to get my Christmas sewing done, but oh well! Here is proof that at one time, I actually did have a clean sewing room!!

A Little Christmas Poll

Kelly emailed this to me, so I thought I'd fill it out and post it here! Enjoy!


1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Wrapping paper and bags and boxes with pretty ribbons and bows. And it all matches!!

2. Real tree or Artificial? I LOVE real trees, but have an artificial one b/c I'm pretty worried about the fire hazard and I'm don't remember to water it enough!

3. When do you put up the tree? When I'm in my own place, its usually the last week or two of November, but here at Mom and Dad's its the first week or two of December.

4. When do you take the tree down? After New Years

5. Do you like eggnog? Sick and wrong. Raw eggs and milk. Do I really need to say any more?

6. Favorite gift received as a child? Hmmm, good question. I don't really know.

7. Hardest person to buy for? James. Hands down. He always wants things that are way out of our budget and nothing that is in our budget.

8. Easiest person to buy for? TJ. Super easy. A little too easy!

9. Do you have a nativity scene? Yes and I want MORE!

10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail. If I remember. I haven't been very good about it the past few years. I get them done and then don't remember to mail them until after Christmas, so I just don't mail them!

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? I can't think of one specific one, but I remember many years thinking that certain people really didn't know me because they kept giving me gifts I would never use. Fortunately, they've figured it out since then!

12. Favorite Christmas Movie? Its a tie between the Grinch and Muppet Christmas Carol. Christmas is not complete until I watch both!

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? When I have money.

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Nope

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? All of the goodies we make as a family. Theres nuts and bolts, shortbread, sugar cookies, chocolates, almond rocha, ect. ect. ect. So yummy!

16. Lights on the tree? Umm, of course. Why wouldn't there be lights on the tree!

17. Favorite Christmas song? I could not pick one. I just love Christmas music in general.

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? We "travel" all the way to my parent's or James' parent's house, whoever's turn it is to spend Christmas Day with that year.

19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer's? Of course.

20. Angel on the tree top or a star? I have an angel, but I like both (not together of course, theres only so much room on the top of a tree!)

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Both! Christmas Eve was always jammies and then the rest Christmas morningish. I say -ish because my family was and is NOT a morning family!! We weren't allowed to wake my parents up before 7:30 and then it usually took them until closer to 8 or 9 to actually get out of bed. As we got older, it got later and later that we'd start opening presents! We could open our stocking though, as soon as we got up!

22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? Pushy people - we all know it's busy but there are those who forget common curtesy. I'm so with Kelly on this one. I also really hate the pressure to buy huge elaborte gifts. Christmas is not all about the gift, its about Christ!

23. Favorite ornament theme or color? My tree is Silver and Blue Snowmen ( I LOVE Snowmen), but I love all sorts of color themes. Gold and Burgandy, Red and White and Green, ect.

24. Favorite for Christmas dinner? As long as there is stuffing and mashed potatoes, I don't care what the meat is.

25. What do you want for Christmas this year? A house. (Talk about out of our budget!! He he!)