A little more Christmas

A look at some vintage ornaments and the linen wreath Brenna made for me.

Christmas 2012

I am way behind but wanted to have a record of 2012 Christmas. This is the first post from my iPad so there is a learning curve. This was so easy to do, that I might star opting more.  This is great!  Ok, I spoke too soon.  I can't get it to scroll down past the first two photos.  I made linen stockings that I designed and added vintage pins to.  I made napkin rings with more of my collected pins.  We cut our own Christmas tree this year, which was lots of fun.  We put our tree in a new location this year so we could sit and admire it while watching tv.  We had a quiet Christmas.  We spent the night with the Fords and watched the kids open presents and see their delight as they saw what Santa delivered.

We left on the 26th to visit Stringhams and Garners in Texas.  We had lots of fun seeing and playing with all the grandchildren.  The holidays went too fast!

This year's mantel.  (The good photographs are curtesy of my wonderful photographer husband.  Thanks Hun.)

Christmas 2011

 Christmas morning on the stairs about 7 am.

All ready for Santa to come.

Mark and Sebastian...such a good baby.

Campbell and Logan...you've got to love the hair!

Eli and Brenna already worn out.

Creed our little jazz musician who wanted Santa to bring him an accordion.

 Santa delivered one to his house.  Don't know what he is thinking in this picture.  He's looking kind of serious but cute.

 Cole with his favorite present...a cougar pillow pet.

Checking out what Santa brought and looking in stockings.

 (Another before picture.)

 Cole and Grant were here Christmas morning to see what Santa brought for them.

 We are missing Sebastian and Ollie but don't these guys look cute in their Christmas pj's?

The Stringhams and Eli and Brenna were here Christmas morning and then we all went to church at 9 am.  We saved the present opening for after church when every one could be there.  We had our whole family for Christmas and I didn't get one picture of everyone.  We sure had a lot of fun though.  We had our traditional ginger bread house making, went to temple square to see the lights, had a girl day where we went out to lunch and antiquing, and the boys had a boy night where they went to the movies, played games, ate, and ate, and ate, went to the grill one night at Sundance with all the adults.  It was crazy with 8 kids but very fun.

My husband was the official photographer...I can't wait to see what his pictures look like.

Christmas Decor 2011

 Here is a short version of my Christmas decorations this year.  Half the antique cabinet with part of my nativity collection.

 The tree and mantel in our family room addition.

 A close up of the mantel.

 The mantel.

 Felt stockings

 One of the book cases.

 The dining table set up for dinner for my husband's students.

Merry Christmas everyone.  We hope your Christmas is full of friends and family.  I know that mine is and we love it.

My Favorite Kind of Christmas Gift - Part 2

My favorite kind of gift Candice has been giving me yearly. I display them on my end table in the living room so that I can look at them all the time. (They measure a good gift by watching me and seeing if I get choked up. I do love a gift with meaning.) This is the book from 2007. Candice spent a lot of time putting together a book for me and the other kids all contributed.

Cole looks a lot like Campbell in this picture.
All the kids wrote a little note to be dinclude in the book.
Candice filled the book full of quotes. I love a good quote!
Last year she gave a book that included this picture. Love it! I think I need a big one of this one to frame and put in our new addition.
This was a picture we used on our Christmas card last year. Grant (age 8) took the photos for us.
The book in the background is the cover for the 2008 book. I just gave you a little sampling of the pictures.
Here are some pictures from this year's book. I really, really, love this kind of gift.
I think it is great that Candice included a little history of the year. Here is the picture of the newly engaged couple at Lake Tahoe after church.
(I can't figure out why these pictures turned...sorry.) This picture is of the Fords up at Sundance. Yes, Candice is willing to do all kinds of things for a good photograph.
Here is one of the pictures of the Garners. Candice even got a picture of Logan wearin' his cowboy boots.
The Stringhams had to include their dog, Dickens, on their family page along with a picture of their family on the Brooklyn bridge. They loved their time living in NYC. They had lots of adventures. Love it! Don't you?
A picture of Cole and Grant. Look at that cute pumpkin smile and Cole reminds me of Cary Grant.
The family all together at Lake Tahoe. (Again, I can't figure out why blogger turned the picture. Weird.)

Isn't this your favorite kind of gift too? It certainly helps that Candice is a very talented photographer, if I don't say so myself. Now if I can just get her to start blogging again so I can see more amazing pictures of my grandchildren. How about it Candice?

OK, I love home made gifts and gifts that you put thought into as well. My husband really surprised me this year with a hand letter press kits. It may not have been something he made himself but he really did put some thought into it. (Good job Mikey!) I used it to make book marks for the young men and young women in our ward and have big plans to use it again this week to make things for Steph's Valentines party.

I'll post my great presents from my other children soon. Needless to say, I had a great Christmas and not just because of the gifts.