All Aboard!

The Christmas Train in Dry Gulch USA is magical. I don't have a lot to say about it. You should really experience it for yourself. 

I am looking forward to taking pictures of my crying children with Santa Claus. :-)

Not really, but you have to admit they're pretty funny.

I think I know why kiddos scream.

We tell them their whole lives not to talk to strangers and then we walk into a room with this big ol' man with all kind of hair covering his face that they've only ever seen in pictures and movies and plop 'em on down on his lap. Creepy! I would probably scream too. I think if we introduced the kids to him before setting them on his lap and then asked them nicely if they would like to take a picture with Santa then they just might comply. 

But where is the fun in that? ;-)

This year at the Christmas Train we had our first photo shoot with Santa. I must say it was quite spectacular. Not only did Santa graciously tolerate Sweet Afton 'tugging' on his beard, but Afton cheesed it up for us. She is so beautiful.

Sweet Afton as we know her

and with her lil' hat

and one of  all of us

I am on the greatest journey of my life.

Fail!

So, I started my gifts tonight with the help of my dear husband. The first project on my agenda was a Christmas ornament. A Christmas bulb with a butterfly made out of my Sweet Afton's feet. :-)

Almost like this one, but switch the feet and put a body and antenna in between.

Here are my supplies. Glass ornaments, icicles, glitter, paint brushes, and paints.

I got the glass ornaments for $3 at hobby lobby and I had the rest.

Step 1. Carefully fill the glass ornament with the icicles....

Nevermind, that took way too long.

Instead just shove as many in there at one time as possible.

Look, pretty icicle filled glass ornament. 

Next, you'll need one of these. :-) She's pretty precious.

I recommend stripping the baby down to a paper diaper. It gets messy.

Cover their sweet little foot with paint...

And now... place the foot on the glass ornament!

Here is where I ran into trouble. Not only is my dear baby's foot too big, she is also way too squirmy. We tried multiple times. It was just not going to work. :-( Afton did have fun with the paint and I did manage to get some cute pictures.

She was having so much fun.

Caught red handed!

And to finish the project up.... a bath to scrub all of the red paint off.

That did not go at all as I had planned. I recommend a larger set of glass ornaments AND a sleeping baby. Good luck with that. :-)

It's beginning to look....

Okay, the pressure is on. Christmas is less than 3 weeks away and I have no idea what I'm going to do.
I'm all about homemade gifts. They're cheap, fun, and more meaningful. AND I don't have to go to the mall.
Question is, when do I have the time to make everyone gifts?!?!
And what on earth do you make for men? Particularly the older gentlemen...
If only all of my family and friends were 20-30 something girls. THEN I would have all the gift ideas in the world!!!! :-)
Needless to say, I have gifts to give for men and women of all ages and so the creativity must begin.
No more procrastinating!!! The next couple of weeks will be consumed with gift making. I will do my best to post my gifts and their progress. We'll see how that goes.
I will start today, well maybe tomorrow. :-/
But I WILL go to Hobby Lobby today! I absolutely love that store. I could spend hours in there, and I could spend oodles and gobs of money in there.
I will start in the gift wrap department so that I can wrap our Angel Tree gifts and then I will make my way through the entire store adding completely impulsive items into my cart. When I get home I will lay it all out and go to bed. Ha!
I will start tomorrow. I will have something for everyone!
I think I can...
I think I can...
I think I can...


P.S. If you are on my Christmas list and like the surprise factor in gift opening then you may not want to read anymore until after Christmas. :-)

Pretty in pink

Here's the thing about babies... They grow really fast! You try on an outfit and it's a little bug, and then you try it on again in two weeks and it's almost too small! What is a mother to do?
Before ya know it they're sitting up all by themselves and laughing at you for no apparent reason and then they're moving out!
I hope that in 25 years I can look back and know that I cherished every moment to the best of my ability. I loved with all my heart. I want to have no doubt in my mind that my children know just how much I love them.