Just wanted to share a glimpse of our Christmas activities this year.  We still have one more big celebration tomorrow with DH's family, I don't know if I'll post pictures or not.

I tried to be somewhat crafty this year & I tried to get the kids invovled as well.  For the grandparents & my immediate family we made picture frames that included pictures of the girls.  First we painted the unfinished frames brown.  Then we cut up scrapbooking paper into little pieces & modge podged them onto the frames.  At this point, it was just Little Brownie & I.  We applied another layer of modge podge.  Once that was dry, I applied an acryllic sealer (which makes a difference imo).

This year, Little Brownie wanted to make something for her best friend.  We made the felt pen animals from Family Fun Magazine.  Sorry I don't have a link, HSB won't let me post one for some reason.  It's easy enough to find though.

This is one of three packages for Little Brownie's Sunday School teachers.  It carried a dozen pieces of homemade peanut butter cups.  Yummy!  I purchased a paper puncher that puched the cute tags that you see.  Doublestick scraperbooking tape is what is holding the tags together.  I thought the snowflake brad pulled it all together.

This is the lace scarf I knitted for DH's Granny.  I actually finished this a long time ago for no one in particular, I just wanted to try to knit something in lace.  It's perfect for her, she's in her mid-90's.  She lives in the a part of the south that has mostly mild winters.

We also gave her pictures of the girls.  I didn't want to make the big frames for her b/c I wasn't for sure how much room she would have for them.  The knitted scarf was the only knitted gift I gave this year.  Next year I will try to knit more for people.

These next pictures are of the girls on Christmas eve & Christmas morning.  We always open our stockings on Christmas eve after church & a car ride to look at lights.  Each person also picks a fun appetizer & I make it for everyone to eat. I don't have any pics of that food though.

The last pics are of breakfast on Christmas morning.  I made homemade cinnamon rolls the night before, & I popped them in the oven that morning.  I served them with fresh strawberries & chocolate milk (except for DH who is allergic to chocolate).  Yummy!  I put all the ingredients in my bread machine.  When it was done, I rolled out the dough, brushed melted butter on dough, and sprinkled it with sugar & cinnamon.  Just roll it up & slice it and put it in a baking dish (stoneware is best, imo).  I then refridgerated them till morning.  Easy peasy!

I hope you all have a safe and happy new year!  Our family has experienced our fair share of challenges this year, but as I was looking back on our family pics for 2006, I was humbled and reminded once again at how much Our Lord provided for our needs & blessed us.  He has gently showed me how I need to how I need to serve my family more for the new year.  We are so blessed to have a wonderful Abba Father who provides for us & at the same time reveal His will to us.  Our family has experienced that this year & we are forever thankful.

Ms. A