My brother and his family came for the weekend.  What a blessing!  I enjoyed so much having them here and being with them.  Our tradition for the past couple of years is to make handmade gifts for each other for Christmas.  This year I have to admit I did a bit of grumbling and complaing... I know, I know... not a good quality.  Coming up with the ideas is just a bit hard sometimes.  Each family member makes a gift for each of the other family members.  Ya know, when it's all said and done and everyone gives each other the gifts.... How rewarding!!!  You couldn't buy gifts and get the same satisfaction! 

DD13 went to town with her gifts!  She mainly did sewing.  She made a dog for her boy cousin. 

These dolls she made for her little cousins.  I am so proud of her!

She made this skirt and scrunchie for her 10 year old cousin.

She decided to make aprons for her aunt and uncle.

DS11 Went to town too.  He decided on doing weaving, sewing and made a snowman for his aunt.  He made model airplanes out of paper for his uncle, which I didn't get a picture of! 

DD6 Made things with plaster of paris.  For her aunt and uncle she made a sign and the cousins she made sidewalk chalk.  I guess, I didn't get pictures of that either!   My camera's batteries have died and I need to get them replaced.  I just haven't made it to Walmart to get new ones. 

I found that DH has a talent with welding!  I told him he was an artist and didn't know it.  I think he did a great job.  His normal thing would be to make things out of wood.  But since we don't have a garage for him to work in this year, he had to come up with other ideas.  The kids he kind of wimped out of making gifts... hehehe... He gave them each money that was folding into something different.  I think they liked that!  He also made venison sausage that he gave them some.  Here are pictures of what he made:  He made a motorcycle for on a desk and a bird/crane that is a lawn ornament. 

As for myself.  I did canning in the fall.  I gave them something like 20 jars of canned goods.  There was spaghetti sauce, peaches, pickles, peppers, and jelly.... I think that was all. 

My nephew I made a jar filled with 50 different little objects and then filled with little bead type things and rice.  This seemed to be a big hit... I laminated a sheet with the names of all the objects hidden in the jar.  The object was to find all the objects.  I wonder if they have found those coins yet! 

My older neice, I made little dolls made out of toothpicks and embroidery thread.  Then I hotglued them onto barrets... I guess, I didn't take pictures of them either.  I cheated a little... I had seen a shirt at Old Navy that had a picture of a dog on it.  The dog was identical to their dog!  I had to get it for her.  So, that was her gift from me.

The two little ones, I made hats and scarfs.  I don't have a lot of sewing knowledge... but I was pleased that they did fit them and turned out fairly well.  They look cuter on them then just laying here!

I'm going to end this post... and when I get a chance later I will let you know what wonderf gifts they made for us!   They came up with some great ideas too.  Hopefully by the time I post, I will have batteries for my digital, so I can post the pictures.