Our Christmas in Pictures!

We had a wonderful Christmas! Lots of time with family and lots of fun having C understand what was going on so much more this year! 

We started our Christmas on the 24th at my parent's house.

Playing with Mom and Dad's Yorkie, Skiddles. (Ears in the foreground)

Aunt Jessica.

Reading.

Living room vignette.

Reading with Grandpa.

The guys cleaning up. (Not the greatest picture of them, but wanted to show off Mom's tree. Love it!)

On the 25th we headed over to Hubby's parents to celebrate with his side of the family.

 Taco dip I made.

What is it?

Are you finished yet Dad? Huh, huh?

Hope you had a wonderful Christmas too!

Felt Flowers

I don't know if you're on Pinterest, but if you're not you should be! There are all sorts of great craft ideas! It can be mildly addicting, but oh so fun! :) Here is the link to my Pinterest account if you want to see some other things I've collected.

Here are some of the lovelies you can find on Pinterest:

                                          Source: littlemissmomma.com via Elyssa on Pinterest

                                            Source: littlethingsbringsmiles.blogspot.com via Elyssa on Pinterest

                               Source: homestoriesatoz.com via Elyssa on Pinterest

Source: westermanfam.blogspot.com via Elyssa on Pinterest

 

                                                                                 Source: nestofposies-blog.com via Elyssa on Pinterest

                                                            Source: cherishedvintage.blogspot.com via Elyssa on Pinterest

This is the tutorial I used for my flowers:

                                                                           Source: onelovelylife.com via Elyssa on Pinterest

If you would like to make some of your own I would recommended using her tutorial, but here are a few things I did and some pictures.I made a large one which I might use on a wreath, but the pink one is for pinning on a top or in your hair.

They don't take too long...Maybe 45 minutes. I cut all my squares with scissors. If you had a rotary cutter it would go faster.

 The circle diameter I used was 2 " and the squares were 

1 1/4" and  1".

 I got this nifty clip at Hobby Lobby. I also put a circle of cardboard between the back of the flower and the gray felt backing. I just cut a slit in the gray piece and slipped it over the clip. Then I sewed the gray piece to the back of the flower.

Finished!

Let me know if you have any questions!

linking up with:

Cherry Cake Bars

This is one of my Hubby's favorite desserts. It goes together quickly and is pretty versatile. Here's what you need:

2 sticks butter, softened

1 3/4 c. granulated sugar
4 eggs

1 t. vanilla

1/2 t. salt

1 1/2 t. baking powder

3 c. flour

1 can cherry pie filling

Cream together the butter and sugar. Then beat in the eggs. Add the vanilla and mix well.

Add the salt and baking powder. I like to add it to the wet ingredients because it dissolves better and you don't have to wash an extra bowl.

Then add the flour. It should be a thick, sticky dough.

Spread 3/4 of the dough in a greased 9x13 pan. I usually spread as much of the dough as I can with a spatula and then I wet my hands to finish it.

Drop the cherry filling on top of the dough in clumps...

and spread it to the edges.

Use the last 1/4 of the dough to drop on top.

Bake at 350 for approx. 40 minutes. (or until golden brown.)

You can also make these in a 10x12 bar pan, but then they aren't as 'cakey'.

I've also substituted Blueberry pie filling. I imagine you could also do raspberry, apple, peach, etc..

Here is the finished product along with some Chocolate Revel Bars

All about C!

Since I missed last month, here is C's 15 and 16 month update!

C has been so much fun lately! He is really understanding a lot and is able to communicate so much more to us even though he isn't saying many words. He can say bye (buh buh), ball (ba), mama, car (ar), and please. (eese). Today I was eating a lemon poppyseed muffin and he looks at me with the sweetest expression and says, "Eese?" ::heartmelted:: 

C can also do animal sounds. He does a horsie sound, complete with head toss, cow, fish, kitty, monkey, and also "vroom vroom" for car. (Which I do realize is not an animal sound) He also does the count from Sesame Street's "Ah ah ah."

We've had to be a little more careful with what we let C play with because he has lots of little hiding places. Hubby calls them his "lairs". The other day he had lost powdered peanut butter we use for smoothies and he found it several days later. Where? Inside a bread machine that is on the floor in the spare bedroom. 

One day we were playing and he came up and gave me a kiss right on the lips! He is becoming much more affectionate and is starting to want to cuddle more.

I've recently discovered that C is a climber. One day I walked into his bedroom and foundhim standing on top of his humidifier. Another day he was on top of a box of diapers! 

 

He is getting tall (32") and can now reach things he didn't use to be able to. One day I had made treats for the neighbors and left the plates on the table. I then went on to do dishes. After a little while I noticed he was quiet so peeked in the dining room and saw this: 

 Totally swiped a cookie from one of the neighbor's plates.

New skill!

Organizing

Here are five things I do to *try* to stay organized:

1. Label and sort! This is my recipe box. I made the tabs myself and tried to create a lot of different categories. The recipes I'll be making in the next two weeks go up front. Easy to find when I make dinner!

2. Use bins. I have so many different bins and baskets! They make life so much easier. 

Keeping little bags of snacks organized.

I also use bins in C's changing table and that works really well to hide all the clutter.

3. Create boundaries. I only allow myself to keep as many magazines as fit in my piano bench. When it's full, I have to purge! I do the same thing for mail and papers. I have a basket, and when it's full I have to go through it.

4. Don't pack closets/drawers full. Have room to easily find and grab things.

(More labeling and binning too!)

I see a blurry little hand at the bottom. :)

5. Make it pretty! :) I try to display pretty things and buy baskets and boxes that are attractive as well as functional.

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