Personalized Crafty Wrapping!!!

I was so not looking forward to wrapping our 20 something gifts for family and friends!!! I decided I would turn it into a craft project. I had so much fun this year wrapping...

I

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Seeing Christmas through the Lil one's eyes! Part II

One thing I am going to really miss when Christmas has passed is our new" Advent Calendar Tradition".  JJ's Great Aunt Kit has done a good job with making it fun and educational. She  bought JJ the whole alphabet and numbers in puzzle pieces and placed them behind the 25 doors of Christmas. Every couple days he has opened the advent calendar to complete his alphabet and numbers puzzle.

We cheered JJ on when he correctly identified the numbers and letters correctly ! Aunt Kit also added cars, balls, and gingerbread cookies to the mix!

I am also looking forward to next Christmas to see if JoJo will be more involved in all the fun and learning experience!

What a great morning with the Advent Calendar and Family!

Another Christmas Tradition Created

We went to the "Festival of Lights" in our town. This was the 25th year that this particular neighborhood held this event and this year their were over 152 homes participating in decorating and lighting up their houses for the "Festival of Lights". Luminaries were placed throughout the whole entire neighborhood. We had the kids in the back seat, the windows down, and the holiday music on as we took in the sights and sounds up close and personal! It was great and we all enjoyed it!

Looking forward to next year!!!

Insta-Friday

Pictures taken from my camera phone through out the week...

Our week consisted of being sick, sick, and sick. I have been sounding like I am coughing up a lung, the kids have been running from me as I try to clean the consistent runny noses, both kids have been waking up in the middle of the night from congestion, we have went through about 4 boxes of Kleenex, and I can't tell you how many cups of tea I have drunk! Just glad that this has hit us now and will be gone before Christmas! This means we stayed in the house in our pajamas and slippers all week...

 We gave the kids extra TLC!

In the midst of sickness I did do one craft project and made a Christmas Card banner!

JJ got bored and got naked a couple of times and then got cold!?

We did a lot of coloring, puzzles, listening to music, and of course watching cartoons!

JJ wanted to exercise despite having a runny nose so he jumped on his bike.... with Bell Bear!

One of the only times we did go out we went to go look at Christmas lights around town and found this amazing house. The picture does not do it justice at all. If you look close they even had the garage on display!

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Christmas Banner made....

...... with Christmas cards, yarn, and a hole puncher!!! My original idea from this blog did not work because the Christmas Cards keep coming.  These Christmas cards are too thoughtful and cute to keep piled up where they are not able to be seen individually . I love that I can look at my family and friends throughout the day on display! I also have plenty of room to add to the banner!

Happy 30th Birthday to my Dear Friend!!!

One of my closest, dearest, and greatest friends turned the big 30 Today. She currently resides in Texas, while I live in California.I really wish I could of been with her as she celebrated leaving her 20's last night at her big 30th Birthday Party.   I wanted to do something extra special to wish her a Happy 30th Birthday. This is what I came up with, wrapped, and took to the post office for delivery! I mailed this off in the middle of the week thinking that it would get to her before her birthday. Just checked the tracking number and it looks like it will not be delivered until the 14th. I am glad I took pictures. This way I can give it to her today through this blog.

1. My friend loves everything about music and movies! I knew that she would enjoy an I-tunes gift card!

2.  I contacted her husband to ask what he thought she would like and one of the things he said was a GAP gift-card!

3. My third gift was a personalized frame  and inside I stated "10 Reasons Why I Love you". Here are my reasons:

1. You can always cheer me up.

2. You and I have tons of inside jokes.

3. You are like a real Sister to me.

4. You are super nice (sometimes), smart, beautiful, great, awesome, and amazingly wonderful.

5. You can make me laugh until I cry or pee in my pants.... or both!

6. You and I can give each other one look and it's just like having a conversation.

7. You never judge me but always try to understand me.

8. You know everything about me.

9. You are Yolanda and you never try to be anyone else.

10. You love me and I most certainly love you too!

I can't believe I met Yolanda when she was 20 and I was 19.  Ten years have gone by quickly.  I guess time flies when you're enjoying each other.  Once again, Happy 30th Birthday Yolanda!

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