Christmas Peeks

Been taking a lot of photos around here:

Yummy Chocolate Candy Cane Cookies.



All the different cookies we made this year:



Notice the bright icing. I learned about how to make bold, bright colors from this highly creative woman.



I guess proper icing etiquette would have you stick out your pinky as you ice.



Pay no attention to this though. Licking does not fall under proper etiquette guidelines.









The pink ribbon, if worn tied in a knot on the side of your head, ensures your manhood while guaranteeing you the title of "Icing Ninja."



Unwrapping the caramel Hershey kisses is a beloved activity by my kids, especially since I promise they get to eat a couple for every batch we complete.



My friend Allison told me last year about her kids making gifts for each other. I thought it was such a cool idea that we tried it this year. This is what my girls made for each other, and they totally loved the process. I like that they have to think about someone else and put real effort and creativity into caring for them. My friend Brandie suggested letting kids wrap the presents themselves, so they also did that. So cute. And they are dying to see each other open them.





I too tried to make some gifts this year. These are for Charis and Nehemiah. I finished up Zoe's owl last nite, but didn't get a chance to photograph it yet. I love how they turned out, and I used Syndee's embellishments for my pattern. Maybe I'll write up a short tutorial sometime for the Scrap Girls newsletter about how I made them. So cool to used digital scrapbooking supplies this way...But they were seriously easy and hard to mess up.









Then I made this for Baby Luther. I got the idea/pattern from this inspiring woman. She also suggested putting a jingle bell in it as you're stuffing it, which I did. It makes a sweet little jingle now as you shake it...or as Nehemiah throws it as hard as he can at you. The cute little animals I found in this book by Aranzi Aronzo.

















I wanted to knit Tony a scarf, but it was a little too much to take on both learning how to knit and creating my first knitting project all within a couple weeks before Christmas. HA! I'm way too ambitious for my own good sometimes. I must say though, I've enjoyed the process of creating gifts for others this year. It's something I'd like to continue in years to come. Maybe even plan a little better for it, so I get started earlier. There is just something special about pouring my time, love and creativity into a gift to give to someone I love. It feels so much more special to me then to pick up something off a shelf that I'm not even sure if they'd like. Finances motivated me to do it this year, to keep Christmas buying costs down, but I fell in love with the process. It didn't hurt that I was taking Elsie's class at the same time, and she was throwing buckets of inspiration at us. I'll share a few other pictures after the holidays. I don't want to ruin my sister's present by posting it here too soon.

Also, wanted to be sure to share this post with you. John Eldredge was a professor of mine in Colorado for my last semester of school. Christianity truly came to life and became FREEing once I met this man and heard his heart. Anyway, he has some great thoughts on Christmas that are worth reading. I love how he talks about Christ's coming as a "rescue with fierce intention." The ultimate display of "FREEdom" and restoration. This time of year I love celebrating the idea of "collective redemption" as Obama would call it and all because of the birth of Christ.

Now Tony's parents are here for a few days and we are relaxing, making yummy food and enjoying each other's company. We'll get to be with his brother and family as well on Christmas day. It's going to be a simply beautiful holiday filled with delights. I hope yours is as well.