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Friday, December 18, 2009

3 Things...

Ok... this post is about 3 totally unrelated things....

Today my Dad & I took the changing table out of Madalynn's room (I had wanted to keep it until she was about 5 so I don't have to chase her around the house to get her dressed but alas that was not meant to be).  It's one more baby thing that it's time to let go of.  The reasoning for doing it is really motivated in further toddler proofing her room now that she has free reign to get in & out of bed.  She has climbed on the 2 bottom drawers twice (that I know of), and they had become pretty non functional, which was a big frustration to me.  She has a lovely dresser, with drawers that work (and more of them)painted to match her room (I'll have to work on some fabulous perhaps decoupaged knobs after Christmas).  It will be nice to have all the extra drawer space, and get her clothes more organized... I was starting to go a bit crazy.

So since my last post I've become obsessed with looking at all the other beautiful homes on the tour decorated so lovely for Christmas (there are now over 1000 posts).  I've gotten lots of inspirational ideas from what I've seen, that I'm hoping I'll remember next year.  I need to make a list.  I'm also struggling (as part of my nature) not to feel bad about my home & decorations.  This is my human nature.  Thankfully the Lord reminds me of several things... the decorations aren't what it's about... to Madalynn they're magical... that's all that matters.  Additionally as I mentioned I've gotten some fabulous ideas... many of which are free (use what I already have) or VERY inexpensive.  So I've made a few updates to the decor I want to share...

I ALWAYS wanted to have a window over my sink in my kitchen, and this house I have it...so I realized this window was SCREAMING for some decoration... so garland, red beads, a couple cranberry wreaths, and I have a window dressing.  The only thing I had to buy were the wreaths (which were 1/2 off at Michael's so I think they were about $3.and are actually garland I just didn't unwrap).  The 18 feet of garland I spent half an hour wrapping lights around only to discover the lights didn't work... LESSON learned so another 1/2 hour unwrapping those lights, and putting on new ones... we have this...

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The window at night...

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I also found these adorable ornaments at Target today (.99 for a pair!!)... so I have these hanging on the knobs of my kitchen cabinets... I LOVE the white & red together...

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Two more free projects...

a vase I already had filled with ornaments & ribbon I already had( I adore RIBBON).

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My light fixture in my dining room with some greens I cut off the tree, and some extra ornaments hanging from it...although part of me thinks it needs some ribbon too...

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Also, thanks to Ga-Ga... what would Christmas be without Snoopy & Woodstock...

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I also forgot this in my first post...our advent 'wreath' my Mom gave us last Christmas... while I know Madalynn doesn't 'get' our nightly reading with the lit candles, she thinks blowing them out is the big fun, it's a tradition I've begun that I know will take root in her heart.

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The third random thing is just some Madalynn love...

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This picture you can really see her chipped front tooth... I think I forgot to blog how at my Grandmother's funeral she was running with her cousins, and ran full speed head on into a mirror...

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I'm really trying to not get stressed out in the final days leading toward Christmas (my lists have lists), and just enjoy this time.

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Christmas Tour Of Homes

”Christmas

Following the lead of Bethany (your getting to be a regular on my blog, and I can't get the code to work either), I'm participating in the Nester tour of homes...

So, Madalynn & I welcome you to our decked halls, and invite you in, we'll start a fire, give you some homemade cookies, and some hot cocoa, and wish you a Merry Christmas...

Sorry this picture is so fuzzy, but it's the little tree on our front porch that welcomes you...

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Our Merry Christmas wreath...

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I use ribbons w/ tiny clothespins to display our incoming Christmas cards...

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I love this hutch, and try to change it seasonally... I've been looking for a big star to put on the top but haven't found one yet...

You can see Madalynn's gingerbread house on the top shelf...

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On the bottom shelf I have a quilted table runner my grandmother made me years ago...

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I love this nativity I got in Guatemala a couple years ago... I just think it's the sweetest...

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I also have a collection of Longaberger Christmas baskets as my former employer gave us the Christmas basket every year...

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I love this little plate... I bought it a few years ago for a Yankee Swap but I liked it so much I kept it & got something else for the swap...

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Our tree at night...

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During the day...

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One of Madalynn's favorite ornaments... it was one I had as a little girl that I always loved too. I always had to make sure there was a light bulb directly in back of it to illuminate the dove. Some family friends made this for us, and I think it's made out of a tuna can...

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Her other favorite, an animated Winnie The Pooh... this is our ONLY child ornament on the tree... I feel kind of bad about that, but I know those years are ahead...

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These are the books Madalynn & I read each night before bed...

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Our stockings hung by the chimney... I long to have a mantle.

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Our sliders...

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Snowflakes on our back deck...

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I hope you enjoyed the tour... I have many ideas for next year already!! Merry Christmas from our house to yours...

Saturday, December 12, 2009

Giveaway

Check out my dear friend Bethany's blog for an awesome giveaway for a great cause. She's another adoptive Mama, and her & I meeting was totally a God thing!!

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

Great Book...


I've been looking for Christmas books, and movies that will show Madalynn that Christmas isn't all about Santa, and presents. I found this book today ("The Spirit of Christmas" by Nancy Tillman). I read it to her twice before bedtime, and cried both times while reading the last page. It is a beautiful story with gorgeous illustrations. I highly recommend it...

The last line "... the best part of Christmas will always be
you under my Christmas tree."

Sunday, December 6, 2009

Time of traditions...

I was pondering the other day what it is exactly that creates such a special joy around Christmas.  It occurred to me that I think there is a comfort, and security that comes from traditions.  Life is continually changing, but with the Christmas season we find constants... we put up a tree, hang our stockings, send cards, bake cookies.  It delights me to get out the Christmas cookie cutters I used as a little girl.  Suddenly I'm back in the kitchen I grew up in, sneaking a lick out of the bowl while my Mom's back is turned.  My prayer is I'm giving Madalynn those same memories of comfort & warmth.

So, today was one of those traditions we went to Grandma & Grandpa's to decorate gingerbread houses with the cousins.  God bless my parents.  I can't even think about Madalynn's sugar consumption between the M&M's, and the frosting.

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Saturday, December 5, 2009

Christmas card out-takes...

As I've mentioned Madalynn DOES not cooperate with the camera!!  She was better than usual yesterday morning in trying to get a picture for the Christmas card... here are some of the ones that didn't make the cut...

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