Christmas Throw back

I found this picture of the gift I made for my dad in my file of pictures still to blog... so I dont think I ever shared this... if I did... sorry for repeating myself.
My Dad is horrible to buy for. He and my mom have worked hard their whole lives and now are in a position where really if they really want something they can go get it. So I am always perplexed as to what to get him. The man doenst even really have many hobbies! But like most people in my family he LOVES to eat and snack and as an added bonus He loves his two little grandkids, which I am lucky enough to be the mom of! So I use that alot.
I found some glass pasta sauce jars (the lids where white I didnt even have to paint them!) then I labeled them and found some pictures to go along with them and filled them with my dad's favorite treats. Now he can take them to work and display them on his desk and have a snack while admiring his funny grandboys!
This was super easy and beyond cheap! I needed pasta sauce anyways and it only took one sheet of cardstock to cover all three jars!

New Christmas Tradition

Merry Christmas Eve everyone! I love this time of year. Its been especially fun this year as my little boys have been super excited. Like many of you out there I am sure that we share a common Christmas tradition; Christmas eve Pajamas! I love getting new slippers or Jammies on Christmas eve! But this year we have added something new for a tradition with my little men. See I love books and reading. So this year and every year after this since I love the idea so much, I have added a story book to the jammies. I thought what better then snuggling in a new pair of Jammies is reading a bed time story with it! Its awesome. So tonight Jaxon snuggled with Mama in his new digger jammies and reading a new digger book!
  Why I didnt think of this before Ill never know!

From Jaxon... To owen

Today has been a day... so yes I am doing a post of something I did a while ago with Jaxon. he is Three and is now old enough to remember past christmases and get really excited. I guess it helps too having me has a mom who starts planning christmas in like September. And where did I get that from... Oh my momma!
This year Jaxon really understand presents. So he was wanting to make sure that Owen got a present from him. So we went to the store and picked something out. Then a little while later for Craft time one afternoon we made wrapping paper. Jaxon made his own wrapping paper to wrap his present to his little brother Owen... sweet eh??

Jaxon loves stamping!

I helped stamp on some words...

Preschool gift

As we are approaching Jaxon's last week of school before the Winter Holiday I thought it was about time if I got my butt in gear and busted out the little goodies I had planned for him to give to his class mates. It was super easy! All I did was paint lids to baby food jars (which I had a ton of from when owen was little) Then I punched out a read circle and Jaxon helped me stamp on christmas stamps and I wrote "Happy holidays from jaxon" around the edge of the circle. Then I filled the jars with green and Red M&Ms (Jaxon says those are his favorite!) and done and done...

What kid out there doesnt like little chocolates!?!

Teacher Christmas Gift

This is the first year I have had teachers to make Christmas Gifts for. I was super excited then I was made even more excited because Jaxon's two teachers at Leap n Learn are AMAZING. He Loves them so much and talks about them all the time. Since they make him so happy I LOVE them. I have had the opportunity to help out in the class room and watch them in action and I am beyond impressed with them. The ROCK!
  So here is what I made for them... I hope they like it. Its a Super easy, quick, inexpensive gift. I think they turned out super cute!

I made Monograms out of Crayons. So you need to get crayons, cardstock and shadow boxes. Oh and I glue gun.

I found these super cute templates on the internet... I cant remember where ... but thats to who ever had this on their site! I just changed the names and monogram to match Jaxon's teachers and printed onto the cardstock.

Then you Cut the crayons to match the shape of the Monogram and glue it onto the cardstock. Only use the low setting on the glue gun... it melts just a thin layer of the wax. But it works great!

Once you are done but them in the shadow box. I put a little colored cardstock behind just to give it an added punch of color!

VOILA!

Christmas Card

Check out this super cute card I made... Im pretty impressed with myself.

I have to give a big Thank you to my beyond amazingly talented friend Elisa who taught me out to make this penny slide cards. The snow flake is attached to two pennies making it spin from side to side as you tilt the card. I know! Super Cute!

Christmas Devotional

Tonight was one of my most favorite nights of the year. It was the First Presidency Christmas devotional. I always love it. I love to see the decorations and hear the music and the sweet messages. I have a paticular soft spot for these three great men. But that sweet spot grew even more for Pres. Utchdorf tonight. Here is why. Jaxon was sitting there playing DS and not paying attention... but I was just glad my three yr old was being quiet so I could listen. Then Pres Utchdorf starts quoting from How the Grinch Stole Christmas. Jaxon instantly stopped what he was doing and then listened quite intently for a while. he was thrilled to hear some of his favorite story.
  This had been a great weekend for me. I have been getting Tons of projects done! Stay tuned because this coming up week Ill be posting more felt food, a fun teachers gift and a creative christmas gift... among other things Im sure!
  This is one crazy week Im heading into. lets hope Manic Me Sticks around long enough for me to get through it.
   back to the Devotional... I love how it brings in the true meaning of Christmas. I want to give a shout out to my Awesome friend Karrie... she has helped to organize an amazing Christmas service project. She is collecting everything needed to provided christmas to 10 under priviledged families leaving in calgary.I loved this because I always want to help out and give service at Christmas... but I dont know how to organize it or sometimes I forget in all my hussel and bussel... so Thanks Karrie!

Christmas Tradition

I am having so much fun getting ready for Christmas this year. I love Christmas but this year is especially great because my oldest little fellow is now old enough to really get into Christmas with me. So I am now able to pass on my family traditions to him.
  One of my all time favorite Traditions is Muffit the Christmas angel. Way back when I was little... Im talking 1986... my Grandma Ellen got us a Christmas book filled with all sorts of stories. It was big and red and glossy... it was magical. The best part of the book was a 24 day count down to Christmas. It is a story about a little angel who is all thumbs working in the Christmas department of Heaven. Each day dec 1-24 you read a bit of the story. I love it. Apparently its a really rare book and its made even rarer by having the muffit story in it. My mother has looked high and low and all over the internet for copies but even when she thinks she has found another copy... alas it has everything but the 24 muffit stories. Sad eh??
  Well I currently have the Big red book in my house... I think thats only because I am the only one of my siblings to have any kids at the moment... Grandbabies always win out! So Mama Nelson had passed on the book to me so I can share the tale with Jaxon and owen. Jaxon is loving it. Im not sure how much of it he is getting but he gets super excited and asks for it each night... Im pretty sure its because of two things... he loves numbers and counting so advents and other count downs thrill him and now he thinks he is getting 4 stories instead of his regular 3!
  I just love having someone to read the story to!
What are your favorite traditions?

Christmas is coming!

Yes I am one of those people who is insanely in love with Christmas! Besides the snow, its wonderful! I plan for christmas pratically the entire year. And now that Halloween is about over its time for the hard core planning and prep to begin! I have nothing standing in my way now! Yippie!
  So besides all the projects I am working on as gifts there are a few I have on the side. One is I want to do a 12 days of christmas crafts with Jaxon and Owen this year. So for the 6 weeks leading up to Christmas I am going to do a different craft on Tuesday and thursday. Its going to be awesome! here is my game plan
Nov 16 - Toilet paper roll snowmen
Nov 18- Snowflakes
Nov 23 - cards for Grandparents
Nov 25 - make your own gift wrap
Nov 30 - Picture frame for the picture with Santa
Dec 2 - Ornaments
Dec 7 - Letter to Santa
Dec 9 - Gift bags
Dec 14 - Gift Tags
Dec 16 - Make your own Christmas Crackers
Dec 21 - Cookies
Dec 23 - Chocolate Covered Pretzles!
  I think it should be a good time! Anyone want to join in the fun?!?!