Christmas Playgroup

This past Tuesday we had a playgroup at our house.  It was actually supposed to be the week before, but Madeline had a croup episode the night before the morning of was not a very good morning.  Anyway, we postponed it until this week. 

Mads and Abs helped me get ready by coloring a sign for one of the games we played.  They are both very helpful and sweet. 

Our friends came over and we made a reindeer craft, using the kids handprints as antlers. Then we played some games - Pin the nose on the reindeer, Frosty's snowball toss, Stack the presents, and the kids danced to some Christmas tunes. Then the kids finished the activity off with some reindeer cupcakes.
Even though half our friends couldn't make it (due to the date change) we had a good time!

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Snowflakes

I love paper.  There are SO MANY things you can do with paper, and one of my favorite's is making snowflakes at Christmas time.  This year we discovered snowflakes in 3D! I can't WAIT to get back to the States to buy two sided silver and gold scrapbook paper for next year's snowflakes!

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Christmas Cookies

For many years I put my urge to craftify on the back burner for things like college and working full time. Now that I have a little bit of time of my hands (NOT MUCH, believe me) I am trying to fit in any kind of craftiness I can.
Hence... Christmas cookies for my friends and neighbors. It's also a really fun thing to do together as a family. Of course, this year Madeline's only interest in Christmas cookies was eating them.

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Christmas Decorations Homemade

More homemade Christmas decorations!!

Madeline and I made a Santa, a snowman, and two reindeer for our front window.  We used paper, markers, crayons, scissors, cotton balls, and tape.  Madeline glued and colored the snowman entirely by herself.

Here is a wreath I bought last year that I spruced up with some glittery balls and ribbon.  A VERY quick craft to brighten up our dreary front door.

Here is our front window display.  We have received many compliments for our efforts from kids and parents alike. Madeline is very proud of her snowman. 

I had some pine garland from last year. It was just enough for around the living area entrance and up the stair banister.  I spruced it up with cooked playdough shaped like gingerbread men and painted.  I also curled some ribbon and layed it all over to add some shine and color.

One of my gingerbread men.  I hung these guys on all the shelves in the living room and dining room area and on the garland.

My coffee filter angel tree with salt dough cooked ornaments.  And that tree skirt?  It's an actual old white skirt of mine that I have always hated on.  Works nicely as a tree skirt!

We brought our advent house with us from the States. It was one of the only Christmasy things we thought would get through without any troubles.  We purchased our countdown santa and white glitter Christmas tree her at a couple of the craft fairs they have on camp this time of year.  There are a TON of crafty women and men on camp.

And finally, we did not make this one, but it is homemade and we love it.  Our outdoor wooden Christmas tree that we bought from a friend. Her and her husband are very talented.  We bought a yard pumpkin from them at Halloween.  They plan to do stuff like this for almost every holiday.  A very smart idea in a place like this and a great way to make some extra money for whatever reason you might want to.

Coffee Filter Angel

Christmas in Saudi Arabia is a little different than in the States.  Here it isn't so easy to find anything that has to do with the holiday, and if you DO find it, it's usually ridiculously expensive and not really worth your money - unless you just can't wait and are totally desperate. 

So this year I am finding myself MAKING a lot of our Christmas decor.  It has been really fun, and actually sort of therapeutic for me.  I get these ideas and I just go with them. 

Paul and I decided not to bring most of our Christmas stuff with us when we moved here because of the relgious laws and restrictions on anyone non-muslim.  We didn't want to risk losing our precious ornaments and other things. Long story short, we had nothing to decorate with for the holidays.

So last year there was a lovely group of women who put together a sale for new people. I went, spent some money on a few things (knowing I would eventually get all my stuff from the States and bring it back) and I entered a raffle to win a tree. 

I won a tree!  I was able to find a few ornament type things at a local craft store and I tied some ribbons on them and called it good.  Being 9 months pregnant and having a 2 year old who is excited easily it was enough. 

This year is different. We didn't get a chance to go through our things on repat so we still had nilch.  We have a three year old who is beginning to understand the season and what Christmas is all about. 

So... I had to idea to make a homemade angel for the top of the tree - among many other homemade things.

I started with a plastic ball, two plastic knives, a paper cup, a plastic cup and my trusty glue gun.  I LOVE my glue gun. 

I began kind of late, and these guys wanted to hang out with me.  It took me until about 1 am to finish so this is what they did while I was working...

Here is the finished product!  I painted the ball with some acrylic paint, added some doll hair, and used coffee filters to make the dress, halo, and wings.  A few other random things like left over hard dough from our homemade ornaments and some felt and fake plant leaves and ribbon helped add some finishing touches.

Here she is on the tree. I am really pleased with how she turned out.  It really completes the tree and it makes the holidays and our home even more special this time of year.

My angel has brown hair because most of the angels in my life have brown hair... my mom, my daughters, my sisters, my best friends... it just made sense.

Nancy's Nerf Too!

A couple of nice pieces of scrapbook paper, some stickers, and a glue stick and we have a much nicer looking backboard for a lovely little girl...


We're having lots of fun with the Nerf hoop.

Madeline loves to do slam dunks!

Just A Quick Update.

Things around here have been busy. We're all excited for Madeline's upcoming birthday (This Thursday my baby will be one!) and for Grandma and Grandpa Mevec to come visit.

Paul's been working late a lot this week and Madeline has missed him very much. I told her the other day that her Dada was on his way home and she sat at the door in her walker staring at the door for like 15 minutes until he finally got home. It was adorable.

Madeline has been trying to find new ways to extinguish her vegetables. Anything but actually EAT them. The other day I pulled her into the kitchen to be with me while I put some dishes in the dishwasher. She wasn't quite finished with her dinner... next thing I see is this:

She had pulled the silverware drawer open and started putting her beans in it.

Here's Madeline wearing the tutu I made her. It's a little big on her (as far as the length) but I don't think I will cut it down because I sort of like it how it is. It's hard for her to move around in so I probably won't have her wear it at her birthday party like I originally planned. I will probably get her pictures taken in it though because she is the cutest baby on the planet.

And I'm sure when she is older she can wear it to dance and play in. That material you use to make tutu's is so cheap I may just make her another one that is a bit smaller (if I have some time).

Have a great week!!

I Just Have To Tell You.

I am making Madeline a dress. This is a monumental moment for me because I have actually never made anything of worth using a sewing machine before. I have always wanted to be one of "those" moms... like my mom was. She made matching clothes for us all the time when we were growing up. So, without a pattern or even pins, I am attempting to make a little sundress with some material I have had in a box for some time now. I happen to have some matching ribbon that I may use. I'm just so excited that I am skipping several steps. I hope to finish it today (I started it today while Mads was napping). If it turns out like crap, maybe I'll follow a pattern next time... we'll see.

To Be Continued...