Homemade Christmas

We made all of our Christmas gifts this year, which made for a very busy few weeks leading up to Christmas!

Clay working on Jemma's gift, a kitchenette. We got the tutorial on how to make it off of Ana White's website, which is full of tutorials on how to make all sorts of furniture. Clay's got a lot of projects lined up.

Painting it.

Isn't it beautiful unpainted. I'm so proud of his woodworking abilities!

Showing Jemma how to work the oven door.

Clay splurged and spent an extra $10 on the faucet, because he wanted Jemma to have one that said "Hot" & "Cold" on the handles. I sewed the ruffle curtain.

Playing with her kitchenette accessories at home.

I made Peace & Joy dishtowels for a few family & friends. After making all of them I realized I should have sewn the bobble trim between the fabric and the dishtowel. So, if yours falls off I'll gladly replace it. Sometimes it's trial and error with sewing!

My brother went to Israel this past year, so I used pictures from his travels to make travertine coasters. I got the idea off of The Gaines Gang blog. I couldn't get a good picture because of the slight sheen on the coasters. The detail of the pictures is amazing!

Christmas aprons! My mom's turned out better than mine, I think the gold ric rac kept the edging from curling. Look for these on my etsy shop! Or just ask me to sew one for you!

These are some pics of us playing with Jemma outside. She's wearing the red pea coat I sewed for her. She's such a thrill-seeker! Spinning around & around & being thrown up in the air!

Love those little curly piggies!

The Big Picture

Christmas this year was great. We are so excited for next year, because we will be able to celebrate more with Jemma the true meaning of Christmas, the birth of Jesus Christ. It is central to our beliefs and it paves the way to Jesus' death and resurrection. This year we brainstormed all the ways to add more Christ into our Christmas for next year. We started this year by getting her the Little People nativity set. She loved throwing them and kidnapping baby Jesus. Every time I ask her where baby Jesus was she would say "moo moo," because baby Jesus was next to the cow. Well, we have to meet her at her 15 month old level. We would sit her down and use the people in the nativity to tell her the story of Jesus's birth. She was captivated by it. I have felt no greater joy than sharing Christ with my baby girl. God sent His son to earth humbly in a manger, not high & lofty like the King He was, to ultimately die for her sins & your sins. Because He loves us so much. I long to be the parent that shares Christ with Jemma every day through my actions and words being drenched in His love and mercy. This is the big picture for us.

Well, we spent a lot of time with family over the weekend of Christmas. There was a lot of gift-giving and receiving. And a lot of great time spent together. We love our families and wouldn't trade precious time with them for anything!


Here are a ridiculous amount of pictures! Enjoy!

Jemma decked out in Santa gear eating. It's so cute every time she sees Santa she says "ho ho ho."

Cuddles with GiGi.

We spin Jemma around all the time! She loves it!

Before Christmas Eve service.

Our sweet little present.

Jemma clenching her fists and making a silly face. This is the EXACT same expression Clay used to do as a baby around this age. There's proof on video. I saw her doing it one day at home and thought I'd seen it before and remembered the videos of Clay when he was a baby. Freaky!

She loves to go in Wrigley's cage and shuts the door herself.

Monkeys jumping on the bed, one of Jemma's favorite games! Christmas morning Brendan woke us up...this never happens. We usually end up having the dogs pounce on him to wake him.

The hat didn't stay on long.

Frame-worthy

Love them squishy cheeks!

The kitchenette her Daddy built her! Yes, he build it from scratch! He's a man's man!!!

It's beautiful! I'll post pictures of all the elbow grease put into it soon.

The apron I made my mom. She loved it & wants me to make more! Maybe you'll see one on my Etsy shop soon.

Her obsession, Baby Alive. My little mini-Mommy.

Another awkward sleeping picture to add to my collection. She pooped out in the middle of opening presents.

Sink baths are the best!

What sound does a monkey make? "Ooo Ooo Ooo"

Uncle Dan was smitten with Jemma. She would ask him "up!?!" to sit in his lap. Precious.

Eating with a fork. She loves it.

We've moved to Christmas with Granmommy. A hilarious vampire passie.

She loves "na na."

A "Hug-a-Bible." It's great cause the pages are cardboard and it is mostly pictures. So toddler-friendly!

Sometimes in the middle of playing, Jemma will plop on the ground and rest for a second.

She adores Uncle Mike.

Granmommy!

So tired.

Now we've moved to Big Daddy and Granny's Christmas. Jemma had sooooo much fun playing with her cousins!!!

Rio jamming out to his electric guitar. Jemma was such a groupie.

Rio the Rockstar!!!

Uncle Jan & Ryleigh

Ryleigh & me!