It no longer looks anything like Christmas but...

So Christmas came and went in the blink of an eye and I've been so busy I haven't had any time to document it but so much work goes into the holiday I can't let it slip by unspoken of. Especially since I worked really hard to make a few things, I want to share.

Since I took my sewing class in the fall I've gotten really into sewing and we were in need of a tree skirt for our Christmas tree so I found a pattern for tree skirts and stockings. So the weeks leading up to Christmas I was really busy sewing the 4 of us new stockings to match the tree skirt I made.

We ended up with a really nice tree again. We're 2 for 2! And an added bonus - we made it home with the tree still in tact on the roof of "ghetto Gary". [Last year we got our tree around the corner from where we live and we didn't make it a quarter mile before the twine broke and Dave had to stick his arm out the window to hold on to it while I drove realllllly slowly home.]

Our tree skirt and new stocking


Our poor angel had a sore neck after 3 weeks of being stuffed on top of the tree.


Our Christmas table runner I sewed

And the most tedious of all the projects that I didn't finish until Christmas eve, eve was our new wreath made out of ornaments. I had seen similar type wreaths for sale in the stores for $30-50 and then after seeing people were making their own on a couple of the crafty blogs I follow I decided to try myself. Lots of glitter and a hot glue blister later:

At least next year I won't be so busy making decorations and I can put more of that energy into making a few more gifts.

We were even lucky enough to have snow on the ground for Christmas this year.

Some of our other decorations around the house:

This year I got to put up the village my dad gave me for Christmas last year.

We got to enjoy the holiday with our families. As always we were super spoiled! Dave got his much wanted tool chest and lawn spreader and I got my steam mop (which I'm addicted to) and fabric steamer and much needed socks;

I realize admitting these things really ages me or makes me seem really lame but that's just who I am! I got a ton of painting supplies so I can start working on my next hobby! And a new set of plates I've been coveting for the past 6 months that no one knew about, MIL is just THAT good! And we got a model sail boat for our bay window which we've wanted for a loooong time (before we even had a bay window)! Among many other wonderful things! Jen and I agreed to exchange mostly handmade gifts. She made me some really nice jewelry and a fancy crocheted scarf and tube scarf and hat! And I made her a bag and necklace.

I even made Dave a handmade gift:

I don't think anyone loves Christmas more than Roxy and Ollie, all the visitors and new stash of bones & treats = heaven!