Christmas Decorations 2011

My theme this year was simple…  we have a whole closet dedicated to Christmas decorations and we only put out a few choice ones.  I love how simple it is and how beautiful.

No train this year… my idea.  The kids rebelled a little, but quickly forgot about it. 

My little boot tree for my desk.

 

The reason for the season.

Our bit of fun.  Mom got me this years ago and he is still hanging in there.  He does spend most of Christmas deflated on the ground by Spencer’s room, but ever now and then the kids will plug him in and beat him up a bit.

I think this was his first year with us.  A little trip down memory lane with this cute little girl.  Taken 12/8/2005- the year Tyler was born.

 

Our family room little tree and stockings etc.  On the mantle- too small to see from here is my collection of nativities.  I keep getting small ones as gifts each year and so I put them on display in one place this year.  The gifts under the tree downstairs holds our advent- a Christmas book each day of December.  We are also doing a Jesus Chain in the upstairs living room- learning a story of Jesus each day of December.  (Well to be honest that one started on like the 5th!) 

My favorite little snowman.  Elaine made this for me one year.

The pizza the kids and I made for dinner the night we decorated. 

I also have been busy making batch after batch of  this:

Homemade caramel corn.  We packaged it like this for teachers this year.  We’ll also do some more this week for neighbors.  We have 17 teachers this year so it was a LOT of popcorn.  I think when all was said and done I made 14 quarts of popcorn.  (Spencer’s IEP team is 14 people alone!)  We had to eat some too of course.

Tyler’s 6th birthday

Tyler turned 6 on November 23rd this year- the day before Thanksgiving. He was born the day before Thanksgiving 6 years ago so it was kind of special.

It was a kid party year- we try to do kid parties every other year- saves my sanity a little- and we went bowling! It was fabulous. No mess to clean up, great food, fun for the kids and the best part was we got unlimited bowling!

(the little boy in green didn’t want to get his picture taken)

He wanted superman cupcakes so I ordered these fun blue cupcakes and some superman rings on amazon and presto! Superman cupcakes! Talk about easy. The added bonus was that all of the kids had blue teeth and lips for the rest of the party. I’m sure their parents were thrilled!

Sammie and Spencer came and this is Sammie with her doughnut. She’s such a trooper about having alternate snacks and treats.

I love how excited he got over a ball. I love little boys.

We all were home the day of his birthday for Thanksgiving break so we went to lunch at Pizza Hut buffet and opened presents. We dug out the birthday hat they all laughed at when they bought it for me. I think the joke’s on them though. I’ve saved it for everyone’s birthday! I think I’ll loose it again though in time for mine in March.

Cupcakes again- but these Sammie could eat. They were yummy too! Sammie helped decorate them and Tyler picked out the Buzz candle.

From Sammie. This kid LOVES power rangers. Especially Power Rangers Mystic Force. (whatever that is) I refuse to waste brain power on it.

We celebrated again with family in Jacksonville. It was a HUGE birthday week!