A sparkly new sign, made it into my Christmas decor. (Hand painted by my fellow Shabby Mama, Andrea.)

The felt “board” was laid out with our Velcro Nativity set.

My sil, Carly, gave all the sils a meaningful Christmas ornament. It means a lot to me, as I don’t have any biological sisters.

Did I mention, cookies already? We ate a lot of frosting too.

Feliz Navidad,

Jessy

Happy Holidaze…

Are you in sugar shock just like I am? I am scrapping the bottom of the Peppermint ice cream carton as we speak. There is always January at the Y, right?

My Christmas was delightfully busy yet calm-ish. I hope yours was too!

Baking, giving, reading, visiting and threatening (to take new toys away for crabby behavior -I love this time of the year).

I am pretty strict, unless we are talking about extra cookies after supper, then I cave.

I have been  brain storming some After-Christmas Christmas crafts using Holiday leftovers…no, not ham and potatoes.

Love,

Jess

P.S. Here is a sneak peek

Save your old Advent calendars!!!

I get together every year with my mom, sisters-in-law (and their mothers), and my mother-in-law to bake. We call it Cookie Day.

But really, it is a day each year to connect with one another. Some of us bake, others do projects to help them get ready for Christmas (like addressing Christmas cards), and still others nurse their crying babies…ehem.

It is a time to connect, create and celebrate during an otherwise busy season.

What I remember and cherish about Cookie Day:

• Smelling cookies baking and candles burning (thankfully, not cookies burning!)
• Feeling fresh, cold air hit my face, as the patio door opens to let out bakers cooling their warm treats
• Tasting chicken salad sandwiches, white wine and a lot of nibbles of “that pieces is broken I might as well eat it now” cookies
• Listening to Christmas carols and a lot of conversation
• Seeing community and love being built by generations of women working side-by-side

Oh, yes, I did find the time to get the new-to-me work bench set-up (phase one – still more organizing and cuteness to come) in the garage. SO, Pete can finally park in the garage!

Love,

Jess

This post was linked up with The Preacher’s Wife for her “How We Christmas” blog post party.

My new star lights. They twinkle. They said twinkle on the box. Before I paid for them wish I would have seen the word, twinkle. Sorta pretty, the little eye spasms they are.

Ry helped me bake some White Chocolate Peppermint Scones. It was given to me as a dry-mix Christmas gift. Super Yummy. So Yummy, the Y in Yummy is staying capitalized.

FYI: I am seeing the Nestle white chocolate red and green swirls chips on way-clearance everywhere. They are totally worth the buy.

**growl**excuse me, I think I need to go downstairs and eat more right now!

If  you have convinced yourself, I only spend my evenings staring at tiny bulbs and gorging myself into near sugar shock in peaceful quiet bliss. Let me correct you.

It’s noisy here.

WALL-E joined our family post-Christmas. Grammy Lu and Papa Den’s Santa sent it in the mail. The Elves said it had fallen off the sleigh. He is buzzing around our home very nicely. Thank you elves!

The above photo is of Molly’s love-hate relationship with WALL-E. She runs away when he gets too close but she never stops talking to WALL-E. We even have to say good night to him before she’ll go to sleep.

Speaking of noise. Sack race anyone?

Last night, at the final Christmas party of the year (Hi Aunt Karen!), I received a few reusable Target bags filled with lovely, fun treats and movies (yes, for future nights of staring and gorging). Little did I know that the bags would be so…how do you say?…useful?

Ry hopped right out of his Target bag as he rounded the corner.

Some of my photos can be so soothing, inspiring, and pleasant. Don’t be fooled. The noisemakers, as V from V and Co. calls her children, are always nearby.