My most thoughtful Christmas gift received of 2019

I told you yesterday that I would tell you about my favorite Christmas present this year. The present that Bill got me and that made me cry. So here is the story:

About a month and a half ago I helped out at the AHG craft show. When I arrived I handed the money bag with change into it to the coordinator in the main area of the show and then went to help Rebecca set up her table. Later at the craft show I looked down and realized that the diamond in my engagement ring was gone. I just happened to look down and one of the prongs was bent and it was gone. I had no idea when/where/for how long it had been gone. I called Bill crying because I had lost it. I was devastated. I looked all over the venue and in my van but could not find it. I felt like it was gone forever.

Well at the end of the craft show, I pulled the money bag out of the drawer in a separate room where the coordinator had put it that morning, to put the deposit in and there underneath the bag surrounded by a perfect circle of quarters was the diamond to my ring! All I can say is that it was a miracle and thanks be to God for putting it there. I truly feel He put it there. There is no other explanation. I brought the ring and diamond home and we had talked about taking the ring to get it fixed but life has gotten in the way and I thought we could do it in the new year.

Well Christmas morning, Bill asked me to open a large package from his last. Inside the large box was another smaller wrapped box. Inside that box was a small jewelry sized box wrapped. Bill surprised me and brought me to tears with my Christmas present. 

He secretly took my ring and diamond to the jewelry store and had it fixed. They had to completely redo the prong area but my ring is beautiful and I feel complete again.

I love you Bill and thank you for the best, most wonderful Christmas present this year! 

Christmas Eve and Christmas Day 2019

Before I recap our Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, I wanted to share with you all something that brought a smile to my face on the eve of Christmas Eve. I was doing dishes and looked out my kitchen window to see Santa and the Grinch on motorcycles out on our road. Apparently, these 2 guys do this every year in our town but this is the first year I saw them. 

This Christmas Eve we were dealing with illness. Jacob still wasn't feeling 100%. Ben was feeling bad and had a slight fever. It was really foggy out. Oh and did I mention that our hot water tank decided to spring a leak! 

However, we made the best of the situation. 

Our tradition is that we usually go out to our local Mexican restaurant and have a nice dinner out. Well with 2 kids being sick, we decided to get take out. Bill got Mexican food for us and got McDonald's for the kids. It wasn't our norm but was still a nice dinner at home.

After dinner, we "received" a package on the porch from Santa that said that since we were sick they mailed the package this year. Inside was wrapped up presents from Mrs. Claus that contained our traditional new pajamas.

After we changed into pajamas, we watched the movie "Elf" as per tradition. Then the kids went to bed and Bill and I got the presents under the tree before retiring to bed ourselves ready for big day!

Christmas morning the kids got us up around 8:05 and we headed downstairs to open stockings and presents. Ben still was not feeling 100% but he was fever free. From Santa Rebecca received a sewing machine, Jacob received an Ultimate Warrior wrestling figure, wrestling cards and NFL cards,  and Benjamin received a wrestling ring and 3 different wrestlers including the Undertaker.

The kids took turns opening their gifts and they loved them all. We did the 4 gift rule this year--- something to read, something to watch, something to wear (they all got hoodies), and something to play with. They loved the presentation of the gifts within the snowmen. I received some lovely gifts as well--- a very soft nightgown, a new Nora Roberts book, a griddle, a new knife set, and a special gift from Bill that blew me away (I will recap that gift tomorrow as it needs it's own explanation!). After gift opening we just hung out for a bit. 

Then we headed to my parents house for Christmas dinner. There the kids got some more fun gifts (much needed tennis shoes for all 3 kids, wanted dvds, Ben got some X-Men figures, and Rebecca got a boombox). 

It was a lovely afternoon finished off by Chinese takeout for the adults for dinner and pizza for the kids. Super easy and no one had to cook. 

After dinner, mom pulled out some fireball whiskey she had gotten and some apple crown royal for me to try. Not a fan of the crown royal but the fireball whiskey was pretty good ;)

Christmas evening was much different from Thanksgiving. It was stress free and everyone got along. The only negative was that my brother did not say one word to anyone except my mom. He never acknowledge me or Bill or the kids. It was weird. Before everyone left for the night we took our traditional family pictures...

We came home so that Bill could get ready to go to work and Christmas night I went to bed with a full heart and thankful for a nice Christmas. 

Merry Christmas!

From our family to yours, we wish you a very Merry Christmas!

LOTS of Christmas concerts and activities this past week!!

This week has been a marathon of Christmas related events involving the kids. We have had something every night for the past week. Makes for a LONG week but we made it through and it was very enjoyable. I really have been trying to be in the moment in these events and take it all in. 

Saturday morning Rebecca and I volunteered at a Santa's workshop festival. She helped with taking photos of Santa and the kids and I helped supervise the cookie decorating station. She had a lot of fun even though it was cold and raining outside. 

Rebecca and the other teenage girls that volunteered at the festival with Santa. 

Saturday night Bill, Rebecca, and I attended the boys' choraliers concert. This year both Jacob and Benjamin are singing in a community choir. They had their first big concert on Saturday night and to say that I came away from it totally impressed would be an understatement. I was blown away by the talent and the sound of this small group of kids. It was such a nice concert, and the boys looked pretty handsome as well! 

My choraliers all dressed up in their finest. 

Knox County Youth Choraliers (this is for the younger beginning singers through grade 5)

Knox County Youth Choir (Choraliers, Ensemble and high school)

Sunday after church, we took the kids to see Santa. Rebecca told me on Saturday that she knew that mom and dad were Santa but that she wasn't going to spoil it for the boys. :) The kids all told Santa their wishes.

The kiddos and Santa 2019

Ben asked for wrestlers.

2019

Jacob asked for sports cards.

2019

 Rebecca asked for a sewing machine. 

2019

After we saw Santa we took them to McDonald's as a treat... and let me tell you both Bill and I had upset stomachs and just felt off for 2 days after eating it. Fast food is definitely something we are going to be drastically cutting down on in 2020. We then took them to Dollar Tree and gave them a budget of $3 to buy their siblings something for Christmas. Bill took Ben around the store. I took Jacob and Rebecca did her shopping on her own. It was a fun way to get them to buy for each other.  

Monday night Rebecca had HER choir concert. This is the big combined Christmas concert with the middle school choirs and the high school choir. Again, I was highly impressed with the quality of the singing and music performed. They sounded awesome. I went by myself as Bill and I had to divide and conquer. The boys had their basketball pictures and practice that night for their upcoming Upwards season. Thankfully, the music department was live streaming the concert on Facebook so Bill was still able to attend in a way. Rebecca said that she had so much fun and that it was the best concert she has been a part of ever. 

Rebecca all ready for her 7th grade Christmas concert. 

Middle School choir (Grades 6-8)

Middle school and High school choirs combined

Tuesday the kids had a snow day as we had some ice come through in the morning time. I took the opportunity to have the kids decorate some sugar cookies that I brought home from the festival that I worked on Saturday. Even my babysitting kiddo got in on the act.

Cookie decorating 2019

Finished cookies 2019

Tuesday night, the kids had their final American Heritage Girls and Trail Life USA meetings of the year. The boys' Trail Life troop was doing a Nerf war so they had a blast. While they were at their meeting, Bill and I went on a date night and tried out a new to us restaurant... Buckeye Philly Steaks. Bill was able to get a lamb gyro and I had a cheesesteak and both were super yummy. The company was fabulous as well. 

Philly cheesesteak

Bill enjoying his greek lamb gyro

Last night, Bill, Rebecca, Ben and I went back to the same place where Rebecca's choir concert had been. This time we were there to see Jacob's school's winter concert, titled "Love is.." This was for the 3rd through 5th grades at his elementary. Jacob's class sounded great and again it was such a nice performance. Really does my heart good to see my kids perform and be in the spotlight. They really seem to enjoy it as well. 

Jacob Christmas concert 2019

The 4th grade classes

The 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade classes

Today, I am babysitting A and we will probably get into some crafts later. So far this week we have decorated cookies, made candy canes out of beads and pipe cleaners, made snowman crafts, and watched some Christmas cartoons. I am also staying near my phone as Jacob said he didn't feel too good this morning but he ate and didn't have a fever so he was going to school. Fingers crossed it is just the busyness that we have had. 

This weekend I really need to wrap presents. I have everything bought except for a present for my mom and my dad. What do you get grandparents that have everything and need nothing? Are you guys ready for Christmas? Have you attended any kids' Christmas concerts or plays this month? Have a great Thursday everyone!  

New and Reused Christmas Decorations for this year

This year I decided to spruce up some of our Christmas decorations-- adding in a few new simple changes and breathing some new life into our older Christmas decor. 

Over the last few years I have really wanted to get some Christmas pillows but HATE the thought of spending $14+ on one pillow, especially when we have perfectly good pillows on our couches. Well, I was browsing Amazon one night and found the perfect solution. I was able to get 6 pillow covers for less than $20 total. We have navy blue slipcovers on our couch and love seat, so I wanted to get something that wasn't red or green but was more festive than our orange and navy pillows that we had on our couch.

I ended up with these grey pillow covers for our larger 2 pillows and Christmas themed ones from Phantoscope brand for our 4 smaller throw pillows. They are GREAT quality and really add a special feeling to our living room! 

I have also added lights to our kitchen window this year, as last year I felt that the only Christmas we really had was in the living room (where we put our Christmas tree.) When we were putting up our Christmas tree I found a new unopened box of lights that we had bought last year. We needed half of them for the tree this year as we had a string that wasn't working, but there was still a whole strand left. So I used them in the kitchen window. I love being in the kitchen now as it is festive! 

I also added a new Christmas sloth figurine to my kitchen window sill that my mom bought me when we were in Pepper Pike a couple weekends ago with my sister. (I love sloths!) 

Finally, I bought a new sign for the outside of our entry door. I had a small metal sign that said Merry Christmas. It was looking bad. I thought about making a sign, and had actually gone to the store to price supplies out when I came across this sign (which is actually a yard sign, meant to put in your lawn) however I thought it would be perfect on our door and it was only $6. I couldn't buy the supplies for a sign for less than that so I was sold. I love it! 

Other that that we have used what we have. In fact, I have moved things around and changed things up a little bit and it makes our decor seem fresher. One of the big changes I made was that I decided not to place ALL of the stuffed animals around the bottom of our Christmas tree. I have TONS of Christmas stuffed animals that we used to put around the bottom of the tree to keep the kids from messing with the ornaments. Well the kids are older and I didn't want the mess. Instead we put a train around the bottom of the tree and it looks much better. I did put a couple out in front of our fireplace screen (our fireplace is non-functional) so that Ben could still play with a few and "A" that I babysit could as well. 

I moved a snowman sign that I used to hang in the bathroom to our front door. ( I am thinking I may redo the wood sign on the snowman, making it with Merry Christmas instead of the Happy Holidays--I just prefer saying Merry Christmas. For this year though it stays the same.) 

And I used my Santa cookie jar, that was my last Christmas present from my late Grandmother as our Advent countdown candy holder. In the past, I have bought the kids those cheap advent countdown calendars with a piece of chocolate behind each door. Well the last 2 years the kids haven't wanted to eat their chocolate as it tasted cheap and bad. This year I decided we could still do a countdown and read a Christmas story each night, but we could do a piece of good candy and they could pick from the Santa jar. I put nestle crunch bells, kit-Kat's, twix, etc. in there for the kids to pick. They are loving this much better than the gross chocolate from last year. And I am loving that I get to put my cookie jar into use and get reminded of my Grandma every night as the kids (and Bill and I too ;) get their candy. 

I also put Bill's Charlie Brown tree that he used to have at work in the kitchen this year. 

I am very happy with how the decorations have turned out this year! Decorations don't have to be expensive or bought new every year. I love the way mine have turned out this year incorporating a couple new things, reusing older decorations in new ways and keeping some decorations the same. 

Do you buy new decorations every year or reuse what you have?