Hope

With Christmas passing by so fast I can't help but feel a sadness inside. About a week before I made a mental note that I need to keep the spirit in my soul. Since I was about 17 I have felt the Christmas spirit missing from me. Becoming a mom, I have really have fought to bring it back and embrace everything Christmas through out the holidays. This year was the first year that Carter is understanding what Christmas is, but not yet understands the meaning.

A young memory: When I was about 5, I remember walking into what is now Macy's;  then was Meier and Franks (which will always be missed!) with my dad, brother, and then step-mom. I remember the doors were so marvelous, mirrored glass and so big. It always reminded me of a beautiful mansion you'd see in the movies. Out side of these door, stood a bundled up middle aged woman ring a bell and wishing the gobyers a Merry Christmas. The gobyers would drop their change into her bucket and go on their merry way. As we walking by and almost through the store, my dad noticed that the little girl holding his hand was crying. My much worried Dad stopped and knelt down to me and asking,"why are you crying?" (One of the few times I've ever seen my dad show a sad and worried emotion.) I replied to him with my concern that we didn't give our change to the lady and didn't help. Then and there my dad realized that his little girl had a big heart for other and those in need. And I have never let the heart go.

Having such a heart, I desperately want to pass it on to my boys. This year I have started Carter in on giving to those in need. I collected blankets to give to the homeless and shelters. Carter and one of his friends this year were able to help me and his friends mom deliver blankets to kids in need among other items like baby wipes and toys. I also let him pick out the tags from the giving tree and help buy the items to fill them. 

Back to Christmas. Christmas Eve, I was able to host a Brunch for all my siblings and their families with my mom and grandpa. (Papa) This was the first year in many years that we have a Christmas meal with my mom and it felt so good that I was able to host a party for her and papa. This did the spirit into my soul for a short time while we were all together. Then it was back to all the hustle the season bring. Growing up with divorced parents, we were back and forth on Christmas Eve and Day between our mom's and dad's house.  

Being married it just adds that much more hustle.

This year I decided that it was time for us to start our tradition for our family and push the grandparents back a little bit. Some were not happy about it but  it is time now that Carter is understanding it all. It is important to us and ME that we have our own time instead of rushing threw ours to get to others houses. Even though my thought out cinnamon rolls didn't happen do to me being way too busy and tired we did start a tradition that I hope will last for many more years that but will not, we got to sleep in til 9:30! Very nice.

With the boys smiles at each gift opened it sure warmed my soul.

I hope that with the years to come my soul will be filled with more warming moments from the smiles and laughs of my boys. Until next year for more of those sadness to be filled with hope.

Hope your Christmas filled you soul with many memories with family and friends.

Just days away

Christmas is just days way.

As I watch the numbers on my countdowner I replay my to do list threw my head.

Although it is has come to just a few items, the items are not small tasks to do. I had a surprise visitor today so a few hours of my cleaning time was taken but was well worth it. Carter got some good play time in with his second cousins. 

Tomorrow is a new day and I think I can actually get it all done if I buckle down and do to. As I write, my dad calls me and says he has missing tool and behold it's sitting in my downstairs bathroom. Add one to the to do tomorrow list. 

Other items on the list for tomorrow:

Make zucchini bread
make my brothers zucchini bread
make rocky road

make cookie

sew my nephew's birthday presents and stuff it

clean the bathrooms

mop the kitchen

drop off stud finder at dad's

get family pictures

and a few others that will come to me tomorrow

Til tomorrow.....hope your shopping has come to a minimal and that you are enjoying the season!

Crafts and Gifts

I've been really busy this week with my boys, work, my house, and making presents. This year I have decided to make a lot of the gifts for our family parties, and a few for my family.

I love crafting.

Growing up I did little crafting,  mostly when I was in the young women's in church, I did. I've made cards and candles, little, but I somewhere I found a love for it.

 My both of my parents had me into photography. My mom studied photography in college, and my dad as well enjoys it. My siblings also enjoy photography. Other creative surroundings we grew up in: Mom always had us covered in "mud" making pottery (she is a wonderful pottiest) and my dad was always building stuff.

 I truly inherited these gifts from my parents, I'm always trying to think of how and what we can improve around the house next, and I might not be in mud all the time but I do enjoy and appreciate it. Every May mom and I go to the Portland Pottery show, if you've never been there I highly sudjest it. This year, Carter was old enough to play in the kids area and he had so much fun with it.

 Among many traits that I have inherited, my love really stays with the photography and crafts. In high school my bedroom walls were COVERED! in pictures of my friends, family, and me.

 I'm a very creative person. And sometimes I get my inspiration from me or simply see an item I like and think how can I make that better and me.  

Though I can't share now what I'm making I will after Christmas and will post pics.

Are you making any holiday gifts or decoration?

I really did want to make a fabric Merry Christmas banner this year but I didn't get to it fast enough so it will have to wait until next year.

Side note, I love this movie. It ment a lot because the year this came out I was having the same feelings as Cindy Lou Who. Faith Hills song really reached out to me. And my family and I visited Disneyland and Universal Studios that Thanksgiving and we got to tour some of the set items, gave a pic with the Grinch costume, and saw part of the village set that was still up.

Funny story about the lot tour.

The Psycho house is near the village and while on a break one day Jim Carry grabbed a knife, went over the house waited for the trolley to pass and ran down and jumped on it screaming. That would have probably been the scariest funniest thing.

So for a second question, what is your favorite(s) Christmas movie?

OH Christmas Tree

Last Sunday, my in-laws, my husband's great aunt and uncle, and my family were off on train ride. It was a merry time and set a great mood to finish off the month of November and start of December. Tuesday, Hubs and Carter got the tree stand out and up it went. The smile on Carter's face was just priceless and Mason was very interested in what this new item in our house was for him to get into and play with.

That night was started to dress it and it was then I realized that I was missing half or more of my ornament. Searching all the Christmas boxes, they were still no where to be found. While putting the lights up I head a sound that made me come to the conclusion that they have been broken over the years. The sound I heard was Carter braking mine and my husbands first tree ornament which was a Seahawk, but what else would it be.

Over the week I bought new ornaments replacing those that have been loss, but best of all while we were out trying to track down two new Seahawk stockings; one for Mason and me. While at the Just Sports in the mall, I was looking at other Seahawk items and just out of the corner of my eye there it was waiting for me to see it and take it home with us, the new replacement Seahawk ornament. Which now resides high upon my tree to match the other Seahawk items upon my walls, couch, Carter's bedroom and many clothing piece through out my house. Silver and blue are the colors to have around my home during the winter days.

Here is a picture of the newest Seahawk ornament and our stocking.....really wish we still had a fireplace to hang them from.

These are two of my favorite ornaments, the angel my grandmother Marsden made and the mouse my grandmother McAllister made. These make it so that my grandmother are still here with us every Christmas

G, S, C, M  The Mabry's

The two smaller are the new ones this year. We now all of Seahawk stocking. Daddy's, Mason, Mommy's, Carter's.

I'll post a picture of the finished tree once Carter puts the star on top. Busy week and haven't been able to "top" off the tree.

                  Do you have a favorite ornament or special something in your house for the Holiday?