Homemade Christmas ornaments! (yeah, it's February)

I had this idea to make ODU ornaments for a few of my close friends at school this Christmas long before Christmas rolled around. I already had the ornaments and the plan of attack, I just failed to attack this project til....January. :P I finished them sooner than I thought I would...but still, it took me a while to put the finishing touches on them and get them wrapped up. Once I had them all boxed up for delivery, I kept forgetting to take the gifts to them. I'm proud to say, as of Super Bowl Sunday, my friends finally had their Christmas presents. :)

Our Little Tree

Here's our little tree from this past Christmas (accompanied by a few presents we got this year)! I can't believe this was our third Christmas together and our third cute little Christmas tree.

Also, here's Robert during our trying-on frenzy the day after Christmas--checking to see what fits and what doesn't and what is liked and what needs to be taken back to the store. :)

Christmas Eve with the Walpoles

After the Christmas Eve service, Robert & I headed over to Mom & Dad's for Christmas Even Beef Stew. (so delicious) As a Walpole tradition, taking a picture next to the tree and "putting an ornament on the tree" is a must.








During the day on Christmas Eve, I had made some pumpkin bread in snowflake bundt pans and began decorating sugar cookies. I didn't end up finishing up some decorating or putting together the baskets of goodies we were giving to several family members the following day. After dinner, both Robert and I rolled up our sleeves and got to completing my projects. Robert was such a huge help and while he probably wouldn't admit it, I think he enjoyed being creative with the cookie decorating; he was quite good at it, too! Robert in his creative peak made me an avant guarde cookie (picture below). :) With all of the cookie decorating and creative juices flowing, I got the idea of using decorated sugar cookies as gift tags-- I think this may become a tradition of mine. :)

Snowflakes & the Joy of the Season

One of my goals for this year was to make Christmas cards again! Last year, they were technically "New Year's cards" and I really wanted to get these sent by Christmas Day. While they were sent and delivered within a week after Christmas, I'm still impressed! :) Better luck next year, right?

Anyways, I saw these snowflakes stamps on a friend's webpage and just had to order them! (My mother and I have somewhat of an obsession with snowflakes.) And nothing would make these snowflakes more exciting than glitter! I really loved how these cards turned out--I feel like Joy is the one word that accentuates this Season more than anything. Without the real reason of Christmas, we certainly wouldn't know what true joy is and where it is derived.