Merry Christmas!!!!  I love this time of year!  So many yummy goodies and happiness all around!

I love to see so people around the world united in celebrating the birth of the Savior.  It is so magical.  People collecting gifts and food and giving to others.  The happiness this season spreads such feelings of peace during difficult times.

It always amazes me!

This year we drove from Florida to Northern Virginia to celebrate Christmas.  We have been busy meeting up with good friends and family.  I made these yummy Christmas tree brownies to bring to dinner at a friends house.

Just make your favorite brownies and cut them into triangles using a pizza cutter.  Have fun decorating them with your kiddos!

We had such a good time making them even though we left them sitting on the counter when we left for our friends. Ha!  Doesn’t the thought count more than actually remembering to bring the goodies along???  My mom got to take them to work to pass out to her coworkers instead!

 

 

 

 

 

My six year old never attended official preschool.  I sort of did my own thing and worked with him at home.   At the beginning of the school year my little monkey came home and wouldn’t tell me what he learned.  He said I wouldn’t know what it was anyway.  I assured him that I had gone to school before too.  He said that he was sure I had no idea what natural resources were since I had never mentioned them to him before!  Funny boy!

So today he came home blabbering on and on about George Washington and Abraham Lincoln.  He was going on about how they did this or that and how long ago they lived.  Then he demanded to know, “how could you have not told me about them before!”  Love this kid!

He was also disgusted to learn that there use to be a public library that would only let white people check out books.  Good job little six year old… you are already wiser than all your ancestors!  He was excited to tell me about how this 9 year old boy refused to be bullied and worked to get the law changed so that everyone would be able to check out books.  Oh how I love this smart little guy!

Anyway, here is an easy yet incredibly adorable Valentine’s Card you can make at home with your kiddos.  It’s so easy and is a great card to make for Daddy’s and Grandparents!  I made this card with the kids I babysit.

All you need to do is cut out three large hearts from construction paper.  Let the kids paint or decorate them.  When they are done, use a thick black marker and put and “I”  on one, “Love” on the other, and “You” on the last one.  Take a picture or your little guy holding each heart.  Use the pics to make a cute Valentine’s Card.  Top it off by having your  little guy write a letter in his or her own handwriting.

 

 

After seeing how much a decorated wreath costs, I decided I wanted to make my own.  I am not especially crafty, but I like to try. 🙂  I was very proud of my results… yes, I am still bragging!  I have already bragged to everyone I know (that includes picture texts to my sisters in Florida and anyone else who comes to my door).  Yes, I am just that dorky proud.  🙂I was checking out prices and to get a wreath similar to mine it would cost $35.  I made mine for so much cheaper!  I wish I would have saved the receipt so I could show you how little I spent.  I got the supplies at Michaels.  I went the day before Thanksgiving when all of their Christmas stuff went on sale. Everything was 50% – 70% off (including the ribbon). They also let me use a 25% off my total purchase coupon that came in the weekend mailer.  So fun, so easy!  You basically just pick out the pieces you like and design them around the wreath, then glue them in.  I only bought one set of red berries and then cut the stems to make more pieces.

Before I made this wreath I had no idea even how to tie a bow. Haha… yes, I meant what I said about not being especially crafty.  Anyway, I watched this How-to video and it was so easy!  I actually used two different ribbons at the same time, but still did the exact same steps as shown below.  Beautiful and oh so easy!

Here are a few more wreaths I made.  I made these for $6.50 each since I already had the ribbon.