Holiday Crafts

Supplies: Toilet Paper roll, stickers, markers, glitter or any other decorating materials, glue, ribbon
Instructions:
1) Simply let the kids decorate the roll
2) Depending on their age either they or a grown up can flatten the tube and cut any thickness with scissors like sushi!
3) The next part is a bit messier depending on the glue you use. You may find success with a glue stick but I used liquid glue. First, arrange the almond shapes into a flower in any order you choose and then put the glue on the ends that will touch. I had to reapply glue a few times but eventually when it begins to dry it's easier to keep together. Once dry you can tie an end with some ribbon to hand wherever!

Supplies: Recycled candle jars, white and brown or black paint. An orange and black sharpie. Two lovely buttons. Glue.

Instructions: 

1) Paint the interior of the lid  brown or black. Washable kids paint works fine! Paint the interior of the jar white. Let dry.

2) Use sharpies (accompanied by a grown up) to draw on a snowman face.

3) Glue two buttons onto your snowman.

BONUS: If you have a longer jar you could make room for a cloth or ribbon scarf between the face and buttons of your snowman! 

Supplies: cardstock, scrapbook paper or any paper with patterns, ribbon, pen, glue, shot glass

Instructions: 

1) Cut cardstock to the desired card size and fold in half. Write any greeting on the front of your card if you choose to.

2) Use a shot glass or desired glass size to trace a circle on your card. Use the same glass to trace the same size circle on three different pieces of pattern paper.

3) Cut the three pattern paper circles out and fold each in half, pattern on the interior of fold. Line the three folded circles in a row. We'll call them A, B and C

4) Glue the right side of A to the left side of B. Glue the Right side of B to the left side of C. B should now be in the middle as my Christmas Lights circle is in the photo above. The left side of A and the right side of C should be dry.

5) Place glue on the left side of A and right side of C and glue into the circle shape on your card.

6) Garnish with ribbon running from your ornament to the edge of your card.

Let the Party Go On!

Let them praise his name with dancing and make music to him with timbrel and harp.
Psalm 149:3

We are fortunate to have spent the holidays with this crew since we all met. Gaius and Addison celebrated the New Year together when they were 1 and 2 years old. Livi, Addison and Gaius shared in a Christmas party together and when we met Alyssa, she too shared in the annual event. This was the first year we were able do both our kids' Secret Santa AND a dinner for the parents. To be able to sit with your closest friends and their families, pray together and bless each other with well wishes is a rare and amazing thing. It's not everyday you find three amazing women to call your best friends but to have our kids as close friends AND our husbands. Our guys call on each other for drinks, advice, helping each other move into new homes, hehe. All those important moments in our lives, we all seem to involve and share with each other. We were so glad we could be together in His name and celebrate the joyous occasion. 

Christmastime 2014

We are blessed each year with such an amazing week of celebration. We always visit the Tuttles the day before Christmas Eve and have Christmas Eve morning for gifts and an early dinner with them. By night we head to the farm to celebrate with the extended Vitale family and then back home to set out cookies and milk (and reindeer treats!). Waking up on Christmas morning, just the three of us is a MUST for me. That's how we did it growing up! After we have our Christmas morning together we head up to Mom  and Dad Vitale's to spend the afternoon/evening with them, Micah's brothers and my new sister in law, Renee! I'm so thankful as this isn't always so easy to plan out but each year it is a smooth, valuable week with family.