It was a very Pinterest Christmas

I have always been one to make Christmas presents for the family but this year the whole family decided to get into the crafting spirit thanks to a little help from Pinterest. It was neat to see what everyone and I believe that this was one of the best Christmas's ever as we all got to see how good it feels to give something that you make instead of something you simply go to a store a buy.

These first three were given to Em from her Aunts :)

Chalkboard

It's your life, color it! - Crayon Melt and Scrabble Tile art

Magnetic Board with her Initial

 This pretty ornament was compliments of my Mom. :)

Loove the colors!

Painted Ornaments

 My contribution was photo blocks which I am so in love with! However doing 42 of those babies(yes I did them for everyone in all our families!) was a little much but well worth all the work!!

Photo Blocks

 Snowflake I made for my sci-fi loving Son!

Storm Trooper Snowflake

 One of our gifts from Nana - a painted Christmas Tree on canvas.

I received this from my sisters. I love it and can't wait to hang it in the office!

Burlap wreath with Initial on an antique window

I have to admit as awesome as each gift was and as proud I am of the family for what they did my favorite gift of the evening was the Aprons that Nana had made from my Papa George's button down shirts. Needless to say we were all surprised and emotional when we opened them! Each family member received one and my new nephew got a bib that matches his Mom's apron --LOVE!!

Here are the kiddos modeling the ones TheHandyMan and I received.

Memory Aprons from Papa Georges Shirts

We had a fantastic Christmas and I hope each of you did as well.

What was something unexpected you received this year?

I have some great things lined up for the New Year and can't wait to see what 2012 holds for everyone!

Merry Christmas to ME!

The Setting: It was Christmas Eve 2010 and we were at the in-laws for our Annual Brunch and Gift Exchange. Everyone had eaten their fill of the delicious food and we were all settled in the living room getting ready for the "elves" to hand out the presents. I was busy snapping away with Craig's Sony Cybershot as usual when Dale, my Mother-in-Law, handed me a present and said "You need to go ahead and open this one first." Even though that was highly unusual and even though I was slightly embarrassed at being the center of attention I, of course, went ahead and opened the box.

The Surprise: What was so important that I just had to open before anything else was handed out?? Guess what --- A Camera - for ME!! It was not just any camera -- it was the Sony Alpha DSLR-A550L 14.2MP Camera that I have been ooggling over for the past few months!! I think I was one of the last 35mm people that I know and even though I looved my camera I knew it was time to upgrade so I did what any chick would do........I put it on my Christmas List ;)  Needless to say I am totally in love with this and am now snap happy while I figure out all the bells & whistles.  Love it - Love it - Love it!!

The Gratitude: A huge more-than-I-can-ever-say Thank You goes out to my Fabulous Husband and My Awesome In-Laws and Grand-In-Laws for getting me this camera! I love you guys!!!

  Have you ever received a gift that made you want to cry with happiness? If so what was it?

Christmas Eve - Family Fun and a New Tradition

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Christmas Eve at the Boling's brought lots of fun, laughter, and a new tradition.

While opening presents Abram kept counting his, then walking over and getting presents from everyone else's pile, taking them back to his pile and recounting. He would get so excited as his pile got bigger!

Present Time --- Eli opening one of his Star Wars Lego sets. (Have you ever seen how many pieces those boxes have ?!?!), Emma getting a look at her new camera, and Abram tearing into his train set.

Fountain of Chocolate ~~~ Charity brought her Chocolate Fountain and you would have thought that it was the best present all evening! Everyone wanted in on the fun. Abram wanted me to snap a pic of his chocolate covered cake, but his face offered a better photo! The fountain was a hit & it is something that we will have each year!

Christmas Past - 2000

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Our Family Photo at Nana and Papa's - Christmas Eve 2000

Christmas Past - Papa George & Christmas Eve

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Out of all the photos I have taken of Papa George with Eli & Emma over the years, these from Christmas Eve 1998 and 2000 are my absolute favorite!!!

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The 1st set is Eli & Papa in 1998. Papa is introducing Eli to the Toothpick!
Papa always seemed to have a toothpick in his mouth
and Eli used to be simply fascinated with it.

In this photo, Papa was tickling Emma and each time

I look at it I can still hear her giggle of absolute Joy!