My Farm Girl Christmas Whirlwind...

Christmas came and went, but not without precious time spent with family and friends.  We spent Christmas Eve with my Mom & Dad, my three baby sisters and their kids.  

Mom

Dad

My brilliant sister Sherry and her beau Chip (she's wearing my gift to her, a homemade apron)  I was so excited, I made each sister a Church lady apron for Christmas.  They looked so cute in them!

My beautiful sister Wendy.  

Wendy's hubby Toby and my hubby Jerry relaxing

 My baby- baby- sister Melissa, the youngest, and her toddler Amelie.  She'll be two next month...

 

 My amazing niece Sierra Rose and her fiance' Tim.  He was on leave from the military for Christmas.

 My nephew Jake, smart, tough, fun, and witty! 

  

My beautiful niece Aurora.  She was responsible for the biggest laugh of the night.  My nephew Jake suffered a little karma.  Aurora wrapped Jake's present in several boxes and an entire roll of duct tape.  The present took about 20 minutes to unwrap and was literally a can of deodorant.  The outside box was as tall as Jake.  Hilarious!  He did the same thing to her last year, hence the karma.

My nephews TJ and Cody pretending to be 007 in the backyard with airsoft guns... 

Wow, have they grown!  

We had so much fun visiting the family and eating way too much food.  We rolled out of there in time to spend Christmas afternoon at my BFF Michelle's house eating again...  Yummy!  

She's an AMAZING cook.  Please forgive me, I forgot the camera, but her family is shy anyway, I doubt they'd have enjoyed me snapping pictures...  I wish I DID shoot a picture of the prime rib she made.  It was almost too pretty to eat.   

I rounded off Christmas night with my newlywed son and daughter.  

This was Jon and Samantha's first Christmas married.

me n' the kiddos

My hubby made yesterday my best day all week when he drove me down the mountain to spend the afternoon with my son and new daughter one more time for my son's 21st birthday.  Happy Birthday Jonathan.  You are my sunshine.

Tomorrow we are off to my in-laws to spend Christmas with them for New Years.  Whew, this week has flown by FAST and my head is still reeling...  I hope you all have the best New Years Day ever!

Have a Happy New Year!   

May 2012 be your best year so far.

I am linking my post to my favorite places: 

Deborah Jean's Dandelion House Farmgirl Friday Blog Hop! 

&

Esther's Our Simple Country Life Hearts 4 Home Blog Hop!

& 

The Homestead Barn Hop

The Living Nativity- A Radio City Music Spectacular

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Radio City Music Hall, Christmas 2009.
Click on play button above to view.

Merry Christmas

Jesus is the Reason for the Season. 

From our home to yours, wishing you a very, Merry Christmas.

The History of Christmas

I found this great site called The History of Christmas.  The site is full of interesting information about the history of Christmas, the birth of Jesus, the history of Santa Claus, and how Christmas is celebrated in many different countries around the world.  (Each idea above is direct link to that page.)  Check it out!

Twelve Days of Christmas Carols- The First Noel

The First Noel

The first Noel, the angels say

To Bethlehem's shepherds as they lay.

At midnight watch, when keeping sheep,

The winter wild, the light snow deep.

Refrain

Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel

Born is the King of Israel.

The shepherds rose, and saw a star

Bright in the East, beyond them far,

Its beauty gave them great delight,

This star it set now day nor night.

Now by the light of this bright star

Three wise men came from country far;

They sought a king, such their intent,

The star their guide where'er it went.

Then drawing nigh to the northwest,

O'er Bethlehem town it took its rest;

The wise men learnt its cause of stay,

And found the place where Jesus lay.

Twelve Days of Christmas Carols- Joy To The World

Joy To The World

Joy to the World , the Lord is come!

Let earth receive her King;

Let every heart prepare Him room,

And Heaven and nature sing,

And Heaven and nature sing,

And Heaven, and Heaven, and nature sing.

Joy to the World, the Savior reigns!

Let men their songs employ;

While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains

Repeat the sounding joy,

Repeat the sounding joy,

Repeat, repeat, the sounding joy.

No more let sins and sorrows grow,

Nor thorns infest the ground;

He comes to make His blessings flow

Far as the curse is found,

Far as the curse is found,

Far as, far as, the curse is found.

He rules the world with truth and grace,

And makes the nations prove

The glories of His righteousness,

And wonders of His love,

And wonders of His love,

And wonders, wonders, of His love.

Thanks for visiting, I hope you stop by again. 


Have a very, Merry Christmas!

Twelve Days of Christmas Carols

Jolly Old Saint Nicolas

Jolly old Saint Nicholas,

 lean your ear this way!

Don't you tell a single soul what I'm going to say: 

Christmas Eve is coming soon;

now, you dear old man 

Whisper what you'll bring to me; 

tell me if you can. 

When the clock is striking twelve, 

when I'm fast asleep 

Down the chimney, 

broad and black, 

with your pack you'll creep 

All the stockings you will find hanging in a row 

Mine will be the shortest one, 

you'll be sure to know 

Bobby wants a pair of skates, 

Suzy wants a sled 

Nellie wants a picture book, yellow, blue, and red 

Now I think I'll leave to you 

what to give the rest 

Choose for me, dear Santa Claus; 

you will know the best.

Easy Batting Snow Angel

     Here's another fast and fun snow angel ornament.  I made this little guy using leftover 80/20 quilt batting.  I stained it using a solution of strong, dark tea in a spray bottle which I let sit and dry after I got it the desired antique looking color I wanted.  Just draw a snowman shape on paper, pin to batting, cut out shape, and sew all the way around your snow angel, stitching closed.  I then cut a small line into the back of the neck and stuff carefully with a pencil eraser through there.  Once stuffed, I sew a few loose stitches to close hole and cover the hole with a drop of hot glue and a 1" wide by 5" long homespun scarf.  I dot acrylic paint on the back of a small paint brush for the charcoal eyes,mouth and buttons.  Real buttons would look great too.  His nose was made by painting a toothpick tip orange.  I make a halo with inexpensive hardware store wire and hot glue it to the back of the snow angel.  I make wings out of what I have available, this one has corrugated card stock wings.  I have used wire ribbon bows, spoons, silk leaves, and feathers before. They all look great.  Use your imagination. Embellish and enjoy.

I am linking up this post to our Virtual Christmas Ornament Swap HERE!

12 Days of Christmas Carols...

Children Go Where I Send Thee...

Children, go where I send thee

How shall I send thee?

I'm gonna send thee one-by-one

One for the little bitty baby

Wrapped in swaddling clothing

Lying in the manger

Born, born oh, born in Bethlehem.

Children, go where I send thee

How shall I send thee?

I'm gonna send thee two-by-two

Two for Paul and Silas

One for the little bitty baby

Wrapped in swaddling clothing

Lying in the manger

Born, born oh, born in Bethlehem.

Three for the Hebrew children

Four for the four that stood at the door 

Five for the five that came back alive

Six for the six that never got picked

Seven for the seven that never got to Heaven (originally "the seven that all went to Heaven", probably alluding to Luke 20:27-33)

Eight for the eight that stood at the gate

Nine for the nine that stood in the line

Ten for the Ten Commandments

Eleven for the eleven deriders

Twelve for the twelve Apostles

Deck the Halls (Popular Version)

Deck the halls with boughs of holly,

Fa la la la la, la la la la.

'Tis the season to be jolly,

Fa la la la la, la la la la.

Don we now our gay apparel

'Fa la la, la la la, la la la.

Troll the ancient Yule tide carol,

Fa la la la la, la la la la.

See the blazing Yule before us,

Fa la la la la, la la la la.

Strike the harp and join the chorus.

Fa la la la la, la la la la.

Follow me in merry measure,

Fa la la, la la la, la la la.

While I tell of Yuletide treasure,

Fa la la la la, la la la la.

Fast away the old year passes,

Fa la la la la, la la la la.

Hail the new, ye lads and lasses,

Fa la la la la, la la la la.

Sing we joyous, all together,

Fa la la, la la la, la la la.

Heedless of the wind and weather,

Fa la la la la, la la la la.

The Church of the Nativity

O little town of Bethlehem 

O little town of Bethlehem

How still we see thee lie

Above thy deep and dreamless sleep

The silent stars go by

Yet in thy dark streets shineth

The everlasting Light

The hopes and fears of all the years

Are met in thee tonight

For Christ is born of Mary

And gathered all above

While mortals sleep, the angels keep

Their watch of wondering love

O morning stars together

Proclaim the holy birth

And praises sing to God the King

And Peace to men on earth

How silently, how silently

The wondrous gift is given!

So God imparts to human hearts

The blessings of His heaven.

No ear may hear His coming,

But in this world of sin,

Where meek souls will receive him still,

The dear Christ enters in.

O holy Child of Bethlehem

Descend to us, we pray

Cast out our sin and enter in

Be born to us today

We hear the Christmas angels

The great glad tidings tell

O come to us, abide with us

Our Lord Emmanuel 

How do YOU deck the halls?

How do YOU deck the halls for Christmas?  

Please link up and share your Christmas home decorating ideas and inspire the rest of us.  We'd like to see what you've been up to this season.  Handmade decorations, lights, mantles, trees, tables, gifts, cookies and treats and ornaments.  We are Christmas junkies, we like it all. Please share.  Thank you!

Merry Christmas!

God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen

Twelve Days of Traditional Christmas Carols...

God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen

God rest ye merry Gentlemen,
Let nothing you dismay;
Remember Christ our Savior,
Was born on Christmas-day;
To save our souls from Satan's power,
Which long time had gone astray:
This brings Tidings of Comfort and Joy.

Circa 1780-1800 (from "Three new carols for Christmas," Wolverhampton, printed by J. Smart):
[Punctuation reproduced from the original—in this instance there is no comma after "merry."]

Thanks for visiting, I hope you stop by again.

12 days of Christmas Carols

     Christmas is only days away. To celebrate, I'm posting twelve days of Christmas Carols. Please enjoy this excerpt from Wikipedia that explains the origins of today's song Angels we Have Heard on High: "The song commemorates the story of the birth of Jesus Christ found in the Gospel of Luke, in which shepherds outside Bethlehem encounter a multitude of angels singing and praising the newborn child."

"Angels We Have Heard on High"

Angels we have heard on high
Sweetly singing o’er the plains
And the mountains in reply
Echoing their joyous strains

(chorus) Gloria, in excelsis Deo!
Gloria, in excelsis Deo!

Shepherds, why this jubilee?
Why your joyous strains prolong?
What the gladsome tidings be
Which inspire your heavenly song?

(chorus) Gloria, in excelsis Deo!
Gloria, in excelsis Deo!

Come to Bethlehem and see
Him Whose birth the angels sing;
Come, adore on bended knee,
Christ the Lord, the newborn King.

(chorus) Gloria, in excelsis Deo!
Gloria, in excelsis Deo!

See Him in a manger laid
Jesus Lord of heaven and earth;
Mary, Joseph, lend your aid,
With us sing our Savior's birth.

(chorus) Gloria, in excelsis Deo!
Gloria, in excelsis Deo!

The Living Nativity- A Radio City Music Spectacular

Click on play button above to view.

Recorded at Radio City Music Hall, Christmas 2009.

Christmas BARN HOP happenings...

Merry Christmas everyone!!!

Where has this year gone?  Time has flown by way too fast and it's busy here right now, as I am sure it is in your home too.  Christmas is my favorite time of the year.  

Celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ, our lord and savior is paramount, but Christmas is also a great opportunity to serve others and to let them know how special they are.  In that mission, we have a few family traditions that I look forward to each year.  We decorate inside and out (our gift to the neighborhood), we attend Knott's Merry Farm's Christmas Celebration, and we make and give ornaments and gifts to friends and family.

Jerry posing at Knott's

We love lights

shiny brights

 
and bringing nature in.

 We have a few treasured keepsakes from long ago

 
and a few new ones too

  We enjoy all the hard work decorating for visitors and sharing with everyone.

 Then, we make and share Christmas crafts, handmade gifts, and ideas like these homemade ornaments.

 

Sometimes we host cookie swaps and ornament making parties and this year is no different.
If you scroll down to the end of this post you will find our HANDMADE CHRISTMAS ORNAMENT & GIFT BLOG PARTY, happening now.  Please check out the links and add yours to share with our blog community.  I wish you a Christmas season full of peace, hope, and love.  

Merry Christmas.