Eli's Three Month Pictures! I can't believe he is so big already!

Good gosh I love this kid!  I hope you enjoy his smile as much as I do.  Thanks Lindsey for such beautiful pictures.  I can't wait until next time!

O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree....

Several months ago, I drove to Mustang to meet Dr. Ainsworth and interview for my future job.  As I nervously drove, I glanced to my right and saw a wonderful thing that instantly took my mind off being nervous....a christmas tree farm.  I called Ryan immediately and and told him that going to the farm, picking out a tree, and cutting it down to put in our house has always been a dream for me.  Since that day, I have passed that farm many times and each time, I get excited at the prospect of picking out my tree. Since I had Eli, that dream has only intensified.  I could picture two or three kids running around saying, "How about this one, Mom?".  Well, my fantasy has become a reality.

After months of bugging Ryan about going to this tree farm, I informed him that Sunday was the day. We were going to go and get our tree.  Ryan, for those of you who know him, did the expected thing--he grumbled and complained.  "Why would anyone pay to cut down their own tree when we can go to Lowes and buy one already packaged up for us?" He must have asked me this question a million times as I nagged him into driving over to the farm.  He scowled and mumbled the whole way but I WON. We bundled up Eli, grabbed a cart and started searching.  I found what I was looking for in a beautiful, seven foot tree that was wide and full.  Thank goodness that our friendly tree farm staff had very sharp bow saws or I would never have heard the end of it.  Ryan cut it down in about fifteen seconds and we loaded it up on our cart.  After they shook it to get rid of the loose pine needles and wrapped it up, we took it home and put it in it's new stand.  We decorated for about two days and below is what we got.  Even Ryan had to admit that it was fun and the tree was really pretty.  I am so excited that Eli was there to help pick his first tree. I think this is a great new family tradition and one that I know I will look forward to every year.   

Picking out our tree.

My big, strong hubby cutting down our tree!

Loading it up.

Doesn't Ryan look excited!

Our finished tree.  Pretty.

A Candy Cane Moment!

I made a mistake when I logged on to Pinterest for the first time. I have become thoroughly and deeply addicted.  I have also become more motivated to attempt some of the crafty things I have always wanted to try.  My friend Kristan Gossen came over and while our husbands watched the baby, we were free to craft!  This is a little preview of a wreath that I found and fell in love with.  Mine is different then the one I found on Pinterest but I think it turned out pretty well.

My goal was to make this really cute yarn wreath using red and white yarn.  I searched for weeks to find a thick round styrofoam wreath as a base but to no avail.  Kristan and I ended up going to Lowes and buying some pipe insulation.  We cut it and duct tapped it to make our own wreath.  I have to admit, I was a little worried because it looked quite lumpy, however, once I started to apply my yarn, it helped to even out my little bumps.

After making my base, I used a little hot glue and started wrapping.  Just a little note...the hot glue will melt right through the styrofoam.  I ended up trying to hot glue only in places where I had duct tape.  It was also a good way to help divide my wreath so I would know when to switch colors.  I just used a dab of glue at the beginning and then again at the end of a color to hold it in place.  Wrap. Wrap. Wrap.

It also helps to have a great babysitter.  Drew and Ryan did a great job keeping the little bear so Mommy could craft.

Once all the yarn was applied, I added my embellishments.  Can I just say that I love hot glue.  Hot glue is my new favorite friend.

This was so much fun and it only took a couple of hours.  Thanks to Drew and Kristan for such a fun time!