Christmas dress!

Last year I made Ingrid a tutu for her christmas dress...this year i decided to try crocheting her a little jumper...and I must say-it was so fun to do!  I love the way it turned out, she was such a little doll in it!  Here it is!

It's getting so hard to get that "stand still and smile" shot.  She is constantly on the move!!

Christmas

We had a wonderful Christmas!  It was seriously our best Christmas in years!  Here is how the past few years went: 

2007:  Michael's cousin died suddenly 1 week before Christmas

2008:  Michael's grandma died after her battle with cancer 1 month before christmas (and on top of that, we had just found out I was pregnant, and I started experiencing some really scary complications Christmas Eve...but we all know how that turned out!;)

2009:  Ingrid was 3 1/2 months old, and not sleeping AT ALL....probably because she was teething! (she got her first two teeth in a week after Christmas)

So needless to say 2010 had to be good, we deserved it!  Even though we are in the midst of a little chaos from our move last week, we had a wonderful time with family, and watching Ingrid flourish into the toddler that she is.  She had so much fun opening presents and would say with delight "OOOOOOoooooooh!!" after each one.  Cute!  We were well rested, and so thankful for the wonderful gift we were blessed with.  Here are a few photo's from our holiday!

How can this.....

turn into this, in just 1 year?!

Family photo 2009 (very tired and worn out but happy)

Family Christmas 2010

Well rested and enojoying our christmas!

Opening her christmas eve book

Success!

Aunt Mary Ellen and Ingrid reading her book

Playing the piano at Grandma DeMars's house on Christmas Eve

Riding the horsey!

So fun!

Grandma DeMars and Ingrid eating birthday cake (Happy 30th Carmen!)

Being silly

Ben, Mary Ellen, Michael and myself making christmas cookies

We made gimpy a blood foot...(she just had her 4th foot surgery!  Poor little thing)

We are so thankful for our blessings.  We delight in the peace and guidance we receive daily.

Mission Accomplished!

Well, I think for my first attempt they turned out pretty okay!  I have to say, I'm a little proud of myself considering I don't know a half double crochet from a single double crochet....it's really like learning a different language!!  I love Theressa's video tutorials!  I am going to attempt to make some adult size slippers.....not sure If I will be able to without a pattern, but I will try!  Stay tuned to see if it's a cheers or jeers moment!

I attached a flower instead of a button!

cute cute!

Cookies & more!

I have felt pretty jipped this Christmas! When you move 1 week before Christmas, that means the entire month of December is spent packing, moving, unpacking, and trying to dig yourself out from the mess you've created!  We don't have the tree up, we have'nt done a ton of baking (like usual), and I wanted to wrap the presents all fancy, and when I realized there was no time for that I ended up throwing them in a christmas bag with some newspaper in place of tissue paper.  Jipped.  However, yesterday Ingrid and i found some time to make Mexican Wedding Cakes (or whatever you call them in your house).  She wore the apron that I made for her when I was pregnant with her....and it was so strange to now see this little person waking around holding her kitchen utensils pretending to bake with me.  Where has the time gone?  She did a great job "helping" mommy-what a joy to be able to stay home with her.  

How cute is she in her apron?  And those piggy tails-I can't handle the cuteness!!

She has sweetheart written all over her face!

Someone is eying the cookies...

 "Helping" Mommy (she is pretending to put stuff in her bowl and mix)

"Yes, I think I'll have some" (note: egg free cookie dough!:)

 Love her!

Caught in the act!

Turning into such a little girl...

The end product!

But wait!  We forgot we still hand Ingrid's presents to wrap!  So last night Michael and I put the little one to bed, and stayed up to wrap her presents.  I will be the first one saying that I loathe the materialism that surrounds Christmas.  It's not all about the "perfect" gift, and what the marketers want us to spend money on.  In fact, we always thought we would get our kids maybe 1 gift, but more so want to encourage family volunteering.  That is still the way we feel, but with some Christmas money we got in from grandparents, we decided to go a little beyond our "1 gift" rule.  It was too fun picking out little presents for Ingrid...especially because we know that this year-she will actually get involved and enjoy playing with them!  I got my chance to do a little "creative" wrapping.....

This was my first official "craft" with Ingrid.  Yup, still too young!  We made a Christmas card for the grandparents, and traced her hand (which she hated).  She did enjoy trying to put the stickers on...and coloring is always a fave!

Nap Time Project

Yesterday I shared this link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lKVpKx5qMAg

Well today during nap time I gave the little slippers a try, they are so fun to do!  I was surprised at how easy they were, even for me!  So I only did 1 slipper, as a "trial run".  My counting was a little off, and the slipper turned out to be a little bit bigger than the video demonstration.  There are definite imperfection, but tomorrow I plan on giving it another try-and will hopefully come out with two slippers that are the same size!  

As you can see, I didn't even bother attaching a button or sewing in my left over string...definite dry run! 

Wordless Wendesday

Funny Jokes

Big Muscles

Silly Faces

Sweet Child

Happy Spirit

Fellow Crocheters......

I thought I would share this awesome link for all you crocheters out there.  I think this is an amazing video, especially for those of us (ah-hem, pointing at myself) who really have no idea what they are doing.  These are adorable little Mary Jane slippers that I plan on trying out tomorrow during nap time! 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lKVpKx5qMAg