Top 10 reasons I haven't been doing 25 days of Christmas:

10. Laundry.  Over 2 weeks ago now, my family and I had a terrible, messy flu. Every bedding item, towel, rag, and sleeping outfit was washed more than once. When all my children can aim their projectile vomit, it will be a happy day. Because of the mountains of laundry that had me surrounded for days, I vowed never to do laundry again. And that brings us to present day where all of us are wearing our lasts and my husband is looking at me with puppy-dog eyes as he wrestles with a 4 inch thick pair of wool socks he got for Christmas 5 years ago and has never worn before today, but has to out of necessity because everything else is dirty. Instead, he should be saying, "Women, get to the laundry already." Bless his heart, he didn't say that, but I'm doing laundry today anyway.


9. Tutorials take time. I really thought I could just take pictures as I went, but it seems to take twice as much time. People put together such fantastic tutorials and I always think I should be just as fantastic.

Like in this project I wanted to show how you can take a scarf (I got it for .25c) and make it into anything you want. I was making a headband like I saw a friend of mine wearing. Pretty much I developed this scarf technique because I am too lazy to crochet or knit. It turned out a bit puffier than I had hoped, so I put the project aside to work on later.

8. Homeschooling. When someone tells you they are homeschooling, you shouldn't automatically think, "Wow, she's superwoman," you should instead think, "Wow, she has very little time for anything else." A superwoman would manage to get homeschooling done AND everything else too with time to spare. But in reality, other things just slip by the wayside and life goes on without all the fabulous holiday baking, clean house, laundry done, and craft projects complete. I spend most of the morning working with Emma and keeping Mandy occupied with school-ish activities. Mandy's attention span lasts about 3.5 seconds, so she is my biggest challenge. Rem sleeps in the morning still and I am asking God to make sure he continues this habit until he is school age.... it is really helpful.


7. "I need you to come and pick me up. I can't walk." When my strong man calls to say he can't walk, well, that's not good news. This time of year means working with a lot of cattle and Jeff and his dad move them from the wet fields to the dry barns. It's pretty dangerous work and I always pray that no one is kicked, bulled over, or falls. Jeff had twisted his knee and was in a lot of pain. We went to the chiropractor and he re-set Jeff's knee and diagnosed a sprain to the inner ligament (MCL). Praise the Lord, he can walk on it and it still able to work but definitely is reminded with the pain that he isn't invincible.

6. Trying to stay organized. "A place for everything and everything in it's place" is my ideal world (as I have told you OFTEN before). To get to that point, everything needs a place. I'm still working through a few areas of our home that don't function well... i.e, clutter collects and makes me grumpy. Today I desiganted a container for all the stuff we don't want/need anymore. If there is not place for it, it WILL GET SHOVED SOMEWHERE. It's my human nature. So I made a place for it where it collect anyway, by the back door.

It sure beats the paper sack I had shoved in the corner for the last month. Because I have Martha-genes, I made a cute tag too and attached it with a wordless-bracelet I took off the end of a free ruler the girls picked up at the Ag show.

Feel free to print your own from this image if you are in the mood to make a designated give-away box too.

5. All that label nonsense was just to avoid wrapping presents. I think you are supposed to have this done ages ago. It's not my favorite part of this season.


4. Making candy. I usually bake A LOT at this time of year. To save myself some temptation and use my time more wisely, I haven't made much at all.  My skinny jeans were thanking me and then my husband started asking about my traditional Peanut Butter Balls. Okay, okay, I'll make them. Along with a recipe my friend Amanda gave me for Mocha Truffles.


Peanut Butter Balls

1 1/2 cups creamy peanut butter
4 cups powdered sugar
1/4 softened butter
1 tsp vanilla

Mix together until it holds together.... add milk if the mixture is too crumbly. Form 1 inch balls and dip in 2 cups chocolate, melted (I used milk chocolate melting chips).


Mocha Truffles

1 8oz. package cream cheese softened
3 cups powdered sugar
3 cups chocolate chips melted
3 TBS. instant espresso or instant coffee dissolved in 1 tsp boiling water.

Beat cream cheese until smooth and add powdered sugar. Stir in melted chocolate and coffee. Refrigerate about 1 hour or until hard enough to shape into 1 inch balls. Dip in melted chocolate ( I used dark chocolate melting chips).  I sifted cocoa powder over the top for decoration.


My skinny jeans are no longer happy with me. Thank you very much.


3.  Taking pictures. I did a few more photography sessions in December. I love helping families get great photos. It is a blessing to have a hobby/business that both inspires and encourages me. Family is SO important.


2. Sewing and sewing some more. (Thanks to my mom who gave me her machine when mine went kaput).

I figured out how to make a french seam.... with a lining.... ooh.... ahh. The crowd goes wild.

[tap. . .  tap. . . Is this thing on? ]

1. And finally, the #1 reason I have not been updating my blog is that I am too busy enjoying this season. There is so much good and special about Christmas. We celebrate Christ and his love by celebrating eachother. Check out some touching Christmas specials on Drops.

Blessings to you and yours!