the bells are ringing out

Obviously I need a little help changing my blog header.  I always forget what I need to do to make the picture smaller and I feel really computer illiterate when I try to read the help columns.  Maybe later I will be able to get it all figured out.  But for now, it will have to do.

I printed off some free printables for my easel.  I love how chalkboard is totally in this year, but was it ever really out?  I have had chalkboards all over my house for years now and I feel like they never go out of style.  So here is my little easel.  Isn't he cute?

Eme came home from school with a new instrument to practice.  The infamous recorder.  I will never forget how awesome it was to bring home a recorder from school and get to "practice at home" every night.  It's so awesome now to see how excited she is to be doing the same thing I did when I was her age.

Stillness

There is just something that I love about how calming and still and dark the nights are at Christmas time.  The house is quiet and the lights give off their glow.  It is magical.

the fun he has with a camera

Ignore the date on the picture, these were actually taken on December 3rd

Just random ramblings

Been decorating for Christmas, realizing I have WAY too much stuff so I asked myself on each thing "do I really love this and if I do, do I have a perfect spot for it?" if no was said just once for that question it went into the donation bag.  I filled the bag!  I am almost done with the decorating, just need to go to the store, again, for replacement lights.  And then we can go and get our tree.  I'm wanting a tree similar to the one we had last year, it was a little shorter and much easier to decorate.  And this year I want to put it in an old metal mop bucket I found at a yard sale.  We'll see how it goes.

My boys turned 13 and 5 years old yesterday and the day before.  I'm in a little bit of shock that I have an official teenager and my youngest is 5.  It's a bit scary, but I like it.  Being a mother is certainly an adventure.

I finally got some of our family photos framed.  I found this music stand, although I didn't realize it was a music stand when I found it also at the same yard sale where I found the mop bucket.  I thought it would make a great picture frame and it does.

Emeline's Christmas Neighborhood homes

My Christmas Neighborhood

And the stockings were hung... Although they belong to Seiyon, Mom, Avrie, Victoria and Kendall.

 Need to search the internet for ideas on what I want to do with this little thing. Oh how I love pinterest. I'll take an after picture when it is all finished.