first, let me say, I've loved doing this album. It was definitely a challenge for me & I was really excited that I completed it. Next year, though, I'm going to simplify for sure. Photo a day. I found that as soon as the rush of all the Christmas to-do's hit me {school parties, wrapping, last minute holiday whatever & kids home} I basically just had to drop it & wait until after Christmas to complete it. I really wanted to include more in those last days, but it would have just been too much for the book {plus I was just ready for it to be done}. I'm planning on layouts to tell a more complete story of our Christmas Eve & Christmas & also want to make a mini for our Elf, Jessie & his daily happenings. So anyway, here it is...
12.18.11
on this day I dove into wrapping. of course I had a little "helper" too. I added in a page I made from a brown lunch bag, which was what I used for a lot of our wrapping.
12.19.11
on this day, Evan's class had a gingerbread house day {his teacher has been doing this with her class for years... it's so much fun}. I went to help him out & loved what we created together :)
12.20.11
on this day I was in gift-making mode. the kids' last day of school was the next day {which included Christmas parties} so I HAD to get the teacher gifts made! I didn't send out too many actual cards, but wanted to include the card I had sent out & the photo of the kids I had included in them somewhere in the book, so this is where it ended up.
12.21.11
on this day, there was so much going on! seriously if I included it all, it would probably be 6 pages... Christmas parties, babysitting, Christmas concert & best of all... grandma & grandpa came home! The photo of Evan & my mom is priceless... he was SO excited to see her! The back of the page is a folded program from Evan's concert with his name circled. The concerts/plays at our elementary school are always the best. We are so lucky to have an incredible music director!
12.22.11
on this day we did tons of baking & making! Lydia had been asking me constantly about making cookies for Santa, so that's what we did! I was messing around with a few things for this page on my Silouette sd. I cut the from banner, but it didn't cut all the way through, so I just peeled away the letters & included it anyway :) I also made the cookies for santa title that I made up with a font on my computer.
12.23.11
this was a not-so-happy day. although it was my moms birthday, we also spent the night at my aunt Betty's visitation, who had passed away a few days before. on the upside, it was great to be able to see all of our family. I included 2 pictures I captured while we were visiting of Lydia & Collin with cousins we don't get to see too often. this was the reason my parents made the trip back from Texas as well, which was a major bonus for us as well, as we weren't planning on getting to spend Christmas with them this year {which would have been a first}.
12.24.11
I always have LOVED Christmas Eve... for as long as I can remember, it has been when my family celebrates together. We start with mass, then supper & then PRESENTS! We've changed it up over the years a little, but it still is my favorite. Again, this one could go on for pages & pages, but I kept it super short. The day started with my aunt's funeral & then went onto church with Dan's dad & then fun with the Klesner family at my sisters. Then home to get ready for Santa! The picture is our tree that night after Santa had made his way to our house... :)
12.25.11
on this day... it was Christmas! Since we've had kids, this is our day to spend together at home. It always starts with the kids waking us up at the crack of dawn & excitedly ripping through stockings & presents. This is followed by a homemade breakfast, lots of assembling, playing & relaxing. This Christmas we did something new & had Dan's family over that night for supper. It was great to get everyone together, with his family in all different directions, it's nice to be able to see everyone & have a relaxed time to visit.
done.
{robyn}
11.29.2012
