Just thought you should know...

If you collect Asian-themed Christmas ornaments, World Market had a wonderful assortment marked down to 50% prior to Christmas.

I can only imagine the markdowns now that Christmas is over. I scooped up all I could find earlier this week (a Christmas present to myself) for our Asian tree.

I'll be leaving up our Asian tree through Chinese New Year in our sunroom.

I still can't believe Christmas is over. It was lovely.

Josie was so excited to open gifts this year with her big sister. Even better, she got to open MORE gifts later in the day at my parents new house. Where on earth am I going to put all these toys?

I'm looking forward to staying HOME the rest of the weekend. After all our traveling this last week, I'm ready to get cozy in our own house. Bring on the toys! Bring on the Christmas cookies and hot chocolate (thanks Aunt Marion & Aunt Jean). Bring on the movies and popcorn!! Heck, bring on another snow storm!!

Merry Christmas!

May all of your Christmas dreams come true.
Peace, Love and Joy to you and your family!



Merry Christmas from the Kenward Family.

Home Sweet Home...

We’re back home from visiting Nana in the nursing home the last few days across the state. She’s aged so much. I don’t want to sound pessimistic, but she doesn’t resemble the strong lady we all knew and it breaks my heart to see her this way. She's made progress, but she has quite a bit of PT/OT therapy ahead of her before she can have her heart surgery. We all look forward to the day that she can return to her home again.

On Thursday, Chris is taking the girls to the Princess and the Frog movie so that I can have a power wrapping session.

Being pressed for time (I've never been this so behind with wrapping and it's driving me crazy), I’m going to use different wrapping paper for Emma and another style of wrapping paper for Josie, so that I don’t have to worry about tags too. Sounds lazy, but it should also cut down on confusion when Josie opens up gifts this year. Last year, she only had one hand and we had to help her open all her gifts. This year should be much different and I can't wait!!

I hope that everyone has a blessed and safe holiday. Here are a few pictures of the girls modeling their Christmas dresses. These were taken a few weeks ago prior to Emma's new bang-styled haircut.

We'll be attending the 5pm Children's mass Christmas eve. Don't they look cute? I promise they will wear cardigan sweaters, tights and appropriate footwear. Josie was going for the bare look on the night I took these pictures.

I'm also ignoring how grown-up Emma looks in her dress.

I'm soooooooo looking forward to hearing giggles and squeals Christmas morning.

Boredom Busters

Chris's mom is now in a rehabilitation center in Ann Arbor and we'll be spending the next few days across the state visiting. I have a feeling our kitty is nesting in her favorite spot while we're gone...the Christmas tree skirt.

Here are a couple of suggestions for Christmas break boredom buster ideas. I'm recycling the handprint Christmas tree from last year.

Last year before Josie underwent her corrective hand surgery, I wanted to find a way to preserve her extra thumb in a picture and remembered a craft that we used to do in elementary school. This cute little Christmas tree is crafted out of handprints. You'll need green construction paper, scissors, glue, a pen for tracing, sequins, markers or buttons for decorating the tree. I also used brown construction for the tree trunk and yellow construction paper for the star on top of the tree.

Step 1. First, I traced the girl's hands. I even included my hands and Chris's hands in this project. You will need ten hands for this handprint Christmas tree.

Step 2. After I traced the hands, Emma and I then cut out the hands. Notice Josie's extra thumb in this tracing.
Step 3. We began assembling the tree. We glued together four hands for the bottom of the tree. On top of that we glued three more and continued working our way up to the top of the tree.

Step 4. I then added a trunk to the bottom of the tree and a star on the top.

Step 5. You can decorate your tree with all sorts of items (buttons, sequins, paper hole punches, stickers..etc).

This project is such a fun an easy craft, you could actually make several different trees to share with friends and family.

Another fun idea are these reindeer cookies that I saw online. Aren't they cute? I thought it would be fun to put these together with the girls when we get home.

Reality tells me we won't have time to do this because I haven't wrapped a SINGLE gift. It's going to be quite a bit of last minute preparations upon our return home. Anyone else feel alittle bit behind with Christmas preparations this year?

Last minute gift idea...layered hot cocoa

Emma gave these layered homemade hot cocoa mixes to her girlfriends as Christmas gifts.

They turned out very cute and were simple to put together. They'd make great gifts to include with a plate of Christmas cookies or chocolate covered pretzels.


RECIPE INGREDIENTS:
1/2 cup cocoa mix
2 (6- by 12-inch) cone-shaped cellophane bags (I picked up my bags at Hobby Lobby)
Scotch tape
Ribbon & gift tags
1/4 cup chocolate chips
3/4 cup mini marshmallows or white chocolate chips
Crushed candy cane chunks


1. Pour cocoa mix into one of the bags. Trim the bag so that there is roughly two inches, fold and tape.


2. Place the cocoa-filled bag into the second bag and flatten its top so the end doesn’t stick up. This will prevent the cocoa from mixing with the other layers.


3. Layer the chocolate chips and/or marshmallows, then top with crushed peppermint candy canes. Secure the bag with a holiday ribbon and tag.

Joyful holiday spirits to you ALL!