Our latest projects

We've been working on a bunch of projects lately. Although Sophia wasn't able to stay awake long enough, we did get up the Christmas tree. I know I'll put this tree up in my kids room someday and remember where Brett and I started. We bought this little tree from a craft store with a 50% of coupon. It was the only thing we could afford at the time - a little 4-foot, prelighted, artificial tree. It's covered in ornaments from our parents, gifts from friends, and little 50 cent wooden animals that I painted myself. For now, it's been elevated with the help of the entertainment center and a heavy, book-filled, Christmas-wrapped box. All this in order to keep it out of reach of Sophia's little hands. So far, it's worked extremely well. Sophia stared at that tree the first time we turned on the lights. I know this technically isn't her first Christmas, but it is her first Christmas where we can see that glimmer of curiousity and wonder in her eyes. It's so special to experience that with her.

Just today, I worked on the decorations for the back doors in our living room. Low budget decorating is so rewarding! While a friend was here fixing our dripping shower faucet upstairs, I was sitting at the kitchen table, feeling like I was 10 years old again. How long has it been since you've made paper snowflakes? I had so much fun! I taped all the snowflakes on the windows of the back door, and I took an extra string of white lights and hung them on the back door curtain rod. It looks great! Sophia kept pointing at the snowflakes after she got up from her afternoon nap. I really think that, by the end of Christmas, we'll get her to say "snow."

Yesterday, I finally finished a project for my quilting group. We all decided that we were going to make a quilt for the Parent and Child Society in Schenectady, which provides assistance to low-income families. Each of us is going to make a strip to add to this quilt, and we're going to pass it around until we get the whole quilt top made. I got to do the second strip on the quilt we're making for a little girl. Isn't it cute?!?! I designed and appliqued five different squares - a bird, hearts, a butterfly, and two flowers. I just made it out of leftover fabric. I'm so happy with it! It was the first time I'd ever done any applique or embroidery, so I hope I did it right. We'll see what the ladies think. We have a meeting on the 15th, and I'm so excited to show it to them!