Christmas Card Organization

I've finally gotten around to organizing my Christmas Cards from friends and family....and yes, I am home on a snow day today hence the sudden uptick in productivity. :o) 

My cards have been living in a pile on a counter for the past two months so I figured it was time to get them bound together so I can put them out on display next Christmas with other past years Christmas card books. The big delay in getting this done was that I was out of the special binding wire and I hadn't had a spare moment to run to Hobby Lobby to get some more. I looked at other craft stores but I have only ever found it at HL so I  did what any other normal hermit would do and ordered some on amazon last week so I could get to work. 

The first year I did this I made a cute cover thing for the book but in the past few years I just decided to use our Christmas card from the corresponding year. I usually put the year on it so I figured that is good enough. 

I know this method of Christmas Card organization may not be for everyone but I do enjoy looking at cards through the years and I think that binding them together helps them stay together and relatively flat. I'm not sure if this is something I will do forever but gosh darnit- I do love those cards. I even love looking at cards from people I don't even know like when I go over to other people's houses at Christmastime. Weird? Yes, I know this. 

Christmas cards with little babies are my favorite! :o)

If photos were included in the card I tried to bind those in the card so they would all stay together. I also tried to keep all the cards in the correct orientation, even the long ones! 

I use the Zutter Cutter for binding my cards together and I think I purchased it for ~$35 with a coupon at Hobby Lobby. I do think it is ridiculous to own something like this because you can bind cards together in other ways like taking them to an office supply store, using binder clips or ribbon. BUT I do own it and yes it was a grief induced purchase and well, who knows the explanation on that one but now I have this thing so I try and use it. It is a very strong punch and can even punch through heavy things like chipboard. You can check out other crafty things like it at binditall.com. 

When Michael was a baby I made a little 5x7 soft cover book from Shutterfly that was just Christmas photos. I thought I would rekindle that tradition this year and churned this little book out in a few minutes (I was not picky about layouts or order) and for only a few dollars due to a promotion on the website. I think it is cute and will get tucked away with the other Christmas books and card books to be brought out only in December. 

I am happy to have this last bit of Christmas wrap up done! 

What do you usually do with your Christmas Cards? Are you still wrapping up Christmas this late into February, too? 

Kundel Christmas

We celebrated Christmas at Scott's parents the weekend before Christmas. It is only a few hours away and we spent two nights. Michael did such a good job playing with his cousins and he had so much fun. They played hard every minute until it was late at night and Michael actually told us he was tired and wanted to go to bed--something I have never heard him say before! 

We did get caught in a little bit of a snowfall but we still made it to church on time for the childrens program. Ellie and Michael both got to be in it- singing some Christmas songs and ringing bells. Michael did a great job again and I was very proud of him! 

All the grandchildren on Scott's side. 

My sweet, not-so-little-anymore baby! 

We also spent a little bit of time making gingerbread houses out of graham crackers and candy. I included a photo of what I was doing (eating frosting) for your viewing pleasure and just so there was proof I was there!

We had a really great time spending time with family! I loved spending time with people creating our houses, playing my nephew's new game of "Headbands", and playing Just Dance. I hope everyone else had a good time, too!

I think this wraps up my Christmas posts for the year....getting ready to ring in 2014 tonight. My decorations are still up but they will come down shortly after the new year and we can start fresh with a clean slate. 

Have a great New Year's Eve Celebration! 

Christmas 2013 video

I loved our Christmas video so much last year that I decided to make it a tradition and do another one for this year! It was fun to gather little clips of our Christmas activities as we were doing things and then string them all together with some music for the final product. We are trying to get better about snagging little bits of video here and there (they are sooo fun to look at especially after a year or so) and this is a good way to keep it at the front of our thoughts. 

It is a bit long but I hope you enjoy it!

InstaFriday

I am a day late in posting this but I wanted to share some photos from my instagram feed since we were still in holiday mode. I don't know how you all feel but I feel like I just pulled off a huge event- Christmas!!- and now I am in total shutdown mode. PJ's, coffee around the clock, lots of computer work time, movies, Michael playing contently by himself....we are in a little cocoon here in our house. I also have come down with a case of tonsillitis which began on Christmas and has left me feeling very run down. I am hoping by resting I will be on the mend sooner because I have one heck of a to do list to get done for the rest of break! 

Michael got this really neat play app thing from my dad for Christmas and it is really neat! It comes with a protective screen for your ipad and it is really secure. 

Our cocoon. 

Our food! 

It has been fun being busy prepping all sorts of yummy things for Christmas. I made oven french toast for Christmas morning (a tradition) and then wild rice soup, meatballs, and a veggie tray for Christmas Eve dinner. I also like to think it is part of our tradition to do a soup on Christmas Eve- it is easy, feeds a crowd and can sit and stay warm while we are at church. 

I have loved seeing everyone's beautiful faces come through my mailbox this season. It is one of my favorite times of the year! You all have beautiful families! Even though we live in a digital world I hope the tradition of Christmas cards in the mail never dies. 

My silly boy. 

And now....our 2013 in instagram pics: 

Have a great weekend!

Christmas 2013 Recap

Happy Day After Christmas! 

disclaimer:

I debated breaking this post into several but I am doing the majority of my Christmas photos here so just bear with me. I still have ones from our celebration with Scott's family and a whole bunch from instagram and then it will be wrapped up! 

We the absolutely most awesome Christmas. Michael was so into all things Christmas and loved every minute of it. It was so fun for all the adults to watch him be excited about it all. He was very happy he got everything he asked Santa for and I also think he was happy to have all his favorite family members (all of them) around to help celebrate Christmas. 

Michael woke up at about 6:30 a.m. on Christmas morning but didn't even peek at presents before snuggling in with us for about an hour. He loved his big pile of gifts and was surprised that Santa ate his special cookies. From Santa he received a playmobil house, a very cool hot wheels track for the bathtub, the ladybug game, new BOB books, a new sticker book, new lego tub and finally the most anticipated gift of all-- Elefun! Michael had very specifically been talking about the game where the elephant eats the butterflies and I think Santa did a good job of figuring out what he meant. 

After opening presents we headed into town for Christmas Day dinner at my Uncle Bill's house. It was an awesome meal and of course we did lots of this: 

Do you guys have to endure this at your family gatherings, too? I know it is picky to do but it is so good to have everyone together in a photo just as proof we were all there at the same time. Luckily I had my remote with me and my cousin Sarah had her very nice tripod along- the perfect recipe for a group photo! I am also very good at being bossy and as a result we can see everyone's beautiful, smiling faces. 

Our fabulous hosts who shared their beautiful home and meal with us! 

My cookie tray this year, minus the sugar cookies that I never did get around to decorating (minus the three Michael and I frosted and sprinkled really fast for Santa before going to bed Christmas Eve).

Oh Christmas Eve, I hosted my family at my house for dinner after church. Michael was just buzzing with excitement about opening up presents and he was running circles around the table while we were finishing up eating. 

Just for my own record, I served wild rice soup, vegetable pizza, meatballs, vegetable tray, crackers, cheese and my sister in law Meredith brought awesome tortilla rollups. We had pie from Village Inn for dessert. 

This has been a very special Christmas because my mom is here with us and is doing so well. At the candlelight service at church the message was "Come Home" and it seemed extra meaningful as it was such a blessing to get our mom home. After the service my mom shared when she woke up from her coma her sisters were there and they said, "We are here to bring you home." 

I am so thankful this holiday to have a beautiful home filled with my beautiful family...ones that are here and ones that are in heaven. I hope that you also felt the warmth of home- wherever it is-this Christmas. 

Merry Christmas!