Merry Christmas!

Just before Thanksgiving I decided it was time to take our Christmas picture. I had some great photos of us throughout the year... but because of our height difference, none of them would work in a Christmas card (I tried for hours).

So a new photo had to be taken! I grabbed the camera and a chair- went outside and set it up on timer... then I had to get Ty out there. He does NOT like having his picture taken.

Below are the 4 shots I took that day... he looks perfect in each one. I, however, had trouble getting my hair right, or my posture, or my smile... whatever. By the 4th picture, Ty said, "This is my last one, make one of them work." and so I did. I chose the last one. I have some hair in my face in that picture, but you can't really tell. I'm including all of the photos, because I think it's funny to watch me struggle through these photos and Ty looks exactly the same in each one.

Merry Christmas!

(awkward smile)

(slumped over)

(hair covering an eye)

The Chosen Picture
(small strand of hair in face)
Love, The Sawyers

"For unto you is born this day, in the City of David, a Savior, which is Christ the Lord."

Luke 2:11

(typed from memory since that was our Pre-K4 memory verse for the last 2 weeks)

The Tree

Our Christmas Tree...
We did not have a great place for the tree this year (due to the new leather chair)... so we got a really small skinny tree. So small that I (5 foot me) can put the star on the top without standing on a chair. That is a first ;)
So the tree is right by the front door.
It is full of lights, beads, poinsettias, and all of our favorite ornaments.
It's so small and wimpy that my normal star topper wouldn't work- I'd put it on and the limb would bend over and the star would fall right off.
So I found the new LIGHTWEIGHT star at Marshalls. I like it just fine. and this year is all about change for my decorations anyways.

There really isn't room to put presents under the tree since it's kind-of in the walkway... but I noticed I have a lot of cool Christmas boxes... so I picked my favorites and tucked them under the tree so it wouldn't be totally bare down there.


Apparently I didn't get many pictures of the tree... but I did take some close ups of my favorite ornaments. well, some of them...
We got this one when we purchased our first home...

I got this one when I lived in Branson... I was in a Bible study about Daniel and a sweet lady made these for everyone in the study (all 80 of us)... it is a picture of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abendego in the firey furnace with Jesus- dancing around. I love it.

I got this cute pink one the year I did my first 2 half marathons (hence the 13.1)

We like to get an ornament on every trip we go on. We got this last spring break in Clearwater.

These are my flip flops--- from my college town of Wilmington, NC. They are super special to me. If I remember correctly (and my memory is actually really bad), I think all of my college friends have a pair of these. and I think Jen-E bought them for us. is that true? somebody please help me.

We got this in NYC this past fall! I LOVE IT! A yellow taxi completes my tree!

Well- that's it. I guess the pictures of the tree were kind-of a let down and shouldn't have been the "culminating" post of my Christmas decorations. Oh well. Live and learn.

The Mantle

Three days in a row... a new record???

So I TOTALLY changed up my mantle this year... isn't that the theme of my decorating?
For years I have collected star ornaments. I have always imagined that a tree filled entirely of stars only would be so cool! They just make so many neat star ornaments. But, I don't have enough to do that yet. And when I do that, I really want to have 2 trees, because I really like all of my other "memory" ornaments too. So this year I created my mantle around the star ornaments...

I found these cute stars at Canton this year to put in the middle. I like them. I don't like that they get lost in the painting above them. I don't really like having that painting up during Christmas. I like the painting, but it doesn't go with my mantle and is kinda sad. But I don't know what else to do with that space- I don't have anything else large. And that painting requires a HUGE nail thing- so it would be really ugly if you could see that thing.

I used to use these red poofs on my dining room table, but we all know I've changed that up!

I have 1 on each side, and I LOVE our stockings! Just cute :)

Some of my favorite stars... turns out I hung most of my favs so they really stood out.

this one is whimsical

love this cow hide one- very "texas"

this is just so "mary englebret" (or however you spell her name)

Can't have a star collection and not have 1 with some pink on it.

I picked up this cute sign at Michael's on thanksgiving day and I love it on the side table...

I made these a few years ago from a kit I picked up at Hobby Lobby. Have never really figured out the best way to display them. The J kinda tilts to 1 side- I probably should add hangers on the back- but this works. I love adding the "scrapbooking" element to my decor :)

I've had this star basket since high school. I think it was from Pier 1. I've spray painted it different colors over the years. But I like it silver now. I just filled it with beads and a poinsettia.

The full look again... Of course there are also lights and beads- I can't seem to decorate without those at Christmas. And on the sides you can see the glittery stems of fake leaves. I've had those on the mantle for a few years and I still like what they add to it.

So that is my "star themed mantle." I wanted to get it finished in time to join The Lettered Cottage linky party... but I didn't. So oh well. Live and learn.

If you have any suggestions... feel free to throw them out there! I'm always up for changing things again next year!! Ha!

Christmas Decorations

Two posts in a row!! I'm loving it!
So... some random details around the house...

This cute set up in my kitchen...(as Ty's grandma calls it, "a still life")
Christmas tree plate: hobby lobby last year maybe?
angel: I've had her forever, no clue where she came from
tan plate: pottery barn (gift from my mom)
snowflake candle: handmade by Livi (my former student) (I LOVE IT!)
in my dining room- these cute stuffed animals live by the door...
the small snowman was Ty's growing up
the big snowman and santa were gifts to me at some point. I love Santa's beard!
The Entrance to our home... (don't look at the tree yet!)

Poinsettia painting- by Ty's grandma

I love this little "still life" on the table - the candle in the hurricane glass is surrounded by mini presents and red ball ornaments- meant to go on a small tree- but I just cut off the string for hanging and threw them in there

I love this little nativity- I collect nativities... but this one is one of my favs- it says on the bottom that it's made with wood from Jerusalem. I think my mom gave it to me (are you seeing a pattern?)

Above my bookcase... this is where my tree collection usually lives.

These glass vases live here all year- so this year I just filled the clear ones with some colorful balls.

the multi-pack of balls is from Target - maybe 10 years ago :)

Kitchen... above my cabinets I keep my pitcher collection (yes I have a lot of collections :))
I "Christmas-tize" it by adding some berries and fake poinsettias.

The Greeting Cards... one of my favorite parts of Christmas are the cards! yes I collect them too! I save them each year and add them to a scrapbook! I should take pictures of that!

This year my cards are sitting in this cute basket (from Pier 1- a gift from, you guessed it- my mom!) In January I'll put them in the scrapbook.

Tomorrow... my mantle! I'm super excited to show you this!

Making Changes

I've been decorating, and re-decorating, and re-decorating for a couple of weeks. Usually I do the same thing each year, I know it works and I like it. But I decided to change things up this year- and that began a lot of "re-decorating." It takes time to get things right. I finally just said "Enough!" and put the boxes away. So whether I like it or not, my house is decorated for Christmas.

And today I am sharing with you my tables... Yes, only my tables. I am going to do a different part each day... maybe tomorrow will be the mantle, then the "random details," and then finish off with the Christmas tree. This is sort of like a challenge to myself- to actually blog a few days in a row!!

So without further adieu... my dining room table...
Red tablecloth from Williams- Sonoma
gold runner from Pier-1
silver chargers- NEW - a Thanksgiving day Michael's purchase this year!
white plates- a set from Ross
candle sticks- wedding gift
napkins and napkin rings- gifts from my mom
the clear dessert plate- a garage sale find!

I LOVE this nativity! Each character has a verse inscribed on it that states it's "purpose" in the Christmas story!
I had it on the runner at first, and decided to re-use my great-grandma's doilies to "set it apart" a little more. I like the final product! The REASON for the SEASON is the CENTER of my table (and the center of my entire home for that matter, literally)

Our Breakfast Table...

I have been collecting Christmas trees for a few years. I usually display them on the top of a bookcase. But I like them a lot and decided to group them as a center piece. I'm still not totally happy with this table- looks too chaotic to me... I think it could be "tied together" a little more- just not sure how.

trees- from ALL over (literally)

place mats- gift from my mom

Spode mug and saucer - gift from my mother in law

dessert dishes- gift from my mom

(this has not been a helpful list for purchasing has it ? sorry!)

I think these place mats are adorable! The red gift on the left is actually a pocket to put the silverware in! too cute! A close up of the trees... I really like how there are sparkly ones, natural ones, bright ones, dull ones, etc. And I threw in a few small candle holders and votives to spice things up. too much? please help with suggestions... for next year- I'm not changing anything this year!

I decided this sparkly, colorful one is my favorite. Just thought I'd share that with you!

That's it for my tables! Tune in tomorrow... hopefully I'll post about my new mantle!

Things I Never Thought I'd Say

I have a student who has to wear pull-ups for nap time because he wets his pants while he sleeps. He doesn't love wearing the pull-up at school, but it has become necessary.

He also asks to go to the bathroom MULTIPLE times during the 1 1/2 hour nap. So today we had a talk about...

He said, "The pull up makes me need to pee."
I responded, "no, the pull up helps keep your pants dry. Pull-ups don't make you pee."
To which he said, "Well it scratches my wee-wee."
And here's where I found myself saying, "Well, you can move it around until it's comfortable, just reach in there and move it."

Wow. encouraging a male to "adjust himself." Something I NEVER thought I'd do!! Ha!

A Happy Little Laundry Room

I saw this adorable dish towel at Anthropologie and had a gift card... so naturally I had to have it. (Looking at the website just now I found a TON of cute dish towels that I probably need, and you probably need too. Just go check out all the cute-ness!)

But I decided this towel was way too cute to clean my dishes and counters. In fact, it didn't really belong in my kitchen at all. It is a cute picture of clothes hanging to dry. So, I took it to the laundry room.

I found a brown frame that I didn't like.
I painted it black.
I took out the glass.
I folded the towel.
I placed the cardboard back of the frame back in and smooshed the towel in really well.
And then I had this....

And now doing laundry is such a happy thing!! I think if I have to do laundry I should REALLY enjoy the room! So what cute things can you add to your laundry room???

Chocolate Chip Cookie Brownies

Chocolate Chip Cookie Brownies! What could be better than that?? NOTHING!
SO EASY!! a package of chocolate brownie mix and a refrigerated chocolate chip cookie dough...
Tear up about half of the cookie dough into small pieces and place strategically around a 9x13 casserole dish. (or just throw them around the bottom of a pan)

Mix the brownies according to the package and pour on top of the cookie dough.

Then tear up the rest of the cookie dough and place on top of the brownie mix.

Bake according to the brownie mix box... cut up and ENJOY!!

I made these for our Wednesday night Pre-Thanksgiving meal. YUM!

I also dressed up my glass cake display with a circle of fall scrapbook paper. Easy and cute :)

I used a family size brownie mix, so I used almost the entire package of cookie dough and a 9x13 pan.

If you use a regular size brownie mix, use only half of the cookie dough and an 8x8 pan.

A dessert that combines two favorites- what could be better??

I was thinking of other combinations you could do... chocolate brownie mix and peanut butter cookie dough could taste like a reese's peanut butter cup :) The possibilities are endless!

2010 Annual Friends Thanksgiving

The Saturday before Thanksgiving we fill our home with friends and FOOD!

Everyone brings a dish.

I make the turkey.

This year, we had so many people coming, I only made turkey and stuffing.
And I got to set the tables!

It was a bit of a challenge figuring out where to sit 24 people considering I only own 10 chairs.

So we borrowed tables and chairs from friends and family and made it work!

The dining room table sat 10 people... I used a variety of china, crystal, and napkins on each table.

I tied it all together by making the napkin rings out of scrapbook paper and a sticker.

The folding table held 8 friends.

LOVELY flowers! thanks to my friend Parris who brought them home from a dinner the night before. I am not ashamed of begging and borrowing.

A close up of the "napkin rings." just a strip of scrapbook paper, a little hot glue, and a cute sticker. Done and done.

looking back into the dining room. So full. So fun.

The round table sat 6 people.

I put a little appetizer spread on the coffee table.
People nibbled on it all night long, there was not much left in the end.

Yogurt covered pretzels, chex mix, cheese and crackers, cream cheese with jalepeno jelly. I also attempted some sweet and spicy nuts... I threw the recipe away after the party- NOT yummy.

The decorations at the front door- a happy greeting!

Kitchen decorations

The Drink Buffet in the laundry room.

Hot apple cider

coffee set to brew after dinner (this year I remembered the creamer, unlike last year)

Dr. Pepper, Coke, Diet Sodas, Sweet Tea, and Water

The Turkey!

I remembered to take a photo of it this year.

I tried stuffing it with rosemary after watching Pioneer Woman on Bobby Flay's throw down.

I think I could have used a LOT more rosemary.

The turkey was delicious! But I am still not good at carving.

Although I did learn some tricks from Bobby Flay.

The crew getting some food!

We had quite the spread...

turkey, stuffing, creamed corn, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, green bean casserole, bacon wrapped green beans, broccoli cheese casserole, salad, cranberry sauce, and rolls

(proof that Ty's brother was there)

The Dessert Table

chocolate pie

Jake's Famous Chocolate chip cookies

Pumpkin Crisp (A-MAZ-ING!)
strawberry bread

And Cole's Chocolate Mousse Cheesecake! YUM!

The night ended with some intense games of Apples to Apples and Pit!

It was SO fun!

I think I laughed so hard and played so intensely that I obviously burned off all of the calories I consumed.

Obviously.