Christmas

Christmas at our house

January 2, 2013 | posted by Jaima @ Ring Around the Rosies | Leave a Comment

Christmas may be over, but the memories remain. This was definitely one of the best ones we’ve had in a while. I would normally apologize for being MIA over the past week or more, but truth is, I’m not sorry. Andrew took some time off work for the first time since before Elizabeth was born, and so I decided to do the same. We soaked up every lazy minute the past couple weeks, and today things sort of go back to regular schedules. Most days we stayed in our pajamas, played lots of games, worked puzzles (over and over), watched Christmas movies with hot cocoa, did lots of baking, and thoroughly enjoyed all of our family!

Here’s what our December and Christmas looked like…

I went to check the mail one night, and couldn’t resist snagging this picture as I started to walk back in the house… It was too perfect. This was on our Christmas card this year!

Our tree is filled to the brim with special ornaments and memories from generations past, and the lights twinkle just right! It’s hard to see in this picture, but there’s some below of the train around the tree. Christmas ‘10, Elizabeth was only 5 months old and crawled for the first time towards it. This year, every single night she and her Daddy would start it up and watch it for what must have been hours. She would load all of her little animals on it and shout, “all aboard…1, 2, 3, goooo”! And every night after bath time, she got to unwrap a Christmas book beneath the tree and we would read it right there in that bottom right corner of the picture.

These are moments I will never ever forget – and that’s what Christmas is really about.

In the middle of the month, we had a totally impromptu gingerbread party! I texted the mommy’s of her closest friends and cousins, and ended up with nine 2-3 year olds around our kitchen table one Saturday morning. Andrew & I built the houses Friday night out of graham crackers and gathered different candies and white frosting for them to decorate with. Elizabeth helped me make a batch of gingerbread cookies for the party. Everyone brought a snack to share and we served hot cocoa and apple juice – so easy. Definitely a new tradition we will be keeping for years to come!

We did a lot of baking and crafts. We did at least one of each every day, and surprisingly, it wasn’t too overwhelming. After Sandy Hook, I looked at the messes very differently, and praised God for the ability to make them!

A little bit of magic in every room. Not too much, just a touch here and there. I scaled way back last year and got rid of a very good portion of my Christmas stuff – it makes it much more tolerable, but just as special! I only want things that truly make me happy and/or have meaning in my home!

I made Elizabeth a felt tree with buttons and her own ornaments, thinking that it would keep her off the big tree. She loved it, and played with it a lot, but it didn’t work to keep her off. I decided to pick my battles though.

Christmas Eve, our church has an incredible service. Afterwards, we went to Andrew’s moms for eggnog, snacks, and presents. Then we always light Mom and CJ’s trees at the graveyard. Mom use to do it for her Mom and Dad who are buried right beside them. Now, I do it for all 4 of them, and plan to continue doing it as long as we live here. Elizabeth always kisses them goodbye without being told. Blows me away and brings me to tears every time. The simple fact that she knows who they are, though she never met them, is so incredible to me.

Christmas morning was so special this year. It was the first Christmas I have been excited for in years! Elizabeth got my old bike, which she loved! And Santa totally surprised me this year too! New luggage, a new vacuum I really needed, 4 sets of glass storageware (so happy to get rid of all that mismatched plastic crap), all new bath towels, hand towels, dish towels, and dish rags, a super surprising ticket to Blissdom this March in Dallas (that I didn’t even mention – or planned on going to), and other fun stuff!!! And the best part? This is our first completely debt free Christmas!!!

We had birthday cake for Jesus with a ham I always bake overnight for breakfast! And around noon, we pack up in our pajamas and head to my aunts for the day! Until my grandparents passed away in ‘02, we all went to their house. Then it was my mom’s until she and CJ died, and now this was our 3rd Christmas at my aunts!

Hope you had a very merry Christmas this year!

And I hope you’re ready for an incredible NEW YEAR!!! We certainly are!

Filed Under: Christmas, Holidays, Our Family, This is Us

organizing your ornaments

December 28, 2012 | posted by Jaima @ Ring Around the Rosies | 3 Comments

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Believe it or not, Christmas is over. Seemed like it all flew by. It was an INCREDIBLE holiday. Definitely the best we’ve had since the accident. We haven’t taken our tree down yet, I’m trying to savor all that’s left of the magic. I usually have the itch to take it down by now, but we scaled way down on everything all year long, and Christmas was no exception. I wanted to share with you how I organize my ornaments every year though!

Our tree isn’t fancy with white lights and red and silver ornaments. No, ours holds generations of memories. Ornaments that hung on my grandma’s tree. Ornaments that Andrew and I received growing up. Ornaments we have picked up from our travels. Many of our ornaments were my Mama’s, and I have her twinkling “chasing” lights on our tree as well.

I’ve shared before how I live in fear of something happening to me, especially for Elizabeth’s sake. And our Christmas ornaments are so special to us, that if anything should happen to me, I would want Elizabeth to know their origin and meaning!

I bought these plastic shoe storage boxes at Walmart for $2.00 each. I didn’t take time to print labels, I just wrote on them. There are boxes for my mom’s ornaments, mine and Andrew’s together (ornaments we have collected together from trips, our first home, marriage, etc), Elizabeth’s, our childhood ornaments, etc. I also have a box not pictured of CJ’s childhood ornaments and a box of Mom’s gingerbread ornaments, that I don’t use on the tree.

I labeled the really special ones before I put them in the boxes.

Growing up, we always got to open 1 present on Christmas Eve. It always had new pajamas and an ornament in it, and now we do the same for Elizabeth. All the ornaments are labeled on the back.

The fragile ones are wrapped in tissue paper, and then they’re all placed in these shoe boxes and placed in the big storage tote.

So tell me, when do you pack away all of your ornaments and holiday magic?!

Filed Under: Christmas, organizing, Our Family

christmas story cookies

December 21, 2012 | posted by Jaima @ Ring Around the Rosies | Leave a Comment

Not only are these treats super easy and fun to make, but you can use them to tell the Christmas Story. I found this written down in one of my mom’s cookbooks, and have made them the past 3 years.

get your free printable here

These only require 3 ingredients. Mini pretzel, peppermint kisses, and MnMs. I heat the oven to very low, place the kisses on the pretzels and bake until melted (not browned) and then place the MnMs on top when I pull them out of the oven, when they’re good and smushy.

If you make these, you just have to promise to have a super cute helper. Elizabeth LOVED putting the stuff on top and sorting the MnM colors! So excited that she is able to help this year, and “gets” it… The magic in her eyes and constant “WOOOWW”s out of her mouth are so sweet!

Filed Under: Christmas, christmas baking, recipe

rudolph pops

December 20, 2012 | posted by Jaima @ Ring Around the Rosies | 1 Comment

Elizabeth LOVED making these. If you have time left for some baking, I would recommend these! I must say that we kind of throw caution to the wind at Christmas time as far as diets go. We abide strictly by the 80/20 rule, here.

here is what you need: peanut butter, chocolate melt, nutter butters (which no, are not gluten free or healthy), pretzels, red candy for noses, white choco chips for the eyes, and craft sticks are optional!

You simply open up the cracker/cookie and apply more peanut butter. If you use a natural peanut butter, make sure it is stirred really well (or else it’s messy). Then apply stick and top of cracker. Then you dip the entire thing in your melted chocolate, apply the eyes, nose, antlers, and you’re done!

Super easy and fast!!!

I laid mine on a baking sheet lined with parchment and froze them. You should be able to freeze them for 2 weeks or so. But since Christmas is in 4 days, there should be no need for freezing that long!

May you and yours have fun baking these up!!!

Filed Under: Christmas, christmas baking, Holidays, recipe

monday, broken hearts, parties, and cookies

December 16, 2012 | posted by Jaima @ Ring Around the Rosies | Leave a Comment

There’s so much on my heart that I want to share, but just don’t have the right words or willingness to do so just yet. We are all heart broken. Newtown was such a pivotal part of mine and Andrew’s life. To think of the devastation that our family and neighbors are experiencing is just too much. I am trying to think of the best way for you all to help, for us to do something for good, for those sweet sweet babies. For now, just pray. Hold your babies tight. Cherish every single minute with your family. Cut off the television. And pray. Our God is mighty – He’s got this, too. Pray for the families, but don’t forget the first responders (Andrew’s best friend was one of the first six officers in the building), and the teachers and other innocent children who had to witness it first hand. I will share much more when I’m able and know more.

In other news, can you believe there’s only 7 days ‘til Christmas? December has just flown right by (like all the other months this year, but much faster). I’ll share with you what Christmas in our house is looking like this year, and share with you some of the glimpses of magic from Elizabeth’s eyes later this week.

I was away for the first week of the month meeting some of my team members for a 5 day conference. Last weekend we had Andrew’s corporate Christmas party and then I had my Cousins’ Christmas party with all of my mom’s girl cousins (there’s a lot of us). I had final exams all last week, and we had FOUR parties this weekend! Wow, no wonder the time is flying; we’re having too much fun!

For the first time since the accident (which will be 3 years on Saturday), I sort of have the Christmas Spirit this year. It’s a nice feeling.

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Filed Under: Christmas, on my heart, Our Family

Embracing the Surprises and Joy of Advent

December 14, 2012 | posted by Jaima @ Ring Around the Rosies | Leave a Comment

I have to admit that most years, I get lost in all the Christmas and forget about Advent. Sure we do Advent calendars with the kids, go to church and volunteer to pack food baskets every year. But we also stay up too late watching Christmas shows and eat too many cookies. I also have a tendency to spend too much, worry too much and stress too much. It just becomes too much excess; too much Christmas.

This year, I felt the same thing happening. I was repeating my old patterns. Until my daughter in a sweet Cindy Lou Who voice asked, “Do you think they’ll let me be an angel in the pageant this year?”

Looking into the wide eyes of my sweet 8-year-old daughter, I remembered the spirit of not just Christmas, but Advent. Not too much, but just right. I felt my focus shift to the spirit and lessons of Advent–waiting for something important in our lives, embracing surprise and mystery and faith. And accepting that it might not look perfect, like a gift wrapped at a fancy department store.

A couple years ago there was an incident at church. It was Christmas Eve, the stage was set with all things Nativity-looking. Real hay was laid out nicely, fancy bottles were set out to represent frankincense and myrrh. Backstage nervous volunteers pulled at their costumes and waited for their part in the big show. It was the night of the Christmas pageant and the pews were filling fast. No one knew it would be a pageant like no other where a little Angel of the Lord stole the show.

I sat in the front row ready to be wowed by the performance. Especially my little Lucy, who was 3 years old and playing the role of that Angel of the Lord. There were two other (older) angels with her sharing the part and keeping an eye on her. I sat in the front row not only to get a great view, but also to be at the ready if Lucy got nervous or scared and needed me.

A few minutes into the pageant, everything was going smoothly. Until Lucy saw the microphone. A microphone to 3-year-old (or some 38-year-olds) is an open invitation to try it out right? She couldn’t help herself, she ran up grabbed the mic confidently with both hands and shouted “Be not afraid!” It was well before her time in the short script and it threw everyone for a loop.

Unfazed, Lucy began to skip around the stage in her tinseled wings and cockeyed halo. She started picking up hay and throwing it like she was the flower girl at the most fun wedding ever. Her smile was huge, her eyes glowed. She was loving it. The other pageant cast mates just stood there, frozen, unsure of what to do. I too was frozen in my pew not sure of what to do.

I almost got up when she started holding the heavy glass jar of “frankincense” over the real live baby playing the role of Jesus. But the woman playing Mary was really in character and had the patience of a saint and gently moved the baby out of harm’s way.

My husband next to me was clenching his jaw and telling me to “get your daughter” through his gritted teeth. The woman behind me was annoyed and telling her husband this little girl "is ruining the pageant.” But then I looked around and saw the smiles and laughter on some people’s faces.

It wasn’t a perfect pageant, but it was full of joy and surprise. Just like that night in Bethlehem might have been so many years ago. Maybe one of the shepherds threw some hay up in the air like confetti. It was a joyful event.

So yes, I thought it was cute and so did some other members of the congregation, but not everyone felt the same. Our family has been a part of the pageant every Christmas Eve for the past six years, but Lucy has never again played the angel role.

She has waited patiently and quietly. She has been a shepherd, an innkeeper, a wise man. All without controversy. When she asked to be an angel this year I told her “I think they’ll let you.” And they are letting her.

Lucy is reprising her role as the Angel of the Lord on Christmas Eve. She is older, more aware of herself (and rules), calmer and more serious. I know she will bring this new maturity to her role, but there’s a part of me that wishes she would throw some hay and shake it up.

I want to embrace the surprise of the season. I know the church congregation upon hearing the news of Lucy’s role reprisal will be working to embrace the Advent lessons of waiting and hope.

I also want to carry these lessons of Advent throughout the year and embrace the many surprises that life, and especially parenting, brings.

Merry Christmas.

Happy Advent.

Filed Under: angela, Christmas, contributors

santa hat brownies

December 10, 2012 | posted by Jaima @ Ring Around the Rosies | Leave a Comment

I had this whole series I wanted to do this month… 12 days of baking followed by 12 days of crafts, but y’all, some things are just hard to live up to. Why do we set such high expectations for ourselves? I wanted to bake and craft every day with Elizabeth until Christmas, but that just isn’t always possible. Between working, final exams (did ya know I’m also taking classes again), my grandmother being in the hospital, and all the other December festivities, it just hard to believe we’re already 10 days in, and we’ve only baked three or four times. And only crafted twice I think…

Christmas should be more about making memories and slowing down, but we always make it such a BIG production. And I’m just as guilty (if not more) than the next person. My mom loved Christmas. She always did it way over the top, and I feel like I have to attempt to do the same – for her, for Elizabeth. Andrew and I had talked about renting a cabin in the middle of nowhere for a week during Christmas just to get away, have a quiet Christmas with just the three of us, bake, make popcorn, play games, and just make new memories – no places to go, nobody else to shop for. BUT, we decided against it this year.

Here’s a quick, super easy goody you can make with your toddler though.

I baked gluten free brownies (trader joes) and made a small batch of homemade cream cheese icing (maybe one day I’ll share my secret recipe).

After the brownies were cooled, I used a small biscuit cutter, piped the icing on top, cut strawberries to fit on top, and then piped more icing on top.

Easy peasy! Elizabeth loved putting the strawberries on top, and her daddy and Grandpa loved eating them!

Filed Under: Christmas, christmas baking

monday, zoo, loretta lynn, parties, and more!

November 26, 2012 | posted by Jaima @ Ring Around the Rosies | Leave a Comment

Is it just me or have the last few weeks just flew by?!
Ours have been jam-packed with fun things. A little bit of work and a whole lot of play.
Last Sunday, on Veteran’s Day, our zoo was having free admission for vets and their families. Considering we hadn’t been there this year (shockingly) we took advantage of the beautiful day. So thankful we did.
We’ve been doing a little Christmas shopping, but I generally make most of our gifts – you’ll see some of them in here (I have to be careful about posting them, because I don’t want to spoil any surprises).
Thanksgiving was AMAZING this year. One of the best ones I can recall. I didn’t take any pictures that day because I was too busy soaking up the day. It was a quiet day, with my immediate family. After dinner, the men played with their new toys and the girls watched old home movies and went through the sales papers! That night, the men took the babies home, and I went out with my aunt and cousin. It’s a crazy tradition, but we always have so much fun and create so many memories.
Friday was Andrew’s birthday! I don’t care how old you are, you’re never too old for a birthday party in my book. Our family values every one so much more now. And we are all there to celebrate! Of all the meals I could have prepared, Andrew wanted a frozen pizza party (gross, huh?). I guess since we rarely eat already prepared food, or junk food for that matter, he thought he’d make a party of it… haha. I’m thankful for Amy’s organic gluten free pizzas!
Saturday, I cleaned out all day and worked on a school project (did you know I not only run a business and blog, but I’m in the midst of finally getting a degree) while Andrew went out with a friend. We rendezvoused for sushi later.
Sunday, was an at-home, self-declared family day!! Just the 3 of us. We put on the traditional Loretta Lynn Christmas album I grew up listening to and decorated for Christmas and put up the tree. Sipped hot chocolate (it’s cold here), and had left over Thanksgiving for dinner.
I wish you could have seen Elizabeth’s face when we cut the tree lights on. This Christmas is already fun! We could just skip all of the presents, because the magic and wonder in her eyes has already been more than I ever expected. It’s going to be a great season. She keeps walking around smiling and saying, “looooook, Mama!”. Love it.

And if you actually looked through all of those pictures, here’s my favorite Loretta Lynn Christmas song… Mama always said, “we’ll have a good ol’ country Christmas this year”, and we always have. This year is no exception!

Filed Under: Andrew, Christmas, Elizabeth, Holidays, Our Family, thanksgiving, This is Us

ABC Magnets {Handmade Christmas}

December 21, 2011 | posted by Jaima @ Ring Around the Rosies | Leave a Comment

We had such a nice trip to Kansas. I have sooooo much to share with you, that I don’t know where to begin. And giving the fact that Christmas is 5 days away and I haven’t finished (or started) most of my gifts or cooking, it may be a few more days before I can begin to really share with you the things I want to.

If you don’t already, please follow me on facebook where I am sharing recipes and pictures as I go!

I wanted to stop in tonight (or morning, since it’s after midnight) to show you one of the gifts I did complete today, though.

a b c magnets

My niece loves “mag-a-nets”! She has been catching on to her abc’s alongside her big brother, so I thought these would be the perfect gift!

These didn’t take very long, but they were not my favorite project… My hands were covered in glue by the end (and I hate that feeling, crazy for a crafter, I know)… But the best part?!? IT WAS FREE!!!! I had all of the supplies on hand!

What you need:

marbles (fish bowl gem things, haha, I don’t know their name)
printer & paper
scissors or punch
mod podge & glue
magnets (I cut up old advertising magnets like the doctors office gives you)

How To:

I made text-box circles in Microsoft Word and added the alphabet.
Printed it out on scrapbook paper
Cut out each circle (a 1″ punch would sure be handy)
Mod Podge the circle to the flat side of the stone (letter facing the bubble part)
After it dries, glue the magnet on (I used super glue for this, because I was afraid hot glue would come off and e6000 takes too long to dry)

screenshot of text box circles

I’m adding these to the Handmade Christmas section!!!

Don’t forget to pin it, too!!!

Pin It

Filed Under: Christmas, christmas gifts

Teacher Gift {Handmade Christmas}

December 12, 2011 | posted by Jaima @ Ring Around the Rosies | 6 Comments

I know I am falling behind in my Handmade Christmas posts, part of it is a serious lack of being at home and part of it is fear of giving away the gifts to my family…

Today, I’m here to show you a great teacher gift, though! I originally saw this at Domestically Speaking. My nephew & I made it for his teachers on the first day of school!

All you need is an old mason jar (or any recycled glass jar), a bag of peanut MnMs (or regular, plus a few for yourself), scrapbook paper, rafia ( ribbon or anything to tie it with will work).