This Moment - family Nativity

{this moment} - A Friday ritual

Joining with SouleMama

Christmas Project Round Up: Picture Puzzle

I created this little block/puzzle set for Levi's friend, Evan.  He enjoys blocks and identifying people, so I thought he might enjoy putting together a picture of his family (or just making towers and knocking them down, that works too) Luckily, I had taken family photos of the Ranges this fall and had lots to choose from. I can't wait to make Levi one next year. Here's a wee tutorial, if you'd like to make your own. :)

Christmas Project Round-Up: a gift for a mountain man..

This Christmas gift was inspired by my friend Tom, who recently created a beautiful silhouette of the Grand Tetons on a piece of poplar for his living room. I was struck by the beautiful simplicity of it and even though the Tetons are a much more dramatic mountain range, I thought the idea might still work for the more weathered Presidential Range in New Hampshire.  

My Grandpa has always loved hiking and climbing mountains and if I'm not mistaken, he has climbed all of the Presidentials. I went to Home Depot and found my own piece of poplar (about 2 feet long) with a nice grain. I used some photos online, like the one below, and sketched the line of the range onto the wood with pencil.  Then I simply filled the mountains in with black acrylic paint.   Sweetly simple and meaningful gift for the mountaineers in your life.

Christmas Project Round Up: Movie Night in a Box

Are you ready for the great Christmas project round-up of 2011? Ready or not, here I come! Perhaps you can tuck away a few of these ideas for next year.

______________________________________________

Let's begin with a fun little "experience-in-a-box" gift that I put together for my family members. Last year one of the couples in our small group gave us "Red-Box Gift Certificates", which was just a dollar and a cute card. I thought I would expand the concept and add some popcorn, candy and some post-movie discussion questions (courtesy of english-teacher-question-maker-extraordinare-husband). Here's how I made 'em - 

______________________________________________________________________

Other details you might find helpful:

- here is the recipe I used and printed for the caramel popcorn

- I used baseball card protectors for my redbox "gift certificate" and discussion questions.

- below are the discussion questions we came up with:

     

What did you enjoy about the movie? What did you dislike?

What character did you relate to most? Why?

What was the movie's central theme? Did you agree with the director's treatment of it?

Was the movie's conclusion satisfying? If not, imagine a more satisfying conclusion. 

Christmas Thanks

Thankful this Christmas,

for a fun and happy first Christmas with Levi
for silly family photo shoots
for thoughtful gifts
for big family Christmas Eve sleepovers
for special surprises
for yummy treats
for meaningful carols and hymns


Christ, our Savior, our "God with us"

Christmas Tidings

Have a wonderful Christmas, friends!

This Moment - and so the fun begins, the adventures of kitty and kid

{this moment} - A Friday ritual

Joining with SouleMama