The Magical Blanket

Here is the much anticipated surprise project I was frantically working on for Christmas. Years after my little sister Michelle died, my mom had mentioned that someday she wanted to make us all a quilt using pieces of Michelle's clothes.

As the granddaughters have come along my mom would start sending a few things home with us here and there for them to wear and then when they were outgrown we'd send them back to her. A few months before Christmas, my mom sent Linz and I home with the majority of her clothes and she told us to get use out of them with our girls and that when we were done with them she didn't need them back.

As I got looking through them many were extremely worn, some stained, some I couldn't bear the thoughts of them getting ruined and some just plain out of date. So I got to remembering when Mom had mentioned the quilt idea and mentioned it to Linz. We decided it was a great idea for Christmas, but then time flew by so quickly and she got wrapped up in many of her own projects. So...2 1/2 weeks before Christmas I decide I'm going to make this quilt by myself. (Side note: I haven't sewn in over 7 years and even then, I had step-by-step help with making a simple pair of pj's for Taylor.)

I kept questioning the project wondering if I could do it emotionally and then if it would turn out decent and be satisfying to both my mom and I. A good friend at work was very helpful throughout the project with giving me hints and telling me what my next steps were, and Linz helped sew a couple rows together. Other than that, this was my baby!!

Before I cut into any of the clothes.
There was multiple reasons for taking pictures of the clothes before I cut them...the main being that I was terrified that my mom would be so upset that I cut into them, so I wanted a way that she could remember them whole if my bright idea ended up as a catastrophe.

When I cut the first several squares I just sobbed. It was a good cleansing cry and many memories resurfaced throughout this project. My entire family was in on it and were so excited.

This is before all of the rows were sewn together.

The completed piece!!

Everyone at work and around me knew about this project. I was so excited I could barely contain myself and it was so hard keeping it a secret. For that reason I'm glad I didn't start it much sooner, it just would have been that much harder waiting.

So when opening presents we saved this one until the very last. We had kleenex ready to go around and everyone's attention and cameras ready.

Some pictures and expressions are priceless!!
Even Miss Hollie was so excited to see her reaction, as you can tell.

When she opened it and realized what it was, she immediately began crying and said, "You did it!!" Many tears were shed and I just kept asking her to tell me it was ok that I did it. I still was so scared that she'd be upset that I cut into the clothes. And she reassured me that it was perfect!!

Sometimes there are no words.

She went through each square and identified what article of clothing it had come from and whether or not it was one that she had made for Michelle.

Such a proud moment, I must confess! It was the most magical gift I have EVER given someone. I don't know that I could ever give and receive the same feelings of excitement and love as I did with this quilt. It was an honor and tribute to Michelle and a way to keep her memory alive. And something that will be cherished forever.

I love my mom more than she'll ever know!!

All us girls under the quilt!

“Some people come into our lives and quickly go. Some stay for awhile and leave footprints on our hearts. And we are never, ever the same.”

This quote comes to my mind when I think of Michelle! She came and went so quickly and I will never be the same! She will forever be in my heart!! I love you Michelle & I hope this quilt will be of comfort to my mom as she wraps herself in Michelle's memories.

Christmas with the Hansen's

Warning: Picture Overload!!

We got together for dinner and presents at Lindsay's house later that evening. As some of the these pictures will surely portray, we're a bit of an eccentric group when we get together, and that's putting things mild at best.

Taylor and all the other kids got lumps of coal (candy) from Chris & Mike.

My Mom & Dad spoiled Linz & I with the Cricut Expressions! I can hardly wait to figure out a super fun project with it. Any ideas?!

My cute Haddie on her horse from her other Grandma! All the girls loved it!!

Linz made a lot of homemade gifts this year and they were so much fun. This is a bow holder that she made for Kami. It's darling.

Kambri & Haddie got kitchens from Grandma & Grandpa and this kept them entertained to the point they weren't even interested in opening the rest of their presents. We had to keep calling them over to open some.

Less than a week before Christmas Hollie put in a request for a homemade purse from Linz, and she delivered!! She is definitely a purse girl just like her mom!

Taylor got a gift card for Amazon, a DVD/VCR combo, his zodiac sign necklace....

Dad, Chris & Mike. I did mention that we're a little odd, as you may see in Chris's face.

Kambri got Uno Moo, a homemade Dora apron, homemade tutu....

Linz and her ladder from us! I can't wait to take a pattern off it and get to making me one and some fun decorations for them!

Holl loves to sing, so a karoake was the perfect give from Grandma & Grandpa.

Shaun got a hoodie, a GPS, gift card, new beanie & gloves....

We also got a family game, homemade dishwasher soap, 72-hour kits for our entire family, and lots more!! We had a wonderful Christmas night with my family.

Christmas Morning Fun

I must start out by saying that I consider myself pretty lucky with our yearly Christmas Day 'wake-up' time which ends up around 7:30 or thereabouts. I remember my parents telling us we couldn't get out of our beds any earlier than 6:00, and us laying there for what seemed like hours before just watching the clock.

Checking out the goods from Santa.
Some of the highlights for Taylor were some books & a Wii game; Hollie- a guitar and a Littlest Pet Shop play center, Kami- Baby Alive and a Playdoh Kitchen Meal Maker and stockings full of goodies.

I must add that when putting Kambri to bed on Christmas Eve our conversation went a little something like this:
Me: Ok, you need to go to bed good so Santa can come.
Kami: I don't like Santa. I don't want to see him.
Me: He'll come while you're sleeping and leave you presents.
Kami: Ok!

She seemed pretty alright about Santa in the morning when she saw her loot!! :)

Holl's guitar

What's next?

This is a picture of our dishwasher with the water running and overflowing out all over the kitchen floor. We had problems with it a few months ago and the repairman came and fixed it. Then on Christmas of all days...we start having the same problem again. Shaun fixed it for the time being...hopefully permanently, but time will tell.

Hollie got loose with my camera and actually got me a few fun pictures. The one above is Kami's new table & chairs with some new wall decorations for her room.

Such the cute little mommy.

I thoroughly enjoy watching the kids open their presents and seeing the excitement on their faces. We do it by starting with the youngest and we do one present at a time so we all see the reactions and what everyone gets. Plus, it makes Christmas morning last just a little bit longer.

We were all spoiled and got lots of fun new things. Most importantly, we were able to spend a day with little fighting and enjoy our time together.

Christmas Eve Party

It is our tradition to get together every Christmas Eve with Shaun's family for our Christmas Party!

When I was younger we always got together with my dads side of the family on Christmas Eve and I looked forward to it every year. It always helped to preoccupy my anxious mind. Somewhere along the way that got changed and we stopped doing it that night and it really made me sad. It was something I'd come to love and anticipate every year.

So when I got married this became our tradition with my in-laws and then we do Christmas Day with my family. It works out beautifully!

My nephew Eric, niece Lacie and Holl & Kami lined up anxiously awaiting the unveiling of their first present! My nephew Tysen was also there, but he didn't manage to make it in this particular picture.

Taylor and my brother-in-law, Adam.

Hooray for Harvest Moon! He was super excited!

(Tysen in the bottom corner and Brenda. I feel bad that this is the only picture we got them in.)

Brenda (mother-in-law) puts a lot of thought into every gift she gives. The girls love to play store, doctor, etc. So they each got their own little laptop and a bag full of everything they could possibly need for setting up shop, even down to their own business cards.

Watch out...these girls have it going on and will be company executives someday! We all joked that we should have had them open their presents when we first got there. These computers kept them entertained and the noise level a little lower. :)

Our cute little Grandma Bennett! She is truly the cutest little Grandma.

My sister-in-law, Jennifer and father-in-law, Mike.

We had a great evening with yummy food and great company! I'm so grateful for the wonderful in-laws that I have and all that they do for us. We got a lot of fun gifts that included gift cards, Bath & Body stuff, a cool serving tray divider with multiple purposes and a Hot Chocolate Maker.