Oh Christmas Tree... How Lovely Thee Be!

Hello everyone!

     I'm glad to say that our Christmas Tree was finished last week! Brandon and I stayed up late to decorate it after Brayden went to sleep. Well actually, I ended up finishing it by myself because Brandon fell asleep on the couch after awhile. It was nice though, because I really felt good about the way the tree looked when I was done with it. I can't even remember the last time it looked this pretty!

"Oh my God! It's so pretty, I'm going to die!!"

     This tree has been in our family for 14 years now. However there are a few salt dough ornaments hanging on there that my mom made when she was pregnant with me, which would make them about 20 years old.

Mom's Salt Dough "Candy Cane" Ornament

"Angel" Ornament I gave to my mom as a
gift when I was in elementary school. 

"Rhett and Scarlett on the Staircase"
 from Gone with the Wind.
We got this in 2003. 

"Scarlett" from Gone with the Wind.
We have had this since 1997.

And this is another Alaska themed ornament.

This is one of out Alaska themed ornaments.

      I remember the first year we moved to Alaska. It was right before Christmas, and we lived in the transition housing on Elmendorf Airforce Base. My parents didn't have enough money to get a Christmas tree that year, because of the cost of the move. So instead my mom had bought a big piece of green paper and cut it into the shape of a Christmas Tree. Then we cut circles out of colorful card stock paper and taped them to the paper tree. That was our first Christmas in Alaska. The next year we lived in our own house in Wasilla. That's when got the tree pictured above, and we've had it ever since. So what is your tree like? Do you have a fake one or do you get a real tree to put up every year? Comment below! 
Merry Christmas from my house to yours!Love Scarlett <3   

Just Keep Giving! Just Keep Giving! What Do We Do? WE GIVE!

Wishing You and Yours A Very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

     I love this time a year. Always have and probably always will. I love giving more than receiving. The only time I'm ever disappointed is when I don't have a lot to give. In the past I've never been able to send Christmas Greeting cards to anyone else, because I had no way to get to the post office to have the cards stamped and mailed. This year I have a car (all thanks to my mom and Nana for helping me sign for one in August), so now I can actually go to the post office and mail stuff to all of my favorite people! I have actually been working on cards and letters for everyone. So I'm really excited to finally be able to send stuff to family, since I've never been able to in the past. I've always really appreciated getting cards and letters from family, so I'm really happy to be returning the love this year!

     Yesterday we finally started putting up the Christmas Tree! I was really happy, because last year we didn't put it up which made me sad. Hopefully we will be done decorating it tomorrow. 

     This year will be our first Christmas with Brayden. Yay!!! I'm still trying to figure out what I should get him for Christmas. New baby toys perhaps? Some teething rings? It doesn't really matter. I was even thinking about getting him some big plastic cooking spoons that he can grab and play with. As for presents for everyone else, I have been researching some DIY projects that would make neat gifts since I don't have as much money to spend this year. I hand wrote some letters with little doodles on them for my little cousins that live in the lower 48. I'm loom knitting scarves for a few people. I'm trying to figure out what to do for Brandon this Christmas. I don't know if I should make him something, or maybe give him a little love note asking him out on a date. Perhaps both? I don't know what to give my parents, and I'll probably do a DIY project for my brother. Lastly, if I had more money I would have liked to make a donation to Toys For Tots, but this year I am going to just donate some of my old clothes to Salvation Army. What do you plan on giving this holiday season? Comment below! Big hugs from this mommy to you! 

Merry Christmas! 

Scarlett :)