On The 8th Day Of Christmas, I RECIEVED This Gift!

All my family home hanging out together.  Ashlyn is home for the weekend and we have all pitched in to help her with a gift for her dad and step mom. 

Yes, I didn't believe it either when I first heard of it.  I was bar tending one night, D and I were dating and he was watching Ashlyn for me.  Ash called to tell me that "Ron had fixed my pants mom!"  "Huh??"  YES Big D is a man of many talents.  He can sew....and his wife can't.  I can hand stitch, but not use a sewing machine.

Back to Christmas present.  This year, I told the kids that they had a limit of $5 per sibling and the three older kids had to contribute $2 per child.

"WHAT?"  was their initial reaction, but then they started to plan straight away what they were going to get everybody.  When I met Ash and her dad in Olivia last night, she took care of her shopping in Alco. 

On the way home, I asked her if she'd gone shopping for her dad and step mom.  "sigh, no.  I don't know what I'd even get them and I don't have money."

"Well, lets make them something cool." was my response. 

Of course I got eyes rolling, they didn't leave her head so that was a plus.  =)  "Like what?"

"Lets do a fiber art wall hanging."

"Have you ever done one mom? I mean, we can't just do one."

Puleeezzzzeeee!  Don't challenge the great craftin' momma.

"Were going to and it will be fun.  AND yes, we will get it done."  More eye rolling.  No I had never done anything like that.  She can sew with a sewing machine, the last time I did was when I was her age, a long long time ago.  None the less, we got home and we figured out how big it was going to be and then she drew out a pattern.  Then, she picked out fabric from the rag bins where we have old shirts, jeans, sheets etc.  Just waiting for some kid to do a project with them. 

Then she went to bed....

And I cut out her pattern piece by piece by piece.  Eeks.  There was a lot. I was finished around midnight.

BUT it's so neat...she drew a picture of their dog  at the lake on the dock, with pine trees in the background.  For a 12 year old she did excellent.  She wasn't happy with her sewing job around the pine trees, but like I told her, once your dad knows that you have about 15 hours in it, he will love it!  He better. =) 

Kara getting cards and pictures out for family.  What a helper!

Not to cheat you out of a Christmas memory, but this will go down as one of my favorites.  I know I was making a gift for my ex and his wife, but it was so fun helping out Ashlyn.  However, she's not the only crafty one.  This is the second year that Cody has made his gifts for every one.  Last year he learned how to make shelves in wood shop, so every body got a shelf.  Now, he did some sandblasting in shop class, so he is making a sandblasted mirror for everyone. 

I  love my family.  Just like I told Big D, you don't need a lot of money, homemade gifts are fun to make and give. 

For a charity, I'm going to tell you about what I heard today as we were all pig piled in our bed.  It was me, D, about 5 kids and we were talking to my sister Betsy on the phone.  She had mentioned that the "in thing" to do is go to Walmart or Kmart and see if there is anyone in danger of losing their layaway from non payment.  If there is, pay it for them.  There's  a lot of people losing jobs, or just having problems affording a few presents for their kids. 

Cool huh? 

Here is our finished project.  She did about 80% of it herself.  If you want to have a great time with your kids, do a family craft.  It's always a blast!

Sincerely,

The Happiest Fairchild Farmgirl Around!