Christmas Cards {or lack thereof}

I intended on doing Christmas cards this year.

I do them every year.

Then the thought of picking out {and probably buying} matching outfits, finding someone to take our picture when we were all clean and home and dressed and available at the same time, braving Costco {yet again!} to pick them up and spending a small fortune on stamps sort of got me out of the mood real quick!

Then I remembered our World Vision Christmas catalog sitting on the coffee table and the decision seemed like an easy one.

I went to their website and bought some chicks and ducks with that money instead.

Funny how a certain amount of money seems like an outrageous expense for something that will be enjoyed for a week and then thrown in the trash, but that exact same amount of money spent on a few egg layers suddenly feels like pocket change.

**Disclaimer: This was a decision that we made for our family and certainly is not an indictment against those who choose to send Christmas cards. I love getting cards from all of you {and if you sent one, it's hanging in our dining room as I type this}. It's probably equal parts laziness and conviction that led to my decision and don't be surprised if you get a card from us next year. If you get a chance and feel so led, I highly recommend that you visit World Vision's site. It's certainly a most worthy {and amazing!} organization!

Merry Christmas!

Things I Love {Christmas Decorations}

Since I've been a total slacker in the WIWW department, I decided to link up with her Christmas tree party instead this week. :)

So here is our tree in all its {fake!} glory....

The pictures are sort of horrible because of all the back light from the windows...but our neighbor always tells me she likes seeing our tree lit up in those windows at night.

I saw a picture in Country Living of a tree in this metal "bucket" and literally squealed, put the laptop down and ran to the garage! I bought one earlier this year at an estate auction for super cheap and have been waiting for just the right thing to use it for. {Jake tried to confiscate it for the horses because he had just bought one at the feed store for three times what I paid, but I wouldn't let him have it because I knew I would need it one day. Yes, need!}
As a side note, I didn't see that picture until after our tree was up and decorated. As a result, I had to take it all apart and basically un-decorate the entire thing to get it into the bucket {fake trees are a wee bit heavy!}. It was quite a site to behold and one that my husband is profoundly grateful to have missed. It was totally worth it though, don't you think? ;)

And while we're on the subject of Christmas decorations....
I made this wreath last week to hand in our dining room and love it so, so much!
Any guesses as to what it's made out of? Hint: it cost me about $3 in supplies to make!

Things I Love {My Sister}

In case you don't know me in real life, I'd like to share a few things with you:

I have a mentally and physically retarded sister.

Her name is Christie.
Wednesday is her 29th birthday.

I have the worst time trying to come up with gifts for her!

What in the world do you buy someone who can't read and doesn't care a lick about TV or movies? She doesn't carry a purse or wear jewelry. She doesn't drive, use a cell phone or own an ipod.

Because she is a bit wobbly on her feet and her foot is very narrow, she can only wear one kind of shoe {a majorly unattractive white leather tennis shoe I might add. ::shudder:: I mean seriously. Is it too much to ask that they make that shoe in brown?! Believe me, my mom and I have searched high and low and it does not exist.}.

And because of her scoliosis, she can't wear most tops. In fact, the only pull over type t-shirt that will fit her properly {isn't too tight around her back and has a small enough neck hole that it won't fall off of her shoulder} is Gap's "My Favorite T". I am not exaggerating when I tell you she owns every color and pattern they have ever made in both long and short sleeve. Don't get me wrong, they're perfectly fine shirts. However, they're terribly plain. Especially when you wear one every.single.day.

I'm not telling you all of this in order to focus on the things she can't do or have. It's simply to make a point: coming up with decent gift ideas for her is a bit of a struggle.

There are two things in this world that she does really love.

The first thing is Mickey Mouse. However, her room currently resembles the Mickey Mouse section of the World of Disney store in Downtown Disney. If it has Mickey Mouse on it, she owns it already. And her room can only hold so much. Oy.

Secondly, the girl likes to eat. Specifically, Cheetos, In-N-Out Burger {you do not want to drive past one with her in the car unless you plan on stopping. Consider yourself warned.}, hot dogs, and Dibs. And if you don't think there have been years when I gave her a bag of cheetos and a Hot Dog on a Stick gift card, you'd be wrong. She's always very appreciative, but it's not a terribly inspiring gift.

So to make a long story short {or not}, this is what we gave her this year for her birthday...

...two of those previously plain Gap T-shirts with a bit of added loveliness.

They can't compete with Cheetos, but they got a big smile! I call that a success.

P.S. Another day I'll share some of my most favorite Christie & Lauren stories. Let's just say Lauren takes her self-appointed role as Christie's keeper very seriously. It makes for some mighty funny moments. It also makes me laugh to myself when I imagine what Christie must be thinking as Lauren micro-manages her every move. :)