Merry & Bright - Christmas Joy Quilt

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

I've been busy sewing up Christmas projects since September.  I finished up my Christmas Joy Quilt this weekend...right on time to bring it along to the Christmas tree farm for some festive photos!  What could be a more perfect backdrop for showing off a Christmas quilt?

We had a fun family afternoon picking out and cutting down our Christmas tree, then enjoying hot chocolate and cookies around the fire...followed up with sledding!  It happened to be the first day of the first year that this tree farm was open.  So glad we have a tree farm nearby to carry on this tradition in the years to come!

This quick and fun pattern is from Lo and Behold Stitchery.  Fabrics are Bella Solids by Moda.  See more of my Christmas projects (tree skirt, advent calendar) on my Instagram account, @prairiembquilter

Our Christmas

Christmas 2017 has come and gone in a flash.  We had a perfect family Christmas together.  The kids are at such fun ages, and I know the years to come will be just as fun.  Here are a few pictures of our Christmas Eve unwrapping night at home.  I love their matching Hanna Andersson pj's!

Maris didn't need ANY help unwrapping gifts this year.  She was all over it.  I tried to follow the "4 gift rule" (something they want, something they need, something to wear, something to read), but they ended up each getting 5 presents.  Still, knowing that there were gifts to come from each set of grandparents, it cuts down on the amount of new things!

Ari's BIG, number 1 exciting gift was his excavator!  He had wanted one so bad.  We even wrote Santa to ask for it!  His reaction opening this one was priceless.

Maris' big gift was her shopping cart with play food.  They also got a cash register from grandparents, so they are all set to play store.

Still happy Christmas morning, when we opened up stockings.  I love these two little people so much!  They make Christmas so much more fun!

Merry Christmas

From our family to yours, wishing you joy, hope and peace as you celebrate Christmas this season.

With love,

The Loewen | 2017

The Most Wonderful Time of Year

Yesterday marked the first day of December, the most wonderful time of year (other than the end of June, of course ;). Christmas is always a special season.  Here are a few ways we want to make the most of it...

• Decorate the tree
• Build a gingerbread train
• Write a letter to Santa (try to get the kids to visit him, too)
• Attend the school Christmas concert
• Read Christmas stories
• Drink egg nog, tea and other spiced drinks
• Have many gatherings with friends and family
• Watch our favourite Christmas movies
• Volunteer for Christmas Cheer
• Go out and see the Christmas lights around town
• Enjoy displays in local shops
• Craft ornaments with Ari
• Enjoy two weeks holidays at home with the family
• Celebrate the reason for the season; Jesus' birth!

Have a Merry Christmas everyone!

Image 1 / Image 2

December

Our December has been so wonderful!  It's been full of family and friends spending time together and creating Christmas traditions with the kids.  Baby's first Christmas is always a special one.  Here's a peek into our holidays...

Maris has been very enthralled with the tree and presents.  She actually ripped the paper off one gift before I noticed!  It was one for Ari and he wasn't too impressed.

 Ari wouldn't get close to Santa...

A deer got stuck in our fenced-in town backyard one morning!  Very unusual and a treat to watch so close up!

 Ari has enjoyed helping with Christmas baking.

We got a baby sled for Maris and took it out once the North Pole temperatures left...it's been a frigid month!

Ari took Mama and Maris on a tour of the Canadian Fossil Discovery Centre...his favourite place to go with Grandma.

It's been a fun-filled month full of love, smiles and laughter.  We are so looking forward to Christmas this weekend!