Weekend roundup (PHOTO HEAVY)

We finally dug out the Christmas box and put some actual ornaments on the tree. Only the unbreakable ones. We have a lovely collections of glass ornaments but Waffle still has way too much kitten in her. We also didn't put garland or lights because she chews on the tree. (she is damn lucky she is so cute and sweet the rest of the time. And she is)



My mil gives ornaments every year for Christmas so I quite a little collection of Hello Kitty ornaments. I feel slightly bad it turned into the Hello Kitty and Cupcakes tree but those are the only unbreakable ornaments we had all his star wars and robot ones are blown glass! Dave says he doesn't care, but I still feel a little bad. Just a little though ;)







Well actually some of Dave's ornaments aren't breakable... his Chicken McNuggets.



The year he was diagnosed we slowly discovered things he would never be able to eat again. One was McDonald's Chicken McNuggets so for Christmas I made him a happy meal out of felt. I couldn't find the french fries in the ornament box last night but there are fries too!

Sorry for all the stuff in my photos! Tiny apt living. We also had just gone to the grocery store so you can see the 7 boxes of Chex in the back for our epic Muddy Buddy making this week. EVERYONE loves it so we are making some for all our family. We got milk and white chocolate too so there will even be OPTIONS!



After all the ornaments were up I still couldn't find everyone's stockings anywhere. Dave and I tore the closet apart looking for them. I finally found them folded up in a bag under my freestanding closet.  They need to be steamed or something. They are made from glue and felt so I have to be careful. Dave and I made each others in 2002 our first year we were home for Christmas. (We always flew home for a few weeks for holidays so we never decorated our apartment until 2002) They are just .99 stocking from Target and we used craft felt. Then as the girls came into our lives we made them stockings.



Daisyboo's is all her favorite things a cardboard box, a little fur mice and stinky fish. Waffle's is Daisyboo, a blanket and cupcakes. Because we all know what Waffle thinks about cupcakes.



We have quite a nice Christmas decoration collection as people gift us stuff every year and we got married before Christmas so people gift it for our anniversary usually but EVERYTHING seems to be breakable. So we only put out these little guys.



We are hoping next year Waffle has mellowed out some and we can do a proper tree that isn't nailed down with lights! (We have 5 Christmas trees total! My mom just kept getting them she totally loves a Christmas tree. We even have a Halloween tree from her)

I finished my last present last night. My family doesn't tend to appreciate homemade presents. They would prefer it was made in China than by Hillary. So I only made one thing for them this year. My dad said "Don't buy me anything" so I made him something. I hope he likes it. Traditionally he has just picked on things I made but this one is special.



It's a miniature painting and easel. Dave dubbed it "POP art" which is a play on my favorite style and person we lost this year. I made it based on a photo of my dad and Pop talking at my cousin's going away party when we was being deployed.

My dad who is one of the unappreciative offenders in my homemade gifts, ironically makes the BEST presents for me. Most mine and Dave's furniture was made by my dad and I used my  paint box last night which was a gift in college. I carried it to class everyday with a big goofy smile. It is one of my favorite presents ever, easily. It has a compartment in the top for papers and palettes.



I didn't make a painting for gram because she can't "see" them. I have done about 10 paintings in this style over the years and she always says it is just globs and she can't see it.

This weekend Dave worked on his Thesis most the weekend but we did go for some brunch and groceries yesterday.






I got a gingerbread waffle with pomegranate molasses and coconut cocoa.. Dave got a coconut, cashew, chocolate pancake.

How was your weekend? What did you eat? Have you made any presents this year? What?

Saturday night we made homemade Mac and Cheese with gouda........omg mac with gouda is out of this world. Sunday Dave made a tiny molasses, clove, mustartd roast ham with homemade baked beans and cornbread. So delicious and is my lunch today too!