Year 2: Homemade Christmas

It's the last weekend before I head back to work on Monday. I know you're thinking "wah wah I've been working this whole time" but you didn't choose to be a teacher. I cherish my breaks because being a teacher is exhausting and the breaks are necessary to breathe and prepare for another semester. And I'm not saying that your job isn't exhausting..because it probably is! I love my class this year so much that I dread only having one more semester with them. 

This winter break also allows me time with family and time to plan and throw a NYE party which we did for the second year in a row. It's our little NYE tradition since we moved into our little home. But I will get to those details in another post. Here is a review of my families second year of homemade Christmas gifts. I was in the middle of our big move last year and had next to no time to really prepare so I planned ahead and worked hard this year and I think it went well.

Our little family. 

Sisters

So let's start with my uber creative sister, Brit, she drew my Dads name this year. I am always curious to see what she comes up with because let's face it..she is talented. She took a quote she had seen and stained a piece of wood and painted the letters on it. She also made a desk calendar for my dad that she bought a stand for. Very nice!

My dad drew my brother-in-law Kyle's name and he made him a cut out book to hide things in? haha My dad cracks me up.

Kyle, and by Kyle I mean Brit, drew Katie's name and she made her this super cute covered bulletin board for her room. Love the pins around the outside.

Katie drew my name and she made me a pretty burlap wreath.

I drew Brit's name and I made her three different kinds of clutches. Brit does not do a lot or really any shopping for herself so I figured she could use an assortment of clutches and they're fun!

My hubs drew my mothers name and he made her two bath bombs and a really yummy lavender candle. She loves a good bath and takes one almost every night so it was a perfect gift!

 And lastly, my mother drew the husbands name. She made him shaving cream. It smells minty and he says it works really well.

 The homemade Christmas takes a lot of work but it's fun to focus on one person and make something you think they would enjoy. I really enjoyed working on my sewing skills this year. Next year we are going to do baskets for each other. We already drew names so I have all year to compile something awesome! As we get older it's fun to kind of change things up and put the focus on spending time with each other.