December 2014

 After Ricky and I got back from our Virginia hunt the kids and I set up the Christmas tree.  It's supposed to be one of those pre-lit ones but when I plugged it in this happened:

 whomp, whomp, whomp :(
I had to run out and get a sting of lights and then the kids picked out this angel to go on the top.  The kids were very excited about it and it reminded me of the much more awesome angel my mom would put on top of our tree growing up.

 So it looked much better after we got everything on it.  It's amazing how quickly the kids decorate the tree!

 I requested a pressure canner for my Christmas present last year and Ricky obliged me and let me open it early too :)

 I tried it out almost right away by making a bunch of bone broth from the turkeys we had raised and butchered.

 I worked on finishing up my last minute Christmas orders for my shop.  This amazing blanket was the last thing to be finished, and just in time too!

 The kids and I used the last of their passes from the summer reading program to go to the lancaster ice rink.

 Katy skated almost the whole time!  I kept trying to get her to take a break and she would sit down on the bench for a minute and then want to go out again!

 I need to get her some real skates this year...

Katy had fun imagining what her presents might be...

 and we made a gingerbread village this year.

 I was able to finish up all my Christmas orders about a week beforehand and then quickly started on the things I wanted to make for my OWN Christmas!  All the crocheting that season made a callous on my finger!

 Ricky didn't think I could do it but I managed to finish all their stocking on time :)

 My Mother-in-law had requested a pillow for her present...

 And I whipped up this hat for Dominic Christmas eve! 

 We had a very lovely Christmas :)

After the holidays I was so thrilled to get some appreciation photos from customers... this one was my favorite!

 Our Christmas puppy had grown quite a bit in a year.  She wouldn't stay still for a picture so Joanna had to hold her.

She sure liked to snuggle and give hugs.

We had plenty of venison in the freezer from hunting season so Ricky whipped up his special Bacon wrapped venison loin for dinner.

 New years Eve we tried to all stay up.

Chase and the girls didn't make it :P