Kammy's Korner: Holidays

Friday, December 20, 2019

20 Years Of The Family Christmas Photo!

Wow. We've come a long way, Baby!

As in blurry photography skills, sunburned noses, family size... :)

Let's start way back in the year 2000 - Our very first Christmas picture

when it was just the two of us and my years in the sun still hadn't affected my skin:

still just us two in 2001:

2002: our fur babies became our babies!

2003:

2004 is MISSING IN ACTION!

Pregnant with baby numero uno in 2005:

And now we have a real baby, not just fur ones!

2006:

The year we photoshopped Tobin's eyes open - eek - 2007:

That time we took the photo in our friend's bathroom - 2008:

Two sweet boys and pregnant with our little girl in 2009:

2010:

2011:

2012:

2013: oops, skipped that year!

First photo at "The Lefere Mansion" (Trail Acres) 2014:

2015:

2016:

We took this photo on a whim - one of our tenants that lived on our property here called wanting to borrow a snow sled so while he was on the phone we talked him into walking out to the waterfalls in the backyard to snap our picture! This is on the shorter eight foot falls (see the waterfalls post HERE).

Taken on the beach at Sheboygan, Wisconsin while celebrating my parents 40th wedding anniversary - 2017

2018:

2019!

We figured since the windmill got restored back to most of it's former beauty this summer, we should highlight it in the family photo this year. Thanks Amber Yanovich Photography for the great pictures! If you'd like to see the post on the windmill restoration project, click HERE.

So guys, since I never have our photos done by a professional... I just gotta share some more shots that Amber got because I love them and why not?

But first, I gotta tell ya something. I shared this next pic on Instagram and some random super made-up girl comments this and I quote "You're the type of family who comes in my cafe asking where the napkins are without look...like actually looking.. like they just look around confused... without actually looking... ya, that's you guys for sure." Now if you know us, you're laughing. Especially if you're Jon Losey or Joe Brandt. My reply was something to the affect that we are actually the type of family who doesn't use napkins because our sleeves work fine.

In all reality, napkins at home? Little Ceasers always gives us a massive stack with our five dollar Hot and Ready so we never need to buy napkins! And if we run out, we use cloth and I wash them. So whatever, Instagram girl.

Back shot of the windmill:

On the windmill walkway:

Our house with the leaves that never got totally picked up. Oops.

My (not always on board, but usually ends up there somehow) renovating fixer-upper partner in crime and I:

So....

Merry Christmas to all my wonderful Kammy's Korner readers - thank you so much for following along in our endeavors!!

May you KNOW the true reason for the season, which is not what we so often make it about - packages under the tree, cookies, and warm fuzzy feelings - but the gift of God's son. Born to a virgin almost two centuries ago, who's only purpose was to allow men to nail him to a cross, where God would punish him for our sins, because he had none of his own. What an incomprehensible gift to mankind! A SAVIOR!! Merry Christmas!

"For the wages of sin is death, but the GIFT of God is eternal life, through Jesus Christ our Lord" Romans 6:23

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You might also like:

The Windmill Project. Click on the Photo to take you to the link:

Our place in the snow - 2018:

Home Sweet Home:

Wednesday, December 11, 2019

Christmas on Gidley Lane {2019 Tour}

Merry Christmas, Everyone!

I'm not a huge Christmas decorator, but I had some fun taking pictures of the few spaces that I did actually decorate and thought you might enjoy a little Christmas tour indoor and out.

Our sun room gets Christmas-y with an evergreen wreath in each window, a few seasonal pillows on the window seats, and a tree on the table.

This wonky tree fit perfectly in an old metal bucket I had, and I found some ribbon in my stash to add to the top. I am the world's worst ribbon tie-er. Someone once gifted me a book on how to tie all those different gorgeous bows but my ADD doesn't let me follow directions and it ended up in the Goodwill box! It was the thought that counted!

You can see one of our Christmas trees peeking out from the family room, but the trees didn't get photographed because that's another thing we aren't real awesome at around here. Tree trimming! One is decked out in all the ornaments the kids have made at school or been given over the years and it's fun and zany. The other tree is supposed to be my "pretty" tree, but well, it's not quite there.

My friend Becky gave me these gorgeous flocked and lit trees last year. Thankfully, the kitchen counters and table are the one place my cat won't go so they are safe here by my sink! Otherwise there was about to be either another intestinal blockage, or pieces of flocked trees going out with the next day's litter.

I had originally made the Christmas embroidery hoops with my mom for our barn sale, but they didn't sell and I was okay with that because it meant I could use them in my house!

Next up are our fireplace mantels. There are three fireplaces in this house! I didn't really go all out in decorating because I don't want to put stuff away, so I just added Christmas stuff. First up is the family room fireplace which got a wreath, a lighted evergreen garland, and some stockings. Yes, I have three kids, but there were only two in the donation box Aunt Dee gave me. Haha! Don't worry, the kids each have a stocking hanging on the staircase.

Next is the master bedroom mantel. Nothing too exciting, just added some white lights and a garland.

I also painted the "great is thy faithfulness" today. UGH. Talk about a new respect for people who hand letter signs. I make signs all the time, but I'm a stenciler. That took me all morning and still doesn't look straight and right and OH WELL. Good enough for who it's for, my Dad would say. (eye roll).

Now THIS one, Nelson thinks is just for him!

Last but not least, my living room fireplace. This was super easy, because all I did was add a few things to what was already there. A few red and black checked bows from the Dollar Tree, a holly wreath, and a Christmas hoop craft.

I recently discovered there are adults - even ones I call my FRIENDS - who have never watched "It's A Wonderful Life." I'm not even sure I can call them my friends anymore. I'm ALRIGHT! I'm ALLLLLLLL RIGHT!!!

The stairway pics aren't real great quality since I took them at night (not that any of these photos are since I'm being lazy and using my phone and not my nice camera! What kind of a blogger have I turned into, anyhow?! Miss Mustard Seed would be horrified).

So last of the indoor shots, this has got to be one of my favorite things. There is the sweetest little old man here in our village named Mike. He's always making and giving me his creations. Last year he asked if there was anything I really wanted him to make me out of wood and I wondered if he could do a nativity scene. About a week later, he was in the Parma Antique Mall waiting for me with my little wooden nativity. I love it! Something that came straight from the heart. :)

Yesterday we finally got a small dusting of snow and just as I pulled in the driveway at dusk, the lamp posts and pillar lights popped on so I stopped the car and hopped out to snap this picture:

And here it is at night. We totally take the easy (or lazy!) way out and take the regular spot lights out that shine on the pillars and replace them with red and green bulbs. We also put a candle in each window, but they are battery operated so they aren't real bright and are a little difficult to see from the road.

Hope you enjoyed your tour. Next time stay for a cup of coffee! And don't forgot to put your brakes on for the new stop sign at the end of our driveway on your way out since the county has decided our driveway is now officially a road... whatever, Dude.