Super-Duper Shutterfly Deal!!!

Once a year I take my 3 children to have their picture made together. It is difficult on everyone since none of them have any attention span. We have a wonderful photographer though, and she helps us through it. I essentially include this picture of them in all of our Christmas cards I send out.

Writing all 5 of our names, along with a small holiday sentiment in each card ends up being a daunting task. This year I thought I might try something new. I am going to get on the 'holiday photo card' bandwagon! Not only will it be cheaper than buying cards and wallet sized pictures, I can choose individual photos of my kiddos and I won't have to write our names a bajillion times!!! WooHoo!!

I have browsed around on the web to try and find simple, elegant cards that I love. I came across this promotion from Shutterfly where bloggers get 50 Free Holiday cards just for writing up a blog post. You read that right...I said Fah-Reeee!!! Who doesn't love free stuff??

Here are just a few of the holiday cards that I LOVE...

I've always wanted a beachy Christmas!! Cute!!

Black & Red? So elegant-my Fav!!

Lovin the light blue!! I'm going for a card with
3 pictures in it too!!

How playful is this?? And with the B&W!!! eek!!

The chocolate with the cutesie flowers-LOVE!!

I could go on and on but I'm gonna stop. Go on over to Shutterfly and check out their amazing Christmas photo cards for yourself!! They have some super deals going on at the moment too!!

Shutterfly also has the cutest pewter ornaments for your tree!!

And don't even get me started on the photo desk calendars!! Any Grandparents dream!!

Their photo albums are the perfect thing to commemorate any special day in your life. I'm thinking they would be great for baptisms and blessings, birthdays and holidays, and especially weddings!!

So don't forget to head on over and sign up for

Shutterfly's 50 Free Holiday Cards Promotion!!

Christmas with the Praters

Ok, so I'm a little late with this post. I was doing good and then everyone got sick. It wears me out when people are sick, then I get sick and well, you get the picture. These are some pictures of the Prater family Christmas. We had Christmas at our house this year. There is a little more room than at Trad's parents house. Everyone seemed to have a really nice time. That makes all the time I put into dinner worth it. The way I planned Christmas this year we didn't even have to leave the house. Now that's what I'm talking about!!

WARNING: There are a TON of pictures on this post. If you don't want the long story, turn back now!!

Nikki, Kevin, Uncle Jason, and Logan

Braden & Kaylee "dancing"

Kevin & Logan

Grandma & Abby sharing a "look"

Abby & Grandpa lookin at a book

Braden got a set of train tracks from Grandma & Grandpa

Choo-Choo (Braden's favorite word)

I married Sillyness & now I'm stuck

Nikki as Peter Pan (just kidding)

Abby & Kaylee in a staring contest

Kyle holding Braden

Abby & Aunt Minna

Abby & Aunt April

Abby & Mommy

Uncle Jason holding Logan (My favorite picture)

Ryan, Nikki, and Kevin

Trad & his mom (I love this picture)

Christmas Morning

Our morning began around 7:30 when we heard Logan coming down the hall towards our room. He laid with us for a few minutes before we heard Braden. We went ahead and got up and took the boys into the dining room where the tree was. Santa had came.

Braden got a Thomas the train comforter. Logan got a Diego chair. Abigail got a diaper bag with her name on it. We gave the boys their stockings to open. They were working on them when Abby woke up. This is the first year that Braden has had any interest in opening presents. Logan tore the paper long enough to get a piece he could play with then he was satisfied. Abby ripped the paper better than I thought she would.

All in all, I am proud of us this year. We didn't go overboard with the kids presents. We really didn't spend alot on them at all. We got each of them a few things that we knew they would like and a few things that they needed and that was it. Our boys are great. They would be happy with just one new toy. We are so blessed to have 3 wonderful children. That is the best Christmas gift of all. Abby waving to daddy

GO VOLS!! (This is daddy's boggin.)

Logan and his dino jammies from Abby

Braden opening his choo-choo

Abby and her glo worm. (Each of the kids received one on their first Christmas. Mama got Braden his.)

Abby and her chewie

Abby with her stocking

Braden playing with his stocking toys.

(See that box of Reece's Pieces-it didn't last long!)

Logan kinda opening one of his presents.

Abby watching Braden open a present.

Logan in his Diego chair under his Diego blanket.

Twas the night before Christmas...

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care...

Christmas Eve Traditions

Abby opening her Christmas jammies

Abby getting ready for bed (& santa)

Braden in his Christmas pjs

Logan in his pjs

When my brother and I were little we always got to open one present on Christmas eve. It was always pajamas. We got pajamas EVERY year. They were always red or green. I now know that it was so we would be cute in our Christmas morning pictures. :) My mom wanted to continue the tradition with my kids. She bought Braden his first pair of Christmas pjs. The next year she bought Braden's and then Logan's first pair also.



I am continuing this tradition. Last year I had a terrible time finding Christmas pjs. This year I started looking EARLY!! I was able to find pjs for both the boys and Abby. I think they are all so cute!!!

Christmas Eve Dinner

My side of the family has always done our "thing" on Christmas eve. Mama started this tradition and I am not about to end it. This year I cooked for Jamie, my brother, Jamie, his girlfriend (confusing? YES), and my dad. We ate turkey and dressing and all the trimmings. Then we opened our gifts. This is really the first year that Braden has been interested in opening presents. Logan ripped the paper long enough to get a strip of it then he was done. (He is very interested in paper right now.) Surprisingly, to me, Abby opened her gifts also, though not as fast as Braden. :) Braden and Logan both got a John Deere pedal tractor from Pa. They are really going to enjoy those this summer! We all had a very good time visiting with each other. This was, of course, Abby's first Christmas and she was a very big hit!

Abigail in her santa hat

Abby & her Uncle Jamie

Abby eating some mashed taters

Braden obviously happy with his new movie

Logan opening his present from Pa

Abby opening presents with mommy

Abby with the "other" Jamie

Logan opening presents with daddy

Abby and Braden with Pa

Logan and Pa

Everyone loves a blanket!!!

Hmmm...Let's see what I am doing here.
I saw this fleece fabric at Hobby Lobby and I had to have it. The puzzle piece pattern is the symbol for autism awareness. I though it was appropriate. I am making 2 tie blankets, one for Braden and one for a very special family we know. Hopefully they won't meander over here and see it! I though I would share exactly how I make them in case someone else wants to make one too!! It is relatively inexpensive and easy to do. I bought this fabric for 5.99 and 7.99 a yard.

For an kid/adult blanket you need 1 1/2 yards of fabric in 2 different coordinating patterns. (For a baby blanket use 1 yard of fabric.)

Place the fabric on top of each other with the right sides facing out. Trim the fabric so that it is roughly the same size. You then need to decide how long you want your fringe to be. I think mine is around 3 inches. The most important part of the blanket is making sure you cut a "square" out at each corner. (Shown above.)


After you cut the square on each corner you need to go around the entire fabric cutting your fringe. It doesn't have to be perfect. You can make the fringe as wide/narrow as you like. The wider, the less cuts and ties you have to make. (brilliant!!) Although, I think the narrow ties better. It's your choice. To keep up with the length of the fringe, (that does need to be about the same) I made a mark on my scissors to use as a guide. Start at one corner and go all the way around the fabrics (they are still on top of each other) so that you are cutting both pieces of fabric at once.
Once you get done cutting the fringe, it is time for the tying. Start at one corner and take a piece of fringe from both fabrics, one on top of the other, and tie a knot.

A single knot, not a double. Tie the fringe tight the first time around so you don't have to go back over it.

You will want to make sure that you tie each knot the same way. You want the fringe from the top pattern to be on the bottom side, and vice versa. (see above pic.) It doesn't have to be this way, but I think it looks much better like this.

This is how the fringe will look as you are tying it. Just go all the way around the fabric tying the knots in the same way.

This is what your finished product will look like!! It only takes an hour or so to do.

After you finish roll it up and use a scrap piece of fabric to tie it with.

I had so much fun making this!! I love that it is no sew!!

Ready for giving!!!!!!!!!!!