Baby Food Jars

Last year I posted this about a childhood Christmas decoration memory. My Dad read the post and we talked about the baby food jar Christmas tree decorations. Turns out he had been collecting baby food jars throughout the year and this was my Christmas present:

It's so fancy I asked "did you make this?" and even after he answered yes I had to say it again; "you really made this?" He just put a lot of time and effort into it, each jar has a little 'ornament' glued to the center of the inside and is filled with sparkly 'grass', they're sitting on a nice wooden base and even the back looks so professional, all of the lids are painted the same green as the base!

Thanks, Dad! I will treasure it always and hopefully my kids will remember always decorating with a baby food jar Christmas tree when they're all grown up!

Holiday Decoration Blast From the Past

Have you ever seen one of these?

Did you ever decorate with one?

Either my mom, or a grandma, or both had one when I was young. When I was searching for ideas for my Baby's First Christmas theme wreath I'm making for the wreath auction at work (which I'd totally welcome suggestions for), I came upon the tutorial for the Baby Food Jar Christmas Tree.

I almost cried.

I hadn't thought about these in a LONG time and it just brought back the memories of the holidays in my past. Things seemed so simple then, probably just because I was a kid and didn't have a clue what was going on around me.

I wish things were that simple now - I suppose they could be if I adopted an "I don't care" attitude but I guess I'm too nice, or a sucker...I haven't decided which yet.

I'm totally going to make one of these trees this year! I need it, I need the idea of it.

An Easy Challenge

Some of you may not need to make this type of change, but I do!

I just read a blog post here about how we rarely are in pictures with our own children for whatever reason - mine is usually just because I'm the one who always has the camera but other reasons might be "don't like myself in pictures," weight, no makeup, etc. Do you suppose our kids will ever care about any of those reasons? Do you care about those types of things when you think of your mother? Of course not!

I went back to see when the last pictures of me and my boys were:

Calvin and I on September 21st

(not too long ago)

Hunter and I on August 1st

(way too long ago)

The worst is when I look back at pictures of special occasions; Birthdays, holidays, fun outings/vacations and there is not a single picture of me with my boys. This also goes for pictures of them and my husband as there aren't too many of those either. You can't have those special moments back to snap a picture you may have forgotten about. It makes me sad sometimes when I miss the special ones. This past Mother's Day I made Travis take a few pictures of me and the kids because the year before I had not even thought of it and was upset by it later.

The challenge is to take a photograph with your kids each and every month. That shouldn't be too hard. While we're at it, I need to be sure to get one of the kids and Travis every month, as well as one of Travis and I together (very few of those). I'll plan to post them on the blog, so if you aren't seeing them, remind me to get with the program!!!

Next Blog

Have you noticed the 'next blog' button at the top of some people's blogs?  Sometimes, when I'm bored I'll click through and just browse what blogger has to offer.  It's fun to see what other people post, I like the ones dedicated to photography, crafts, art, etc.  One thing that annoys me though is that nearly 9 put of 10 are in languages other than English.  Tonight in my browsing I found this but didn't think to get the site address for reference, though the original 'writer' is listed: 

Make a memory with your children,

 Spend some time to show you care; 

Toys and trinkets can't replace those 

Precious moments that you share. 

Money doesn't buy real pleasure, 

It doesn't matter where you live; 

Children need your own attention, 

Something only you can give. 

Childhood's days pass all too quickly, 

Happy memories all too few; 

Plan to do that special something, 

Take the time to go or do. 

Make a memory with your children, 

Take the time in busy days; 

Have some fun while they are growing, 

Show your love in gentle ways. 

Elaine Hardt, 1977

I need to remember to slow down, not sweat the small things and create memories with my children.  It makes me happier to do things like that, so I have got to start making more of an effort.  I need to listen to my kids (Hunter now, Calvin in the near future) and if they want to go visit grandma today, go outside and ride bikes, sit on the patio at Sonic and enjoy an ice cream treat rather than rushing back home to eat it or play in the bath a little bit longer, I need to take time out of my 'busy,' nearly meaningless schedule and make my days and time with them meaningful.  They won't always want to spend quality time with me, so I need to make the most of when they do!