December Daily - Day 3

It's all about the tree today: Since we have a lot of family that will be with us on Christmas (including three grandkiddos) and we are in a new house (just moved in this past summer), I really wanted a real tree this year.  I love the photos you can get when going to pick out your tree.  I was already planning the page/s in my December Daily before these photos were even taken. 

 

There were more photos to share from this so I have two pages for December 3rd. 

 

 

Our son Matthew, and his wife Allina (and little Kylie) actually live in our lower level suite.  It is like a house under a house.  This is Kylie's first Christmas so it will be super fun to be a part of that.  This is the three of them with their Christmas Tree.  (just realized that I posted the photo before I did the journaling on the little card and the bottom...oopps!)

 

The right side of that page has our granddaughter Brooklynn in the trees and then below with Brooklynn and Bryson 'helping' Matthew put our tree in the tree stand.  He couldn't have done it without them, you know. 

 

Next two pages show more photos at the tree farm.  I just love the one of our daughter Ashley with her two children.  Trying to get a photo of both kids looking at the camera is hard at their ages so we feel blessed to have this one.  

Also, love the one that Ashley and I are peeking around for behind the tree...too cute!

 

 

Love documenting the price of our trees.  I just put the tag that came right off of the tree in the album.  (instead of just journaling about it)

 

 

Hope you are enjoying documenting your December...

December Daily - Day 2

December Daily - Day 2 - We actually will have three of our grandchildren with us for this Holiday Season.  So, I just had to get a photo with all three of them in Santa's lap.  Brooklynn is 2 years old, her brother Bryson is one and our little Kylie is just 2 1/2 months old.  Her first time meeting Santa.  Last year Bryson was terrified of Santa and this year he just walked right up and shook his hand and then climbed right up in his lap.  We were all totally shocked by this. Brooklynn has never met a stranger so she was great with Santa and little Kylie didn't care who was holding her.  We did finally get a shot where Kylie opened her eyes so we went with that photo...

 

 

Have a great December...
Cherri

December Daily - Day 1

I always look forward to the Holidays because I get to document the month of December in my December Daily.  I have done a December Daily since 2008 and it is now one of my favorite Holiday traditions. 

 

When I shared my foundation pages last week, I had not yet finalized my album cover.  So I am sharing that with you now, along with my title page and my Day One!!!  Hope you enjoy them. 

 

Here is my album cover. 

 

My title page is kind of two fold...the smaller page just shows a calendar of December and the year with the initial of our last name.  "E"

Then part 2 of my title page is a calendar of the entire month so that I can document and have a glance at the whole month at one time.  

 

I created this red grid on my computer and just printed it out on cardstock.  As events come up, I will just fill in the dates. 

Day 1: Sunday - the grandkids rode on the tractor with me to bring all of our Christmas decorations up from the sheds.  They just love being pulled in the trailer behind the mower.  Such fun for them.  While we were out and about in the yard, we noticed that the birdbath was frozen over.  They were amazed and the big piece of ice...what makes little ones want to lick the ice even when it is outside?  Too cute not to document. 

Thank you for stopping by today and hope you enjoyed my start to December.  See you tomorrow. 

Cherri



December Daily 2013

I LOVE this time of year.  I have been doing a December Daily Album since 2008 and it is one of my favorite traditions during the Christmas Season. Of course I first became aware of this idea through Ali Edwards blog and just fell in love with the idea of documenting our Holiday Season.  I usually get my foundation set and ready to go in October or early November.  We have had a lot going on lately (husband surgery, kids and grandkids staying with us) that I was a little later getting it together than normal. 

 

This year I am using a SNAP album.  I have the divider chipboard pages and the acrylic pages that I will also work into my album.  (those are not shown below)

 

I usually number my pages/daily layouts, but this year, I decided to have a little bit more flexibility in putting my album together.  Depending on the story for the day, I will choose the page that best fits that size/amount of photos I wish to share, etc...  So, below are the pages that I have thus far.  I haven't added a lot of my embellishments yet, again depending on the story to I have to tell that day. 

 

This first one is the title page.  Shows a calendar of December using an 'E' (for our last name) and the year.   

 

 

As the month progresses, I will add events and Christmas programs to this calendar.  I will probably keep this page close to the beginning of the album to give an overview of our month. 

 

I love adding envelopes that you can add little mementos in.  I use to put the kids Christmas list (letters to Santa) in here but this year I have a different idea for those.  (this year we will have grandkiddos letters to Santa-ages 1 and 2 and 2 months old)

Below I used a file divider with December on it and stapled the bottom and both sides to create a small pocket to add some 'fun' things.  Not sure what will actually go in there yet.  (maybe our Christmas Movie list, or Favorite Christmas songs list, etc)  So many great possibilities.  

 Will add our Christmas List here...things we are buying for others (that won't be looking at this album until after the Holidays)



Here I am documenting the list of friends and loved ones that we will be mailing Christmas cards to.  Not finished with the list or the title for this page.  But love knowing who we sent cards to this particular year.  (probably add this into all future DD also)

On the left side below I just paper clipped this frame, flower and brad to this page.  I will use these together but won't attach them until I have the photo to put under the frame.  (vertical or horizontal)   

Just showing that the above page opens up for space for a photo heavy day.  With three grandkids here this Christmas we will have many photo opportunities around here.  

December Daily - Days 6 thru 9

We went out of town this weekend so I was not at home to document these days in my December Daily.  So, today I am posting to 'catch up'.  Below are my days 6 thru 9.  Lots of photos - please enjoy.

Day 6 - began with coffee with my good friend Charlotte.  The our son was in the Vinton Christmas Parade that evening.

Close up of the left side of my Day 6

Christmas Parade - photo is a bit dark.  Our son in the one on the left playing the base.

All of us at the parade

Cherri (me) and Terri!

Lyndsey, Terri!, Robert, Laura, Jonathan and my husband Mark

Day 7 - Terri's friend Heather came in to town and I helped her surprise Terri!

Eating dinner at Abuelo's

Us Christmas shopping and acting goofy.

Did another spread to include more info about the evening.

My journalling about the surprise.

The three of us have a 'tradition' of going to Starbucks each year and getting their Christmas mug.  Here we are again.  Must keep up with traditions.

Day 8 - Our wedding anniversary in on the 11th (a week day) so we went out of town today to celebrate.  We went to The Homestead on Hot Springs, VA.  It was lovely.  This was our first time there and we have a great little get-away.

In the white envelope I journalled about the weekend and added additional photos from our trip.

additional photos.

Another spread to share more about Day 8

The front of The Homestead at night decorated for the Holidays.

We sat in the library and played checkers.  Don't ask Mark who won...I stomped him. 

Day 9 - Mark and I finished up our 'weekend away' for our anniversary and when we got back home, Buddy from The Cake Boss was at our local grocery store signing autographs and having photos taken with fans.  I went right over and met my twin sister and her kids there. 

Before leaving The Homestead - this gorgeous Christmas Tree in their lobby.  We actually used this photo as our Christmas Card photo this  year. 

Full spread showing the next two pages.

Jonathan and Laura with Buddy

Lyndsey with Buddy - Lyndsey is a really good baker.  She could probably work for Buddy at some point.  She loves to bake. 

Next two page spread of our visit with Buddy from Cake Boss

Me and my twin sister, Terri!

Jonathan and Buddy 'blowing it up'!

The whole gang after seeing buddy.

Terri and Cherri

Laura, Jonathan and Lyndsey - my nieces and nephew