A Handmade Christmas and a bathroom

Like many of you, I'm sure, I check out Sew Mama Sew's blog daily. I was already planning to make a lot of gifts for Christmas, but Sew Mama has made me even more enthusiastic. Already I have the fabric and patterns I need for pajamas for my 2 teenage nieces and all of my children. I do this every year for my children. I am also planning an apron each for Sam and Ava. Chad made this adorable play kitchen for them last year and I think they need aprons just like mama. And just now, as I was visiting One Shabby Chick's blog, I found this wonderful pattern from Wee Wonderfuls. This would be perfect for Ava and possibly Savannah. I have some more ideas, but I think I will try to tackle these gifts and see how much, if any, time I have left lol

I am really trying to be careful about gifts this year. There is nothing I hate more than finding discarded toys 2 days after Christmas. Most stuff is crap nowadays, and I just end up throwing it in a toy box never to be played with again. What a huge waste of money, just so they have presents to open on Christmas morning. I have noticed in the past that handmade and well thought out gifts are always appreciated much more. Sometimes, because I have so many to buy for, I end up just throwing stuff together. I WILL NOT do that this year. However, there is only a limited amount of time before Christmas, so I need to prioritize and get my butt in gear if I am going to accomplish my goal. I may have to put my quilt on the backburner for a little while. The quilting is coming along, FINALLY! But this is a whole other post LOL I had just a *little* trouble with the whole machine quilting thing.

In the middle of all this, Chad and I are doing a mini remodel on the kids' bathroom. Our house was built in the middle 70's and the bathroom is still original. It is really a great bathroom, it is huge, but the sinks and cabinets have had it. Dh found some new faucets and sinks on clearance at Home Depot this morning. The sinks were $40 a piece and the faucets were marked down from $80 to $30!!!! So, for under $200 we have brand new sinks and faucets. We will be keeping the green marble counter tops because it is a huge counter and would be expensive to replace. I know, I know, green countertops? But I really like them, they are that avocado green that was so popular in the 70's and I have always loved that color. So, we are making do. We are going to reface the cabinets with bead board and paint because we can't afford new cabinets either. We are watching for some tub faucets to go on sale or clearance and we will buy those new too. I would love a complete remodel, but that just isn't in the budget and probably won't be until the kids are grown and gone LOL But I think a few new fixtures and some clean new paint will make a big difference. This is the bathroom that everyone uses, so I really want it to look nice and right now it just looks gross. I will share pictures as we do this.

It will probably take several weeks because we will only have time here and there. Lots going on and dh has been working almost non stop lately. He has always worked two jobs, his regular job with the city and he does plumbing with his brother on the side. The plumbing business is doing well right now, so lots of extra work. This is good and bad. Good because it means extra money at a time when we really need it and bad because Chad isn't around much. Add in some other carpentry jobs he has also gotten and he is working until late at night almost every day. I am so thankful to have a hard working husband who is so talented. The fact that he knows how to do all of this plumbing and carpentry means that we can do all of this remodeling ourselves, which saves a TON of money on labor! Sorry for rambling about this, I didn't even realize I was going to talk about it lol I am very proud of my hubby, he works very hard so that I can stay home with our children, and he does it with a great attitude. God has really blessed me : )