A couple months ago while antiquing with my sister we each bought a big bag of vintage Christmas cards for just a few dollars. There are a bunch of cards in these bags and there are some really cute ones and I can't wait to get started on some little projects with them this week. I'm thinking...framing some, a wreath of cards, gift tags and maybe a banner.....we'll see. The coolest thing about these cards is that as I was looking through them yesterday and reading them all for the first time I came across some familiar names. Three of the cards were signed by my grandpa's brother and his wife and family....from many, many years ago when they had children living at home. Isn't that crazy? I thought it was the coolest thing to open up those cards, to see those names and think about their lives back then so long ago. And of course it brought back many memories of my grandpa and of his brother who was also his next-door-neighbor and of my childhood and spending so much time down there and hearing old stories from my grandpa about life when he was younger.

Lots of good memories.

.......All just from opening up an old Christmas card.

Dear Santa

Oh, man. Is it really that time again already? The other day Wyatt started his first letter to Santa and his first official Christmas List of the season. I just can't believe it is time to start thinking about what we are going to get the kids for Christmas along with needing ideas for the grandparents, etc. Since both kids just had their birthdays in October I feel like I just used up all of my ideas and struggle a little with Christmas every year. Guess it's time for me to get creative so we don't end up with a million junky plastic toys that the kids play with for a total of 3 days before they are forgotten. And I guess I had better look for some sort of Rocket Ship because I think maybe Wyatt asked for one of those last year too (at the last minute) and didn't get it, so Santa had better pull through this year. Tomorrow I am taking the train to Chicago for our annual Christmas shopping trip with my aunts and cousins and am really getting excited about that. Maybe after a day of shopping in the big city I will be more in the Holiday spirit and inspired with some really great ideas. Let's hope so anyway!