You see, the girls from my church class have an ornament exchange each year in December. This is not your ordinary, buy one ornament, gift exchange. Instead, each girl buys or makes an ornament for each person attending. This year we had fifteen girls attend which meant 15 ornaments. Yes, I said FIFTEEN. Being the thrifty girl that I am, I found some paper mache ornaments half off at Hobby Lobby (I think each ornament cost me about 50 cents) and decided to hand paint them. I asked my sweet artistically talented mother-in-law to help me come up with a design and we decided on painting Santa's. My mother-in-law could whip one of these guys up in about 45 minutes, but being slightly artistically challenged and a perfectionist on top of that, each ornament took me about an hour and a half to complete. I must say that it was very time consuming, but I had a whole of fun and the girls really enjoyed them.
I also ended up getting some pretty cute ornaments from the girls. Several of the ornaments are ones that I probably would never have picked out on my own, but they are very fun and make a nice addition to my tree. I tend to pick the same kinds of ornaments so these new ones really spice up my tree by giving it more variety.
I also ended up getting some pretty cute ornaments from the girls. Several of the ornaments are ones that I probably would never have picked out on my own, but they are very fun and make a nice addition to my tree. I tend to pick the same kinds of ornaments so these new ones really spice up my tree by giving it more variety.
Here are some picks of my labor of love along with some holiday picks from around our house.
These pics really don't do them justice.
They were textured, shaded, and glittered. 
The ornaments from the exchange. Aren't they cute? 
Our tree all decked out. After I put all of the white
Our tree all decked out. After I put all of the white lights on Landon decided we needed colored ones as well.
The stockings all hung by the chimney with care. 
Adam spent his one day a week off to
Adam spent his one day a week off to put up these lights and they lasted for two days.
They sure were pretty while they lasted.
My amazingly life like nativity set.
My favorite calendar that goes through the Christmas story.
My sis in law got this for us and it has become Landon's favorite part of
our morning routine.
Landon's gingerbread creation.
