A Squids HandMade Christmas, Year 2.

While I got to spend the first Christmas in 3 years with our families, The Squid wasn't here. 

That along with not having a house of our own, or our own stuff and it was...hard.

But, I got happy in the big girl panties I got sad in, and made it the best Christmas it could be! 

I love Christmas!!

(**Warning: I really dropped the ball on Christmas pictures this year. Sorry.**)

We became the happy owners of an Elf on the Shelf. I told my "Santa" I could only handle one mischief making Elf in our family, so we got a "Family" Elf.  

We named him Beetle Pod Squid,

 Beetle Pod got together with my nieces Elf Rainbow and had quite the time, putting all our tree ornaments on the mantle and then roasting marshmallows over a candle fire.

 There were funny and wonderful grandkid pictures. (We unfortunately were missing one that day, she made into others though.)

 We visited with family and friends!

It was Glorious!

We are so very blessed!
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Last year, the Fort Ladies and I did a hand made Christmas. We all picked out of a hat and whoever we got we handmade them a Christmas gift. I received lovely things from Jade. I carried this through to my grandparents and aunts and uncles, and made them some lovely hooded scarfs.

This year I wanted to continue the tradition. Shamefully I again don't have many pictures, because I just wasn't thinking.

I managed to whip up some stockings for the kids using an old shrunken wool sweater of my sisters.

Before(not the actual one, but one just like it.)

 

After. 

I am pretty jazzed. 

I think they are adorable.

The hot/cold compress was such a hit previously, that I made one for my mom, dad, aunts, uncles and grandparents. Like this one.

Everyone received a box, a "De-stress from the Holidays" box.

The box for the ladies' contained a hot/cold compress, a bookmark, a reusable teabag, and a small envelope of loose tea.

The men received a hot/cold compress, and a bottle of whiskey. 

My brother got a sleep mask and a cup sleeve, both made of Thomas the Train material, and a bottle of whiskey also.

I think my family likes whiskey. :)