Christmas Festivities

The girls and I have been busy decking the halls and making merry. Here are some shots of what we have been up to. Every year we make cookies and build a ginger bread house together. Both girls also had Christmas concerts at their schools. This has been a really great holiday season, the girls are able to experience so much and it is really cool to see them try things on their own.

Meebs carefully decorates

The Bird getting started

Meebs' creation

The Bird working her magic

Meebs marching in at her concert

Meebs 3's class

The Bird waves hello from stage

The Bird back center

Working the crowd

The Bird and her teacher

Kit

Raising the house

Meebs goes first

The designer is proud of her efforts

Cleaning up

The bird decorates her sides

Little sis wants in on the pictures

Sweet Birds

Little sis still wants in on the pictures

The bird trying to work with Meebs on her back

Finishing touches

The Bird's Box

I wanted to share with you, what The Bird has been up to at school. She is beginning to read and it is very exciting. Everyday I see her progressing and she is not intimidated at all to try to read. Last month she had to design and decorate a box that she will keep all of the little books she makes at school. The box will be stored at home, in her reading nook, that she helped me create in the living room. The Bird spent one week working on the box and took her time painting, cutting and gluing. I supplied scrap booking materials, stickers, paper, glitter and paint and she ran with it. The results? Nothing short of artistic perfection.

Getting Started

Painting Layer by Layer

Top of Reading Steamer Trunk

Travel Stickers and Paper Scraps

Old Time Girls

Luggage Tag

Finishing Touches

Reading Nook

Bird Art

 Original Collages by The Aluminum Nest

If you haven't noticed by know I have thing for birds. I think they are really interesting creatures and I love to observe their behaviors. Since I am a mama bird with two chickadees of my own, I have collected or made many things over the years that have a reference to the aviary kingdom. Nests, eggs, feathers, birdhouses, birdcages and the like are little reminders to me of my faith, motherhood and my children. I wanted to share with you some of my art that I have been working on. These are two small 5x7 canvases that I decoupaged and layered with old penny post cards from the 1900's, stamps, wallpaper scraps and decals to create these little lovelies. The one on the right was inspired by the Serenity Prayer and the one on the left has the word hope a reminder from a favorite verse.

The Serenity Prayer

God grant me the serenity to

accept the things I cannot change,

the courage to change the things I can,

and the wisdom to know the difference.

Psalms 62:5-8

Find rest O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from Him.

He alone is my rock and salvation; He is my fortress, I will not be shaken...

He is my rock and refuge. Trust Him at all times, O people, pour out your hearts to Him, 

for God is our refuge.

Bird Nest Treats