Our Christmas House

My friend Melanie took pics of her house decorated and "tagged" me to do the same. I only did about half of my usual decorating this year. I left most of my ceramic and wood figurines boxed up to come out another year, but here is a look at a few little items that have brought us cheer this season.

Our tree---I decorated in gold, with a focus on the Savior this year.

A berry wreath by our front door and a pine wreath in the kitchen.

Santa hangs his hat at our place---on our wall.

Our chandeliers have a bit of festive, too. Those wooden hearts I have had since our second year of marriage.

I love Christmas pillows.

Christmas cards are one of my favorite holiday traditions. I used to tape the cards we received to our pantry door, but inevitably several would fall and I would have to replace them multiple times. I got this tree holder at Costco back in early November. One of our two wooden reindeer "man the post" (pun intended.) Also, a stack of Christmas boxes in a corner (recognize the sled on the wall anyone?)
I hope all of you have a most wonderful Christmas and I would love to see how you decorated, too---so tag you are it!

Festival of Trees

Josie, who usually doesn't ride much in the stroller anymore, loved wheeling around and seeing all the beautiful trees. The princess-themed ones were her favorites.

We went with Grandma Bonnie, Aunt Erica, Caleb and Bailey. The scones and cinnamon rolls were yummy, just like they always are. I found some great finds in the craft area this year.

We also loved this gingerbread giant castle. It took a month of work to put together. Caleb and Josh agreed that it was awesome.

December Snippets

Before I could get decorations onto the tree, Josanna had the idea of decorating the tree with her stuffed animals. Nothing says Christmas like pink poodles and baby jaguars!

Mike and Maddie made cookies together for a daddy-daughter cookie exchange. I first told them, "Don't smile." So they pulled these faces, then. . .

they broke out laughing and I caught these natural smiles afterward. (Reverse psychology is great.)

Josh sang his little heart out at the kindergarten Christmas program. After each song he would look for my face. I'd smile and give him a big thumbs up. He really knows his Christmas songs this year! The kids also did a talent show. We borrowed Aunt Jamie's bar and Josh did a "gymnastic flip" over it for his talent. Thanks Jamie for letting us use the bar!

Alyssa's Reflections Entry

Here is Alyssa starting to paint her sculpture of a swan. The theme was "Wow." Alyssa said she thought, "Wow, aren't swans beautiful."

Her finished project. There is a little green frog and a purple flower on the two lily pads. We took digital pictures of the sculpture for her entry.

She took first place in her age division for 3D art and advanced to district judging. Great job, dear. We will keep you posted if she places there.

Jeff & Danielle's Wedding

Congratulations to the both of you. We were glad to be there!

New Holiday Haircuts

Before: Josie and Maddie sporting past-shoulder lengths

During: The girls visited Holly, who also does my hair.
Josie sat so still. She loves being "beautified."


After: New looks for my lovely, and sassy girls!
(It takes me about two minutes to round brush Josie's hair after her bath,
and she loves it.)

A-P Song

There are things that I would like to shorten---checkout lines, most commercials, days between paychecks, etc. Josie had another idea and it probably went something like this: Mom gave me this ice cream cone, thought I was cute, got the camera out to take a picture of my adorable pigtails, but instead of saying cheese I randomly decide to sing my ABC's, so then she frantically flips the camera to video mode to capture the moment, while she is doing this I sing again, she says "ok now go" and by now I am just ready to eat my ice cream, so let's skip Q-Z all together, I'm hungry and I personally like to shorten my wait.) Whatever the story, Josie you make me smile.

Veteran's Day 08

Madelyn's class spent the morning at our city cemetery. I volunteered to go with them. We sat on blankets and I read a story about the The Wall in Washington D.C. that honors soldiers who died or are missing in action. Then each student made rubbings of veteran headstones in the cemetery. The headstones were designated by a small U.S. flag. At the city Veteran's Day Memorial Services they sang. My eyes got a little wet. The song has beautiful words. I am only sharing a small clip of the song. I so appreciate our nation's veterans and those serving now to keep freedom in our land and in other parts of the world. I love this nation! Thank you, military.

Eleven is Heaven

Our wonderful Madelyn turned eleven. Even though I thought I had until say 13 yrs. old to feel like I had a young woman in the home, it happened earlier than expected. You see a similar transformation between a baby and toddler and a toddler and child. She is absolutely beautiful to me. I'm grateful for her and enjoy our talks and the closeness we share. We got balloons in her favorite red, green, blue colors (and a happy face one for fun.) We had her favorite German puff pancake for breakfast (and remembered to take a picture of it after it was almost devoured.)

I took a red rose to her classroom and powered donuts holes to pass out to her class. For dinner we had chinese stir-fry, another favorite.

She received two beautiful dresses for her birthday. She wore the red one the next day when her class went to the symphony.

Madelyn, we love you!

Halloween In All Its Glory

The back of our Sacajawea, complete with babe in papoose (that was actually a birch sled I decorate with at Christmas time and we gave it a new purpose for the day!)

A lovely Vampiress (she has usually been a princess or fairy of some sort, so this year she said she wanted to be something more Halloweeny, she still has that regal look)

A very striking Batman (couldn't wear the mask to school, so we used the awesome tatoos Grandma gave us)

Our Cinderella Princess
(she loved wearing her "pretty dress")

This is Josh and two of his friends, Whitney and Coleman, ready to go to school.

The kids wore their costumes to school and each had a fun Halloween party. I helped with Alyssa's class party this year and led the kids in GHOST bingo (thanks Mom for buying me the Halloween bingo set last year.) I also cut up lots of apples and provided caramel dip. We had meatballs, cheese and crackers, and apple juice with gummi worms, too. I took Josie up to the school for the fun and she hung out with the other toddlers there.


It was my turn to walk with the kids this year and Mike did the candy at the door. I borrowed my Mom's witch costume, but added the broom. I especially liked my witch feet. It was a particularly pleasant evening for the festivities.

Grandma Judy visited Halloween weekend and went to our friends' annual Halloween bash. We eat our fill of chili, clam chowder, rolls, and donuts with apple cider, rootbeer and/or hot cocoa. We always have a great time visiting with our friends from our old neighborhood. Here is a shot of me with Kathy (she's my ER nurse friend) and Kara (one of my past young women, now married. Sigh, time flies.)

It was a GLORIOUS Halloween!