Early Christmas
We didn’t want to take all the presents to Florida with us and surprised the girls with an early Christmas on the morning of December 21st. (Shh! We’ll be taking a few small presents with us to surprise them again on Christmas! Maybe even Christmas Eve 😉 )
Away For The Holidays
We’re off to spend a few days in Pensacola Beach, Florida….at a hotel right on the beach…..with Gulf view! I can’t wait!
It will be too cold to swim, but that’s OK with me, I prefer long walks on the beach anyway.
Trevor might be coming with us 😉
I Wasn’t Going To…
We’re not going to be “home for the holidays” this year, and I wasn’t going to put up our tree…too much work. I’m not one of those people who dig out the Christmas decorations as soon as the Thanksgiving dishes are cleared off the table, and always wait until the week-end before Christmas to set up and decorate the tree. But we’ll be gone almost all of Christmas week and it just didn’t seem worth it. But…as you can see…. I changed my mind. Although I kept the decorating to a minimum and only hung the glass ball ornaments and some jingle bells. Good enough 😉
Counting Down
One of my favorite things around Christmas time as a child was an Advent Calendar. Back then I had the ones with a piece of chocolate behind the little doors, and we always get the girls a chocolate Advent Calendar.
This more adult version with just a picture behind each door was a surprise from Germany.
2012/356: A Christmas Mystery
I received a Christmas card from a friend recently. I took the card out of the envelope and placed it into the basket with the other Christmas cards that we had received, and put the envelope on my desk because I wanted to save the stamp for a craft project that I have planned.
I picked up the envelope, and it felt slightly heavier than just paper… like there was something inside. I opened it up, and sure enough, there was a coin in the corner. Very odd. I had no idea why, and what it was doing in there. Of course I contacted my friend, who had NO idea how the coin got into the envelope…
Maybe it’s a Lucky Mystery Coin?
2012/341: It’s Beginning…
…to look a lot like Christmas.
Today’s the day the decorations come out. The tree won’t go up until a week or so before Christmas, though.
2011/365: Thank You
Thank you to all my readers, for making this another great blogging year. It wouldn’t be half the fun without you! It’s been an exciting year, with my blog subscribers growing to more than 80! Of course being featured on WordPress’ Freshly Pressed had a lot to do with that 😉
It was so nice, making a few new friends, and I’m ever so greatful for all my longtime readers who keep sticking around.
I’m so excited to officially start my 5th blogging year tomorrow!
Last but not least, I also want to wish my hubby a very Happy Bithday! Love You!
2011/364 December Photo Hunt
Whew! Just made it for Karen’s December Photo Hunt. It’s been one crazy month around here, with the kids taking turns getting sick, and enough trips to the pediatrician’s office to consider permanently moving into the waiting area. I really didn’t think I would have time to get all the pictures together, and went ahead and posted the one for Frost, that I already had (and then gave Scott permission to link to it for his photo hunt submission). But, on Wednesday I decided to try to get my act together and play along, so here goes…
1. Lights This is actually a reflection of some Christmas lights on my living room wall. I noticed them Tuesday evening, but was too lazy to go and get the camera, and put it off until (not so) bright and (way too) early Wednesday morning.
2. Ornament This was one of my Christmas presents this year. From my best friend in Germany of course! She sent several more, but you’ll have to wait until another time to see them.
3. Card A little peek into the basket where I have all of our Christmas cards.
4. Frost Wednesday must have been my lucky day, because we actually did have some frost in the morning! As soon as it was light enough outside, I ventured into the yard with my camera to see what I could find (more to come at a later date!). This is the cover of our fire pit, covered with frost.
5. Treat The treat I had in mind, was sneaking off alone to my favorite coffee place (Saxby’s – so much better than Starbucks!), but that never happened, so here’s the next best thing: cookies, baked by Greg and Sara. Peanut Butter, Molasses, and Tollhouse Chocolate Chip Cookies Cakeys (I think me mis-measured the baking soda, and they puffed up like this. I actually like them better than the original recipe)
6. Family No sense even trying to get a picture of my family, so here’s a picture of the Family ornament I made several years ago. It has all our names on it, too.
As for the bonus, show me the winter holiday of your choice, I think most of these cover Christmas pretty well 😉
2011/363: Christmas Non-Surprise
Unfortunately Santa didn’t get to surprise Melissa with her gift, because she got a choice of either a netbook, or a keyboard, and… she chose the keyboard. We made sure to ask her several times before giving Santa the go-ahead to buy it. Wouldn’t have been the first time that she changed her mind about something 😉
She got to try it out at the store, and then look at it in the dining room for over a month (at least it was wrapped in wrapping paper most of that time, although I’m not sure that this made the torture any less for her).
We went and got a stand for it yesterday, after cleaning out her room to make space for it on Tuesday, and now it’s all set up in her room. She’s pretty good, too! (Now I guess I’m waiting for her to come home from school one day and announce Mom!! Dad!! My friends and I started a band!! )
2011/362: Christmas Surprise
The girls each had one big gift under the tree this year. Melissa’s was a keyboard, which she knew about, because she was with us when we bought it, and Sara got a new camera. She had been using my old point & shoot, and she loved taking pictures with Melissa’s Nikon D70s a few months ago, so Santa thought a new camera was perfect for her this year.
Sara opened the new camera bag first, and I’m sure she was wondering what she needed a new camera bag for, when she already had one. Then she reached for the camera… tore the paper off, and at first she thought it was a box of puzzles. Then she realized what it really was….
2011/359: Merry Christmas
Wishing you and your family a very Merry Christmas, and a beautiful Sunday to all of you who don’t celebrate Christmas.
We are off to see family in Oklahoma, and see a Christmas Light Display on our way to the hotel.
2011/358: Bonus – Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
Merry Christmas to all my family, friends, and readers who celebrate Christmas today!
We are off to The Olive Garden for dinner, to give Santa a chance to come to our house. I’m sure the girls can’t wait to find out if they’ve been on the naughty or nice list 😉
Photo taken with my iPad
2011/357: Bonus – Souvenir Ornament
Silent Night Chapel at Bronner’s in Frankenmuth, Michigan.
Replica of Oberndorf, Austria.
The Daily Click 