Schools Out - Yipee!

Here's Miss M before heading of to the last day of school before Christmas break. I don't think she's going to miss school at all!

California White Christmas

As a child I used to listen to my father talk about the white Christmas's of his childhood in Minnesota and think it sounded so magical. During the night a white Christmas of sorts came to our part of California in the way of a heavy frost. This is the view of my front lawn all covered in white. The children thought it was pretty cool to see and I had to remind the younger ones that this was not snow. What can I say they are California kids! I don't know how you people in colder climates survive the winter though...because we're freezing!

The stockings were hung.....

Please excuse me while I share a little of the what the holidays look like at out home. For the next post my mommy blog will transform into a decorating blog. Not necessarily into a good decorating blog... but a decorating blog just the same. Enjoy!

"The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, in hopes that St Nicholas soon would be there......." This pretty much sums things up around our home these days! We are in full Christmas mode! Carols are playing, cinnamon rolls are baking, presents are wrapped and every one is awaiting the arrival of the big guy in red!

Here is the main attraction in it's place of honor in the family room. As you can see we are a big and bushy Christmas tree kind of family. I think my new sparkly silver ornaments add just the right touch!

Here are some of our collection of Nutcrackers displayed on the piano in the front room. My Grandmother buys a nutcracker for each of my children for Christmas. We write their initials and the year it was given on the bottom so we know whose it is and when we got it. It has been a lot of fun to see our collection grow. The kids love to help unwrap them as we decorate and find the ones that belong to them.

When I was little we had several Christmas decorations that my Great Grandma B had made for us. She always wanted us to have something to remember her by after she was gone. So it seems fitting to me that my children's Great Grandma B gives them something that will remind them of her for many Christmas's to come.

In addition to being a fun tradition our growing collection of nut crackers is a little nod to my husbands German heritage. He grew up celebrating Christmas on Christmas Eve, the Old German way.

Here is a peak at the garland and greenery that adorns my mantel. I twisted two thin garlands together to form one hefty, full garland then added the pine cones and berries. I think it looks pretty good.

I even hung a wreath on the mirror over the bed and a stocking on the hutch in my bedroom. I hope you have enjoyed my Holiday Home Tour. I will now resume my role as mommy blogger!

(Did you notice my kitty asleep under the covers?)

A Christmas Carol

The last four years one of our family traditions has been to go Christmas Caroling with several other families. Our Bishop at church invites his counselors, clerks and their families meet at his house and then go caroling and visit with those in need of some extra holiday cheer. We all bring baked goodies and make up plates to share with those we visit.

The kids get to sample the Christmas goodies and get good and sugared up before we unleash them on the unsuspecting members of our congregation.

They may look all Innocent and sweet but these are some loud and crazy spreaders of holiday cheer.

We bring these two along in case the little ones get out of hand.

Somehow the kids would sing their little hearts out, share plates of goodies, and walk away with candy canes. It was almost like trick or treat! The kids loved being able to share with these sweet families. Many of them are widows and they are so appreciative of the gesture of love and friendship that is offered along with the songs. Most of the Grandmas in our family have lost their husbands in the past few years and we know how lonely the holidays can be , so it felt good to be able to spread a little Christmas cheer. We love to hear stories of those who make the effort to carol or visit with our Grandmas and it was nice to give a little something back to someone else. Isn't that what Christmas is all about? Giving of yourself!

Christmas Lights and a Party or Two

No fun pictures to share this time. I was a lazy bum this weekend....but with good reason. It seems that I have a sinus infection and and am now on antibiotics. To add to that I caught whatever bug my kids have been passing around which left me wishing that I would start running a fever so that I could just crawl in bed and leave everyone to fend for themselves. The good news is that today- after 4 days of pill popping- I am starting to feel back to normal.

Friday night the Hubby Man took the kids to the Christmas party at church and I stayed home to rest. I figured that was fair because he had been off on a business trip while I had been home sick. So the kids went off with Dad to sing carols, decorate cookies and play games while I put on my sweats and crawled in bed to read. Bliss! He even put the kids to bed when they got home! Good man!

Saturday night my friend Amber threw her annual Christmas progressive dinner. This is one of the highlights of my holiday season and I look forward to it each year. Amber is amazing as she organizes a party for 20 couples. There are 4 courses: appetizers, salad, main dish and dessert. For the first 3 courses she makes assignments to four couples to host each course at their individual homes. The courses are small with 5 couples total at each house and it is great to visit with every one in a small setting. I also love seeing how everyone decorates for the holiday.....I'm nosey that way. At each course of the evening you have a different sets of couples so it is fun to mix and mingle during the night. Amber has all 40 people to her house at the end for dessert, games, and her famous peppermint eggnog shakes. Seriously yummy! We went home stuffed with good food and filled with the joy of good friends. Thanks Amber!

Sunday morning I awoke to the sound of my youngest barking in his bed to be let out. He likes to pretend he is a dogie lately. I took him back to snuggle in bed and the girls joined us. We all laid in bed singing Old Mc Donald and Monkeys jumping on the bed until we had to get up or be late for church. Which we almost were anyway! Then I spent a large part of church in the foyer because little man does not know how to be quiet. He has no volume control. So while he is happy- he is noisy. And...this is really fun...when he is tired of listening to the person talking he shouts AMEN really loud as if to clue them in that they have talked long enough. I tell ya this little one is full of personality!

After church we made pancakes for lunch, had a fire, listened to the rain, put on Christmas music, baked cookies, and just hung out. Pretty relaxing stuff! After dinner we had Family Night and talked about Christ and how He has given us the greatest gift of all . We talked about how Christ was always thinking of others and not about Himself. We tried to teach that being Christ like means giving of yourself and serving others.

Lastly we went on a drive to see the Christmas lights.....a family tradition every year. Then home for dessert and bedtime. I just love Christmas and how it helps us focus on what's really important in life. Family, friends and the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Snuggling with "red nite-nite"

In my perfect world

We are going to go get our Christmas Tree tonight and I don't know if I'm going to be able to handle any more excitement around our house. The children have been all keyed up for days and this might just be too much! Little man is really catching on to the whole Christmas thing this year. Here is the picture of my perfect Christmas Tree decorations. I think I'm attracted to the sparkle.....don't all girls like sparkly things?!? This tree is sitting in the middle of the Pottery Barn in the mall. In my perfect world I would buy this tree. Right after I ended world hunger! Life's all about priorities.

Grandma's house

Went went over the river and through the woods to Grandma's house for Thanksgiving. We spent the week there which left lots of time for visiting, hanging out, and doing odd jobs for Grandma.

The little ones raked leaves for Grandma while JJ and Uncle Matt mowed the lawns. We don't have leaves to rake at home so they thought this was a whole lot of fun!

They raked and then jumped in the piles and then raked and jumped in the piles.

Then they climbed some trees. Grandma's house is so much fun!