land of smiles and...

...giant snowpiles!

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ozzy's first snow...

This is my "I'm not sure of what's going on here, and, is it okay" face...

Good thing I have my Dad outside with me in the freezing... windy... blowing snow!

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so what did he get...

So, according to Santa, this guy didn't lie or hurt anyone maliciously.  He didn't get all of the stuff on his list -- but apparently he is thrilled with the gift that he received.  In case you were wondering --  the picture(s) in this post and the other "Christmas humor" posts were taken by Nicholas -- I think we're seeing a photographer in the making!

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Merry Christmas

...may all your Christmas wishes come true...  

all ready for some sugarplums...

Remember this post way back when...  Well, some of that fun fabric went to Christmas pillowcases.  I "finished" these two about a week ago -- and then threw them in the washing machine.  My seam allowance on the border piece was not big enough and it ripped off.  Finally, yesterday I had time to fix them.  Nicholas was all ready to use his last night -- but then -- he agreed -- to wait -- until Christmas eve.

I still have a few small sewing projects and baking/cooking, etc. etc...  What is on your last minute to do list?  We would love to know! Why not leave us a comment!

oh, my achy bakey legs...

I spent about 3 hours baking today.  I was having such fun that I didn't realize how much time had gone by -- and then Sofia was home from school already.  I forgot that I promised her I would "buy" some gifts from her so she could continue wrapping -- but I was exhausted.  Since she is doing the wrapping in my bedroom, it gave me a chance to take a break -- so I went upstairs and sat laid down on the floor next to the gifts I was supposed to "purchase" from her.  What a sweetie she is -- when she saw how my legs were killing me, she went and got me some Tylenol, and then, she rubbed my ankles.  My spirits were lifted from her little display of affection -- and I was able to play her game and then go downstairs to make the little cookie bags in the picture.

Sofia's act of kindness was an early Christmas present -- the best I've had in a long time.  Guess Santa's been listening to me...  :-)

the shenanigans continue...

Unaware that the countdown calendar is incorrect and there are only 2 days left until Christmas eve, Ebenezer (yes, that is what Nicholas has named this action figure) continues his wild antics... 

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Think Santa will be bringing this guy some coal????

she didn't like them...

Here are the cupcakes that Sofia volunteered me to make for her class book party.  She decorated them with icing and nonpareil sprinkles -- which she did not like so she did not eat the cupcake.  This was her third party (so far this week) -- I just think she's had too much junk food -- she keeps asking me to pack her "something healthy" for her lunchbox.  Today she has another party, and, then I think tomorrow is a "party free" day.

Having said that -- I am off to baking some brownies and cookies (the "unhealthy" kind!)

more Nicholas Christmas humor...

Now, you look like a smart little elf.  Maybe you could help me get this Christmas wish list to Santa.

I would like a house of my own...just like this one.

I would like to take a ride in Santa's super nuclear powered sleigh.

I would like a piano...just like the one Schroder has...

to be cont'd...

a little Nicholas Christmas humor...

Dear Santa, I've been good...

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smile for the camera...

Thought this guy might give you a chuckle!  He is "Bumble" the yeti from the 1964 classic Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer.  What's special about him?  I asked Rick to buy him for me while we were shopping in the "five and dime" store.  He is a "Grow a Bumble" -- you know -- one of those little itsy bitsy things that you put in water and watch it grow for about a week (or more).  Well, today was his day to come out of the water.  He's been looking like a lab specimen -- sitting in a recycled chinese food soup container filled with water.  Now he's fully grown to a gigantic (not) 4 inches.  He's so ugly -- but I love him anyway.

fa la la...

...the porch is finished

...and so are the windows

Now it's time to bake some Christmas cookies!  :-)

dreaming of a white christmas...

Just a dusting of snow fell last night...  Enough to make things look...well...Christmas-y! 

1...2...3...

...we have a winner!  This is the THIRD time Sofia has won 1st place in the annual Fire Prevention  Poster contest.  She previously won in first grade, and then again in second grade.  She was very disappointed last year (third grade) when she didn't win -- but her classmates deserve a chance to win also, right?! wink...wink...  Good job, Sofia!

10 day forecast...

This is what my little elf helper has been up to the past couple of days.  She set up a pretend department store.  I bring her the gifts to be wrapped, she rings them up on the Barbie cash register, and I pay in Barbie dollars.  There are "specials" that she announces with the microphone -- they include discount on wrapping charges and other random thoughts. She started this last year and has a bunch of fun with it.  I think it's great because it gives me a chance to organize -- instead of being in a frenzied state -- and I also get feedback on what is in the pile for each gift recipient.

She had early dismissal Monday and Tuesday -- and will have the same today and tomorrow.  Today, instead of coming home on the bus, I will pick her up and we will run over to the stores for some "almost" last minute things on the list -- then we'll hurry back home to do more wrapping.  We need to be done with most of the wrapping by Friday -- because then it's time for the baking and food preparations to begin.

I just love to see the twinkling in her eyes while we are preparing for the holiday events -- it gives me a huge boost of energy.  And, if that's not enough -- while I was taking this picture we had a bit of a snow squall outside.  It's gone now and the sun is out, but it gave me a bit of a zing -- fa, la, la!

vintage book love...

Some of you might not know this about me.  I adore vintage books with illustrations.  I just won these three off of "fleabay".  They were published in 1924.  The covers of the two on the right look like they never saw the light of day, and were never read -- maybe I should give them a little attention...

I need all the help I can get right now...

They were a bit disturbed when I asked them to stop playing with their pom-pom thingie and put on their elf hats!

They just cancelled afternoon classes for Nicholas due to a power outage at the school, and, Sofia has a scheduled half day.

Okay me kitty elves -- get crackin'!!!!!

elf saturday...

Hope you are all busy with elf things too!  :-)

pre-wrapping jitters...

Is it just me -- or does anyone else get an jittery adrenaline rush right before holiday gift wrapping?

Oh, right -- this picture.  Some of you might know what's up in this picture -- but for those who don't -- you know all those bags full of holiday "stuff" that get thrown in corner until you are "ready to get to it" -- well... that doesn't work for me.  I don't like looking at the bags and many times I have forgotten what's in the bags and bought doubles.  So, this is my attempt at organizing the "stuff" that I need to get to.  There's baking "stuff", candy to put out for company "stuff", art things I need to do "stuff", and, of course, a couple of pretty ladies to look at so the rest of the "stuff" doesn't look like a pile of, well... "stuff"!

Reminder:  Fourteen thirteen days to work on your own pile of "stuff"!  Better get going!

where are those elves when you need them...

???  :-)

hot commodity...

So, last night I was cheerily, happily, exhausted, but nonetheless hanging some decorations on the windows when I discovered that -- I am running out of tape!  Oh... no... how could that be?  I always have a backup -- because when I need to use it, that is when I immediately purchase more.  You know, kind of like the toilet paper buying routine.  Am I alone in this, or do you guys get that crimp in your neck too when your supplies are low?  Are you feeling my stress?  Apparently, little Missy S. has decided that my supplies are her supplies -- and she has been using my backups for her so-called "artistic expression".  Sob, sob...

So, today I am off to the store in search of my "favorite" brand of wrapping and mail packaging tapes.  I absolutely refuse to buy the cheap stuff -- that would make wrapping an absolute torturous nightmare -- why do they even sell that stuff?  So, maybe if you all gather into a circle and hold hands and make a wish that my search does not take me to the land of far, far, away -- 'cause I might just stay there and let those elves finish the decorating, wrapping, etc. etc.

fa la la Tuesday...

Okay, so what's that in the picture?  I am making these to hang outside under the windows.  So far, I have made eleven -- and I need to make at least twelve more.  Also, I will be making another trip back to the store for more of the corded window candles.  I have the battery operated kind -- but they're not working for me -- they soak up too much battery juice.

I am feeling like a need a huge push to get going this morning -- anyone else having this problem?  I only got one comment on what you're all doing -- maybe you can leave a comment today to inspire me and move me along...

I hear those elves calling -- gotta run and get a couple of gulps of coffee in me before they find me!

A Christmas Wish...

...finally fulfilled!  Last night we travelled to the McCarter Theatre Centre in Princeton.  We arrived  a bit early --and had the weather been a bit warmer it would have been an excellent opportunity to walk about the campus grounds.  But, it was colddd....  So, we found a parking spot right at the bottom of the stairs leading up into the theatre building -- and went inside and waited.  The kids loved the building with all its twists, turns, nooks and crannies.  Our seats were in the balcony -- way up there -- 2 more short flights of steps higher than where the kids are standing in the picture.  We had a center view of the stage and no heads in front of us to block the view.  Rick and the kids all loved the play -- and one of my long time Christmas wishes came true.  I have always wanted to attend a Christmas themed play during the holiday season -- and to be able to finally have this happen with my family is like icing on a cake!  The actor (Graeme Malcolm) who portrayed Ebeneezer Scrooge was outstanding, and the other actors surrounding him rose to his level.  The play was lively, a bit humorous -- and sad -- at times.  It drew us into the story so much that when it ended we couldn't believe 2 hours had passed...   

...tick, tick, tick... Speaking of time -- I must get going -- the elves are running around here like crazy and begging me to join them...  Shhh!  Don't tell anyone...

elf saturday...

Boy, I was beat yesterday -- I had more stopping than going -- and -- I even took a little catnap (cat's included).  Today we are back to the holiday elf hustle and bustle.  What's going on in the picture?  Well, as you can see my darling little helpers are watching the lights stretch out (they have time for that).  Their job is to call Rick as soon as they think the lights are stretched enough to be strung outside.  It's pretty cold out there today, so, Rick put on his smarty elf hat and figured it would be better to stretch the lights indoors.

I need to put some ornaments on the dwarf xmas trees in the front of the house, and, cut out some gingerbread people.

Hey, just because we're busy here doesn't mean we don't have time to find out what you guys are up to!  Why don't you leave a comment and let us know what the elves are doing are your house today?  :-)

another milestone...

Last night, Nicholas made his Confirmation.  We had a beautiful night -- the weather was crisp and clear with a few twinkling stars in the dark sky.  Folks were relaxed and joyous.  There were almost 60 confirmandi -- the largest group ever at our small church.  Even so, the event went smoothly -- as it should when the Holy Spirit is present.

So, after reaching two milestones within a 2-day timeframe, I think we are ready to take a slower pace for today -- so that we can re-energize for all those upcoming holiday festivities!

smile for the camera...

How about that crazy weather yesterday?  Of course, it had to happen on the day when I needed to drive all over the planet!  After waiting for a major line of thunderstorms to pass, I hopped in the car and drove 20 minutes south to pick up Nicholas at school.  We then headed up north to the orthodontist -- about a 40 minute drive from the school.  What was so important to make me drive in that weather yesterday?  It was because Nicholas was having his braces removed!  He was so excited about it, I couldn't even think about not taking him.    

He needs to wear upper and lower retainers for about a year -- and -- he was so funny talking to me in the car on the way home -- "practicing" his speech with them in his mouth.

Before I left the house, I told Ozzy that I would bring the sunshine home with me.  By the time Nicholas and I pulled the car in the driveway, this is what was waiting for us...

Pretty awesome... :-)

So that was yesterday's milestone.  I'm off to get ready for today...

ugh...

We opened the front door this morning and this is what greeted us.  What?  Why is there a rotten old cornstalk sitting over there in the conservation area?  Maybe it blew over there from the wind?  Probably not...  I don't understand why some of the people that live around here think it's okay to dump stuff like this in the conservation area -- especially in full view right in front of our house.  This is ruining my elf mojo -- I need to find a distraction until Rick gets home -- hopefully he can go over there later and get rid of it.

it's elf friday here...

We're trying to avoid the crowds today.  We're painting and then off to get some outdoor lights  -- and other stuff like that.

Fa la la...

those elves are busy...

Fa la la!

a new day dawning...

We had the most beautiful sunrise yesterday...

Hope your Thanksgiving is just as lovely!

today is wednesday...

So this is where I ended up spending most of my time yesterday.  I cleaned ceiling fans and changed curtains.  The day went by pretty quickly, and, by dinnertime I was feeling some aches and pains.

So this is where I ended up spending some time this morning.

That's my heated shiatsu massager.  Worth every penny!

a bit of happy...

on a realllly dreary morning!

This...

...my camellia plant.  She blooms in November -- and this is a good year for her since it's been warm.  She doesn't look so out of place either, since there are other plants with flowers and LOTs of color from the leaves (we have tons of leaves this year!)

And, this...

She really wasn't happy -- because -- she hates the rain jacket that she is wearing.  But, I gave her a little kiss and a hug -- and she gave me some smiles in return.

Hope you don't have to look too far for your "happy" today.