Saturday, December 29, 2012

Wild Kingdom


Went to Cabela's tonight to look for Chris a good, warm,
winter coat.  President Mendenhall wants to take him ice fishing.
I've never been in a Cabela's before.  Fascinating!
There were more stuffed animals in there, than
there were on my bed as a child growing up.
Polar bears, black bears and
moose.   Great big, huge, moose.
Quite the sight to see and behold.

Candy Cane Lane


We took one last stroll (car ride) down "candy cane lane"

We'll have to start one of our own back home, if we are ever
going to see something like this again.  

The lights were fun, 
some had themes,
others did not.
There were religious ones, wintery ones and Santa ones.
Some houses sang and the lights danced to the music.
This house came complete with a giant stocking and gifts.
Even though we went after Christmas was over, it was still a thrill.

Friday, December 28, 2012

Full Moon


I was out shopping one afternoon,  when I looked up and spotted
this gorgeous full moon.  I really couldn't capture it on film.
But it was soooo breathtaking, I just had to take a shot.
The moon looks huge when it first comes up.  It deserves to
be in the words of a song, or something.

Thursday, December 27, 2012

Candies, Goodies and Treats, Oh My!


We were given so many yummy and wonderful treats
this year for Christmas.
The crispy tree came from the Orr's, so clever,
I actually bought the bark, couldn't resist, I usually
can't, my bad.
Mom sent her wonderful cookies, peanut clusters, peanut brittle 
and caramels.  She sent two kinds of cookies, but Chris finished 
the one bag off within two days of the package arriving.  Yes, that's
 right and I didn't even get one.  That's ok, they are his favorites.

I found some gingerbread cookies for Courtney and a gingerbread
 house kit, too bad we ran out of time to make and decorate it.
Mom also sent Idle Isle's chocolates on the left, yum.
I bought some cookies that turned out to be not so good,
but I did get some fancy cookies as a white elephant gift and
Elaine gave us an entire bag of her delightful crispy, 
caramel marshmallows.  Courtney loves them.
So many treats, so little time, too many added pounds.

Wednesday, December 26, 2012

Boxing Day


We took Courtney to West Ed Mall to spend her 
Christmas money, 
big mistake, it was even more crazy than last year.
There were line ups to go into almost every store.  They have 
people line up outside the store and then they only let in people
as other people leave the store.  Crowd control, I guess.
Where's the fun in that?
Courtney picked out these boots, but she's out of
room in her suitcase.  Maybe next time.
And this is poor Dad, he hung in there for the first
few hours, but then we found him staring vacantly
at these swirling, twirling "spinners", in a complete daze.
Courtney and I laughed and laughed.
We were all exhausted and ready to go home.

Tuesday, December 25, 2012

Traditions


These are a few of my favorite things . . . 
enough so, to bring them to Canada with us.

*Christmas morning bread braid, topped with white creamy frosting

*Eggs benedict for Christmas morning breakfast

*Putting out cookies and milk for Santa, note:  I found out years 
ago that Santa prefers chocolate chip cookies over sugar cookies

*Placing our empty stockings in our "corner", so Santa knows 
where to put what

*Christmas music, could listen to it for a month before and a 
month after December, easily

Christmas Morning


My corner,

I know because Santa used a very special wrapping paper,
purchased just for me and my gifts.  And Santa even wrapped them 
himself, that right there is a gift in itself.

Chris' corner, Santa loves him too!
And Boo's corner.  It's still fun to watch our children 
open their gifts on Christmas morning.  Even though 
they're not little and they don't want fun toys anymore.
She just wants clothes,
and more clothes,
food,
and more food.
That's about as clever as we get.
Oh yeah, and she really likes the paper stuff.
Then she can go to the mall and buy her own clothes
 and food.

Monday, December 24, 2012

Christmas Cookies


Oh, to have small children again, to look at everything you do with
wonder and excitement. 
My favorite part of Christmas is the Christmas cookie making, baking
and decorating.
I love the smell of the dough and of course the sampling of the dough
to make sure that it's just right.
I enjoy rolling the dough out,
digging in the back of the cupboard to retrieve all the special Christmas
cookie cutters.
The same shapes my mom used to use, the diamond, bell, spade, club,
star and heart. (don't ask me why, guess mom was a gambler)
Then I've added my own favorites since I've been married and have had 
 children of my own, a candy cane, snowflake, holly leaf, gingerbread man.
Then I frost them, generously add sprinkles and enjoy a few along the way,
that's the real payoff.  And of course, I do this all on my own.  The
kids haven't been interested or helped in years.  They'll each decorate 
one or two cookies,  just to make me happy.
So, it's Christmas eve once again, and I've made the dough, cut them
out, baked them, frosted and decorated them, all by myself.
I made Courtney put some out for Santa, and this is what I got.
One cookie, a cracker because she heard Santa is on a diet and
a Lindt truffle, whatever!
I can bring back all the fun and magic when I have grandchildren, right?

The Stockings Were Hung . . . .


Mrs. Santa called on me to help with the stockings this year.
You know how busy she can get?  And it's fun to pick up little things
that I think Courtney might enjoy, the Nutella is a no brainer.
Toys, treats, gum, glow sticks, earrings, even a paparazzi camera.
More candy, a contact case, a Canadian hand warmer and more candy.
Courtney's stocking was chuck full.
Couldn't fit another thing in it.  Good thing, because she has to get
it all home, on the plane.  Too fun.

Sunday, December 23, 2012

Berry Nice!


We were on our way to church this morning when I spotted
this tree with bright red berries.
And they were topped with little snow caps.
They were so gorgeous, I made Chris stop on the way home
from church so I could take a picture.
They were so appropriate for the season, don't you think.
A perfect little snow cone atop a bowl of bright red berries.

O Christmas Tree


So this is our Charlie Brown Christmas tree
We bought the tree and told Courtney she was in charge of
decorating it, because she wanted it so badly.
  I finally forced her to put lights on it, but that's where
it ended.  Then I got a brilliant idea.
I should have thought of this three years ago, what 
better decor for our missionary tree, than missionaries.
 I threw on a few candy canes for color.

I took some cards off the board
and put them on our tree, perfect.

This is what it ended up looking like, except picture
 it on an angle.  It kept tipping to the left, I'm 
talking extremely slanted.  Oh well.  Courtney got her 
tree, and there's nothing better than the smell of fresh pine.