Welcome to Our World



Merry Christmas!

How's Santa?

Hahaha!

or should I say Hohoho?!

Wanted

Socks:

 Really. I'm looking for these. They're called Rockford Socks. If anyone knows where I can get them, can you let me know?

I have a year to look.

TGIF

ny times - dressing for success

Not too sure...

I haven't quite figured out if this is a good idea... A Marshmallow Wreath. Maybe from far away, it would look pretty. But up close - wouldn't it just look like marshmallows glued to a wreath?

Here are the directions if you feel inclined to have marshmallows hanging in your house: Marshmallow Wreath

Who knows? It might be a good kids craft...

Lunar Eclipse

We ALL were up (some by proxy...others by choice) to see the Lunar Eclipse this morning. 

None the less, it was pretty amazing to see.

Going back to bed...

Soft and Thick Sugar Cookies

Every once in a while, for a treat, I'll pick up a package of the Lofthouse Cookies I see in the grocery store. 
I was so excited to find a recipe (on pinterest) for make-your-own 'lofthouse 'cookies!

I'm never going to roll a sugar cookie again!

Early Christmas Bling!

My sister got engaged tonight! At my house! Whoo Hoo!

We are thrilled for them! Congratulations!

Bye Bye Pie!

Hello White Chocolate Peppermint Red Velvet Trifle

recipe

My husband returned from down east with a magazine from his aunt (Food and Drink by LCBO). On the front cover was this amazing trifle. I knew right away I would just HAVE to make it for our early Christmas Dinner tonight. Yum.

Thanks, Aunt Mary!



Dicken's Christmas

I wasn't going to put up my little Christmas village this year. For something that is so small, it is just so. much. work.

I think it has to do with the electrical and 'managing' all those cords. Really, there has to be an easier way.

Part of the problem is that I've never taken a picture of it. So every year, I'm trying to figure out where it all goes.

Hah! No more! I now have a picture.

Now that it's set up, I'm glad I took the time!



Kitchen Christmas Tree

Last year at wal-mart, I picked up the cutest Christmas decorations for 60% off! I think I paid no more than a dollar for each ornament.

Since the decorations were cupcakes, gingerbread and candy decorations, I wanted to put a tree in the kitchen.

Yes, another tree.

I knew that if I was patient, I would find one for really cheap. And I did! Thanks to the Black Friday phe-nom that seems to be moving north.



It looks so pretty at night! Too bad it doesn't show up as nice in the pictures!

Is it time yet?



Yea...I think this is the weekend for decorating!

(I feel obligated to say that we've NEVER had the tree up this early, but the next 2 weekends are crazy busy. And I need my hubby's help with the tree...so if I don't do it now, it might not come up at all!)

I can just sense my Dad rolling his eyes!

Contentment:

working on Christmas gifts

in a warm house

while it is snowing

and listening to

Is it too early for Christmas music?

Nah.

I have an hour before the kids come home.

Better get to it...

11.11.11

Memorial Drive Crosses

American Girl Party (for a canadian girl)

hats

decorations

goodie bags

The dolls came and had a great time:

I think the girls did too...

They made winter hats for the dolls.

Wow...10 years



Happy Birthday Mr. OctoberMoon

Halloween officially kicks off our celebration season. We get on the holiday train and we don't get off until March (our last family birthday).

My husband celebrates the 7th anniversary of his 30th birthday today...

(I'll give you a minute to figure it out...)

If you're wondering about the facial hair...it's movember...sigh

Happy Birthday!

Happy Haunting!

The vet:

Daphne:

In case you don't know who she is...

They had another fun year of tricks and treats!



Sleepless in Seattle

No...not the movie...

ME!!

I had so much fun this past weekend, I'm exhausted. I had to come home to catch up on sleep!

The first morning, mom and I walked to this:

Pikes Place Market - the sun is still getting up!

And of course, we shopped:

Umm...who would this be for?

We also met up with a few (5,000) new friends for the weekend:

And some old friends:

waiting to get into the Arena

Waiting for the fun to begin

The girls asked what I did all weekend.

I told them I laughed.

And I really did.

Here I Come...

I've never been to Seattle before. It's even more exciting because I get to meet up with my mom and my sister. And go to this...

The Women of Faith Conference!

These women are absolutely inspiring and amazing...

And, yes! That's Lisa Whelchel from the Facts of Life! My absolute favorite show when growing up! I can't wait!!

(we might have to do a bit of shopping as well!)

BOO!

The kids had a blast 'boo-ing' their friends! After dropping the treats off on the doorstep, they rang the doorbell and RAN! (There's something about ding dong dash that really gets the heart going!). They would fall into the truck laughing and screaming! They each chose 3 friends, so we made up 6 bags. There was something in the bag for each child in the family. The best part was the boo coming back to spook us!

If you want the printable, it's here: BOO GAME

Pumpkin Heads

What can you do if you were so eager for pumpkins, you bought them early, left them outside, and they got frozen?

I figure they would be mush if we carved them.

No one wants a mushy pumpkin.

Next best thing:

Potato Head Pumpkins!

We only did 3 of them. I sure hope the other pumpkins last...although the tops of them were a little soft. If I can't use them, I might use some ideas from this website. So creative!



Saturday Morning with a Turtle

This morning, we went to hear Paulette Bourgeois speak at the public library. If you don't know who she is, she's the creator/author of this cute little guy:

Franklin!

She read us a story:

while the illustrator, Brenda Clark, drew the scene (you can see her at the left):

and then we were able to get autographs!

It's been 25 years since Franklin was first scared of his own shell:

Happy Birthday Franklin!