Simpleness

1. Untitled, 2. The best wishes in 2008 for you !, 3. Christmas Love, 4. cranberry sauce, 5. Who needs orange?, 6. plate wall

Things I'm finding simple and pretty this morning...

Can't believe it is almost 2008. I managed to get our tree (and all the holiday stuff) down yesterday. John still needs to tackle the outside; but inside things are feeling much more manageable. I love January. I am not much of a New Years resolution kind of girl, but I do set goals and plan for the year. I usually try and set a budget and have financial goals for the year. Plus I think about what I want to get accomplished ~ this includes in my home, hobbies, maybe books I want to read, vacations or places I want go with family. Sometimes I write these down, sometimes they are just a constant running dialog in my head. I'm mulling all of this over in my head right now...as soon as they are a bit more clear, I promise to share.

Looking forward to snow this afternoon and evening...so very...January.

Now comes the real fun

So half the fun of Christmas really comes after all the presents are opened. This is when you PLAY with the treasures that you have asked for, written letters to Santa about, dreamed about and saw on TV. This is the time to line them up just to look at them, or I always loved to make my "pile" under the tree ~ I still do this and I still love perusing over my gifts just like my children. The past few nights I have curled up in bed with my new blanket and pillow cases (sheets are on back order) and salivated over a few new books that were under the tree for me. I put on my new chapstick and nighty, pour myself a hot cup of tea that I brewed in my new teapot and drink out of my new mug. I swear it is just as good as a brand new viewfinder from National Geographic (thank you Aunt Lynne).

As I type, Duncan has just whipped me up a burger with lettuce, tomato and cheese on a croissant with a hot cup of tea. He made the burger in his new kitchen and the tea was warmed in his new microwave. His is mixing something in his new mixer, it's either fried chicken or pasta (I'm not sure), but he is complete with hot glove and all. Above is Coop's new Jungle that his trains pull up to and his space shuttle lands on...oh the wonderful world of make believe.

Very happy it is the weekend again...this place is a disaster and well, most of you know this irritates the Virgo right out of me. I think the tree is coming down tomorrow...I feel a bit guilty for not leaving it up through the new year, but the way I see it...I DID put it up Dec 1st!! (or was it the 2nd?) I just need to clean up and reorganize ~ that is what I love about January, it's such a great time to start new...not to mention I have a birthday party to throw in 3 weeks!! And I have to move my entire office in 4 weeks.

AND I need to get back to pictures, blogging, scrapping for my kids, cooking dinner again and snuggling with my boys (all three of them).

Merry Christmas

Okay, so it was definitely time to get poor Johnny off the front page... Time to blog has been pretty much non existent around here, but hopefully with the holidays over things will start getting back to normal. Not helping matters was the fact that I used up ALL the space on my laptop's hard drive...apparently 80% of it was pictures...go figure. But this was slowing things down terribly. Remember I told you I got a new scanner? Well, I couldn't install the scanner until I made more space, so I had to delete a bunch of photos... Then came my new iPod for Christmas...again, I couldn't install iTunes because...yup, no space...back to deleting more photos. And then every time I went to download new pictures to put on the blog, well, you know the story by now... It's like John is always saying to me... "I need to clean out the garage before I can put something in the attic". But more hard drive is on it's way and should be here tomorrow; until then I think I have deleted enough photos to at least run things! And it's really okay because a serious clean out was in need anyway. So I hope you all had a lovely holiday, we certainly did. Quite expected the boys were in total bliss ~ it was sheer magic for them, as it should be. As for me (and John), sitting back and watching was the best gift. I managed, by the hair on my chin (that doesn't really exist) to get my homemade gifts done in time...whew! We had our annual get together on Christmas Eve with tons of good food, lots of champagne, and best of all great friends and family.

Here are a couple photos of Christmas day...

Just getting started...the boys really were a total blur.

Winding down...Dunc on the Trumpet...

The boys with Ma Jane.

That's it for now...promise to not take such a long break.

Shoe box finds

No no, you're not accidentally on the Playgirl website! I'm still going through old pictures...and falling over laughing. WHO IS THIS?? Okay, I'll stop now...my family is going to disown me. Unless I find a particularly ugly or funny one of myself - it may be my only redemption! On to other things...ONE WEEK...AAAHHHH. And too late for standard shipping now...if it ain't in Williamsport, then there are extra shipping charges involved...THIS is what 7 days left means in my house. And wouldn't you know, Duncan, who this entire Holiday season has asked for NOTHING but "Jack" (a Thomas the Train Front Loader), now decides there is actually more that he wants...so I am feverishly trying to search down his requests...sigh. I know, you've all been there - well those of you with children anyway. My Aunt Carla tells me stories of having to get "THE" gift each year and begging the sales lady to sell her the display model...and I clearly remember my sister tracking down those "must have" Christmas wishes (and she's Jewish!!!!). Just goes to show what we do for our children! But can you believe, even with all this craziness, I am SO excited for Christmas morning. I truly think I will be up before the boys in eager anticipation. Giving really is SO much better than receiving :)

1992?

I got my new scanner hooked up and been playing with it...check it out...old picture of my brother and me...I LOVE IT! By the way...my brother doesn't really look like this...check out my real brother here.

Busy weekend

I guess I sort of fell off the blog wagon there for a bit... But in catching up with all the blogs I read, I see I'm not the only one:) Even the blogs I read that seem to religiously post every day, have fallen short lately. It's just that time of year...no getting around it. Things have certainly been busy here that is for sure. Nine days and counting. John and I went Christmas shopping Friday night and before we knew it five hours had passed! I'm making cookies today along with a big batch of pork & sauerkraut. I'm still working away on gifts - grabbing a free minute here and there. We watched Bourne Ultimatum last night while working on our presents - I was scrapping, John was wittling (is that a word?). John is still fighting with the outdoor lights...there are sections not working and then he had to buy new, but they don't match the old so it's a never ending battle. Today the boys were going a bit stir crazy inside so we bundled them up and John took them outside to work off some energy and here is what they did...

Duncan's snowman...bigger than he is...with tissue paper hair (hhmmm..how long do you think that will last?)

Cooper's snowman...just putting on a few last finishing touches...

I am SO loving the hair... Cooper imitating his snowman...

And it worked - they are currently sleeping like logs. But I must get back to work...I have wrapping, gift making, picture printing, more baking, cleaning, laundry, some shopping and well, you get the picture.

Holiday projects

My poor printer is smoking...I had off today and I am trying to feverishly complete a bunch of holiday projects. I question my sanity at times like this, but at least I'm having a good time! I figure, worst case...some of you may get New Years gifts from me :-)

Festival of Lights

Hanukkah ~ it's all about the lights (and jelly donuts apparently), and Saturday night, my sister stayed true to tradition and had both. We spent a lovely evening stuffing ourselves on potato latkes, lamb chops, black eyed peas and JELLY DONUTS - yum. Sam lit the candles, the boys loved opening their first presents of the year (John Deere and Thomas the Train-I know, you're so surprised), Kate and I spent the night taking pictures, Dad watched football and all was well.

Good Yantif ~ from a diversified family.

Favorite III and IV

Mine -basic, simple and red.

John's - he says it reminds him of a shield... Because John is such the Viking huu?

My oh my

Momma got her hair done...with BANGS! I think it's been 10+ years since I have had bangs...apparently they are back in style ~ who knew?

Favorite II

Come on...tell me you're surprised? Cooper's pick...Thomas and a car of presents. It is somewhat tough to hang though, he requires two hooks (which in our house are actually just paper clips), and I can't seem to get him to hang even? Runner up for Coop would also be the John Deere... Tonight was particularly special because we forgot to open the advent calendar last night which means double the chocolate tonight. Of course the chocolate was really just the bribery for sitting in front of the tree for a photo...and do you know, I took 68 freaking pictures and got not ONE good one?! I give up.

Favorites I

We have a few favorites this year... I'd thought I'd share one a day. This would be Duncan's...no surprise here. He can not seem to understand why it must stay on the tree though. Please remind me to buy stock in John Deere...he has GOT to be one really rich man.

O Christmas Tree

Yesterday we were off to the tree farm to cut down our tree the old fashion way... Tonight my sister, niece and nephew came over for dinner and decorating. I realize it is only the 2nd of December but I am just about as excited as Coop and Dunc so I am looking forward to enjoying the tree all month long.

Picture this...hot sausage sandwiches, rocking Christmas music, TONS of giggles and squeals, a homemade apple pie and a family full of spirit ~ fun fun fun ~ thanks guys!