Merry Christmas!

Santa, for Christmas I would like . . . . .  Oh I'm sorry, was I dreaming again?

This is what I meant to say:

I want to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Oh Christmas Tree, How I Love Thee

Although this is not my ideal tree, I love it.  As a grown up I would love a tree with white lights and expensive glass ornaments. And I do like a "fatter" tree.  But as a mom this tree is perfect.  It has colorful lights and all sorts of ornaments.  Ornaments made of wood, glass, clay, and fabric.  Some are precious to me because they were my Memere's or they were given to the children by their Grandmother who passed away 2 1/2 years ago. Some my own mother gave to me.

Ornament for C from Grandma

Special ornament for A from Nana - Ducks are her favorite!

For J on his first Christmas form Grandma

My Memere's Ornament

Another of Memere's Ornaments

Given to me by my mom.

Another bought for J on his first Christmas from Grandma

Handmade cinnamon clay ornament made by A

Handmade with felt bought at the Christmas Church Fair

 Some day I may have that tree I have always dreamt of, but for now there is no other tree I'd rather have.  It brings such joy to my little chickadees.

"Blizzard" 2009 - Um, OK?

I don't know about you, but I don't consider a foot of snow a blizzard.  Snow blocking your front door, now that's a blizzard.  But still, snow is snow and fun to play in no matter how much there is!

Good times!

Warming up after becoming frost bitten! 

Stay warm!

Paperbag Scrapbook

Two weeks ago I had my monthly Daisy (Girl Scout) meeting with A. The girls created paper bag scrapbooks.  I put together little kits which consisted of one paper bag scrapbook, patterned papers cut to size, matching embellishments, and a glue stick for all 16 girls!  They were super cute and I wish now that I had taken some pictures of them.  My co-leaders and I gave the girls a quick lesson on how to use the papers and embellishments to create the scrapbooks and asked that each girl bring one picture.  We showed them how to crop a picture and to use the paper and emellishemnts to enhance their photos.  We discussed "journaling' or telling the story behind the pictures.   I believe the girls had a great time and felt proud of their creations.  Each girl received a fun patch to put on their Daisy tunics.

Fun Patch

Below are pictures of A's scrapbook:

Front Cover

inside

more of the inside

Picture A chose for her book (At Aunt Bree's Bridal Shower)

Of course I wanted to have some fun too!  Here are a few shots of the scrapbook I made.

Notice how I used the "pocket" of the bag to place a notecard for journaling.

Mother's Day Celebration at A's preschool

I will share here a tutorial on how to make a paper bag scrapbook soon.  They are super easy to make but I've come to find a few things that make them even easier.

Happy Hanukkah

Last Friday night we were invited to Lorin's house to experience Hanukkah and its traditions.  The children each received a small gift and we ate latkes with sour cream or applesauce for dipping.  The children preferred applesauce.  I however liked both, because well, I like food! 

Later the children spun a dreidle.  Lorin gave each child a color from the four sides of the dreidle and they took turns spinning it.  If it landed on your color you opened your gift.  The kids loved it!

We took this book out of the library and read it before we went to Lorins. 

So put on your Yarmulkes, it's time for Hanukkah, we didn't drink our gin and tonicas and we definitely did not smoke any marijuanaca but we did have a Happy, Happy, Happy, Happy Hanukkah!

Happy Hanukkah Lorin, Jerry, and S.  Thank you for a great time!

Oh Sweet Delicious Soda, How I Love Thee

Sweet, delicious, bubbly soda, why do I love thee so?  I know it is not because of your tooth decaying sweetness, or your staining abilities.  I know for sure it is not the carcinogens you are wholly made of.  What is it about you that I can't live without?

*Please look forward to and enjoy my new series (is series the correct term for a blog?) called - Oh How I Love Thee.... (remember my love for these and this) Stay tuneed! 

Progress

Still have quite a bit to do, but a good dent into the knitted blanket for Project Linus.

A Visit From Santa

Santa visited last night on a decked out fire truck.  We do this every year and it is always a surprise for the children.  So last night we decided to tell them we were going outside to look at the moon and stars.  Which we have never done before, they were so excited! The fire department always calls when they are on their way so I knew they would be here in a minute or two.  As we were looking up at the stars, we could hear the truck coming up the hill.  I said "I think I see something coming up the road."  J looks over the stone wall and says at the top of his lungs "You tricked us!" 

Santa came down the driveway and greeted the kids by name!  He brought them over to the truck and we took pictures and the firefighters even offered to take some family shots for us.

He handed out their presents and then showed them the front of the truck where Rudolf is pulling the truck and a train is running along the front bumper.  Awesome stuff! 

We had a nice time and as you can see by the pictures so did the kids.  Check out A laying down in the truck.  I'm guessing she was comfortable?  How about C?  I thought he was going to be nervous or scared of Santa but he wasn't at all.  I could tell he was enjoying himself even if he wasn't smiling.  And J was having a ball and being a ham for the camera.

Oh by the way, I think Santa likes me.  If you know what I mean?

The True Spirit of Christmas

As a child I believed in Christmas and all the magic and love that came with it.   But as I have gotten older Christmas has become a holiday of too much stuff and very little meaning.  Today I expierenced the true meaning of Christmas from a stranger.  Such generosity which brought tears to my eyes and a story to forever tell. 

The Story.....

My daughter has written out her Christmas wish list and at the very top of this list are Zhu Zhu pets.  This is the one "hot" item this year and impossible to find.  I have been searching high and low each and every day for this toy.  They are always sold out.  Greedy people have been purchasing all they can and then putting them on ebay or Amazon for quadruple the price they are in retail stores.  I can not and will not pay $60 for an $8 toy!

This is exactly why Christams has lost so much meaning for me.

I have been planning to get her anything I could for this toy and have asked all of my friends and family to be on the look out for these mechanical hampsters.  My friend Jodi called me this past Sunday morning at 8:00 am, she had just left Toys-R-Us with an accessory for A.  I was beyond thrilled.  We discussed how we may have to write a "letter from Santa" to our girls. Santa may write something such as "Dear A, Be on the look out for your Zhu Zhu pets, they are on their way"  As you can see, we are desperate!

But today I believe again and my spirit has been lifted.

I went to Toys-R-Us this morning with my frined Lorin hoping to find even just one Zhu Zhu pet.  (I had heard Tuesday morning was a delivery day).  I saw nothing so decided to ask an employee who was stocking shelves.  She told me the same thing I had been hearing every where else.  "No we do not have any at this time.  If you really want them you have to get here before we open our doors" etc, etc.  We began to chit chat and I told her how my daughter really wanted this toy and how I was hoping I could get her even just one. 

I noticed a woman standing by who was looking at us and I could see she was listening.  She interrupted us and asked who wanted the Zhu Zhu pet.  I told her my daughter wanted one for Chrstmas and it was on her wish list to Santa.  And this woman said to me, "I have an extra Zhu Zhu pet at home and you are welcome to have it.  I can not let a little girl who has asked for something from Santa to be disappointed.  Because she wants it from Santa, I will go home now and get it for you."  She said she lived near by and asked for my name and she told me hers - Charlene (if I remember correctly, I was very overwhelmed).  So off she went and I stayed and waited.  I was nervous she wasn't the real deal, that she wouldn't come back or she'd ask me for an outrageous amount of money for the toy when she returned.

She did return with a brand new Zhu Zhu pet still in the box.  I asked her what I owed her and she said "Nothing".  I tried, pleaded with her to take something and she wouldn't.  She said she was doing it because this is what Christmas is all about.  She said "See, Santa does exist" and I said yes he does.  She asked that I do the same if I happen to come upon someone who needed something.  To pass on the spirit of Christmas.  I promised I would.

To you Charlene, I thank you.  I thank you for your generosity and kindness and for bringing a little bit of magic back to my life and for helping to make my little girl happy on Christmas morning.  I know I will probably never meet you again and have no way of saying thank you in a letter, to send you flowers or even an email, but I will never forget you. 

Have a very Merry Christmas!

  

Dear Blog I have Not Abandoned You

On Thanksgiving day I carried my camera with me to my mothers along with three children and a husband.  In the chaos in which my holidays are made of, I left my camera at my moms house and have yet to pick it up.  Alas, no pictures to share.  A blog post without a picture is like a peanut butter and jelly sandwich without the peanut butter!  I hope to get my camera by Thursday when my local fire department will be coming by with Santa to give my little ones a small gift.  I will share on Friday.   

In the mean time, here's a few pictures of my chickadees when they were literally chickadees!

J - I'm guessing around 1 month old

(check out the quality of digital pictures 7 years ago!)

A - a few days old

C - 1 week

How cute are infants?  So sweet and snuggly and delicious enough to eat!

Thankful :: November 24

For being together, warm and cozy by the fire.

Thankful :: November 23

For Books

Books to read each night before bed.

And for all the books I can choose to take home from my local library.