Annual Christmas Party!

Not ours, but our best friends. We always have a great time. It's the only night of the year that we are kid-free and can really fellowship with each other. I seriously look forward to this party ALL YEAR LONG! We always play a game and this year- it was the "Newlywed Game"! 5 couples were selected, all being married for various lengths of time. They were asked 5 questions, 2 rounds each and the winner was then calculated based on their answers. I am happy to say that my in-laws won the game! Prize- $25 gift certificate to a favorite local restaurant. The "spectators" were able to vote on who they thought would win. My in laws only got 1 vote- my husband! (To my shame.. I knew I should have voted for them!) But my husbands prize for picking the winning couple- $25 gift certificate to our favorite local restaurant! So- we're going on a double date! Thanks J&S for such a fun night! Till next year.......

Moments From Christmas Morning

We had such a wonderful, peaceful Christmas morning. Here are some highlights for you to enjoy. I hope you enjoyed yours just as much!

Snuggles with Mommy

Twas The Night Before Christmas!

A picture from the living room just before we scurry off to bed. And yes, it's very late and I'm sure we'll be tired tomorrow, but I am so excited to watch my children open all their gifts! I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas with those you love.

Merry Christmas!!!

Christmas edition of getting to know your friends!

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags ? I really prefer gift bags- easy!

> 2. Real tree or Artificial? I love real but we have to have artificial because of my daughter with allergies/asthma

> 3. When do you put up the tree? day after Thanksgiving

> 4. When do you take the tree down? New Years Day

> 5. Do you like eggnog? Yes, but it depends on my mood and the brand

> 6. Favorite gift received as a child?Strawberry Shortcake sleeping bag - slept in that for months!

> 7. Hardest person to buy for? ?? My dad!

> 9. Do you have a nativity scene? yes, its kid friendly- Playmobile!

> 10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail

> 11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? I gues it would have to be the knife sharpener my husband got me last year. He thought it was great. I have never used it- but at least he tries!

> 12. Favorite Christmas Movie? It's A Wonderful Life for "Adult" movie and "The Santa Clause" Movies for "children" selection

> 13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? Black Friday baby.....

> 14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? sure have and not ashamed to admit it!

> 15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? spiral cut ham mmmmmmmm.........

> 16. Lights on the tree? Well *I* like white but I am out numbered in my house- we have blue lights this year. yes, blue. Yuck.

> 17. Favorite Christmas song ? Mary did you know? And Faith Hill's New one "A baby changes everything" And Casting Crowns "while you were sleeping"

> 18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Stay Home! Everyone is welcome to come over though1 We usually pick up a stray or two who has no one to celebrate Christmas with.

> 19. Can you name all Santa's reindeer? Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner , Blitzen and Rudolph
> 20. Angel on the tree top or a star? Star ( this year anyway)

> 21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or Christmas Day? One Christmas Eve and the rest Christmas day

> 22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? All the rushing around and commercialism!

> 23. Favorite ornament theme or color? I like "Country" type of decor ( wrought iron and such)

> 24. Favorite for Christmas dinner? Again, spiral cut ham!

> 25. What do you want for Christmas this year? I really would love Fiesta Ware :-)

> 26. Formal Party or Casual Party? Casual all the way!! With real coffee cups- come on over Aleyne!

> 27. Themed tree or misc matched tree? Totally kickin' it kindergarden style!

> 28. Who is most likely to respond to this blog survey? I'm hoping *Hannah* will!

A Cute Moment

Note quite parallel and not quite sharp or in focus, but caught none the less!

This is Grammy and (some of)her grandkids all snuggled together watching the classic: Wizard of Oz.

Our Gingerbread House!

We have many Christmas traditions in our home. One of them, of course, is decorating a gingerbread house. This has turned into a Dad/Kids thing they do together and they really quite enjoy it! I didn't grab the camera in time to capture the other kids helping but here are a few of Monkey and her daddy putting the last finishing touches on. I'd say they did a great job! It reminds me of the Witch's house in the classic Golden Book Hanzel and Gretel. Anyone remember that? That use to be one of my favorite books as a child. I must go finish cleaning as we continue the traditions tonight with "Buy you sibling a Christmas present" and "pick out your favorite food for Christmas eve".
Can you believe Christmas is only 3 days away!!!???!!!

When You Give A Camera To A Monkey.....

This is the picture you get!

Let Your light So Shine!

Hello everyone!
I have to apologize for lack of posts lately, but as you know, we are ALL busy this time of year! I am heading down to Southern Maine today for *my family's Chrismtas party. I am excited to see everyone and hopefully will have some fun photos to share with you once I return. We almost decided not to go as a huge Nor' Easter is a headin' our way tomorrow! But, as true "main-ah's", we are braving the weather and going. We will just leave early and head home before the snow really starts to fly. So, I hope you all enjoy the last weekend before Christmas, and that you get all your baking, wrapping, and shopping finished! Until next time.......


*****This picture was taken our our churches Christmas brunch. I really like pictures of candles. I love how the flame glows, so I thought I'd share something festive with you!********

Sassy Pants Turned **9**!!

Happy Birthday baby girl!

Bedtime Whispers

Last weekend I took Sassy pants to the Big City for her birthday. She brought 2 friends along with her.We'll call friend #1 Mother Hen and friend #2 Miss Mag. The girls has had a busy night of parades, dinner with cake and ice cream, giggles, jumping up and down while riding in the elevator, a swim in the pool and soak in the hot tub and of course snacks and a movie. It was pretty late by the time they were going to sleep. Like, um, midnight. So they all got tucked into their queen size bed they were sharing and started to say good night. Miss Mag started to miss her mommy so the following conversation pursued, in whispers:

Miss Mag: do you miss your mom?
Mother Hen: Oh, a little. But I'm ok. How about you? Do you miss your mom?
Miss mag: Yeah.
Sassy pants: Mom, Miss mag misses her mom.
Me: That's ok if you miss her. how about you girls pray for miss mag?
Sassy Pants: OK......( a silent pause occurs)
Sassy Pants; Please don't cry Miss May. I don't like it when people cry.
Mother hen: Yeah, me either! Think of all the fun we're going to have tomorrow: We get to go to church and see our friends, we get to go eat chinese food for lunch and then we get to go to Build A Bear!
Miss May: Yeah, we're going to have a lot of fun...I'm ok now.
Mother Hen: Well, we should get some sleep or we're going to be REALLY tired tomorrow!
Sassy Pants; yeah, we should.
Mother Hen: Well, I love you!
Miss mag: I love you too!
Sassy Pants: I love you too!


As I laid there in bed, I was so thankful for this tender moment that I'll always remember. How the Lord has not given my daughter just friends, but Sisters in her life and they share a love for each other that is truly special.

Fat Free Icing

Not exactly my favorite kind, but it sure is pretty!
These are just a few shots I took from my yard this morning around 9am. Things were looking a little scary with the trees bent over but as of now, all is well and there is no impending doom to decks or power lines :-)















































My back yard- see how we have one tree down and all the trees are all bent over. Almost like they are worshiping their creator!

Impending Doom?

These are the power lines to our house- which are being threatened by heavy branches hanging over them.

I'm feeling a little threatened right now.

And I'm praying fervently that we keep our power........

A "Christmas" 1 Corinthains 13

Something my mother in law sent me. It's a good reminder amidst all the hustle and bustle of the season. I hope this ministers to you as it did me!

---

If I decorate my house perfectly with plaid bows, strands of
twinkling lights, and shiny glass
balls but do not show love to my family, I'm just another
decorator.


If I slave away in the kitchen, baking dozens of Christmas
cookies, preparing gourmet meals,
and arranging a beautifully adorned table at mealtime but do not
show love to my family, I'm
just another cook.


If I work at the soup kitchen, carol in the nursing home, and give
all that I have to charity
but do not show love to my family, it profits me nothing.


If I trim the spruce with shimmering angels and crocheted
snowflakes, attend a myriad of
holiday parties, and sing in the choir's cantata but do not focus
on Christ, I have missed the
point.


Love stops the cooking to hug the child.


Love sets aside the decorating to kiss the husband.


Love is kind, though harried and tired.


Love doesn't envy another's home that has coordinated Christmas
china and table linens.


Love doesn't yell at the kids to get out of the way.


Love doesn't give only to those who are able to give in return but
rejoices in giving to those
who can't.


Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things,
endures all things.


Love never fails. Video games will break, pearl necklaces will be
lost, golf clubs will rust.
But giving the gift of love will endure.

Parade of Lights

This past weekend I took my oldest daughter, Sassy pants, to the Big city for her 9th Birthday celebration. She was allowed to bring 2 friends and my mom and Auntie came up to help celebrate her birthday weekend with us. We kicked things off with the parade.

I had never been. And honestly, it wasn't as great as I'd hoped it would be. I have heard it's been great in the past so *maybe we'll go again. But you do get quite cold standing there watching it go by!

Implying Motion

This effect was created by zooming in and out while taking the picture. These were a few pictures I came up with from the parade.

The Ghosts of (my) Christmas past

No, not really :-) I went to the Parade of Lights in the big city this past weekend and captured these "ghosts" using a slow shutter. Part of it is "luck" for me and getting the timing and motion to sync up. Hey- I'm still learning how this whole photography thing works :-)

Cletus and Nonny