Christmas Pics!

The Christmas Pickle! We did this on December 17th..this year. {I am not sure why this is happening..shadow?? any suggestions}.

Trae & Izabelle {more yucky shadows}.

Mom & Dad opening their cordless phone from us!!!!!!

Me, Daisy & Mom before Daisy's flight..

Mattie's First Christmas!!

Izabelle, Toto & Chulo.

Izabelle, Guelita & Mattie ready for night..night.

Woops..duplicate!!!!!!!

Me & Izabelle..wearing matching necklaces...Izabelle's says "Friends"; mine says "Forever". This was Izabelle's gift after she found the "Christmas Pickle"..this was from Uncle Bob & Aunt Sherri.

Woops! Another..duplicate!

Daisy and her Advent Calendar..and more shadow!

Saying Goodbye.....

To Aunt Daisy last night..she has to get back to Texas..she has to get back to work, so she flew out last night..we hated to see her go..but we were so happy for her to be able to spend Christmas with us!



This is the {2nd} Advent Calendar that I have made..and I gave it to my baby sister {Daisy} for Christmas!!

Christmas Tag!

I have been tagged by Hollye!

1. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate? Egg Nog.

2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree? He wraps them..duh!

3. Colored lights on tree/house or white? I like white lights on the Christmas tree & both colored & white on the house..but don't get crazy like National Lampoon's Christmas..just keep it simple.

4.Do you hang mistletoe? Nope..But I have often thought about it..if I knew where to get some fresh..I probably would make the effort to go and purchase some!

5. When do you put up your decorations? After Thanksgiving.

6. What is your favorite holiday dish? Green bean casserole

7. Favorite holiday memory as a child? The only thing that comes to my mind..is when I lived in Michigan and my dad built me an igloo{out of snow}! It was awesome!!!!!!

8. When and how did you learn that Santa isn't real? Hmmm?..What?...I still hear the bells & music..I don't understand the question..because Santa is real..silly!

9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? We do the Christmas Pickle on Christmas Eve..with the kids..we have {2} glass pickle ornaments..Rich & I hide them on the tree..and Trae & Izabelle {and next year Mattie}..have to find them..and when they do..they get to open a gift!

10. How do you decorate your Christmas tree? The big {green} tree in the den/scraproom is decorated with a great assortment of ornaments..from ornaments that I made as a kid to ornaments that Trae & Izabelle have made..baby's first Christmas..ornaments that we have collected every year{we purchase an ornament every year}, etc. Also we put up a white tree with blue lights and blue, white & silver ornaments..this is Rich's favorite tree!

11. Snow! Love it or dread it? I miss it..we had beautiful snow in Michigan..not this yucky muddy icing junk you get here!

12. Can you ice skate? I think so..I haven't been on ice skates since I lived in Michigan{1982}?

13. Do you remember your favorite gift? Terrible I know...but nothing comes to mind; I don't recall a lot of childhood memories..I wish I did.

14. What's the most important thing about the holidays for you? Just being together..and I love waking up and seeing the children's faces...opening their gifts..it is worth more that all the gold in the entire world..ya know!!

15. What is your favorite holiday dessert? Grandma P: Chocolate Pie

16. What is your favorite holiday tradition? Gosh..to many! Driving to see the Christmas lights..making a Gingerbread house..making ornaments, Advent Calendar, baking cookies, get togethers with friends, Christmas parade and seeing Santa!

Tag you are it! Renee and Doris!
Merry Christmas!

Lots O' Pics!

The "Christmas Cookie Swap" was too much fun!! Thanks to all that attended..I know it was only {10} days before Christmas..I have actually penciled in December 1st, 2007 for the 2nd Annual Christmas Cookie Swap..maybe this date will be even easier!

I love this picture..baby Jack was looking up at me with those great big blue eyes of his..I enjoyed spending the evening with Renee..she is too much fun!


Miss Betty {I have known forever & ever} and love her very, very much..she turned 79 on December 2nd..Happy Birthday Miss Betty! Jennifer..she & I attended High School together and I think after all these years..we fought once..we just get along that well! She keeps me busting the gut..constantly! Tracy..my NEW friend..that sells Stampin' Up! product..she is so talented! She is starting up a Stampers Club{monthly}..starting in January 2007! It is going to be lots of fun! If you want to join..ask me about it and I will get you her phone number!

There is Hollye..she drove all the way out here..even though Miss K was sick..she hated leaving her..but I am sure B: was handling everything pretty good at home..please keep Hollye in your prayers..they are re-locating to Michigan{job related}..& her Dad is having to move to the middle east..lots of things going on that are very sad..I hate to see her go! We all will miss you so much Hollye!!!!!!! Love Ya!!!!!!!

Oh & that's baby Jack..pulling up so well! Won't be long..he will be walking!

Hmmm??...judging the cookies..Ruth; she got moved finally..and bless her heart her kitchen is still in boxes but she made it to the swap anyhow..I am so glad she came..I don't get to see her much..Miss Mattie loves her Auntie Ruth!

Me & the little one..man is she tired..she partied until about 10:30pm last night..she was so good..all the kids were!!!!!

Izabelle & Page...they had pretend tea at Izabelle's{Annabelle; hee hee} tea table! They are so cute together..Page likes the big sister thing..and Izabelle likes the little sister thing. They play very well!

The home-made cookie table!!!!!!!!! Yummy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Grand Prize Winner: Jennifer Wade{Oatmeal Cookies} she won $20.00!!!

Pictures with Santa & Mrs. Claus at the MJ McDonald's @ 8:30 am this morning!!!

Brunch at 11:ooam at Maria's house..boy was it delicious!

This is Krystal & Maria...I love, love, love these {2}! I am glad to have them as my friends!

Izabelle & Trae at Maria's!!

Izabelle's taekwondo testing tonight!

She passed..to upper white belt. She just started on October 3rd..and she broke wood tonight!{she had to break the board to pass}; this was her first time..she only had practiced once on a break-away board..She was soooooooo excited! Next testing is in March 2007; for yellow belt.
I love Mr. Smith's moto: A black belt is nothing more than a white belt that did not quit!
We are so proud of her!

Mattie & her.....

ExerSaucer! I put her in it for the first time yesterday..and she loves it! She is sooooo cute! I know you all get sick of hearing that but I am just in love with {all} of my children..they make me happy! I don't even want to imagine life without them! I love being a mommy!
I hope everyone is enjoying the wonderful {warm} Christmas season..70 degress is so weird..isn't it?

Izabelle's baptism..

yesterday. Her and {7} other children were baptized yesterday..Isn't that {awesome}!?! There was one little boy that was waiting for the return of his father from Iraq..to be baptized; well SFC K. Sprinkles is now HOME; safe & sound..Praise God! His little boys dream came true..what a beautiful Christmas blessing.
Rich attended church with us yesterday..to be there for Izabelle{Izabelle's father chose not to be there..please pray for him}; The welcoming committee brought Rich a fresh loaf of sourdough bread and welcomed him..said they were glad to see him..he thought that was neat.
For those of you that know the issues with my husband & church..well there was a break-thru yesterday..let me tell ya..God is working with this man that I love so very, very much..He was singing! during service and reading the Bible..past the point where the preacher was using for reference..during offering..he asked me if I had any singles..I said no..then I pulled out a $??.00 bill and handed it to Izabelle{She likes to put the money in the plate}..he said just wait until next time..I said no..this is my money/allowance..I can give it if I choose..he whispered in my ear & said I will give the money back to you tomorrow.
After church..we had lunch at our local MJ Dairy Queen..it was yummy!!! We had a great window seat where we watched Christmas tree shoppers across the street hunting for the perfect tree..FUN!
After we got home..Rich mentioned how much he enjoyed the service today..that was music to my ears..he said that he likes the way our preacher explains things..I said I know..he is a teacher not a preacher..and that I could listen to him for hours..Rich says that he looks forward to when our car lot is open so he can attend with us more often..whew!!!!!! chills up the spine..Thank you, Jesus!

Rich just called {2:44pm}..he called me to tell me that he won a GMAC contest..I said: What does that mean?..he said: it means that I just won $500.00! I couldn't stop crying..he said: Hello are you there?..I said: yes..he said: what are you doing?..I said: I am crying..he said: I know, isn't this amazing! Thank you, thank you again, Lord!

We took this last night..the family Christmas photo for 2006..yep; this will be in our Christmas cards this year..love, love that automatic timer thingy on my new Rebel!

Mattie eats from a spoon now!

She won't be {4} months until the 16th of December..but she learned how to eat from a spoon already..I started teaching her on Tuesday..and she surprised me today; she just started eating! She opened her mouth for every bite..and if I didn't move fast enough..she had her mouth open & waiting like a little bird. We video-taped it..she loves her cereal..she was smiling {a lot}..I think it made her very happy to have something other than Nestle's Good Start! She has had {2} bowls today! She also attended her very first Christmas Parade today..there was a wrecker company that ran in the parade{they had 3 trucks} and they were honking their loud horns; Mattie thought that was hilarious..every single time they honked..she giggled..she cracks me up!

Pictures from Thursday night..She is my little pork-chop!

I love..love..love her little fat feet!

Gingerbread House

The construction of the "Gingerbread House" last night. The kids always have so much fun doing this! Izabelle doesn't want to keep the house together..she wants to bust it up & eat it!

Izabelle counting the days!! Only 18 more days..oh, my goodness!

What a silly picture! This was taken after the "Gingerbread House" was put together.

{Krissy Boy} dreaming of a white Christmas? or a yummy bird?

Since no one wanted the white Christmas tree..we were forced to put it up..{kidding}!..Rich likes the white one with blue lights the best..anyhow. So I have put up {2} trees this year..totally unplanned.

Something to think about:

Tonight at church we were discussing the "issue" of offending people by wishing them a Merry Christmas. I can't believe this is actually going on..but..it just proves that Jesus is coming to take us home very soon. Our Pastor made a really good point tonight {this is to all the people that are offended by: Merry Christmas}, We are celebrating a birthday..so how can we have a birthday party and not have the birthday boy present? HELLO!!!!

People believe what they read in the newspaper..but question what they read in the Bible?

Jesus Is The Reason For The Season!!!!!!!!

Advent Calendar

Finally!! I can use Blogger..didn't have any buttons to use on my navabar? Blogger was aware of it & they fixed it! I finished this calendar on Friday {12/2/06} @ 12:45am. It was a lot of fun creating this piece..I got the idea from Hollye! Also check out her blog for homemade Hot Chocolate! We have it hanging in the kitchen and Trae & Izabelle & Mattie are counting down the days until CHRISTmas!

Cinnamon Clay Recipe

This recipe makes a sweet smelling dough that can be made into ornaments or package decorations.

This project is rated EASY to do.

What you need:
1 1/2 cups ground cinnamon
1/3 cup Applesauce
1/3 cup white School glue (like Elmer's)
1 medium sized bowl
Flat surface for kneading
wax paper
rolling pin
cookie cutters-various types
knife
straw
Non-stick cooling rack
ribbon
puffy paints; optional


1. Mix cinnamon, applesauce, and glue together in a bowl.
2. Remove from the bowl and knead the mixture until it turns into a firm clay.
3. Let sit for about 30 minutes.
4. Clay is best used at room temperature. You may need to dust your rolling pin,
hands, or working surface with cinnamon, or use wax paper as a working
surface.
5. Roll out clay with a rolling pin to approximately 1/8 of an inch thick.
6. Use cutters to cut out desired shapes (we like gingerbread men).
7. If you are going to hang your shape, use a straw to cut out a hole near the top of
the shape.
8. Place shapes on a non stick cooling rack or wax paper. You will need to keep an
eye on them and turn them over occasionally so that they dry evenly and flat.
9. Dry shapes for approximately 5 days!!!
10. When dry you may put a ribbon through the hole for hanging on the tree or
adding to a package.
11. You may add puffy paint to decorate your shapes, if you wish.

Don't forget about the "Christmas Cookie Swap"...see Tuesday's post!!{for invitation}

{Christmas Cookie Swap}; Photos of Mattie & {FREE} things to do!!

Caught Mattie on the telephone the other day!!! Isn't she a little young for this??

And...she was standing in her playpen!!!!!!!!!!! {Just Kidding}....

{FREE} things to do:

December 9th{Saturday}

*Donelson Presbyterian Church, 2305 Lebanon Road, is having a live Nativity 6:30pm-8:00pm., with live animals, music, singing of Christmas carols and refreshments. Rain date is December 10th. #883-3248

December 17th-18th{Sunday & Monday}

*Live Drive-Through Nativity, with about 50 people and assorted animals, 6:30pm-8:30pm., at Hamilton United Methodist Church at 3105 Hamilton Church Road, at the corner of Murfreesboro Road. #361-7210

I was remembering things I did as a {younger} girl during Christmas..and a few things came to mind..one of them was when I went to a Live Nativity with my Grandma P., so I Googled Live Nativity Nashville Tennessee & wa-la! They still do these things!! I am going to take the children to see one..they have never been.
YOU MIGHT WANT TO CALL & MAKE SURE OF TIMES..I GOT THIS FROM MISS CHEAP ON THE INTERNET...
_________________________________

You are invited to a "{Christmas} Cookie Swap"

Take a break from the holiday rush
& share the Christmas spirit
with old and new friends.
Come & enjoy an appetizer, coffee and egg nog
& sample all those delicious cookies!
I look forward to seeing you........& your cookies, of course!!

Date: Friday, December 15th, 2006
Time: 7:00 - ?
Place: My House!!
R.S.V.P. (by leaving a comment; e-mail or call me if you already have my phone number){A.S.A.P. or by December 8th}

Hosted By: Jill Gross-LaFaye

Rules:
Bring {2} dozen cookies.
Bring a copy of your recipe.
Bring an empty container.
*Make cookies at least 2-3 days in advance..the biggest reason for no-shows is that they didn’t have time to bake their cookies.

*Prize will be given for the most {unique} cookie recipe. By majority vote.

More {stuff} to give away...

The items on Sunday's post are {still available}.

Update: The nesting boxes found a home @ Renee's!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! {and} she doesn't need either of the Christmas trees. So Denise now has next choice on them....

Here is some more items; I have found in the "Christmas" closet:

I know..I know..this is not Christmas stuff..but it got stuffed in there somehow..& I don't need it.
They are resin wall plaques.



Santa Snow...I am not sure why I even purchased this stuff?


Mr. & Mrs. Snowman/resin.

Brand new..never used..I just checked them & they DO work.

Hmmm.. wonder why this was stuffed in the Christmas closet? Hee Hee

Anyone have a New Year's Resolution to {work out}? Well here ya go!