sharing our christmas

My Christmas actually dragged out longer than most!! Christmas eve I went to LaRee's house and played all day long!! We had so much fun playing games, eating and watching the young ens run around!I didn't get home till after midnight! Christmas morning I slept till 9:30!! I have NEVER slept that late on Christmas day!! It felt GREAT! Then I headed up to my Aunt D's house! Had a yummy meal with family then we played games for the afternoon. Headed home about 4 and enjoyed some peace and quiet till the Dr Who Christmas Special came on BBC America! LOVED watching that!

Yesterday the boys came home from their dad's and we got to have OUR family Christmas!!! We opened presents had a wonderful ham dinner and played with our new toys till way to late at night! Here are some photos of our Christmas season!



This is Chris with his new fedora! He loves them and was so happy to get it!!



This is my tree snow globe. This actually has a VERY long history behind it. When I was young (really young), I got a snow globe like this for Christmas. This kid I knew BROKE it on my bathroom floor and I was crushed! I got another one I think the next year and that one broke as well. A few years ago. I saw this snow globe at bath and body works and nearly BAWLED when my boys gave it to me for Christmas! It never gets put away with the Christmas decorations. It stays in my cabinet all year round!

This is our tree this year. We are moving in a few weeks and I really didn't want to put out all our decorations and just have to pack them again so we did a small tree with just a few decorations. Easy to put up AND take down!

Sparky got a new ball and a bone!

This is my aunt and my cousin Kendra!! Love them so much!

Chris and his new hat again!

This is my favorite. This is bugs face at the moment he saw his new bike from Santa! Huge hit and he was so surprised!!!!

Fun Blog

I have a friend from highschool that started a blog that I JUST love. she is very creative and has givine me more than ONE idea I want to try!!

http://dangerouslydomesticjen.blogspot.com/

Go take a looksie!

I just know it happened this way

LOVE this season

I really do love this season. The lights, the carols, the presents, the family, the meal, the laughter the love. This year ( not really by choice at first) we are focusing on the LOVE part of Christmas. I mean isn't that what Christmas is about? The LOVE God felt for us. So much love in fact that he gave us Jesus, his ONLY son. I don't know about you but I would do anything humanly possible for my children, NOT give them away. This Christmas is not all about the gifts, or the tree, or the carols. Its going to be about my family, the love of Christ, my love for others. I am cutting way back on gifts. I only put up a four foot tree (cuz i am NOT unpacking and packing everything this year) I am not baking goodies, I am not doing parties, we are not doing major gifts, and some who have received gifts from us in the past may not this year, OR they may be home made.

At first I was worried about all we would miss out on. But as the season has progressed my stress level has completely declined. And if we don't make it out to see all the best lights in town so be it. I only had three goals: put up the little tree, get the gifts I am getting, and mail out Christmas Cards. I have THREE gifts left to get and we are finishing up the cards tonight, so right now I am winning! lol.

I realize that the main reason for downsizing is the fact that we are moving pretty much right after the holidays, but the fact that I am enjoying it is amazing!

Merry Christmas everyone.

Inpector Gadget

Yesterday mid morning (11) me and the boys met my Realtor and the home inspector at the house to do a thorough inspection of the building. He spent FOUR hours with me showing me how things work and what its all for and all the little things that need to be done. There really is not much at all. Building up a little more grade around the side of the house and using water guards on the rain gutters. That's the MOST pressing thing that needs to be done. He said that the house is in his top 5 percent of homes he has inspected! He said were are getting an amazing house! What a relief! I was just so impressed with how patient he was explaining so much of all the mechanics and answering all my questions no matter how dumb they were. I would recommend him to ANYONE and he even does inspections for homes you currently live in. So if you have something amiss and just need to find out why or what to do he is the man to call. I took a ton of his cards for my office.

My boys came with me to the inspections because they hadn't even seen it yet! We did not want to dilly dally on making an offer since its such a good by so I hadn't had time to take them through it yet. The loved it! They picked out their rooms and I picked out paint colors in my head. The house was well taken care of, but it needs a GOOD scrubbing, and new paint. Good thing is I can paint while I live there. Take one room at a time. I will struggle a bit with the main parts of the home since its vaulted ceiling so may have to hire someone to come help with that but other than that we will be good to just move in! The master bedroom has one nasty stain but that can be replaced in the next couple years.

As we were leaving the house we met the next door neighbors who were playing out in the front yard in the snow. We already know them!! The Lady is Christopher's favorite teacher from 7Th grade!!!!! How nice to know that we will have such nice neighbors! Her husband already gave Chris the job of blowing his snow which is just fine with Chris! AND I have also found that another friend lives a few blocks away! Now to just get my house rented!

Now to get my mom moved!!!! Keeping my fingers crossed that she can retire soon!

Today I am cleaning house and doing some laundry. Also want to finish up the Christmas cards I started so that I have them ready before I need to pack my scrap area!

Have a good Saturday!

Happy Black friday!!!!

Had a wonderful Thanksgiving with my family!! We ate (way to much) and we played may I till way to late in the evening! Then home for snuggles with the boys and some Christmas shows! Love this season! Here are some photos from our day!



My lovely 92 year old grandma



My sweet cousin Kendra




and the bird...yummmmm.

I am not in any way celebrating black Friday! Just hanging out with the boys till we go meet the inspector at the new house me and my mother are buying!!!!! Anyone know someone looking for a house to rent or buy!!!???

Then its home to do some laundry and quick tidy up then we honestly are going to play just dance till we drop. Not only do we need the exercise because of yesterdays amazing dinner but, also because after it stopped snowing and the sun came out the temps dropped to below zero and its just WAY to cold for the boys to spend any time outside playing. SOOO the energy level in this house is making the doors and windows bulge. I figure dancing is a great way to use up some of that energy!

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving!! Have a great rest of the weekend!!

New Home

On the blog I mean. Giggle. I have moved my blog from typepad to blogger just because honestly didn't want to pay for it anymore. AND I love all the blogger backgrounds you can get. I felt left out so I just decided to change! I will be changing and rearanging this new blog till I get to where I like it. The pictures from typepad imported a little wierd but I am not going to mess with them! It will be fun to "play" with it! Thanks for checking it out! Make sure to change it on your blog if you link mine and to also change it on your favorites!