Visting Florida

This year we enjoyed Thanksgiving in sunny Florida. This is our 6th holiday season away from the home I grew up in and felt it was time to make the drive to see my side of the family and my dear friends.  And my mother celebrated a BIG birthday on the 26th....even more of a reason to visit.

It had been quite awhile since I was in the same room with all of my siblings.  I truly enjoyed getting to spend time with my brothers, sister, grandparents and of course my parents.

Of course one does not look like the others!  I am the only one of the 4 that was blessed with the "short" gene.  Lucky me!  We range in age from 34 to 18.  Crazy right?

My sweet neice and Rylie hiding under the dining room table.  Isn't she the cutest 3 year old ever?

Mom, and the 3 grand-daughters blowing out candles.

Sweet cousins!

My sweet grandmother and my sister in law.  Love these women.

My father...what can I say?  He is one of a kind...not sure why he's holding a drying rack, but at least it made him hold still for a picture.  Proof he was there!

Gingerbread House

Each year we construct and decorate a gingerbread house!  I think by the time we finish, we're all sick to our stomach from all the icing and candy we ate along the process.  Here is this year's product:

Christmas 2011

I sure hope you enjoyed Christmas!  We did immensely!  As we celebrated the birth of our savior, we enjoyed spending family time together.  No cleaning, very little cooking, and all day in our jammies.  What could be better?
 

our tradition is to place  baby Jesus in the manger prior to opening gifts.  This year, Rylie got to do the honors!

after all the meticulous wrapping and bows, this is what we ended up with

Yes, I did decorate

Yes, I did decorate for Christmas and I just had to prove it.

In fact, it is the only holiday I decorate for and this year I enjoyed it quite immensely.  Not that I do much...just a tree, some garland and a few outside things.  But, I love it!

The Hubs humored me as I played Christmas music, drug out all the boxes, and got busy decorating before Thanksgiving.  Yes, before Thanksgiving. Our tradition is to deck the halls Thanksgiving morning, but because we drove to Florida to be with family, that wasn't possible.  So, 35 days before Christmas, we started early.  And yes, I'm just now posting this AFTER Christmas!  O'well, better late than never!

thats safe, right?

every girl needs a pink tree, right?

Yes, I am still alive!

For those of you who actually read my little blog and wondered if I'd ever come back and post, well, yes I will.  Someday.  Life has been a whirlwind.  Like every other momma out there, I've been busy, busy, busy!

Exactly what I have I been doing?  Welp, in case you care here's my list:

2 class projects due for Chloe within a week...thank you teachers

what seemed like a bazillion tests to help the girls study for....some we did well on, some not so well

planned a class party in 1 week for 43 kids....thank you to my dear friends who rescued me

laundry, cleaning, laundry, and cleaning

finished decorating for Christmas

attempted to Christmas shop...which by the way is extremely difficult when you are with children 7 days a week :)

in addition to my shopping, I purchased and wrapped gifts 7 sweet children I've never met as part of our Giving Tree at church....that was fun!

and well, lots more that I can't think of.

So, I promise to post some exciting stuff soon.  Like pictures of my decorations (well, maybe that's not exciting), Thanksgiving with my FL family, all the sweet gifts I wrapped for a needy family, cookie decorating, more ELF messes, etc.  So, don't worry Mom, I will get something up here soon!

Kathleen and Bella...the Elves

So, we have several Christmas traditions we've started with our girls.  Some I did as a kid, and some that are new even to me.

This year, we started yet another tradition.  Kathleen and Bella, the elves, arrived at Grandma's house and she knew that must have been placed there by Santa for the girls. Why Santa delivered the elves 36 days before Christmas, I'm not sure.  In fact, we'll have to have a discussion about that some day!

Anyhoo, the elves have wreaked havoc on my house.  You see, they are mischievous little elves.  They make messes like this:

They put themselves into weird positions like this:

And this:

And, they have to be fed crackers and ice water every night like this:

And sprinkled with magic snow like this:

Needless to say, these little elves are quite high maintenance, however, the girls have carried them EVERYWHERE and are thoroughly enjoying their new friends that Santa sent to watch over them.

They have studied the 'how to care for elf' guide. They know where they are at all times.  I'm certain Santa would be proud!

The coolest part of the elves is that they bring bible verses for the girls to learn. Chloe said that they must be Christian Elves.  Even though I'm not so happy with the messes they make, I'm loving that they are teaching the girls scriptures and pointing them to the real reason we celebrate Christmas.  Jesus!  How could I not be overjoyed with that?!