Christmas Countdown

Half the family has the sniffles so, needless to say, we won't be going to church this morning. I don't think the other moms would appreciate me bringing germs around 4 days before Christmas. Wow, 4 days 'til Christmas! This seemed to be a particularly long year for me, but as usual, once Christmas rolls around I marvel that it is already here!
Friday night we took the kids to a live nativity scene at a local church. I didn't know anyone still did live nativity scenes - I hadn't been to one since I was a child. There was a petting zoo, a choir of angels singing Christmas Carols, a presentation of the Christmas story with live characters and animals, hot chocolate and cookies! The kids loved it......We all did!






It's not very often you get your picture with Mary, Joseph and Baby Jesus!


We also watched The Nativity Story again last night. I had forgotten what a great movie it is... (if you want to watch these clips, be sure to pause the music player)

Favorite Things Friday - Peppermint Mochas!

I only have a minute, so this will be short and sweet (literally). It's the simple things in life that make me happy......
It's that chilly time of year when enjoying a hot drink is one of my favorite things to do. I often grab a cup of hot coffee or tea while I take leisurely time out to relax run around like crazy trying to get things done during the day. Every holiday season I look forward to one of my all-time favorites, the Starbucks' Peppermint Mocha Twist. Although they serve these fabulous drinks year-round.....for me it is a holiday treat.

Imagine my delight (along with the delight of my wallet and waistline), when I made this discovery in the grocery store this year!

Yum. Have a delicious day!
Have a favorite to share this Friday?

Our Winter Wonderland.....

Yesterday it was COLD. We haven't had snow like this since 1979. We moved to Las Vegas in January of that year, and much to my parents' dismay (since the major appeal of Vegas was escaping the east coast winters), February 1979 brought the most snow the city had seen in 30 years. And now, almost 30 years later, we have snow again. The schools are even closed today! Snow day in Vegas!

I love the snow - well, looking at it from inside in front of a warm fireplace is how I like it best. Although I fully appreciate its beauty; If I am not skiing or snowboarding on it, I really don't have much use for snow. With my husband at work, I was hard pressed (by three little ones) to find a way out of a snow play day. I tried to explain to the kids how great it was to just have pictures of our house with snow on it (needless to say, they didn't go for that)......

Along with Mary, Joseph and Baby Jesus....


No swimming today!

When I saw after a couple of hours that there was no sign of it letting up (the snowing and the begging), I just had to give in. And the smiles made it worth every frozen minute.....

SNOWBALL FIGHT!!!!

And fortunately for me, once Daddy got home, he was more than willing to take over supervising the snow play. I think he had more fun than the kids!

And even though it was well past dinner time and quickly approaching bedtime, they built a snowman......
And then ventured into the backyard......

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!

With love from our family to yours!

Family Photos

We've been in California for the past week both to visit family and for my husband to take care of some business and we just got home. I'll have more to post later, but thought I would share these pictures our good friends from Washington took of us last time they were visiting so that we would have photos for our Christmas cards. Thank you David and Destiney!

Kylie Grace

Savannah Faith

Samantha Hope

Blog Candy Alert!

I had given up on blog candy followings for a while.....too busy, and I just never win! But this one was too good to pass up! Check it out! It is open until January 1, 2009! Thanks for the heads up Joey!
And here is more at Rica's Haven....
And some Fiskar goodies from Kath too......
And some really good stuff you won't want to miss here at the Pink Piggy site....

I happened across this blog also by Kim, I LOVE IT! and there is some great blog candy on there too...Hurry, it ends 12/17 at midnight!

Good stuff here too at the Crafting Magic Site!

Baby, It's Cold Outside

I wanted to share this for the Disney fans....its a video to one of my favorite songs this time of year.(be sure to hit 'pause' on the playlist first!)


Well, it really is cold outside here today and very windy (20-30 mph) - and it is supposed to stay cold this week too! (50/60 daytime-30/40 nighttime) My apologies to those who are shoveling snow....this is cold for me! Bundle up and have a great day!

These are a Few of My Favorite Things....

Julie Andrews did it best (reminiscing about her favorite things), but my kids and I began a weekly project a few months back that we call "Favorite Things Friday". Each week we think about and discuss some of our favorite things and on Friday the kids sit down, draw or paint a picture of that favorite thing and we talk about what they have chosen. It has been quite fun and prompts them to think regularly about the good things in their lives and I have found that I get to know my children better through the process. For example, my oldest (who is 6) surprises me every once in a while with a favorite thing she has never even done! Then there is my "note to self" to make sure we do it!
Although "Favorite Things Friday" is by no means an original idea (especially in "blogland"), I have decided to make it part of my weekly blogging. Thanksgiving-time got me thinking that we could all use encouragement to focus on the positives in our lives-especially in these times. One of the things I have always loved about the holiday season is that even the most cynical of people can be persuaded to take a moment to find something to be thankful for or happy about.
So, today is not Friday, but here is my first contribution to Favorite Things Friday:

I LOVE FALL

I know, it is hard for me to cope with the fact that it is almost winter, especially when just less than a couple of weeks ago, we had days like this one in our neck of the woods (okay, our neck of the desert): This was 11am IN THE SHADE!


Okay, so when my friends were decorating their homes for Fall as soon as the calendar said September 22nd, I just couldn't do it, especially with the temperature hitting 90 degrees on most days. So, I waited for some 'Autumn' weather and once again found myself putting up my Fall decorations just in time to take them down for Christmas decorations! I still love it.


Although we don't get to enjoy strolls down tree-lined roads with changing leaves and crisp, cool air.....you can't beat being able to run around the yard in shorts and flip flops, squeezing in the last bit of swimming before it's too cold. I love Autumn in this town.


NOT our City.......But not far from here!

We did make it to the apple orchard and pumpkin patch just across town. Call it what you like, it was still in the middle of the desert, so I don't know what I expected!

So, that was October/November....We now have 18 days until Christmas and although I can keep the windows open during the day and the kids still eat lunch in the front yard, it has been great having chilly nights where we can sit by the fireplace and enjoy the holiday smells and sounds. This time will be short-lived as our desert winter is rapidly approaching and each year it seems to get cold and windy before I am ready, but I still love this time of year!

Happy Fall!
What is one of your "Favorite Things" this time of year?

"Finally, brothers, whatever things are true, whatever things are honest, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things." Philippians 4:8