i have to say...

planting the tree

We had our annual tree-planting on Saturday. 

Digging the hole was a feat due to the frozen ground, but my hubs handled it in style!  As usual we left an ornament attached to one branch so that we can remember which trees have stood watch over our presents through the years.

Our tree that we planted two years ago has already doubled in size and the it's ornament is dwarfed in  the branches. 

I am always amazed at how new traditions so quickly become old, cherished traditions and how our lives are measured against them.  Someday we will have a forest of trees to remind us of these days.  If it ever comes time to move, I will surely be gathering ornaments from our yard since I would never be able to leave such lovely memories behind.

Until next year...

See you in 2008!  Can you believe that???

we were dreaming of a white christmas!

When you get ready to throw a snowball at someone,

You should be sure that your brother is not standing behind you with a shovel full of snow ready to go.   And the brother with the shovel should make sure that the dad isn't standing behind him with an even bigger shovel full of snow:

In case your Christmas wasn't white, I saved a snowball for you:

merry christmas!

Merry Christmas to all who visit here! 

You have blessed me and made me smile on so many occasions. 

My hope is that your Christmas is filled with sweetness and that you know the love of the One who came just for you.

See you soon!

I am leaving you with my favorite Christmas poem:

In the bleak midwinter, frosty wind made moan,
Earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone;
Snow had fallen, snow on snow, snow on snow,
In the bleak midwinter, long ago.

Our God, Heaven cannot hold Him, nor earth sustain;
Heaven and earth shall flee away when He comes to reign.
In the bleak midwinter a stable place sufficed
The Lord God Almighty, Jesus Christ.

Enough for Him, whom cherubim, worship night and day,
Breastful of milk, and a mangerful of hay;
Enough for Him, whom angels fall before,
The ox and ass and camel which adore.

Angels and archangels may have gathered there,
Cherubim and seraphim thronged the air;
But His mother only, in her maiden bliss,
Worshipped the beloved with a kiss.

What can I give Him, poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb;
If I were a Wise Man, I would do my part;
Yet what I can I give Him: give my heart.

---by Christina Rossetti

if you haven't seen the movie "elf"

you are missing out!

the good news

I finally got my gifts in the mail today and they are sure to be late. 

The good news?  I am not stressed about it AT ALL!   

We are between batches of caramel and butter toffee right now.  I told my boys to give me a few minutes on the computer and then we will start the candy factory again.  So far we have melted a stick of butter in the microwave--with no plate or bowl under it, found that we were using the wrong pan when it came time to pour the caramels, and almost ran out of corn syrup.

The good news?  I am not stressed about it AT ALL!

I am two days late getting to the grocery store.  I have no list made and nothing to fix for dinner.

The good news?  I am not stressed about it AT ALL!

I guess after all these years of stressful Christmases, I have finally gotten to where I can really take it easy and enjoy, no matter what happens.

Which, of course, is good news!

Enjoy your Christmas preparations!

some sweetness and links

I have posted at Me and My Girl today.  If you are in the mood for some sweetness, you will have to take a peek!

Here are some fun Christmas links for you:

***My kids have enjoyed making snowflakes here.  Be careful, this can addictive!

***I love gumdrops and we will surely be making these!

***Have you ever wondered about mistletoe?  Who else but Martha could clear up the mystery?

***Jenny has created some Holiday Dangles for your tree, garland, or whatever you choose.  These would also be perfect for a young child who is learning their ABC's.  As usual, you can't beat Jenny's brand of cuteness!

***Tracy has how-to's for hard-tack candy, peanut brittle and hot cocoa mix.

Have a great day!

he's an early gift-giver!

My hubby is extremely impatient when it comes to giving me gifts.  He hounds me and tries to get me to open things early, but generally he fails.  This year he just flat-out told me what was coming in the mail, so there was no choice on my part!  I don't mind since it is a Kitchenaid Professional Stand Mixer.  This baby will knead 4 loaves of bread at one time! 

I am breathless just thinking about it.

I have visions of mass-producing baked goods with simplicity of use and happiness in my heart.

Mashed potatoes for 12 people?  No problem. 

You need me to bring 12 dozen cookies?  Of course, I have a Kitchenaid Professional Stand Mixer.

Lemon Meringue Pie?  Ha, that's easy!   

I am dreamin' big on this one, gals!

And my hubby?  Well, he thinks that the bowl will perform great as a mug for coffee in the AM.

He likes to start his day with a kick!  ;)

 

snow in the forecast

on the schedule for the weekend:

***snow angels

***hot chocolate

***crafting time (gotta get the presents in the mail!)

***our homeschool co-op's Christmas program

***sledding

***a snowman or two

***a date with my hubby?  (I am crossing my fingers on this one!)

Have a great weekend, no matter the weather!

PS--Tomorrow is the last day to vote for my little blog here, if you feel so inclined!  ;)

brrrrrr!

We have hunted for and found all of the available snow goods.  Boots, gloves, hats and jackets have found their way back into our closets out of necessity.  It's cold outside!

As you can tell from the picture below,  some of my babes have chosen to grow out of last year's gear.

I told him not to make himself too obvious in the front yard when he borrowed my snow boots, complete with fur trim and orange laces, to go outside and sled.  I couldn't bring myself to snap a picture in that get-up, so you get the soccer sock/running shoe combination photograph.

Tomorrow I am heading to Target with Christmas money from Grandma and Grandpa.

New winter goods will be making their appearance under the Christmas tree.

Yippee!

my winter kitty

My cat has adopted her "winter attitude". 

I am not sure why she does this, but whenever the weather goes cold for the season she begins to be demanding and unruly.  Every morning she jumps into bed with me and will not leave me alone until I either start petting her or I toss her out into the hall.  Being the non-morning person that I am, the second fate is usually hers, but as soon as I emerge from my room she acts like nothing ever happened and continues to appeal to me for affection, until about 11:00 when she ignores me altogether.

Another aspect of her cold-weather mood is that she begins to do all sorts of things that are big no-no's in our house.  For example, cats are banned from the counters and the kitchen table, but she seems to the think that the chill in the air makes this OK:

She is brave enough to come right under my arm and check out what's for breakfast.  Normally, she would never attempt this!

During the spring and summer she is just about perfect mood-wise, but she does have a habit of throwing up furrballs throughout the house when the weather is warm.  So I am reminding myself that while I am removing her from the counter for the 10th time today, I am not forced to stalk her with the Resolve and a roll of paper towels, and this makes her wintertime-attitude the one I choose!