Enjoying the Season

The weather has been more reflective of the season with cooler, almost cold temperatures and as a result we've been able to have a fire in the fireplace to take the chill off and add atmosphere. Love it!

Today though it was raining buckets throughout the night and this morning, we stuck to our plan to head to Disney for the day before schools get out next week and the crowds really hit.  With the bad weather and it being a regular Thursday it wasn't very crowded.  Once there the weather stayed clear over Anaheim and we enjoyed a nice day at the parks.  We thin blooded Californians were bundled up in our coats and hats to fend off the chilly weather.

Holiday picture, not quite as clear as we would have liked : )

Hannah and Kevin on Toy Story ride

It's A Small World was all decked out in it's holiday best and the girls oohed and aahed their way through the ride.

Finally at our day's end had to snap a picture of the castle all lit up for Christmas and so ended another fun day out.  Hope you had a good one too.

Christmas Movies

It's part of the season and our family tradition to pull out the box of Christmas movies we've collected over the years and revisit these favorites that have become part of our regular celebrations.  We'll also tune into channels like the Hallmark channel that feature newer ones. Some are good other's junk, but they all play into the season's celebration.  Here are a few of our regular Christmas "must watch" movies:

My favorite A Christmas Carol.  I have DVD's of about every one they've made, but the versions I like best are -

Then there are some other of our favorites:

I'm always watching for newer ones and a couple years ago Disney came out with a TV special called Prep & Landing, then last year it's follow up Prep & Landing, Naught vs. Nice.  These have joined our must watch list.  In fact these are on tonight and though we have DVD's we'll still be tuning in.

So how about you, what's a favorite Christmas movie?

Lynda

Advent Calendar

Both girls waiting for the days intro to finish

I had thought about purchasing an advent calendar, or the one offered by Jacquie Lawson who does those beautiful e-cards.  Hadn't got around to doing anything about it, when I received an email from the Jacquie Lawson company, telling me my parents had given us a gift of their advent calendar.

So each morning since December 1st we've been clicking on to watch the video presentation, or as with the 3rd day, built our snowman (in our case snow woman) and then see as a new ornament is added to the "village tree".  This counts down the days until Christmas.  The kids love it!!

Hannah pointing to the new ornament

It's been so much nicer than just tearing away a piece of paper to see the picture behind it, or getting a candy in other types.  It's had so much more interaction from decorating the workshop tree, to the various village puzzles and then each day it's something new as the ornaments go up and the count down continues.  I look forward to what's next almost as much as the kids.  : )




The Village Tree

Have a great day.

Lynda

Sugar Cookies

Cameron decided to bake some sugar cookies today with the girls using a recipe  he found online for "classic sugar cookies". 

He had originally promised Hannah he would spend some time doing extra activities this week because she had been very upset that Kevin would be away on a business trip for 4 days.  He had to go to San Diego for an OSHA training course. We decided it would be best for him to stay there rather than try to commute that long distance each day.  Hannah's very attached to Dad and it was hard for her to accept that he'd be away.  Cameron's a great big brother and laid out activities to keep her busy to help her feel better.  So the baking began with Cameron and Hannah putting the ingredients together, he made sure she read and measured all the ingredients.

Then he rolled out the dough and showed the girls how to use the cookie cutters to make the cookie shapes.

Once these were done they used the sprinkles I had on hand, and decorated them.  Both Hannah and Lauren had fun, but took their baking tasks very seriously. It was funny watching the faces as they all worked to make them turn out just right.

Then once done it was time to sample the goods.

All agreed their efforts were worthwhile.  Not to worry Kevin, we'll save you at least 1.


Lynda

Living Room Tree

Living Room Tree before

The living room tree and room decorations have been the latest project.  Cameron and Hannah assembled the tree then Cameron and Kevin got the lights up.  Being taller, older and less likely to
drop all the breakables Cameron has now joined me in getting  the glass and vintage ornaments up on the tree.  He also helped with the garland and LONG string of pearls. 

Once these were up the girls helped with the ornaments that were closer to their reach, as it
is a taller tree.  So once up it was time to get the mantel done.



Living Room Tree after

Changed around the decorations from ones I've featured the last couple of years and am happy with the results.  When I initially had it finished, it was too dark without lights.  I was going to buy some battery operated ones, but with extra strings of regular lights I decided to try using what I had.  I was able to run them along the mantel garland, then up behind the mirror and along the upper garland.  I have to say I'm quite pleased with myself and the results, even if I say so myself (smile).

So here are some of our results:

Mantel decorations



 

 

 

I've been adding to the decorations and stockings by being creative.  I'll feature the stockings for Kevin and I and how after all these years I'm decorating them from the once plain white with gold trim to what they currently are and will be.  So stay tuned.

 

 

Sunroom Tree

As I said in my last post the decorating has begun.  Hannah and Kevin put the tree up in the sunroom and Kevin got the candle lights on it for me.

Sunroom tree with just lights - before

I've begun the decorating in this room and have some of the items up as well as the tree now decorated. What I am struggling with is how to take photos that show the results without washing them out or blurring the results with the amber glow of the flash.  I am not a photographer and have had mixed results with my point and click camera.  Thank goodness for digital that lets you take lots of practice shots without the expensive disappointments of the old fashioned cameras I grew up with.

So here are a few shots of some of the progress I've made.

Angel and fruit decorations

Heart I made, bead garland and other ornaments

Bead "snowflake"

My color mix in ornaments and garland for this tree

Sunroom tree decorated - after

With lights on and a few other decorations in the room

Miscellaneous ornaments




So there you have it.  Sunroom is on it's way and lots more still to go!  Just have to keep working on this picture thing : )

 

 

Let the Decorating Begin!

It's that time of year!!!  I do enjoy Christmas, and it's the one time of year when I will take the time to really decorate for a season.  So while the outside lights went up on Thanksgiving day, the indoor decorations are now beginning to come out.  My house is LOADED with plastic storage boxes from the garage and the basics are beginning to find their places.

Kevin and Hannah began in the front sunroom after we'd put up garlands and a few other items, they got the tree together.

It used to be Kevin's job to get the trees up and lights on then I took over decorating.  With big kids now we get to distribute those duties.  Cameron and Hannah put together the main tree.  And yes I use artificial ones.  No pine smell, but also no real pine incendiary dangers either.  Once the tree was in place, Kevin set to work putting the lights on.

Main tree assembly

Kevin sorting lights for placement

Hannah and Cameron did the small lights then Kevin placed the candle lights on

There we go, ready to decorate

With the basics there, it's now my turn.  I'll have some help from the kids on some things, but otherwise I enjoy going solo to let the creativity flow, and truth be told it's easier to do it myself  : )
I know that's mean, but true.  So as a consolation, each child has their own tree in their rooms and they get to decorate them as they like.

This year I'll have to rethink some aspects of what I'll put where, as we've sold or given away many pieces of furniture I'd used in the past to place items on.  I'll also use this time to go through our Christmas decorations and see what we can clear out to lighten our load when it comes time to move.

So for me now, as the title says "let the decorating begin"!!!!!