Tuesday, December 25, 2012

Week 51

Merry Christmas!  I have to make this short since I should be spending time with my family, but I wanted to at least share last week's build up to Christmas with you.  Hope everyone is having a wonderful holiday.

Here are last week's pictures:

 Day 351- Sunday, 12/16/12
The boys finished up their wrapping today which included brothers' gifts and gifts for their dad.  As you can see my home office has turned into wrapping central.  I can't wait to be able to walk in here again.
 




Day 352- Monday, 12/17/12
The last of my Christmas cards were signed, sealed, and put out for delivery this afternoon.  I hope they all make it by Christmas.  I'm cutting it really close this year.
  




Day 353- Tuesday, 12/18/12
Only a few more windows left on the advent calendar.  My boys love their daily chocolate treats.
  




Day 354- Wednesday, 12/19/12
It's late, and I still haven't taken a picture so I thought Bella laying next to the lit tree would be nice.  I haven't posted many pictures of her lately but that doesn't mean I don't take them ;0)
 




Day 355- Thursday, 12/20/12
Scout, our elf, has found the m&m stash and had a little fun with it last night.
  




Day 356- Friday, 12/21/12
Winter break has officially started which is why I am home on a Friday morning to snap a shot of Brandon preparing Bella's treat toys for breakfast.  She can't wait, and you should see that tail wag in anticipation.  I love lazy, slow-start mornings.
 




Day 357- Saturday, 12/22/12
The whole family went to see the Hobbit on this rainy day and we all really enjoyed it especially in 3D.  Tyler is getting a copy of the book for Christmas so he can find out how the story continues where the movie left off.

 
That's it for now. Happy Holidays and see you in the New Year!
 
 

Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Week 50

Only one week until Christmas!  How did that happen?  I'd like to say I'm ready but not just yet.  Things will be easier once school is out and I'm off work for a couple weeks.  It sure feels like Christmas.  We don't have snow here in the valley but most certainly in the mountains and it drops to freezing at night so Jack Frost visits a lot.  Brrr!  Hopefully this means a good ski season.  Now if we can find a condo for January without a huge scalping price tag we'll be set to enjoy that winter wonderland.  Can't wait!

Here's what went down last week:

Day 344- Sunday, 12/9/12
 I was able to get some wrapped presents under the tree, mostly from my parents, and of course the kids had snoop.



 Day 345- Monday, 12/10/12
This is my favorite Santa Clause decoration because he's skiing with a toy sack on his back and has such a warm and fuzzy coat.  Also, no Christmas is complete without a poinsettia or two so long as it stays away from the pets!



 Day 346- Tuesday, 12/11/12
 Brandon has been into reading mystery book series like Jigsaw Jones and Geronimo Stilton and decided to write his own series called Sun Dog Snout.  He cracks me up.  They are very detailed with pictures and a cover and page numbers and even a summary on the back which includes, "Don't miss the next book coming out soon."  LOL!  I think this one has maybe 5 chapters with about 20 pages all written in less than a day--not bad for a 3rd grader.



Day 347- Wednesday, 12/12/12
The younger boys had a minimum day which meant I got got off work early, and it was cold out so I enjoyed a nice warm cup of cocoa when we got home.  It totally helped recharge me for the second half of my day.



 Day 348- Thursday, 12/13/12
 Poor kitty has to wear "the cone of shame" and be confined to this bathroom for the next several days.  He just got home from being neutered and declawed.  He's doing well and happy to be home but really hates that thing around his neck, and I can't say I blame him, but we must keep him from getting at his wounds so he can finish healing.  Thankfully he has some really good pain meds that help keep him happy and sleepy.



 Day 349- Friday, 12/14/12
We just received a shipment of holiday bubbly.  One for Christmas, one for the new year, and one to save for a special occasion.  This is really good sparkling wine from a winery in the Russian River area near Napa.   Yum!




Day 350- Saturday, 12/15/12
Welcome to winter polo!  This is so crazy it warrants two pictures ;0)  Tyler and his team had a tournament today. They had to be there at 7:30 in the morning just as the sun was coming up.  I think it was maybe 37F out.  At least you know the water was warm by the steam coming off the pool.  It was so cold and hard to see, but the boys won all 3 of their games.  They'll be doing it again come January.




That's it!  Only a couple weeks left before we start a whole new year!  Have a Merry Christmas everyone.

 

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Week 49

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!  We spent the better part of last week slowly putting up decorations--it's a process people!  I finally got the last of the ornaments on the tree today.  It's all fun though and worth the effort.  I love to see the excitement build in my kids.  They can't wait for the holiday break and neither can I.  The teachers have really been piling on the project work lately, and we could all use some downtime.  This week alone Justin has a speech to give, a major essay due and a math project to present via power point.  He's less than thrilled but knows once he makes it through the next couple weeks he'll be free to enjoy a nice long break.

Take a look at how last week went:
 Day 337- Sunday, 12/2/12
Justin helped John put the Christmas lights up on the house this afternoon.  It was pouring rain and really windy this morning, but by 11am the clouds parted and the sun came out so they seized the opportunity.  Brandon and I were inside hanging stockings, lighting the banister, and setting out nutcrackers.  'Tis the season.

 


Day 338- Monday, 12/3/12
Brandon is working hard on his wildlife diorama due Friday.  I love how he really concentrates while cutting things out and look who's supervising in the back--it's Scout our friendly elf who knew we were decorating for the holidays and was kind enough to hang this banner for us last night.



 
Day 339- Tuesday, 12/4/12
It's time to light the first candle on the advent wreath.  I know the candles should be pink and purple but those are hard to find and I like the red and green ones better anyway ;0)



  

Day 340- Wednesday, 12/5/12
Look what we won!  The younger boys and I went to the MIND Institute's thank you party on Saturday and each parent was given 3 tickets to try and win a gift basket.  They called today to say we had won something and luckily Justin had class there tonight so it was an easy pick up.  I thought we had just won the ice-cream goodies in the basket but it also came with this amazing ice-cream maker!  How cool is that?



 
Day 341- Thursday, 12/6/12
I bought a new wreath for the door this weekend and added the snowflake and a few berries it liven it up. My old one died last year so I was looking for something a little different that would pop on our red door. This one fit the bill.




Day 342- Friday, 12/7/12
Most of our Christmas decorations are up, but we still needed a tree so this afternoon as soon as the kids got home from school we went to pick one out at Home Depot--LOL!  They have the best trees for the best prices.  We've gotten our tree from them for the past 3 years and have been really happy with the results.



Day 343- Saturday, 12/8/12
Yesterday we got the tree set up with lights and garland but didn't have time to add ornaments until today.  The cat is thinking, "Wow! Thanks for the fully loaded cat tree--just for me?  This is way better than the one with a little carpet and rope."  Actually he's been pretty good so far.



Another week come and gone.  Thanks for stopping by.
 I hope you're enjoying this holiday season as much as we are.

 

Tuesday, December 4, 2012

Week 48

December is such a fun month!  I don't have to think about having a picture each day because I usually have multiple.  It's more like, "Which do I choose?" with so many festive activities happening here and there.  We had some wild weather this weekend with lots of wind and rain, but we made it through OK and are looking forward to a small break before the next system hits.  Now it feels like winter!  We're hoping for a good ski season this year, but even with all the rain it's been warm so there's not much snow in the mountains yet.  Bring it on!

While we wait for the wondrous white stuff take a look at last week's pictures:

 Day 330- Sunday 11/25/12
 The family headed out to Leatherby's Ice Cream Parlor after dinner.  I had a Groupon and figured it was the perfect way to end our Thanksgiving break.  The boys were impressed with the size of their treats, but it still only took Tyler all of 5 minutes to demolish his.  Poor Justin was not feeling well and just wanted to go home.


 Day 331- Monday 11/26/12
 Today we adopted an elf and the boys named him Scout.  They are super excited to see what this elf will be up to over the next few weeks.  For now he's headed back to the North Pole for "training" until December first.


 Day 332- Tuesday 11/27/12
 My karate kids.  Tyler has been back all month since water polo is over for now.  He helps teach the lower belts in the younger kids class and then attends an upper belt and teens class right after.  I love seeing my 3 boys all suited up together.


 Day 333- Wednesday 11/28/12
 Justin is thrilled to have the computer back in working order with a new hard drive.  I think he missed it most of all.  Now my work computer is having a similar problem and it's an Apple.  I thought those things did not happen to Apple computers?  I'll be without my work computer for at least a week while it gets fixed--so crippling.


 Day 334- Thursday 11/29/12
 The rain has started and the kitty is intrigued.  He likes to watch the rain drops fall on the window and slide down.  Me, I'm happy for some warm boots to help me brave going out in this stuff.


 Day 335- Friday 11/30/12
 Brandon and I went out to walk the dog and got caught in a down pour.  We both came home soaking wet and cold so we decided to warm our feet by the fire.  I had the wrong footwear on at the time and should have been wearing those boots!


 Day 336- Saturday 12/1/12
 Happy December!  Our elf is back and made up the monthly marker for us.  Brandon is thrilled and decided to read Scout the Elf on the Shelf book to welcome him home.


That's all for now.  Check back next week for more holiday fun.