Christmas Decorations

Today I thought that I would give you a short tour of parts of my house. Above is our Christmas Tree. I have most of the gifts wrapped - just waiting on one back-ordered box (the most important one with the fun gift for all the "boys"). As soon as they arrive, they will get wrapped, and then everything will get boxed for shipping to various states.

This is the little tree at my front door. The little birdhouse was a gift from my wonderful friend, Susan. I should have taken a picture of this at night - so much prettier when lit up with the lights.
Another gift from Susan. This was on a package that she gave to me years ago. I love having it hang on the doorknob.

Here are my Nativities. I've taken some individual pictures that I will post throughout the next week. I love them all, and each has a story.

Here is the banister - nothing fancy.

Some of my Santas.

Our fireplace - minus the fire. Gas logs didn't come with the house, and we have been saving to buy them, but life just keeps getting in the way. Maybe next year.

Solomon (child number 8) was born on Christmas Eve, so we started a collection of Nutcrackers for him. Lucky for me, he doesn't have space to store them, so they reside at my house for the time being.

Maybe tomorrow I'll show you the kitchen or my bedroom (as

Sherrie puts it, My Sanctuary), or maybe both. It just depends on wheter or not I can get the dining room table cleared up enough, from all the gift wrapping.

Percy's Trip to Alabama

Percy was really excited about going on the trip to Alabama with me. He helped with the packing! He wanted to make sure that I brought plenty of warm clothes.

Here he is at the airport waiting for our plane to arrive.

He didn't want to wear his seatbelt - naughty boy!

On our way to Huntsville, we stopped at a McDonalds for lunch. Percy decided that he needed to play guard dog, and make sure that nobody took Alton and Evy's toys.

Sliding down the tunnel in the playground.

Hiding out in the "shoe slots".

Percy loves Sonic. Here he is trying to decide what to order.

Making s'mores in the fireplace - YUM! He insisted on toasting his own marshmallows! We all discovered that we prefered using dark chocolate rather than milk chocolate. This way the s'mores aren't so sickenly sweet.

All snuggly warm in the car on the way back home. (Steve drove to Alabama to spend the weekend and then drove us back.) I tried to convince him to take a nap, but he just couldn't close his eyes.

Driving over the Tennessee River. - He didn't want to look out the window, as he is afraid of "heights".

Merry Christmans or Happy Holidays?

There is a movement going on right now called "It's Okay To Say Merry Christmas". I whole heartedly agree. BUT - I think that sometimes the people who back this campaign go a little too far. This country was based on Christian principles, but it was also based on the premise of religious freedom. Our country is filled with wonderful people of many faiths, and all should feel free to "greet" as they so desire. Soooooooooooo, if you see me on the street, wish me... Happy Holidays /Merry Christmas / Happy Hanukkah

As I celebrate the birth of my Saviour Jesus Christ this Christmas Season, I give to all those of other faiths, my very best wishes for peace, prosperity, health and happiness, and love!

The Legend of the Angel on the Christmas Tree



A Christmas Story for people having a bad day: When four of Santa's elves got sick, the trainee elves did not produce toys as fast as the regular ones, and Santa began to feel the Pre-Christmas pressure. Then Mrs Claus told Santa her Mother was coming to visit, which stressed Santa even more. When he went to harness the reindeer, he found that three of them were about to give birth and two others had jumped the fence and were out, Heaven knows where. Then when he began to load the sleigh, one of the floorboards cracked, the toy bag fell to the ground and all the toys were scattered. Frustrated, Santa went in the house for a cup of apple cider and a shot of rum. When he went to the cupboard, he discovered the elves had drank all the cider and hidden the liquor. In his frustration, he accidentally dropped the cider jug, and it broke into hundreds of little glass pieces all over the kitchen floor. He went to get the broom and found the mice had eaten all the straw off the end of the broom. Just then the doorbell rang, and irritated Santa marched to the door, yanked it open, and there stood a little angel with a great big Christmas tree. The angel said very cheerfully, 'Merry Christmas, Santa. Isn't this a lovely day? I have a beautiful tree for you. Where would you like me to stick it?' And so began the tradition of the little angel on top of the Christmas tree.

Book Review / This and That

I read this book yesterday. If you have any children or grandchildren, that are ages toddler through 6 or 7, this book should be on your Christmas List. My Dinosaur (published by Scholastic), is a simple story of a girl who, when the moon is full, takes a night time adventure with "her dinosaur". What's spectacular about this book, is the illustrations. The are beautiful. I believe that they must have been done in chalk. They are so "soft" and lovely. I was enchanted!

On to other things...Two days ago, I thought that I would freeze to death, but today the temperature is back up in the 60's. We had torrential rains last night. It rained so hard, I was afraid that the house would float away. Lots of wind and thunder and lightening! Back home, my dear husband tells me that it was in the 70's yesterday, but has dropped down into the 50's this morning and should be 45 by mid-afternoon. They have even had a forecast for sleet and snow tomorrow!

Yesterday, Suzanne and I started on our marathon cooking session. So far we have prepared about 16 meals, which are labeled and in the freezer. She very kindly made a pan of Chewy Cake, and some sugared pecans, for me, before we started on the dinner meals. We have prepared teriyaki chicken, chicken pot pie, crusted chicken strips, and some ribs. Today we will finish up the final 3-4 freezer meals (a Korean dish called bulghoki), and start on some baking.

I'm looking forward to dear husbands arrival tomorrow night. I hope that the weather will clear up for the drive. We will stay here until Sunday morning, and then head back home together. Son number 3 will be holding down the fort in our absence. Thank you Seth! While DH is here we will do some shopping, play with the kids, enjoy spending time with Suzanne and Barry AND attend the annual Huntsville Stake Christmas Program. Suzanne is the violist in the orchestra. We plan to come every year, for this event, as long as the kids are living here.

That's all for know.

Baby It's Cold Outside

People - I'm cold! Like REALLY COLD! I thought that Alabama was in the south. It's not supposed to be cold in the south. HA - right now it's 35 degrees and I'm freezing. My husband constantly talks about wanting to move to Hawaii. I've never ever wanted to move there, but now...it's beginning to sound like a good idea. It snowed here last Monday, and my dear son-in-law just said that snow is predicted again on Thursday. Did I mention that I was cold?

I have Reynauds Disease. It's been a pain in the butt (well actually it's been a pain in the hands, feet, nose and ears), but nothing that I took really seriously...now I know better. If I lived "up north" I would never be able to leave my house, and my dear husband would have to have a second and third job in order to be able to pay the heating bill.

Sooooooooo, when I get back home, I'm going to be grateful for warmer weather...that is until it get's hot again, and then I'll have something else to complain about. Next to worrying, complaining is my next best ability!

HELLO

Just wanted all my regulars know that I'll be out of town for the next week. I'm visiting with Suzanne and her family. I will try to post everyday - but - just in case I don't, I wanted you to know that I'm alive and well. If you receive any comments from snbjork - it will be me!

It's pretty chilly here in Alabama. High's in the 40's and low's in the 20's. I think that I may try to go to a thrift shop and see if I can find some warmer clothes!

We plan to spend the week playing with the kids, cooking, reading by the fire, and enjoying being together. It's such a pleasure spending time with my grown children. I just wish that I could see them all more often!