Think about what a wonderful place this world would be if these were really the gifts we gave each other.
O' Christmas Tree. In the real versus artificial controversy, we fall on the artificial side. I grew up with an artificial tree because my Mom was very allergic to pine. As an adult I think I originally stuck with it because it is what I knew - but at this point - this tree is 20 years old and still going strong. We bought it on an after Christmas 75% off sale at Sears back in January of 1988. It's a pain to assemble and it's not pre-lit, but it has held up beautifully and we haven't paid for a tree in 20 years! In the sentimental versus theme tree debate, we are definitely sentimental. Almost every ornament on the tree was purchased to commemorate a specific year, like, or event in our lives. When my children leave home, they will have enough ornaments to decorate their own trees without buying anything!!
The Stockings were Hung by the Chimney with Care. It's nice after 13 years of having the fireplace hidden behind a bookcase (to protect young children) to finally have it uncovered and functional again! Last year was the first year in their memory that our children's stockings have hung by the chimney. It used to be along the rails of the staircase. The stockings themselves have a history. The oldest one of this bunch is the middle stocking and was made for Sarah by her Nana. It's beautiful with old lace and bits of velvet, buttons, and other "stuff". I liked it so much that I set to making matching ones for Rachel and Rebecca. And although they aren't the same as the one Nana made, they are still quite pretty and have been used for years. Then I had to have something almost as wonderful for Jay and I which is how the two on the far left came into being. 
Gift Wrapping - is truly not my thing. But my solution has been to assign a paper to each kid and all of their gifts get wrapped in that paper. Then they don't know whose box is whose! (No tags). Here's a sneak peak into the storage closet at Rachel & Becca's gifts.
Christmas Eve gifts. Every year since I was a young child we've been opening one gift on Christmas Eve - our new pajamas! And I continued that tradition for my own children. This year I've put a new twist on it with Christmas Eve boxes. These will be re-used year to year and contain their Christmas p.j.s, an ornament, and a photobook. We did ornaments for the kids each year for a long time, then stopped. I'm starting that back up, but trying to stay away from the Hallmark and find something really meaningful to them. This year it's Jonas Brothers. The photobooks are a new addition, but something I hope to give them each Christmas as well.
Disney decorates the Castle for Christmas. We went to Disney World to celebrate Jay's 50th birthday - mostly because he's just a big kid at heart. We managed to be in the right place at the right time for the "Wishes" ceremony of lighting up the castle and the fireworks. At night, lit up, the castle looks like it is covered in icicles. It's actually icicle lights on netting, but the effect is awesome!
The Christmas Tree at the Grand Floridian Resort lobby. Almost four stories tall! This photo was taken from the second floor.
Gingerbread House at Grand Floridian Resort lobby. This is actually the size of a large playhouse - adults fit inside it. And it is all gingerbread - 440 pounds of flour and I don't remember the other ingredients. It was huge and smelled wonderful. They sold gingerbread cookies and other treats from a window on the other side. The flowers around the window are icing like flowers on a birthday cake. 
Day One: A New Tradition In the Making? Here is the cover page for my December Journal along with a shot of the album itself. And this photo will be used along with the journaling about WHY I am doing a December Journal.
Day Three: sorry can't tell you the caption to this one! I'm offering a scrapbooking goody in the mail to the first person who can tell me exactly what this is a photo of! And you have to be very specific - what it is and where it is located. Isn't it pretty??? 
Another Day Three Photo: Office Party. Loved the table decorations.
Day Four: PERFECTION. This photo was taken on 11/29. We were celebrating Jay's 50th birthday early so Sarah could participate before returning to college. I had given Jay a photobook as one of his gifts. At this moment the girls were looking through the book with their Dad, laughing and reminiscing. It was one of those rare family moments that mothers around the world live and breathe for. It was... PERFECT.
To help me live in the present and enjoy the Christmas season. To push me to get past the commercialism and really feel the spirit of the season. But I really didn't intend to get as "fancy" as Ali showed it with the different size pages and all - I just wanted a day by day album to document December. So I bought an 8x8 album, papers, etc. and planned a simple themed album following instructions from a couple of Simple Scrapbooks publications. Well, the base of the album is in the process of construction and I plan to get the base pages done so that during December I really only have to add photos and journaling to document each day. In all my spare time of course.
I came across a post on Donna Downey's blog telling me all about this great class she is taking called "Journal Your Christmas". So I followed the link (go ahead, click on it, my story can wait) and... prayers answered! A native Kansas City gal now living in London, Shimelle Laine, is going to send me a prompt every day from December 1st through January 6th with ideas for photos, journaling and creativity. So I can just follow those prompts to fill my album! I'm really going to get this one done! Ask me to post pages! Hold me accountable!
Our excitement for yesterday was having a mouse in the house - or more specifically - a "microtus pennsylvanicus" or meadow vole. (photo borrowed from the internet - we were way too busy trying to get the thing OUT to take photos!) This is the second time we've had one of these little visitors - the first critter - last fall when we still had a patio door off the family room - was much cuter with big ears. This guy was just fat - but still amazingly fast. At one point we had him cornered and Jay actually grabbed the critter in his bare hands - the critter still got away. Rachel and Becca didn't want any part of it. I only screamed once - when furballus superfasticus ran from under the sofa to under the love seat right between my legs! Ashley was interested and took part in the hunt for awhile too. After chasing Sir Pest around the family room for awhile, he finally darted out seemingly the same way he'd come in - through a space at the bottom of the garage door where he had apparently chewed a hole through the door sweep. So we discovered an immediate need for household repairs and the furry little rodent escaped with his life (which was infinitely preferable to having to place traps, so we are all happy about that)! No doubt he will now spend the Winter exacting his revenge on my front lawn for being so unceremoniously chased out.
Right now I'm so proud to be an American! I stayed up last night only long enough to see that the election was moving in the direction of change, but not long enough to see anyone declared as winner. This morning I was anxious to sign on and see how the map played out, how many electoral votes each candidate had, and more importantly, how many POPULAR votes (can't we just dump the electoral college already?). What I wasn't prepared for was the video of Obama's acceptance speech.
I think someone forgot to tell Mother Nature that it is two months yet til Winter and way too early in the season to be snowing in Perkasie!
It's not every day that you'll see a grown man playing crossing guard in the middle of a busy city street wearing a fuzzy pink helmet and tutu. In fact, some of what you see on the 3 Day Walk would be considered inappropriate, rude, or even obscene in any other setting. Not here. Because this walk is designed to raise awareness and funds to end breast cancer, folks have carte blanche to use every euphemism known. And they do. Signs, pins, and t-shirts with slogans like "Boobies Make Me Smile", "Save the TaTas", and "60 Miles for Bust" are everywhere. And it is good. And it is appropriate. And it is funny. It makes us smile through the pain of blisters and tight muscles.
and the everyday people who come out to cheer all have one thing in common. They have gathered out of the goodness of their hearts to support a cause they believe in. It is a symbiotic relationship with each group drawing support and energy from the others. For three days everyone I passed on the streets smiled, cheered, told me what a great job I was doing and how awesome I was. I'm not at all surprised that there are 3 Day addicts who walk in these events all over the country. Because it's not everyday that you get to hear someone being truly appreciative because you are being who you are. And honestly, where else in the world am I gonna go where someone is gonna tell me that I "look Boobilicious"? Honestly. Tell me where.
Yes, me blogging. I've been wanting to start a blog for awhile, but every time I look at the blank screen in front of me, I feel stymied. All those creative people out there with all their beautiful, fresh, funky, and creative blogs - quite simply intimidate me! Okay, I know it can't be that hard, so I'm starting today with the real basics - no cute header, no links all over creation - just the bare bones that I can figure out how to do on my own! So if you read this, be nice. I'm trying.
Stacy's idea is that you carry this little album around with you and glance through it every time you come across it. It can remind you of all the things you are grateful for, all the blessings in your every day life. And a year from now, you are to create a scrapbook page about your experience of having this little book with you. Stacy's blog is: http://stacysbigpicture.typepad.com/ - go check it out! 
