The Decorating of the Gingerbread Houses...

Great work Kade and Ry.  They look good enough to eat!

Tis the Season...

To be Merry!

My cute friend Mindi decided it was time we had a friend Christmas gathering, and I'm so glad she did. We all had such a great time. She was the hostess with the mostest!

These girls have been my friends for longer than I can remember. I love them all so much!! Not to mention they are a stinkin' hoot!

The boys...up to no good.

Our attempt at a picture of all the kids... to no avail.

Natalie was the lucky recipient of my "most improved player" trophy. By the end of the night it was on it's way back home with me...where it belongs. Maybe I'll bust that puppy out again next year. The kids all thought it was awesome!!

Rylie worked so hard decorating her christmas cookies. Aren't they beautiful?

Cooper and Parker just hanging out. Cooper was so nice to share his toys.

Thanks Mindi for the fun night!!

The McFarland Christmas Party

We had our annual McFarland Family Christmas Party up at the Timbermine. It is always so good to see our family. I only wish we could see them more than once a year.

Cute aunt Marilyn and uncle Darrell.

Happy Holidays to you all!

And the Award Goes To...

Man, I love this man!! I have decided to declare him the funnest person on the planet to hang out with. (Sorry kids, you guys are fun too...but daddy stings my eardrums a little less). We don't get date nights very often, but when we do it is always such a great time!! He is fun to be with, fun to look at, and quite a gentleman.

Oh, and Kyle Korver's not bad either.

What is with those socks though!!! COME ON.

Festival of the Trees

I'm a little behind on my holiday posting, so you might have to bear with me here...

My sister Candace and I took our kids down to the 'Festival of the Trees.' I had not been in such a long time, but it was something I used to love as a child. I used to sing with a group called 'kids are music,' and every year we would perform down there. Such fun memories. I am so grateful to be able to make more fun memories with my children.

Kaden and Rylie on Santa's lap.

Kaden thought it was so awesome to be inside a huge bubble!! Parker and his 'elf wand' OOoooo.....pretty.

Candace and her girls.
Me and the kids.

What a great time we had. I think that will definitely be on the tradition list for next year!

Oh Christmas Tree...

Every year we love to help my Grandma put up her Christmas tree. She has the prettiest antique ornaments that I have admired since I was a little girl. We couldn't bring her big tree to her assisted living, so we brought a little guy and all of her decorations so she could enjoy a miniature version of her lovely tree.
I think the kids had more fun decorating poor Mimi...and poor Parker, than anything else!
Oh Christmas tree... how lovely are your branches.

Even if they are miniature.

Christmas Tag

Welcome to the Christmas Edition of getting to know me!! I found this on my friend Mindi's blog, and since I don't have much else to do...ha ha ha... I thought I would give it a go. Please understand, it is late...and I am feeling a little sassy. Okay, you've been warned.

My one-eared Mickey ornament courtesy of Oakley Cypers. She just couldn't resist that big sparkling beauty of an ornament. Every year I put it on the tree it makes me smile.

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Bags throughout the year, but paper at Christmas!!
2. Real tree or Artificial? I know we are lame, but I sure do love my wondrous artificial pines. I burn a pine candle for that oh so Christmasy smell!
3. When do you put up the tree? Day after Thanksgiving.
4. When do you take your tree down? January 2nd!! Can't wait to get it up...can't wait to get it down.
5. Do you like eggnog? Yes, but it is so rich I can only have a little sip or two. Either that, or dilute it with a little milk...yummy!!
6. Favorite gift received as a child? Hmmmm...probably my American Girl Doll Samantha (Rylie's new best friend, so darling).
7. Do you have a nativity scene? Yes, I got it for my birthday the first year we were married. It is the Demdaco one. I really love it.
8. Hardest person to buy for? My parents and my in law's! They already have everything. Any ideas would be fantastic!!
9. Easiest person to buy for? Nic (although he can be tricky because his birthday is Christmas day, so I have to do double duty!), and the kids.
10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail for sure. I am still adjusting to the high-tech world we live in. Slowly but surely...maybe one day you will receive an e-card from me. Don't hold your breath.
11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? My darling Grandpa, bless his heart, gave me a my-size barbie when I was a sophomore in high school. Ha ha ha... love that man.

12. Favorite Christmas Movie? All of them. From the old school Rudolph and Frosty the Snowman (which we are watching on almost a daily basis), to the newer ones. We just watched 'It's a Wonderful Life' tonight. Love it, it makes me cry every time. Wait!!! What am I saying! I have always loved Dr. Seuss' The Grinch. Definitely my favorite!! Still love the others, but Grinch wins.
(that worked out nicely that 'The Grinch' one was highlighted in green wouldn't you think?)
13. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Ha ha ha... shamefully yes. I couldn't possibly keep all of those wonderful gifts for silly little me. Tis the season to give and share. Besides, what else would we get our chuckles from. Nic and I find it quite amusing. I highly recommend it. (I know we are embarassing. I understand if no one wants to be our friends anymore.)
14. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Honey Baked ham, fudge, caramel, divinity, bacon wrapped water chestnuts, Christmas cookies, gingerbread houses, candy canes, my aunt Karen's twice-baked potatoes, homemade chocolates...mmm...I'm hungry.
15. Clear lights or colored on the tree? Clear.
16. Clear or colored lights on the house? Red, Green, and Clear...is what is in the box that came with the house, but I don't know if I will ever actually see them on the house. It is too tall to let my dear husband up there, and too darn expensive to have someone come do it.
17. Favorite Christmas song? All of them!! They are all wonderful. Oh, that song about the Christmas shoes. "Sir I wanna buy these shoes...for my momma please" I can't not cry. I've tried.
18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? I don't leave home on a regular day, why would I wanna go away for Christmas?
19. Can you name all of Santa 's reindeer? Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen, but do you recaaaallll....the most famous reindeer of aaalllllll...RUDOLF!!
20. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Jammies Christmas eve. Presents Christmas day.
21. Most annoying thing about this time of year? Honestly... keeping everyone happy.
22. Favorite ornament theme or color? I love the traditional Christmas colors, red, green and white. All of my decorations stick pretty close to those. Lots of sentiment in my ornaments.
23. What do you want for Christmas this year? Nothing. I just got spoiled rotten for my birthday. Maybe a smooch under the mistletoe... maybe from a certain 'St. Nicholas!'
24. What is your favorite Christmas memory? Oh wow, I don't know. I just remember how magical Christmas was as a child. One year I stayed up waiting for Santa to come. I swear to this day I heard his jingle bells in my living room. Believing is powerful beyond my wildest childhood dreams. I also used to love driving around looking at Christmas lights. I wanted so bad for our house to be one of those ones...you know, that look like a miniature Christmas Village. Look at me now, not a twinkle of a light on the exterior of my house. Bahumbug!!

I am going to tag everyone who reads this!! Now hurry, Santa's elves are watching!! (oh, I am going to be so sad when I can't threaten that anymore)