A Tree With a Story Pt. 2

For part one of A Tree With a Story click here. Before we can talk about the ornaments, we have to put up the tree.

We have a new tree this year - no stringing on the lights because it is pre-lit - what a bonus! I know we are behind the times, but we now see what all the fuss was about - what an awesome invention.

Now to my favorite part - taking the ornaments out of the boxes. As I unwrap each ornament, memories come charging back and for a minute I am right there in the moment. What an amazing experience and something I look forward to each year. Once all the ornaments are ready to be placed on the tree it is time to go to the hall closet and gather all the goodies we have bought or been given over the year. Here are the 2008 ornaments.

This hard to read Ornament is from our trip in August to Savannah. The buildings are all the major landmarks in Savannah. We actually found this in the airport on our way home.
The CEO of Jeremy's company (my former boss) brought this back to us from her European holiday with her husband. They bought it while in Vienna - the little man painted inside is Mozart.
Ahhh - the sweet moose ornament. Of course we bought these (actually my parents bought them for us) while in Colorado. I chose this one because it reminded me of our trip to the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo which we would not have visited if Meredith had not recommended it. Every time I unwrap this for future Christmases it will remind me of meeting my new friend Meredith at Agia Sophia.
This one will remind us of our day in Cripple Creek, our time playing at Focus on the Family, my tea at Glen Eyrie with my mom and our beautiful view of the mountains.
This ornament was on Granny's tree and we asked if we could have it as a memory of her. Granny loved spending holidays with her family and we missed her very much over Thanksgiving and we will miss her on Christmas but it brings me joy to know that she is having the best Christmas ever! I can't even dream what it must be like to have cake with THE birthday boy. It gives me chills thinking about my grandparents and Granny singing Happy Birthday in person to Jesus. Amazing.
My mom loves Christmas and loves to buy ornaments throughout the year. She bought this one for our family at a Craft Fair this fall. What a cute little gingerbread family.
My friend Kim, who I co-lead the Bible Study group with, gave me this for Christmas. It reminds me of her because she is a pillar of strength and she has been through so much in the last five years. The neatest part is that anyone who watches her knows that her strength does not come from within but from her rock Jesus. I am thankful for our friendship.
C. made his first ornament at preschool this year. It was fun to watch him find the perfect spot to place it on the tree.

Well that should have been it for the tour of our Christmas tree but guess what I received in the mail today (which is actually the 22nd)? My Christmas present from my sweet friend Amy! It was full of goodies that she brought back for me from their family trip to WDW this month. Here are the three ornaments that she sent us. Love you girl!

Santa Mickey with glittery ears (M.'s favorite).

She knows me so well! Even though I am not usually a pink girl - seeing this ornament almost brought tears to my eyes. Amy knows that in a house full of men that I could use a little pink because every girl has an inner Princess that they want to let out from time to time. Lastly, our Snowman Mickey - R & C's favorite - they like his Mickey buttons.

Happy Christmas Eve to you all!

First Day

Praying for a fabulous third grade year!!
Traditional first day of school donut breakfast.

I'm Back

I really can't explain why I haven't posted in the last 10 days, except that I've just been a little lazy/busy. Something you should know about me - I am an all or nothing kind of girl with things in my life. Not only have I neglected my blog, but I haven't visited any other blogs for awhile. Maybe this all or nothing lifestyle explains my dieting issues? ;o)

Summer has officially started at our house!! Our 8 year old's last day of 2nd grade was Thursday.

Jeremy and he went for their traditional first and last day of school breakfast. That morning he came in around 6:00 AM and woke us up! This whole year we have had to pull him out of bed on school mornings - so it cracked us up that he was so wide awake when telling us to get out of bed. He was just so excited about breakfast, he loves doing this with his dad.
See Karen - this time I did not make him change shirts before eating!

This week I plan to do posts recapping my time away and catching up on reading all of the blogs I have come to love. For better or worse I will also post a weigh -in for the past two Mondays. I hope to finalize the dates (and do some planning) for our trips to San Diego and Colorado Springs. Most of all I am looking forward to enjoying the first week of summer vacation with my boys.

A Tree with a Story

Meredith, at Life at 7000 Feet shared her favorite ornaments on her blog.

"One of my favorite parts of the Christmas season is decorating our tree. Hanging from it's branches is a hodge-podge of ornaments, big and small, ordinary and ornate, new and old, but each one of them is beautiful and holds a special place in my heart. I love unwrapping them each year and remembering the significance of each one."

This is exactly how I feel about the ornaments on our tree. Go check out her ornaments, she has two posts with a third planned for later. Here are some of my favorite ornaments...

My Pa Pa made several of these crosses in 1994. This is the last thing I put on the tree each year. When the craziness of the season clutters my head - it helps me focus on what is important. For the past several years my grandparents have celebrated Jesus' birthday with him - how cool is that! Can you imagine eating all the cake you want and not having to worry about the calories?! No comments from the Theologians - let a girl dream!
Jeremy went to college in San Angelo and we lived there our first year of marriage. We go back at least once a year, while there we must eat Henry's Mexican food and I have to go shopping at Eggemeyer's and SugarBaker's.

In case you are not familiar with this scene, it is the Duomo in Florence, Italy - from our trip in 2006 . What unbelievable memories - we are longing for the day when we can go again.

Okay you may be saying - Stitch is one of your favs? Why yes, he is - this from our first trip to Disney World in 2005. Since I was a little girl I dreamed of going there; it was as magical as I had imagined. Jeremy picked this one out on our trip to Glorieta and Santa Fe in August. The only ornament I have left that we bought for our first tree in 1996. He originally was popping out of a present but the box and lid broke. He is a sad looking little fellow now.
I was given this as a gift in the summer of 1992, while working at Glorieta. I made so many friends and memories that year; little did I know that the next summer I would meet Jeremy.
My grandma had an ornament on their tree for everyone in our family. I always loved finding mine each year.
I love this one that our oldest made last year -notice the crooked hat. So cute!!
This place holds a special place in my heart because this is where my adventure in becoming an adult began. Julie and Amy - I am so glad we did life together, even if it was for a short time, but I am so thankful we are still friends today! This is where I first watched Anne.

Thanks for going down memory lane with me. I would love to see some of your favorite ornaments on your blog this Christmas season!

Traditions, Songs and Gifts

Karen at Cheerful Thoughts posted some of their Christmas traditions. She asked us to share some of ours, so I thought I would post them here.

*Christmas tree goes up the day after Thanksgiving and it's taken down Jan. 2nd
*Jeremy & I watch Sabrina while decorating (started on our second Christmas)
*Driving around looking at Christmas lights is one of our favorite past time
*Christmas crafts with the boys (easy ones, I am craft challenged - right Karen?)

*Reading Christmas books with the boys

*Rudolph ,Charlie Brown, Polar Express, Santa Clause 1-3, Miracle 34 new & old

*Making food gifts for neighbors and friends
*Birthday Party for Jesus on Christmas Eve
*Eating Sausage Balls while opening gifts Christmas morning
*Taking turns opening gifts so we can watch what everyone receives
*Reading Luke 2 before opening gifts

At Rocks in My Dryer,she shares a tradition called Jesse's Tree (Isaiah 11:1-2), that we are going to start next year. To learn more about this tradition, click on the link, she has three posts on the subject.

Like making cute Christmas crafts with your kids? Jenn at Ramblings of a Crazy Woman has tons of great & easy ideas!

At Side Order of Life, Tamora has a wonderful idea for a new tradition. When you mail your Christmas cards, why not send a card to a recovering American Solider? Go to her site and you will see the address where to send the card. I am going to add one to my Christmas card list.

I love, love, love Christmas music! Here are some of my favorite songs (in no particular order).

*Heirlooms~ Amy Grant

*(It must've been ol') Santa Clause ~ Harry Connick Jr.

*O Come, O Come Emmanuel ~ Steven Curtis Chapman

*Joseph's Lullaby ~ Mercy Me

*Grown Up Christmas List ~ Amy Grant

*Going Home for Christmas~ Steven Curtis Chapman

*Believe ~ Josh Groban

*Strange Way to Save the World ~ 4Him

*Welcome to our World ~ Chris Rice

*I Believe ~ Natalie Grant

*We are the Reason~ Avalon

*Christmas is all in the Heart ~ Steven Curtis Chapman

*Santa Claus is coming to Town~ Mariah Carrey

Over at Sweet Tea Please, Leah shared about Pandora radio. It is a free radio where you can make your own stations. I am listening to Christmas music right now.

Here are a couple of gift ideas (I will post more as I find them).

Need some food gift ideas? Paula Deen has four great ideas at the Food Network site. I am making her English Toffee this year. You can also go here for an easy fudge recipe.

Editor's note Friday Dec. 7th: If you have not been to Ree's recipe blog The Pioneer Woman Cooks this morning you need to check out her no fuss Sugar cookies. I have never seen them decorated this way - looking forward to making a batch soon. These too, would make a great food gift!

Have you ever had Dale and Thomas popcorn? Jeremy and I buy some every time we are in NYC. So good!! Dale and Thomas Popcorn will let you order their popcorn now and you tell them when to ship it. They are also offering free shipping until mid-night Sunday, December 9th. The code is E12X6S4T. Their sampler packs would be great to break up for teacher gifts.

This is not food related, but I think a great gift for moms. Karla, at Looking Toward Heaven has a company called Fruition Designs. How many times have you needed to give another mom your information and not had paper or pen? The mommy card handles that for you! Parent.com agrees because they put it on their 2007 Holiday Pick List. Fruition Designs is having a sale on the Mommy cards (lots of designs to choose from) and offering free shipping through the end of December. Hey Jeremy - are you listening (hint, hint)?

So now it is your turn. I would love to hear some of your Christmas traditions, favorite songs, or food or regular gift ideas!! Leave me a comment or post them on your blog.

Pictures for Mommal

Every year my parents' Christmas card is a picture of their grandsons. This year mom wanted individual pictures of each boy in a Santa hat (thank you mom!). These are my favorite ones of my boys - they did not make the card - but I think they capture their personalities perfectly.

Thanksgiving

Holidays are all about the traditions for me. It does not feel like Thanksgiving until the Macy's parade comes on each year. We do not actually sit down to watch it; it's more like background noise that we check in on from time to time to see which balloon is passing by. Our favorite part is when Santa's float comes by at the end. For me, it is the first sign that Christmas is on its way!

We took the short one hour drive to spend Thanksgiving at Blaine and Lesli's house. On our way over we were a little distracted because Jeremy's grandmother was in the hospital (she is fine now and at home regaining her strength). It was sad to know she would not be with family that day because holidays are very important to her and she loves to be surrounded by family. She did not even get to have a hospital turkey dinner because she was on a liquid diet (gall bladder issues). We will have to make it up to you Granny at Christmas!

We really enjoyed spending time with my side of the family. Everyone pitched in and we had a wonderful Thanksgiving meal. My boys had so much fun playing with their cousins and loved jumping on the trampoline. Even Uncle Bruce got in on the jumping action. There were requests on the drive home that we must get one for our yard.

After putting up the many leftovers (why is there always so much left?) and cleaning up all the dishes - Jeremy, Blaine, Lesli and I looked at the "Black Friday" sales ads. Jeremy and I were just looking, but for Blaine and Lesli, it is serious business. They were even some of the early birds who went shopping before the sun came up Friday morning. I have to admit, I am jealous - they completely finished all their Christmas shopping. It might be worth braving all the crowds next year. Something to ponder...

In our part of Texas, we are lucky if we get snow more than once a year. Thursday was a cold day; it is always nice when we are not wearing shorts on Thanksgiving (which happens from time to time) as it puts you more in the holiday spirit. While looking through the sales circulars, we looked out the window and big snowflakes were coming down! But due to the 80 degree weather earlier in the week, it was melting before it touched the ground. I guess the temperature warmed up during the “snow storm" because it soon turned from snow to rain. It rained for two days and all we could do was play the "if" game - if only the ground was warmer and if the temperature was only a little colder - we would have had lots of fun playing in the snow (something we always long for)!

Below are some pictures from the day...

They did not want to stop playing to take this picture. Can you tell?

Hanging out with Popple

My youngest nephew kindly sharing his breakfast with his baby cousin (look in his hand).

Look at those eyes


Jumping and playing in the leaves. What more could a boy ask for?

Uncle Bruce throwing the boys so they could "fly" high. My oldest loved it!

I am so thankful for my family and that we could be together on Thanksgiving. We missed Jeremy's family, my dad's parents and the rest of our extended family. We thought of you all and reminisced about Thanksgivings we spent with you in years past. I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday with friends and family!

Cookies and Memories

I have been wanting to make tea cakes for awhile and since our play date got cancelled Friday, I thought it would be a good time to do it. I posted the recipe here.



These are more than just cookies to me; they are childhood memories. It is strange how one bite took me back to the many times my Great-Uncle Richard would make them for us. He would give them to us for birthday gifts (along with some cash) and this would be one of our favorite presents. I remember my grandparents driving through my college town while I was in class one day and they dropped a care package off at my dorm. In the package were some tea cakes from my Uncle Richard and I was in heaven. He never married, but he loved my mom and her siblings as his own. He also thought of my cousins and I as his grandkids and he spoiled us as such.

Me (age 2) with Uncle Richard

(Cousins) Amy, Mindy, Uncle Richard and Me

Growing up my PaPa and he worked in the family car dealership and then he went to college. During college, he joined the Air force and piloted a B-17 in World War II. If you have ever seen the movie Memphis Belle that is the kind of plane he flew.

After the war he came home, finished college and started an insurance agency that he and my PaPa both retired from. When my mom was a girl my Uncle and PaPa bought some land to farm on - they loved that farm and when they were not working they were out there clearing the land and getting it in condition to someday be ready to grow crops. In the late 70's my uncle and great grandmother (Ninnie) built a house at the farm.

I have some amazing memories of the farm. We loved that long driveway - it was a great place to learn to ride your bike. We would go fishing, have camp outs (in the camper), and ride the John Deer Combine while PaPa and Uncle Richard would cut the wheat in the fields. After my uncle died, my grandparents moved out to the farm and it became the place where we would gather for holidays and visit with family.

While making the cookies this week I enjoyed talking to my boys about my mom's side of the family and sharing my childhood memories. I feel honored to have the recipe card and the rolling pin that my Uncle Richard actually used to make these Tea Cakes. Even though my Uncle and Grandparents are gone, I have my memories and I cherish them very much! :o)

Hook 'em Horns

We love the orange at our house, but the strange thing is no one is a UT alumni. My dad and his brothers grew up Longhorn fans and I always remember UT games being on the TV whether at home or at my grandparents house. As my brothers and I grew up, we became fans and now we pass the UT love on to our kids. I remember living near Lubbock (Red Raider territory) and asking for tickets to the UT/Tech games for my 17th and 18th birthdays. I was not an athlete growing up, (I am actually pretty uncoordinated) but because of the generations of UT fans in our family, I love rooting for the Horns. Once Jeremy and I married we recruited him and he is now a UT fan.

Last night we had "game foods" and watched the game (we won!). Even though the boys started to lose interest after eating we are instilling the memories of Longhorn Football. I love tradition - Hook 'em!