Too much Christmas

Well, this weekend has been full, overflowing actually with Christmas decorating, shopping, wrapping, planning and preparing. So full in fact that it ran into Monday!! Here I am taking a "mental health day" to finish up and actually rest a little before going back to work. Saturday we (Kenny, mom and dad and I ) shopped almost for almost 5 hours (the car was so full we had to put packages between mom and I in the backseat to make it all fit). That evening Kenny and I finally got all our decorations down and he put up the lights outside. Sunday we finished decorating, cleaned the house, grocery shopped and wrapped pretty much all day. Although Kenny did make time to watch the Cardinals game. We played our last softball game of the season on Sunday night. We lost by 2, but it was a really good game. This week we are busy almost every night and our Christmas party is on Friday, our company party is Saturday and the family party is supposed to be Sunday... I love the holidays but it is only the 8th and I am exhausted!!

I am including some pictures of our favorite decorations just for fun! This is a decoration with a lot of sentiment as it was Kenny's mom and dad's from the first year they were married! It is probably 35+ years old, but my MIL takes such good care of everything it is in excellent shape. She gave it to us last year and we treasure it.

This arrangement came from Kenny's cousin Michelle. One year (before I was part of the family) she had made these for everyone. Every year I would comment on how much I loved them as I would see them at everyone's houses. Then 2 years ago Michelle just made one for us and brought it over at Thanksgiving. It is one of my most favorite decorations.

Bunko Night!

So Friday night we went out to my MIL's house for her neighborhood Bunko night and had a blast!! The plan was that Kenny would work on his "honey do list" for his grandma and mom while we played the game (his idea). The group was one person short so we asked Kenny to join us... 11 women and Kenny! He was so great though and the ladies really enjoyed having him. It was such a great night full of laughter, smiles and conversation. Kenny said is was so good to see his Nana have such a good time and it has been too long time since he has seen her have so much fun. It was really great for my MIL too, just to have people around and have a good time. Kenny and I both won prizes too! I got $20 for getting the most bunkos (6 total!!) and Kenny won $1 for loosing the most games (27/36). It was so much fun and I am already looking forward to next month's Bunko night!!

Bowling Buddies

On Monday nights Kenny and I bowl in a league with our friends. Our team name is Pin Pals (like from the Simpson's!) We aren't great but we have fun! We just got these new shirts so of course we had to take some pictures!

Family, Friends and Food

We have had such a wonderful 4 day weekend. Thanksgiving was awesome and the entire weekend included friends, family and food!

Saturday morning my mom and I went to visit with an old family friend and had such a wonderful time. Her son was the ring bearer at our wedding (almost 6 years ago), but I barely recognized him! They sure grow up fast! Stargret is one of those people who has such a happy, energetic and contagious spirit! She showed us all her current crafting projects and we got a tour of their awesome new home. She also shared with us a bunch of her samples of Heritage Makers products which is digital scrapbooking and SO much more-- check out the website- http://www.pictures2stories.com/ You can make scrapbooks, playing cards, greeting cards and tons of other neat things. She showed us how she took a 12X12 scrapbook page printed from heritage makers and modge podged it onto a tile (like for your floor) and then propped it up on an easel. I wish I had a picture to share but trust me it is super cute and would make a great gift! That's not all ! She also showed us these awesome magnet boards that she made out of 9X11 pieces of sheet metal from Home Depot! They were SO cute my mom and I promptly went to Home Depot for supplies on our way home. I will post a picture once I get one completed. I felt so inspired when we left and so did my mom. We ate a quick lunch and went to the scrapbooking store. We ended up signing up for a really fun class to make a holiday recipe book and the class includes a cookie exchange! I will post more about that with pictures after we take our class on the 10th--which we are both really looking forward to.

While we were doing this all day Kenny was spending a fun Saturday with his mom and grandma. They went out for breakfast and had a fun morning hanging out and getting things done on his "honey do" list. During the afternoon the 3 of them headed over to the Goodyear Swap Mart ( BTW I am so jealous I didn't get to go with them). They all had a good day too.

Today Kenny, my mom and I ran some errands and went out to my brother's house to have an early celebration for his 29th B-day which is this Thursday (12/04). We shared some cake and hung out. Him and Crystal (the newly weds- just married on 10/31/08) are doing so good and I am so glad to see my brother so happy!! The boys were so excited to see us which always makes me feel so good... although it is hard when they cry when we leave : ( Jacob was so funny today. I was holding him and he started pointing to the freckles on my arms and saying "dirt" SO CUTE!~ Little Brian is such a ham too and I had to include this picture of the little stud! I wish they didn't live so far away (takes about 45 mins to get there) because we really enjoy spending time with all of them.

This evening we had my parents over for dinner and played the new "13" game we learned from our friends on Friday. My dad really liked it once he caught on, but mom beat us all! My dad also brought over some Wild Turkey-101 for Kenny to try and he actually really likes it!

We had a great holiday weekend but tomorrow it is back to work!! Hope everyone is well and hope to hear from you soon -- and yes I love to hear from you all by e-mail too : )

Busy Black Friday!!

Every year on black Friday I make a list of all the sale items I just can't live without and wake up before the sun rises to hit the stores. This year was no exception! I left the house at 4AM and headed to Kohls. The deal I am most proud of is a King size comforter set for only $29.99!! I sure earned it by waiting in line for over 40 mins!! I also hit Walmart were I met up with my girlfriend Blair and we hit Target together. We were done when the sun was just coming up (around 7 AM)!! We were both starving so we headed to IHOP for some pancakes. By the time I got home Kenny was up and ready for the day. I spend the rest of the morning wrapping my finds.

For lunch we met up with Barb, Sarah, Peggy and JW at Apple Bee's to celebrate Barb's b-day. It was nice to spend some time with Peggy and JW before they headed home. We were glad they came all the way from Arkansas to spend Thanksgiving with Sarah and all of us. After lunch we went to Kohls, then headed on home.That evening we had our friends Beverly and Lloyd over for Pizza and cards. They taught us a couple new card games-a new version of 13 and Kings in the corner, which were both really fun.

It was a great day-- although I was exhausted from being up for 21 hours!! I guess I just wanted to get the most out of our extra days off : )

Counting Our Blessings

After the month this family has had I don't think we could have asked for a better Thanksgiving Day celebration. The weather was beautiful- overcast and cool and I think we all really enjoyed spending the time together. Since hosting Turkey Day was a last minute decision we decided to do the meal potluck style. Each family member brought a dish or two


















and DH and I made the Turkey and a few other items- it worked out SO well! Everything tasted great since everyone made what they were good at! We played a laughter, fun filled game of pictionary and ate lots of pie!

We weren't able to make it out to my brothers house so we missed seeing them and my grandparents this year, but they were very understanding. We also missed Quint and Dave, but they were definitely in our thoughts all day today.

Tonight I am making two huge batches of turkey noodle soup with our leftover turkey and bones and will be heading to bed early so I can get up for the black Friday sales tomorrow~~ Kohls and Target here I come!!

Book List

Okay I am having way too much fun with this bloggin' stuff and just wanted to post something else today... our current book list! I am always one to have more than one book going at a time, more than one project and a ton of activities... Anyway, currently Kenny and I are reading The Shack by WM. Paul Young. Our friends from our church softball team recommended it to us. They just got back from a trip to Disneyland and they listened to this book on tape during the drive there and back. They said is was SO good and we just had to read it. I just started it last night and cannot put the thing down!! Also, I am almost done with Mariner's Compass which is #6 in the Benni Harper series I love so much by Earlene Fowler. Love Your Life by Victoria Osteen I just had to pick up because I love Joel and we went to see him in San Diego in January. And perfect for Christmas time- The Purpose of Christmas by Rick Warren. I was in Lake Forest, CA earlier this month and almost got to go to a Bible study at his church with my boss. Unfortunately our appointments ran late and we couldn't make it in time. Maybe next trip. Anyway, these are our current reads--- anyone got any good recommendations for our next set??

Mail Call!

I wanted to take a minute to thank everyone for all the kind phone calls, e-mails, cards and letters we have received recently. It is nice to know people care and are thinking of us and our family during this time.

Monday we got a note from Kenny's step-sister when we got home from the funeral and it contained several pictures of our little nephew and niece in their Halloween costumes. Our nephew had been a Marine for Halloween and apparently told everyone he was a "submarine"- made us laugh which was just what we needed after the long day we had. He is about the same age as our other nephew Brian who ended up being a business man for Halloween- while we were trick-or-treating this year someone asked him who he was, he promptly responded "I Brian". Kids are so funny!

Also, I wanted to share this new indulgence I have discovered. My friend's brother and his wife came up with this line of homemade soaps called Tvala. I ordered one called Pink Sugar Wafer and it came today (I only ordered it on Saturday night-super fast shipping). It smells absolutely delicious!! And look how cute the packaging was too... check out their website at- http://www.tvalahandmade.com I am thinking I should add these into my Christmas packages!! Yum

Accomplished

This weekend was a good weekend for getting some things done! I went to Kohl's in search of PJ's for our nephews and came across these giant, soft, comfy Chaps brand towels on clearance 70% off!! So I snagged a few and embroidered names on them and bam - a $12 Christmas gift completed!! Also, I wrapped up this fun travel rag quilt I made for two of my favorite people--- can't reveal their name or they won't be surprised when they open it on Christmas day!!

Kenny and I are on a roll for our Christmas shopping and I am anxious to see what the sales will be for black Friday!!

A Relentless November

On Sunday November 9, 2008 we received a call at 4:45 AM that shocked me to the core. My FIL had passed away just hours before. I couldn't believe that a healthy 47 year man could be taken so quickly- it scared me, a lot. He was someone I really looked up to and I cherished the thought that one day he would be my child's grandpa. He was such a great guy and we grieve for him, but I have comfort to know we will be together again someday and that he is in a better place. His sister said something at his service that will probably stick with me for life. She said that when she heard her brother had passed she pictured him arriving in heaven and being knocked down by all of his dogs Sally ad Cassy - the black labs. And the others Lulu (a pug) all catching up and jumping on him because they were so happy to see him too. I don't know why but it really just gave me peace of mind.

Then on Wednesday October 19- my grand FIL ended his long fight with Alzheimer's. He passed peacefully with family surrounding his bedside and his wife of 61 years holding his hand. His funeral will be Monday at 11.

This is an especially had time for my MIL loosing both her husband and her dad within 10 days of each other.

We are all having a difficult time understanding why this happened so close together, but again I remind myself that God has a plan and he will not give us more than we can handle.