A Year of Blog Headers and New Years Eve Traditions

Thanks to my friend Sarah I learned how to make a blog header...thanks again Sarah!! I still visit your tutorial for advice! I thought it would be fun to look back at my year of blog headers.

What do you do on New Years Eve? A few years ago we started a tradition with the kids..I can't remember where I heard about it but I love it. We get a fire going in the fireplace and each of us writes down something we'd like to forget about or even change about the past year. We fold it...don't show it to anyone and throw it in the fire.  Then we can start the New Year with a clean slate. Then we have Chinese food, champagne (for me and Steve...fake stuff for the kiddos) and the kids eat all the junk cereal they want. I don't buy junk cereal except on their birthdays and New Years Eve....what do you do? I love hearing what others do. I think it would be fun to go to a formal party in a pretty dress and a tux for Steve. But, for now while the kids are young we love being home with them and ringing in the New Year...Happy New Year friends!! xoxo

Books I'm reading and a Flip

I love having a stack of books by my bed. Steve bought me Taschen's Paris for Christmas. I've been wanting this book...it's so beautiful and makes me want to go back to Paris.

We've been watching hours and hours of the first season of Little House on the Prairie...the kids got it for Christmas.  What is it about Charles Ingalls and his suspenders??

Here is our first Flip video...man I'm getting good at all this techy stuff.

Happy Tuesday

Griffy and I just got back from a walk over by the cranberry bog. It's so beautiful this time of year...soon enough they'll flood it and we can go skating.

I love having everyone home. This is Steve's 3rd week at home and I'm getting spoiled. We stay up late, sleep in, hang out in our jammies and play games and drink hot cocoa. But sometimes I need to get out of my house and a walk with the baby is just what I need. Especially a late afternoon walk when the sun is just starting to go down. I love coming in the door after a walk in the cold air and being greeted by my little family all snug and the smell of a roast chicken in the oven. Time for a nip of wine. Life is good. Happy Tuesday evening friends!

Blizzard 2010

We didn't get as much snow as predicted..but a tree was uprooted in the back yard. I would have preferred the snow.

Griffy is NOT a fan of the snow. Or of wearing hats/mittens/boots/coats. I think he prefers the beach.

I love rosy red cheeks on kids...fresh air is good after being cooped up the house.

Time for some hot cocoa and maybe a little Just Dance 2. I'm wicked awesome.

Christmas Weekending

Christmas Eve 

Boston

Church

Sleep at 2 A.M

Christmas Day

Presents

Presents

And More

Nap

Family Dinner

Snowstorm

Happy Christmas 2010!

Finally..Snow!

I'm so thankful that it'll be a white Christmas. It just doesn't seem right with out it.

The kids were out until 9 last night playing in the snow.

And I'm done. Baked, shopped, wrapped, shipped, decorated...DONE. I'm so happy to spend tomorrow just watching the kids try and contain themselves for one more day. It's the most wonderful time of the year!

Some Questions Answered

So I need to answer a few questions...NO I did not make that Tiffany's cake. Hello? I'm good but not that good.
The car Steve and I had for our wedding was an antique Austin Princess...I'm not a car girl at all but LOVED that we opted for that! The teal ornaments were found at Walmart. Yes, Walmart. And most of you that know me well enough know that I HATE Walmart. I go maybe once a year..to find the teal ornaments. And no, the dining room chairs have not been painted yet. I had brought in my black kitchen chairs for Thanksgiving..hoping to get the painting done in January when I have nothing to do except diet and not spend money. Someone asked me to do a giveaway. I've never done one and I guess depending on what it is I could do it. I never enter giveaways really. It's just not my thing. I don't play the lottery either. I guess I figure I'll never win anyway. But you can email me and we can talk.

No, this is not my dock overlooking the water. I live near the water but not that near. Someday. If I win the lottery.

Fun Weekending

Cookie Swaps

Final Nutcracker

Shopping and Hiding

French Martinis and Anniversary

Little Blue Bag (!!!)

Family Get Togethers

Overcooked Beef Tenderloin

Oh Well

Black Dog Sweatshirts For 10 Grandkids

Cousin Dance Performance

Dishes

More Dishes

Eating

More Eating

Painting

More Painting

Happy Anniversary

Tomorrow is our 17th Anniversary. We were engaged at Christmas and wanted to be married at Christmas too.  I wouldn't change one thing about our wedding day. It was beautiful.

We had our Honeymoon a few months before we were actually married because Steve was starting flight school immediately after our wedding. So, the day after we got married we loaded up our car, hitched the U-haul trailer with the "Just Married" sign and drove from the Cape to Alabama. Within a few days we set up our first house and then he was gone. I didn't see him for 30 days I don't think. But, here we are...17 years...4 kids..and 7 moves ( including one overseas) later..and I could not be more blessed in my life.

I Love You Steve.

Happy Anniversary.

Teal My Heart

I'm having this thing for Teal right now...

I love how it looks with my new red dining room walls.

 Do you like my cute little Foo dogs? Home Goods..wicked cheap.

I also love teal with silver...

Still haven't painted those chairs black yet...

Love.

Dinner With Tiffany's

Don't you just love this image? The snow, the happy couple with the daughters and of course..that Tiffany bag.  What is it about that little blue box? I once planned an entire dinner party around it for my girlfriends 40th. (At my old house...that I miss. I may have mentioned that before.)

Even the cake was made to look like a Tiffany present.

A little too much fun..

Weekending Without Steve

Elf and Grinch

Cookies and Candy

Rain and No Snow

Parties and Nutcracker (still)

Wine and Olives (me)

Monster Pancakes and Rootbeer (kids)

Shopping and Shopping

Celtics and Patriots

Christmas Cards Coming and Going

Waiting and More Waiting...

Counting and More Counting..

Not For Christmas but for...

Steve to come home!

He's been gone since last Sunday...his family could not be happier to have him home....