Merry, Merry Christmas!!!

The reason for the season:

And this:
A special family tradition of remembering whose birth we are celebrating today!

Hope y'all had a wonderful and a truly Merry Christmas!!

My 'Ugly' Christmas Decoration!

We all have one, right?

One that others (like husbands) wonder why in the world a particular (perhaps ugly) Christmas decoration is even still around.

Well, here is my beloved, maybe somewhat 'ugly' Christmas decoration:

Truthfully I don't think my snowman is that ugly?

Do you?

He does have a cute-ish face....

Maybe he does looks a little "Tim Burton-ish, Nightmare Before Christmas"?

Maybe?

I won him at a dinner auction several years ago.

I have no idea what my bid was.....

But still, I.won.him.

Last year, I put him on my front porch.  My husband was concerned that my snowman would frighten the neighbors, mail man, UPS guy, stray dogs....

Really?

He is quirky.

He is smiling.

I like different.

(my snowman that is, I am totally NOT referring to my husband. ha!)

This year I kept him inside....for his own safety.  Wasn't sure if the husband would 'accidentally' move my snowman.....ummm, let's say to the garbage.

Besides, my Littles like him

And they make Mr. Snowman, Tim Burton-ish, Nightmare Before Christmas, look very sweet and not ugly.

Mr. Snowman, well, you're a keeper!

Just had to.....

I love this picture of my Littles.....

They are not always this sweet and affectionate towards each other.

When they are?

It just too sweet.

It melts this momma's heart.

Sunday Snapshot {seven years old}

Really?

How can this little girl of mine already be seven?

Why does it seem as though the years just keep going by more quickly than ever?

This year Shea really, really wanted to have a 'kid' party....

We don't usually have a lot of 'kid' parties, but this year I said yes.  :)

We had a pottery party (say that 10 times fast!) at our local clay/art studio.

Fun was had by all! (and it was productive).

Observe:

Pottery selection.

Friends.

Lots of paint brushes!

Intense painting.

 Some {yummy} cake.

 All add up to one happy girl and one terrific birthday celebration and one really cute unicorn! (to be picked up next week)

Happy Birthday, my precious Shea!

I love you more than words can say!!!!

Join in some other Sunday Snapshot fun here:

Sunday Snapshot {Sledding}

Today turned out to be a great day for sledding.

This is 'Dad' territory.

I take pictures and provide the hot chocolate.

They do the outside stuff!

And they have a blast!

Going down the hill (in our backyard).

Climbing back up the hill....

Falling....

All better!

Up the hill again....

Even the dog gets in to the action.

Look at Bretta go!!

Up and down....

Resting.....

 (or being sassy)

A good day had by all!

Join in the 'Sunday Snapshot' fun!!

Wordless Wednesday {Sweet Sisters!}

five bucks....

Can go along way.....




My dear friend Stefanie, and her two friends, Diana and Lisa, have come up with a great way to help orphans in China!

Really!!

It's so easy and well, very affordable.

Five bucks, baby!!!

That's it!

Five one dollar bills.

To.
Help.
Orphans.
In.
China.

How? You ask.

Starting on on Friday, November 25 and running through December 23, each Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, Stefanie, Diana, and Lisa (nihaoyall.com, 1diamond1ruby1pearl.blogspot.com, and thelongroadtochina.com, respectively) will highlight an awesome give-away on each of their blogs.

And all you have to do is leave a comment on one of the three blogs and donate five buck-a-roos to be in the running!

You can even choose which organization you would like to donate your Abraham Lincoln.
Stefanie represents An Orphan's Wish.  (this one is very near and dear to my heart)
Diana represents Pearl River Outreach
Lisa represents Half the Sky

All of these organizations are wonderful and have done so much to improve the lives of orphans in China.
Your donation will go directly to the charity of your choice.  For every five dollars you donate, you will be entered to win the item posted.  You can enter multiple times and heck, you can even enter on all three blogs!

Kinda cool.

Kinda a 'win-win'.  You get a chance to win something great while at the same time you get a chance to help make a difference in a bunch of kids' lives in China.

I am excited.  Are you?

I can hardly wait to see the donations. I hear they are amazing!!!

Mark you calendars.

The fun begins on Friday, November 25th.

Ya don't want to miss it!!!!

Oh yeah, check out the "Spread the Word" give-away here. (You don't want to miss this either.)

(Thanks Stefanie, Diana, and Lisa.  Y'all rock!)

Sunday Snapshot {Sunday Football}

I am not a big football fan.

Gasp!!!

I mean, it is alright.

I have nothing against it.

Heck, I use to be a football cheerleader back in college and high school.  (and yes, that was a really, really, really long time ago.)

However, I am a big fan of family time.

And since Sunday football seems to bring our family together for several hours....

(with lots of shouting, high five-ing, eating, referee grumbling, jumping, cheering, & barking)

I guess I have to say that I am officially a fan of Sunday football/family time!

Oh by the way, this family of mine, they are all BIG Packer fans.

Me?

I just live vicariously through them.

 Even the dogs hang with us during Sunday football.  Thus the above reference to barking.

Ummm, ya....looks like I am the only one without a Packer shirt.  No worries, my oldest son plans on "fixin' that".

Like I said, I'm more into the football thing simply because it brings our family together for a whole afternoon.

This here momma pretty much loves anything that brings us together....

Even if it has to be Sunday football.  ;)

One more thing.

These {beloved} Packers are 10 and 0.

Just sayin'.......

Join in on the fun and click below:




*miss you Scott, Stephanie, & Katie!

a little "JibJab"

I just couldn't resist......

http://sendables.jibjab.com/view/Xe5nuzHZPRiMqHUE?cmpid=jj_fb_self_holidays

Wordless Wednesday {daddy time}