its beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

you may not know this

I love shinny and bright!

I love things that reflective light

silver, Christmas ball, mirrors

add a string of  Christmas lights a little evergreen bough

total happiness

don't you love my reflection!
I know silly 
I wasn't trying for a picture of me
see that is the problem with reflective surfaces
oh well I still like them!

Alex loves to decorate the tree
he could hardly wait!!!
we had the tree up for 3 days before it was ready
see I put the 3 working light strands on the 9 foot tree
yeah not enough
so
after 14 years I had to buy new lights
but I didn't get enough the first trip
so I had to go back 

but eventually the tree was ready

I have learned to let them take over the tree
its just best for everyone!

 

I sit back listening to my favorite christmas music and take lots of pictures!

each child has their own bag/box of ornaments 
they get a new one each year
plus the have favorites of mine they like to put on the tree

again no Jared
we are still waiting for him to put his ornaments on the tree

the house is mostly decorated for the holidays and we are getting into the holiday spirit around here
kids have hinted at what they are hoping for and I have that Christmas music playing loud and clear!

Hope you are all getting in the holiday mood
MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Wednesday

I am still playing catch up with pictures

so this is really random stuff here

we are fully into school

and I'm a bad mom

I did not take 

1st day of school pictures

I took pictures of a bowl full of peaches instead

they were so yummy!

 she keep stealing them as I was canning/freezing them

I can't blame her
she was taught by example
I was eating them too!
Maybe I'll fake it the first day of school pictures and do a 6 weeks into school picture!

Napping in the toy closet?

This mess was caused by the purchase of a new crockpot

I had to replace the crockpot I took to college?
Go figure those things apparently only last 20 years
so I did a major overhaul of my kitchen
clearing out A LOT!
even wedding presents I'd never used
now everything is happy and organized

 I even reduced my cookbooks by half!

I love cookbooks!

so now my kitchen is reorganized and no one can find anything
but
it looks pretty!
while I was organizing 
Ms. Grace was having herself a little tea party!

In other news

this boy is HAPPY

Soccer is back 

and yes

he is dripping with sweat through out every game

but so far the "Tsunami Ducks" are killing everybody!

Eric is coaching again
and he loves it!

 Tyler and Grace cuddling during a game

and...

I made Napoleons

 with chocolate if you like

they were amazing!

so grateful for a husband that can fix my washing machine door
the hinge was $135.00 
hate to think how much they would have charged to put it in 

besides
she got to help daddy

 way better than a mechanic!

one more random picture
I love her hand in her pocket
I wish I'd gotten her eyes
but 
oh well!

OK that's another happy post!
off to clean something!

so it begins...

This is hard to see
but it's the only picture I got
the last day of work 
after 10 years 9 months for the City

the public works staff made him this amazing sign
I guess whenever an employee moves on they make a sign such as E. Johnston Way
for Eric they added signs for all the projects/streets he has been responsible for
REALLY COOL!!
I cried (shocker)
but I wasn't the only one

Now its time to get the house in tip top shape

 and everyone gets to help!

I don't think Ms Muffet here thought she was getting the attention she deserved

GRACE

 plus markers

 equal =

grumpy girl

so this is what comes next

 She did it!

So working hard 

but its slowly coming together!

pressure washed

calked 

ready to paint

Still lots to do 
but we will get there!