Christmas Fun

So today I'm being "productive"....creating pages from Christmas photos!
I'm sure everyone has a different interpretation of "productive" but I think I've done quiet well!

More to come...but I figured it's after noon and I should go shower :)

Happy Boxing Day!!! I'm pretty sure Canada created this holiday because they didn't know what to do with all the boxes left over from Christmas!! Here are 1/2 the boxes...the "shirt boxes" are being saved for next year!

unedited photos from the past week. we are blessed to have family to spend the holidays with. we are even more blessed to have a God who sent his Son to earth for us!

Here comes Santa!!!
This windsock was made by my moma. It hung outside each winter when I was a child.
We don't have hooks outside yet, so it hangs in our hallway!! :)

Now get to bed....santa comes tonight!

I'm avoiding cleaning the house, so I went outside to take photos of the pretty frosty air!

No photo today....Just enjoying having the day off, well actually 2 weeks off of work!! Although you may think I sit around all day thinking of things to blog, I've been busy!
Today my moma and I went shopping and had lunch at our favorite place...Sweet Tomatoes!!
It was a great day to finish up last minute items and get clothes for our family photo next week. I came home, ate dinner, and wrapped gifts.
I am thankful I have days off of work to spend with the best-est moma and do shopping that I wait until the last minute to complete!

3 more days until Christmas!!

Love

Here is a photo from 2005. It is one of my favorites of my hubby. He's the greatest! I love him! We were getting our first tree together....it was way to big for the living room, but he insisted on having it. After getting it inside he said "I may have misjudged the size" :)

Enjoy the Christmas cheer with your loved ones!

snow

Winter Beauty.....it's so nice to look at when you can sit inside and watch the snow fall. It's snowing again tonight so we're sure to have a white Christmas. Let it snow, Let it snow, Let it snow!
And secretly when I don't have to do it early in the morning, I like to use the snow-blower!! :)

Christmas #1

Today we spent the day with the Lueshen family to celebrate Christmas. It was an awesome day of yummy food, great presents, and a competitive wii bowling tournament! Here is the group photo from today. I'll try to do some editing and make scrapbook pages tomorrow.

old photo

So I decided I would post right away today!

I am bored going through old e-mails and while deleting I came across photos my mom sent me. Here are two old family Christmas photos!! We are having family photos professionally done (sorry Jess) the week after Christmas...time to update :)

Forgot

Yes, for the second time I forgot to post....let me tell you about the week of forgetting....
Went to Hilander...was so concerned about how much % I would save with my card, i FORGOT my milk at the self check out!

Went for a hair cut, bought product, FORGOT it on the counter....then kept forgetting to call my hairdresser to ask for it!

Baby sat and said "sure I can watch them again" and both days I FORGOT I had other things going on, so I double booked!

Worked on Christmas cards, took 3 of them to work, FORGOT to sign one of them! Please forgive me if you get a card the I forgot to sign! :)

Finished up Christmas shopping for our first family Christmas this weekend....let's hope I didn't forget anything!

One week until Christmas! Don't FORGET the real reason for the season.

The true countdown to Christmas....advent!
Happy Birthday Jesus.

Our collection of Nut Crackers. My parents collected small decorative bells at Christmas time. Kelsey and I decided we would collect Nut Crackers each year....then we realized how much room they would take up!! Note: the small nut cracker! We will continue the tradition, with many sizes and themes.

Thank You

A GIANT Thank You to my wonderful "girls" for the gift of a date night with my husband and Mark Schultz!!
I have followed Mark since college...my college friends and I are even in his book and video!

One of my favorite singers!

I had the privilege to travel to his Christmas Concert courtesy of my aides in my classroom.

It was awesome!!! Thank you ladies!

two for the price of one

Yes, Yes, I know I missed a day...thank you to my readers!!! Now I know I have people who read my blog :)
Two photos for today...seems how I missed yesterday.

Remember when the leaves where changing colors, it was 55 degrees and sunny!!??
Today...19 degrees with a 24 mile an hour wind!

Just wanted to remind you that it will get better!!!

simple...

A reminder of the birth of Jesus and the angel that told the good news in the night.
This one is made of metal.
I bought it at a craft show at a church. I thought it was neat. I added the greenery from left overs from our tree.

Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree!!
Here is this years tree. It's smaller than normal, but because of the way we rearranged, we didn't have room for a large tree.

It's a perfect fit and as long as I remember to water it each day, it shall be perfect until Christmas!

Kelsey's ornament pick of the year. He has started collecting the "doorways to the world." He has 3 so far. They are neat...showing off decorations from a variety of countries.

This is my 2010 Ornament. It is from the "Frosty Friends" collection. Each year (since we were born) we got an ornament for the tree. For several years I have collected from this series. He is fishing using a candy cane!

And the stockings were hung by the chimney with care......

fun

A fun decoration!! A snow globe monkey from my moma. I love monkeys and I love my moma!! (and yes I know I spell "momma" wrong :) )

Parades!

Today we attended two Christmas Parades. Glen was on a float in the AM in Belvidere.
We spent the evening wearing 3 layers to watch the lighted parade in Rockton. It was a fun night shared with friends and family! We decided it should be a yearly tradition to go to the parade.

My Nativity Set. It started with Mary, Joseph, and a shepherd from my friend Lindsey. Each Christmas after being married, Kelsey has given me a new addition. It is one of my favorite decorations. Very simple but beautiful.
Happy Birthday Jesus!!!

retro santa

Here are a few of my "retro Santas." They are super old and super cool. They are courtesy of the family from whom I bought my first house. They left me many awesome treasures including Christmas decorations from the 70's.

Read more >> Options >>

25 days of Christmas!

I have decided to post each day until Christmas! I am hoping to post pictures of Christmas related items :)
Day 1
Our village. It has slowly grown over that past few years. Kelsey's parents give us a building each Christmas. I enjoy the village because it's also "winter" related so I can keep it up until February :)

Happy Thanksgiving!

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving. We have a lot to be thankful for, so I decided we should make a list. We of course could not write down everything but here are 10 random things we are thankful for this year:
1. Family and friends that are here to support us in good times and bad.
2. That our family lives close so we do not have to travel far to celebrate holidays. Navigating the grocery store was crazy, I can't imagine trying to get through the airports!
3. A new house!! A year ago this weekend we (with the help of friends and family) moved into our new house. Having a handicapped accessible house makes daily living easier.
4. Our health, safety and happiness.
5. The iPad! It has been a great source of fun and communication in my classroom. It was been fun for me in long car rides or times of boredom....I love the game solitary! For Kelsey, it has provided maps during travel, web pages anywhere, and books without paper.
6. That I got to spend the summer with Great Aunt before she passed away. She needed a lot of care in the end but I would not change the time we spent together.
7. Thankful we are God parents to the sweetest girl around!
8. Our jobs. As much as we dislike getting up in the morning to head to school, we are thankful we have a source of income.
9. The seasons....when it's hot in the summer we long for snow....when it's freezing and snowing we long for green grass and swimming! Fall and Spring are in between, but nothing beats the leaves changing colors and flowers blooming.
10. That it is Thanksgiving, because next comes Christmas Lights, decorations, and Jesus.

We hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving and remember all the things to be thankful for!

Today Glen participated in a horseback riding event in Poplar Grove. He received 2nd place in a game of "Simon says" where he had to listen to the instructor give commands to do with his horse.
He was very excited (as you tell by his expression!)

Way to go Glen!!!

Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday to my favorite 16 year old! We have been friends since she was 3!! Have a great day Brooke!!!

Halloween Weekend

I can not take credit for these scrapbook pages. We spent the weekend with our "pseudo children" and God Daughter. I copied them from my friends blog.

Happy 4 year Anniversary to my wonderful Husband

Four years ago today it was a sunny day (with 50 mile an hour winds....much like yesterday!)
Four years ago today I married the greatest husband!
Happy Anniversary!

Victory Over Breast Cancer

On Saturday October 16th 6,000 people gathered to walk for a cause. Making Strides against Breast Cancer is an annual event that my mom and I participate in. For the past two years we have attended the brunch following the 4 mile walk. No big winnings at the brunch, but one big win for my mom staying cancer free for more than 22 years!!!!
Love you Moma!!

Fall day

We enjoyed a fall day with our nephews on my Grandparents farm. We went cat searching, played on the tractors, and helped my dad cut down a tree.
We also stopped at my parents for a snack of poptarts :)
It was a fun Fall Day (even if the weather was 80 degrees!)

Update

Hi all....
I know it's been months since I have added to the blog!
Last week we had a new dining room table delivered! Now people have a place to sit when we host gatherings! Do you like that we are protecting the floor with the foam they came in :) Kels thinks they look like Clydesdale horses!

We also added to the yard by having 2 trees planted and a lilac bush. We're excited to watch them grow!

School is in full swing and we are busy working away! Love the fall weather and having the window's open, while being covered up with a blanket!

Enjoy some photos: