A Few of My Favorite Things

So far this has been the best Christmas in a long time.... I know Christmas hasn't even come yet but everything is better with a little kid who is just discovering the magic of Christmas. And when they discover it they help us find the magic too that has some how disappeared over our teenage and young adult years.

I already posted about playing in the snow....I haven't really done that for several years...I remember playing games in the snow in college but before that who knows when! Not that I was rolling around in the snow much but it was so much fun to see how much Boo loved it. She's asked to go play in the snow everyday. When she gets out there running around in it, I love how she says how much she loves it as she prances around. 

Yesterday, we made a snowman, named Fozzi. I haven't done that for probably 20 years, not joking. It turned out dang cute, in my opinion.

Granted, it had the help of the snowman kit I made for my siblings and obviously one for myself. This is why before we went to bed, we went and took his face and buttons off. I didn't want any stupid people stealing it...not that it's worth anything but I really love it and don't want to have to make anymore. And lets face it, people are stupid and take meaningless stuff.  

I'm also in love with getting Christmas Cards in the mail and hanging them up. It just feels me with joy getting a card from loved ones. 

Boo doesn't get to go out too much when it is dark outside...especially out on residential streets. A couple of weeks ago we were driving to a friends house through residential areas and she saw Christmas lights. SHE LOVED IT! She was so excited to see a simple porch have a few strings of lights on them. I am so excited to take her tonight to see houses that have gone all out.

I'm loving this Christmas season. I hope the day lives up to the season...

I might post one more time before Christmas....maybe if not come back afterwards I promise to post then. I've got a few more thoughts to share.
Merry Christmas if you don't hear from before then!

Let it Snow

So this was Boo's first time really playing in the snow since last year she did not like the snow much at all. I'm really glad that I bought her the snow pants and gloves. Thankfully she can barely squeeze into the snow boots I bought her last year and didn't use much. 

Lots and lots of fun! She keeps asking to go outside and play. Unfortunately standing out in the cold isn't the most exciting thing for me. I wish the snow was wet enough to make a snowman or a snow ball or something. But she isn't board of trudging around in the snow and picking up frozen chunks.

Maybe I'll get some pictures of the projects I worked on this Christmas season....maybe by the end of the day or Monday or something. :)  I will be posting a few more things on here in the next week or so. :) promise.

Fall

Apparently fall has come and gone. Today I was getting out the Christmas decorations and putting the lights on the tree as I listened to Michael Buble's Christmas CD while the snow was falling sideways in Nebraska fashion.

Here are our picture highlights of the last several months. Ha. Sorry. I'm not good at blogging anymore.

Trip East with the parents:

Riding the Dells in Wisconsin

Birthday Pizza

Kirtland Ohio

Boo's Birthday:

The Blindfold: :)

Pin The Bow on Minnie:

 The Pinata:

 The Birthday Girl:

The Grandparents: (LOVE IT!)

Halloween:

 Above Trunk or Treating. LOVE THE YELLOW SHOES!

Getting the Christmas Tree:

 So cold!!! We gave up trying to find a tree in the "forest" and went back to the cabin to get a pre-cut one. 

Playing with the Beard that came in the bag of toys they gave her at the tree farm:

Well, I guess that catches us up. Without much commentary. :) We are generally well and happy. We are happy we were able to spend Thanksgiving with my parents and my siblings who came to visit.

Goodbye Fall.

Emergency Preparedness

Since I've had a nagging feeling for sometime now to get emergency prepared here is my plan.

*  Water - I want another pack of bottled water and if I can find a place to hide it a bigger container of water. I want to also buy some filtration bottles.

*Food-  I'll beging to buy Food Storage items from the church (#10 can stuff) to build a substantial 3 month supply...I decided since we don't have a lot of extra cash that this was going to be my birthday gift...it will be a gift not to feel this nagging, worrying feeling!

                      - I will also be assembling 72 hour food kits

* Light- I want to make these candles. Make sure I have all necessary flashlights and batteries and matches for the candles.

* Clothing- Put clothing and toiletry supplies in designated bag(s). And additonal blankets or items to keep warm.

* Tools-an extra can opener, pocket knife, figure out a way to cook from our home with out electricity....decide if we need a camp stove or something else like it.

*Emergency Plan and Documents- I like this websites ideas and thoroughness. I liked the idea about making a plan for different amount of notification time for evacuation. She divided out responsibilities for each person based off the alloted time. (if you look at her 26 week plan you may get overwhelmed. I have to start with these few ideas and then get more elaborate- i need to get started.)

*Survival Guides- I don't have a very good memory. So all the things I have read say about purifing water is already gone- so it would be nice to have all that information in one place when I need it. So I want to either find a good guide or make one.

As I do each of these things I'll post about what I'm planning or have done. Maybe it will help someone else but if nothing else-it gives me some accountability and a place to write out what I've done.

until next time friends

August Dinner Calendar

I'm getting all spiffy with my dinner calendar and I thought I'd share it for anyone who needs a little help figuring out what they are eating this month. I always love getting ideas from others-heck, that's why half of these are from Pintrest! I never stay right on with the dates on the calendar it just a nice guideline to go off of. I also went with a lot of easy meals since I really don't know when GG will be home for dinner and on those days I really don't feel like cooking.  Unfortunately, I don't know how to attach a PDF document on here so that the links to the recipes would work. If you are really interested in a recipe let me know-or the ones with pictures you'll find on my Pinterest board.

HAPPY EATING!

Summer's end

I can't believe it, summer is coming to an end. *sniff*sniff*. I've loved having GG around. Today is the first "official" football meeting. I keep expecting him to come through the door soon but I know he won't even be home for dinner tonight. I suppose I should get used to that.

Here are our pictures from the 4th of July. It was a hot Hot day but we didn't want that keeping us from having fun. We participated in my parent's neighborhood parade/celebration.  And then we went to a BBQ. I loved how the kids all covered their ears during the fireworks. We thoroughly enjoyed our day.

(nevermind the 2005 on the embellishment....didn't notice it until i flattened the image. opps.)

We've had family here the last two weeks and that had been a lot of fun-I'm afraid we didn't take any pictures with them but they were here and we played. I'm glad they came and made our summer more fantastic.

GG hasn't been to the zoo here in town so that was one of the things he had on his list this summer so we went and did it. Boo loved it...especially the train. ALL ABOARD!

Since football is starting up and my family all leaving us, I need a plan to keep my body and mind occupied. So my two goals this fall:

1. Make a food storage/emergency preparedness plan. And do everything that I can to fulfill it.

2. Once a week have a some kind of learning activity for Boo.

I'll post my plans when they are made but at least the goals are out there.

Goodbye summer...

Summer Lovin'

It's been a super long time and it has been a wonderful time. GG is practically done with grad school-still has to do a portfolio before graduating in August- but no classes! It has been wonderful to have him around so much. (However, I am afraid it will only make football season that much harder for me.)

We are in summer mode around here and I love it.
MEMORIAL DAY- Swimming and a Baseball game.

We treked out west for my neice's wedding (yep, my neice that's number 4 of my neices and nephews to get married). GG helped out with a football camp and I hung out with family and took lots of naps. Boo was AWESOME on vacation. I could live on vacation. She slept well, she ate well, she played well. She had older cousins to play with (or follow) so I didn't have to watch her every minute.  We were happy-we're happy still but it was great!

Thank You Lovely Family and Friends that made our trip wonderful!!!!

ps. I'll post 4th of July photos later....I'm all tuckered out! ;)

HAPPY SUMMER!