Christmas Potpourri

My "Christmas Potpourri" is one of my favorite things about Christmas! I discovered it quite a few years ago on Pinterst and have written about it here a handfull of times, too. It's so easy to put together and make the house smell like Christmas! You cut an orange up into quarters and put it along with some cinnamon sticks, cranberries, and whole cloves in a pot of water on the stove and let it simmer. You will need to add water as needed, especially if letting it sit all day long like I do. I love it and am so glad everyone in my house loves it, too! I also like to give it as a gift to friends! 

I Hate Mornings

This little gem was in Lucy's backpack one day before Christmas break. When I pulled it out I laughed so hard at it and I think it will have a permanent spot on my refrigerator from now on. It's really nothing specialy, just a cut out coffee cup colored to look like it has hot chocolate in it, but to me it is so funny! The statement "I Hate Mornings" sums up Lucy so well! She absolutely hates mornings and it's often hard to get her going. I asked if her teacher gave her the idea of writing that on the cup and she said no, she just thought of it herself. I love this so much! I might even scan it and put it on a real mug of my own!

Christmas A Little Bit

 We had Christmas with my family last Saturday, so it was my parents and my sister and her family. Molly called this "Christmas A Little Bit." It was a fun day! Everyone came to our house for lunch and then we opened presents and hung out for a bit. The girls got some fun gifts but one of the best gifts was what Molly gave my dad. My dad has been wanting to get a dog as he hasn't had one for a while. Well, Molly found a stuffed dog, that even walks, and decided this would be the perfect dog for Poppy! You can watch "Poppy's Dog" here! 

Holiday Store Presents

Each year our PTA hosts a Holiday Store where we sell gift items for students to buy for their family and friends. Gifts range in price from $1-$8 and are sent home labeled and wrapped. We shop throughtout the year for clearance items and fairly mark them up for our store. We have gifts for moms, dads, siblings, even cats and dogs! 

Both girls really enjoyed shopping at the store this year! Molly got me some really nice towels that I'd wanted and she had me open them the day she came home with them instead of having me wait to open at Christmas! 

My Helper

This is Molly vacuuming the play room for me without me even having to ask her to do it! She's such a good helper! She had dusted most all my furniture before she started in the playroom. She was having fun playing maid and was listneing to music. She's such a fun girl! 

Cookie Cutter Cookies!

We made our annual cookie cutter cookies last weekend! I use a recipe that my mom used for these cookies when I was growing up. They're just sugar cookies cut out with cookie cutters and then decorated, but I've always called them cookie cutter cookies. It was fun working on them and fun that Ross helps, too! 

Wrapping Paper Woes

I got my wrapping paper out this week to wrap a few presents and found this. One two separate wrapping paper rolls, nonetheless! I know this was Molly's doing and it made me laugh so much! I guess I should teacher her how to properly use a wrapping paper roll!

Christmas Countdown

I bought this Christmas countdown a few years ago at the Target Dollar Spot. I think it was more like $3, but I really liked it. Each year I hang it on my basement door in the kitchen. I start getting my Christmas decor out around November 8-9 and this is one of the things that goes up then. It's always funny to me because when I put it up there's still almost three weeks left until I can start using this countdown. I always think how it will be up "forever" before I can use it. And then all of a suddent it's December 2 and I've moved it to 23 days left until Christmas!

Time is a funny thing. It seems to fly by faster and faster each year! 

Ringing The Bells!

We range the bell for the Salvation Army red kettle the week before Thanksgiving! None of us had ever done this before and Lucy asked us about doing it this year. It was very easy to sign up for and there were several locations and times to choose from, too. We were at a Walmart close to our house from 10am-12pm and had a stready stream of customers coming in and out of Walmart. I'd say about $100 was put into the kettle during that time! 

This was all Lucy's idea and I'm so proud of her. She truly has a heart to help and serve otherse! I think we will plan to do it again next year. 

Seeing Santa Claus

We saw Santa Claus the day before Thanksgiving. We like going to Bass Pro because they have a really nice set up, you can pick your time, and it's free! The girls enjoy it there, too. Molly especially was really excited to see Santa. Lucy was excited, but she just doesn't show her excitement like Molly! I hope we still get to do this next year! :) 

Artwork Decor

During the holidays I like to decorate the doors in my house with the girls' artwork. I have saved artwork from preschool and grades school, church and home projects, that I tape up to our doors. I do this for Christmas, Halloween, 4th of July, Easter, and Valentine's Day. It's fun to see it all! 

14 Years!

Fourteen years ago today, actaully tonight around 8:30pm or so, Ross and I had "the talk" and became boyfriend and girlfriend! I remember everything about that night so well and could tell you all about the few weeks leading up to that moment. It's fun to think back on everything! I'm so glad we had the talk that night! This picture is from us last weekend when we were helping my dad cut wood. I love Ross! 

Molly......

I can always tell when Molly has been around my kitchen! 

Turkey Trot 2022

 This is the extent of our Turkey Trot this year...picking up our packet! We didn't make it down to do the run/walk on Thanksgiving Day because it was cold and rainy that morning. We didn't think the girls would make it through so decided to stay home. My dad usually does it with us and he was sick so stayed home, too. It's too bad because we haven't been able to do it since 2019 due to covid. Hopefully next year we will have good weather and be back trotting! 

Lucy's Performance

This year at school the 3-5th graders were invited to joing the "Singing Eagles" choir at school. Anyone in grades 3-5 could join, there was no audition required, so Lucy decided to join. They meet once a week after school for about 40 minutes and have performances throughout the year. Lucy has really enjoyed choir and has done a great job at it, too!

A few weeks ago Lucy's whole 4th grade class had a performance in our school gym and the choir performed during this time, too. Lucy was so excited about this performance and often practied her songs at home. She did a great job doing the cup game her class did and she also got to play the xylophone and do a solo on the windchimes and the beginning and end of a song.

I'm so proud of Lucy! She's just a great girl all the way around! She's smart, she's kind, she's a good friend, she's tenacious, she's just one of my very favortie people and I love her so!