Christmas Pictures

So here they are! I hope you enjoy! I'm not finished yet, but this is most of it. I took an idea of Kellicrowe's, who says that she stole the idea from Martha Stewart a few years back. It's the socks on the mantle. There are going to be numbers on each sock. Starting on November 30th, (because we will be gone Christmas Eve, and so this will be our countdown to THEN) I will put something in the sock for that day while the kids are at school. (because we don't all get up at the same time) The kids will take turns opening the socks, and seeing what's inside. I will put goodies for all three of them, and once in a while, I am going to have them do something before they can eat their treats.
I have a lot of ornaments that mean special things to me. One of the things I plan to do is have them hunt for particular ornaments, and either tell me why it is special, or listen to why it is. I plan to do this with other things in the house as well. Maybe work Jesus' birth into a scavenger hunt closer to the big day. I really like that this not only helps with the kid's anticipation of Christmas DAY, but it also will provide the oportunity for me to talk to my kids about my memories of christmas, and what makes it special to me. I think that it will help to keep the spirit of sharing and caring alive this season.
Any ideas that you want to share with me? I'm all open for ideas!

rachel

A little note about Santa

Most of you know that Santa is an Americanized version of St. Nicholas. The ORIGINAL St. Nick was devoted to God. He gave to others because he felt covicted in his heart to give up his worldly possessions, and give to the poor. If you are looking for a way to help your family understand him, This is the site for you. Look around. There is a lot of information about who St. Nick was and how he became the plump red cheeked, red robed man we know today. I believe that his legacy is worth repeating. It's worth celebrating. It's in keeping with the season.

I believe in Santa.

Man, eBay could get me in TROUBLE!

So, I have a Santa collection. I collect anything old and santa. I especially like illuminated Santas, but they have been hard to find this year. So I went on line, and took a peek on eBay...
I found these two little guys.
I really like the first one, because my Gramma used to have little elves like this Santa, and I have one of her elves. They remind me of her.

I like the spool of ribbon, because of the packaging. I really really really really really like 50's stuff.

really.

Alot.

The thing is, I'm not so good at auctions. Ask my hubby. I usually only look at Buy It Now things. The whole auction thing makes me sick to my stomach. UNTIL..... I found Auction Sniper.

Auction Sniper puts a bid in for you at THE LAST second.
It takes the bidding war out of auctions.
So- to the person I sniped this out from under, I'm sorry. To the eBayer who hasn't heard, click on the link! Auction Sniper charges you a VERY small percent of the amount you win your item for. You only pay IF YOU WIN the item. You get out bid, you don't pay a DIME. Get a friend to sign up, and you get free bids. Sign up, and you get free bids to see if you like sniper. I haven't paid to snipe yet. Have a gift that you think you can find on eBay? give sniper a try! It's worth it.

Powerful eBay sniping solutions.

Ho! Ho! Ho! MERRY CHRISTMAS!!! and Happy Sniping!

"I got to meet the REAL Santa"

THIS is the face of a little boy who had begun to doubt, but now BELIEVES.
In our house, Santa has a place. He lived once. In a little town long ago. He gave gifts to the children in his village. He was just a man. Who gave the gift of giving. He brought joy and love to many homes. There is room in our house for such a man. My kids have left a special key on our front door for Santa to come in when our homes have not had fireplaces. When Ian was about five, he asked me if Santa was REAL. I explained that Santa had ONCE lived, and that people celebrate him still today, but that he was alive anymore. That now, he only lives through make believe. He was happy with that. To continue to pretend with me. He still likes it to this day. Josh however, asked me this fall whether Santa was real. I gave the same answer. HE, was not so willing to go along with the make believe.

Then, two days after Thanks Giving, I got a call from my neighbor. Santa was coming to her house that night.
I might want to be there with the kids. So we went.
AND HE CAME.
He's not loud and scary. He's not any of the things that the Santa's in the mall are.
He's got a real beard. He's got a wonderful leather belt. He's not too tall, and not too short. He's perfect. His glasses make your eyes feel funny when you try them on. His beard is soft and fluffy. Santa says he has to brush it or it tangles. He will let you touch it. It's real. He has suspenders under his coat, that you can see when he takes it off to let you put it on. He doesn't always travel with the reindeer. They need to rest up before the big ride on Christmas Eve. If you ask Santa what HE wants for Christmas, he'll tell you he wants a 364 day vacation. I say he deserves it.

This is the snuggle of a little boy who loves Santa. It's the face of a little boy who is happy to just BE.
In the presence of Santa.

Thank you, Ellene. For making sure that my boys got to see Santa. He was everything I know Santa to be, and more. He gave truth to my boy's innocence, and willingness to believe that Santa lives. Now he does. In their hearts. In their eyes. In their truth. Proof that legacy, if it is strong enough, can span lifetimes. Into new life.

Merry Christmas. May the spirit of Santa live on in your hearts.

Family Fotos

Every year on Thanks Giving, I try to take a Family Photo Session. This year, I discovered that I can set up a photo shoot pretty well on my own! I took a tripod and set up the shot. My mom was there to push the button. But the shots were MINE! Editing and saturation courtesy of Photo Impressions. I usually put these into a Scrpbook like layout, and make copies. Then I frame them for family.







This last picture is one of all of us making "mean" faces. It's the face that Macs has made since forever.

Survivor Fever

This is my favorite Survivor. He has the immunity idol. I think he has a REALLY great chance if the game goes right. Who are you rooting for?

It's the kind of day that calls for....

A warm, cozy fire. Maybe some tea, coffee or hot buttered rum. My neighbor Ellene got me started on those. Yummy. DO NOT start on those until all your housework is DONE.
FINISHED.
You'll be too warm and toasty to be of any good in that area when you've finished a hot buttered rum.

It's wet here. It's Oregon here. It's Oregon Wet. and when you live on the coast, you can add wind to that winter mix. This creates horizontal rain. It creates "Yes, honey, I know we are UNDER the shelter, and still getting wet" rain.
But I like rain. I like dark by noon days. They make me cozy into my home, and create cozy. They make me slow down, and think about Thanks Giving and Christmas. They make me want to read a good book. They make me happy for old patchwork quilts from the ladies aide. The ones where none of the squares are quite lined up right, and none of the fabric REALLY goes. But you know that when it was made, there was laughter and friendship. It wraps you in it's comfort, and holds you there. I like looking out across my street, and seeing my neighbor's lights. I like wondering what they are doing to stay cozy. I like looking at my boys, and being glad to be HOME with them.

SO tonight, it's raining. It's Oregon rain. Sideways rain.
My fire is burning. The wind is blowing. But we are cozy, and you can only hear it once in a while, when the rain get pushed a little harder. Tonight, we'll have movies. and I'll be happy.

I learned something today....

I learned that if you save a post as a draft, and then wait until you have posted about something ELSE to post your draft, that blogger with plug your draft into your Blog in the time frame it was originaly saved in. So below the post about stocking stuffers, there is a NEW post. but it's a post that I've had saved as a draft. and then I did the stocking stuffer bit, and THEN I did the 'Tis the Tagged. Tagged got stuffed under the stuffer! I didn't know. If ya wanna read it, scroll, baby! Scroll!

Looking for a stocking stuffer?

GO HERE for a great one. Be sure to scroll down when you get there, and listen to the samples. I've been searching and searching for the song I REALLY wanted to share, but I have to collaborate with Travis to get it done. In the mean time, listen to this. Sorry about spongebob. Just listen to the words. It's the words.


This song is on the CD in the link above. It's a great kid's CD. ALL my kids like it. Even the older ones. The CD is warm, and caring, and fun. There are serious songs, and funny songs, and silly ones. I love them all. It's a great great great gift idea. Maybe for YOU! For more Tom, go HERE. The man is a true story teller. I like to think of him as the Louie L'Amour of music. Stories from his heart, stories that he's lived. In song.

~rachel

PS~ Tell me if you get it. It's worth every penny!

'Tis the Tagged

So I got tagged with this a while ago, but I hadn't had the chance to get it filled out. If you want to be tagged, then you have been! If not, just read, and enjoy!

1. What was your most memorable Christmas like? The years when my uncle Mitch got to be there with his guitar, and we all looked at old slides with my gramma and grampa.

2. What was the best gift you ever received as a child? The year I got my Laura Ingles out fit.

3. What is your favorite cookie/candy to make at Christmastime? Fudge

4. What does Christmas mean to you? Family, Celebrations, Lights, Remembering, Cozy, Love, Laughter, Candles and Jesus.

5. What are your plans this year? To try and keep to our traditions as much as we can, living farther from them than we used to.

6. What kinds of gifts do your kids desire? Books, Action Figures, Games

7. Which ornament that you own is the most special and why? Every year, I buy a new dove ornament in honor of my gramma, who loved Christmas. My most special ornaments are the ones that I took when she passed away.

8. Does your tree have a decorated theme ~ or is it mix matched? No theme. A little of everything. Some childhood ornaments from my childhood, lots from my gramma, new ones, and some from my kids. Lots of lights. Vintage plastic illuminated Santas that I collect.

9. Do you do anything special on Christmas Eve? We celebrate with Travis' side of the family, and we set out cookies and milk for Santa. When we lived in houses with no Chimeny, we hung an old key on the door. Now it's just part of our tradition, and it gives Santa some choices.....

10. When do you start your Christmas shopping? About one to two months before Christmas.

11. What is your opinion of the Christmas season in general? I love it.

12. What do you love about Christmas? The warm and cozy of everything.

13. What traditions do you hold that you do every year? Cookies for Santa. The Key on the door. Travis and I get the kids up WAAAAAY early. We wake my parent's up on Cristmas Day.

14. When do you open presents? Christmas Eve? Christmas morning? Yes.

15. What was the best gift you received as an adult? My mom usually pegs me pretty good. The best one was from my sister. She spent WAY too much, but we got to spend a day together, just us two. It was one of the best days ever. I would've loved it even without the spa and Massage.

16. What is your favorite Christmas song? Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree

17. Do you watch special movies and shows during Christmas? Olive the Other Reindeer, and The Grinch with Jim Carry

18. Do you send out Christmas cards or family letters? I plan to this year, but I haven't always.

19. Do you have a special breakfast or meal on Christmas day? We have Christmas Dinner with Travis' side of the Family on Christmas Eve, Christmas Breakfast with my side of the family, and my sister Melea's Birthday Dinner on Christmas night.

20. Do you decorate your whole house or just the living room area? Mostly the Living room.

21. Do you decorate the outside of your house with lights? Yes, and Garlands and Other goodies.

22. Do you exchange gifts with your friends? Some of them.

23. Do you have a sad Christmas memory? Not really.

24. Do you sing in a cantata or sing Christmas specials?

25. Does your church have Christmas services? Yes.

26. Do you do anything to celebrate Jesus? We put out a Nativity in the house. I talk to the kids about that aspect of Christmas' Celebrations.

Jus playin'

Trying to fugure out how to blog with music.

If you have a weak stomach, look away.....

We broke in the Emergency room here in our new town today. Macs was ready to go shopping with me, and his socks were on, ready for his shoes. Shoes that were in the car, so we hadn't put them on yet. He was running into the living room, and slipped. In those socks. Onto the side of the coffee table. NOT the corner. The side. Have I mentioned that our coffee table has NO pointy corners? Because kids can fall on them. They can get hurt. So ours has smooth, edges, and NO pointy corners.

BUT

If you hit the table on the flat SIDE.....
You can split your lip. no. MOUTH.
Right on the corner.
and make one side of your mouth open WIDER than the other.
Because you can tear it open.
If you do this, you'll need stitches.
I don't recommend it.
Holding down your terrified three year old is not more fun than grocery shopping with a three year old and a six year old. Holding him down for FIVE stitches is even less fun.

Macs was a trooper though. He even thanked the Doctor for fixing his lip. I did good too! The doctor said I was one of the best parents he's ever had. hee hee. Macs was so strong. Both physically and emotionally. Yes, he was screaming, but he was scared, and it hurt. When I told him it was very important for him to TRY to not cry, and to keep his mouth closed, he tried.
SO
HARD.
That was the only time I wanted to try.
When I saw just HOW MUCH trust my son has in me. That even though he was tied down, and being hurt, he trusted that I would take him out as soon as I could. He trusted that. Enough to fight through his fear, and TRY to do what I asked. When I told him that this ouie couldn't be better with a bandaide, that it needed to be sewn up, he tried to be OK with that. I just can't get over that.
The Doctor put stitches in the inside layer of skin, and three on the outside. He didn't bother with the VERY inside of the cheek. It won't be seen, and Macs had been so good. There will be a scar. But the tear went all the way through. Like you tear a piece of paper. It wasn't just a deep cut. It was through and through.

If you feel like looking at magic.....

Look HERE This is my Uncle Lance's Picture Gallery at smugmug.com and he is a Genius. When I was a little girl, he let me sit with him in the dark room that my Grandpa Jack made for him. I remember both of the dark rooms. The first one was in my gramma's house in California. It was in a hallway. I was less than six years old. The other was in the laundry room in Oregon. I remember the curtains that made everything dark, and waiting so excitedly for the moment when we would be able to turn on the red light. I remember the pink and reds of the room that the light created on my skin. I remember how I would wait for the white sheets of paper to magically turn when they sat in chemicals. I remember the tongs that Lance took the pictures out of their baths with. I remember the smells that the chemicals made. I love that smell. I remember the clothes pins that we hung the pictures up to dry with. I remember the strips of negatives and the way that black and white were opposite on them. I remember the magic. I loved lots of things about each of my mom's brothers. Mitch let me sit. and listen. He made music. He played guitar. At Christmas, and holidays, when he was there, we would sing. I know it was for hours. All of us. and he never said, no. He just let me sit. and sing. Dave would hike with us on Gramma's land, and take us on the motorcycle. and laugh. Lance let me sit with him. and talk. too much. and then some more. He let me sit. In the RED. and the SMELLS. His pictures had magic. Now there isn't any red light. There aren't any chemicals. There's no shutting out every inch of light. There are no negatives. There is Digital. That's what he uses. but look, and you'll see......

The magic is there.

All he wants for Christmas....

...is his two front teeth. Actually, it's four. and that's only so far. Isn't he cute? I love the first grade. His whole class is losing teeth left and right! Love it.

Mmmm Cozy

The weather is turning. Right now there is a wet wind storm going on, and the water is everywhere. I like this time of year. I like being able to light the fire, snuggling down with a cup of coffee or tea and reading a book under a blanket. Here's a picture of Macs on one of our last mornings enjoying the fire and a book by the window.Our wet drizzly window...
The Halloween decorations are down, and I put up some fall leaves. On the left, I have a new find! A wreath stand! Never seen one before, but it was on clearance. I thought it would be neat for hanging a wreath indoors.
A close up of the leaves I hung under the mantle.
Mmmmm. Cozy.

Too much fun to not put two posts in one day....

So I saw these fun things on my friend Suzy's blog. Had to do them.

Your Nail Polish Color is Pink

How you're unique: You're girly without being high maintenance Why your style rocks: You're the perfect blend of stylish, preppy, and cute What this color says about you: "I am secure enough not to follow every trend"

What Color Nail Polish Best Fits You?

Pretty much hits me head on! LOL I mean who can argue with THAT!?!

You Are Ani Difranco!

Honest, real, and well liked. You're not limited by any boundaries. "And you can call me crazy But I think you're as lazy as white paint on the wall"

Who's Your Inner Rock Chick?

Funny, but I like this one too!

Guys Like That You're Charming

You're the girl most guys can't get out of their heads Even if they met you on a bad hair day :-) You just seem to "click" with everyone you meet So even if a guy forgets about you for a second... his friends haven't!

What Do Guys Like About You?

I REALLY liked that one!

You are a Blanced Babe!

You're direct and to the point, but never dramatic You've got the confidence to speak your mind to anyone But you leave the theatrics to Hollywood Level headed and emotionally stable, no wonder everyone loves you

Are You a Drama Queen?

Ok, So I HAVE mentioned that Travis and I MET in Theater right? I think it's more right on than not, but this one didn't hit a home run.

You Give Great Advice

You know what's up when it comes to people and social relationships. And you're advice is golden, even if your friends don't always take it! Just make sure that you take your own advice too!

Do You Give Good Advice?

See? Do what I tell Ya!

Your Style is 1950s

High heels, pretty dresses, classic makeup... You're a feminine beauty who knows how to play up her assets!

What Decade Matches Your Style?

Funny, 'cause this is the stuff I love to have in my house!

At Girls Only Blog ThingsI also found out that
My sexy Halloween costume would be a sexy nurse.
My man is so totally into me.
I'm 47% Bitchy: "Generally, you are an average woman, with average moods. But sometimes... well, watch out!
Sometimes, you let your mean side get the better of you. And you enjoy every minute of it."
I'm a good ballance between Girly and not so girly.
I'm a Carnation: "You are down to earth and grounded.
You tend to be more traditional than trendy.
Your confidence gets you through anything.
People trust you and are very loyal to you."
I should get an asian tattoo... funny, because I HAVE one! LOL more than one.
My passion color is purple.
If I were a Conversaion Candy Heart, I would have "be mine" written on me.
Funny, but "they" say that if I were a season, I would be FALL.... my fave.
I'm most like Liv Taylor
My celebrity style twin is Gwen Stephani

And last but least...

Your Inner Retro Girl Is

1950s Domestic Diva

What Retro Girl Are You?

Evidence of Halloweenery

This Halloween, I got to ACTUALLY DO all the things that have floated through my creative mind over the years. Our house was decorated like I've imagined doing for years. It was nice. I hope I've started a few new traditions in our house.

Josh was a skeleton this year. I put aside my perfectionist, and left his costume the way it turned out. Normally I hand paint the boy's costumes, but this year, I made a template, and spray painted Josh's. The overspray nearly sent me to the store to start over, but he liked the one I did with the spray paint just fine. So I decided to stuff the perfectionist, and let him be. I think it turned out pretty cute. I'm the only one who knows what's "wrong" with it! LOL

A tip when you are painting your LITTLE kid's faces. Have them lay down so that they don't have to hold their heads still. Another tip, use a Sharpie yes, I said Sharpie, as in PERMANENT marker, on faces when you can. The oils in your skin don't let the marker be as permanent as you'd think. It will wipe off by the following day. Sharpie keeps the little ones from wiping off their makeup.

Ian designed and made his own costume this year. I like it. He did a good job! Not TOO scary for baby brother either!

Josh was a HIT acting like a Zombie. A little boy told him he was a SKELETON, not a zombie.

"Same thing," says Josh to the boy "only one's wrapped in TOILET PAPER..." (duh!)

And here he is, looking remarkably like he did on his BIRTHDAY.... I've just now realized I could've put one of those pictures up here, and you all would NEVER have known what a bad mummy I'd been! LOL

So this year was tops. I enjoyed it a lot. We've never lived on a street that got trick or treated before, and it was fun to hand out candy. We got to go trick or treating on our street, then go home and hand out treats to others too. We watched MONSTER HOUSE and drank hot chocolate with marshmallows or whipped cream (your choice) and ate on our candy. It was fun. Relaxing. Isn't THAT the coolest!? We had a RELAXING Halloween!

Bad Mummy!

So I'm a really BAD mummy. I just sat down to download our Halloween pictures. First off, just let me say that I only took about 10 pictures. That's right. 10. And really, my MOM took half of those. I also, and this is where the bad mummy REALLY kicks in, did NOT take ONE picture of Macs. That's right. NOT ONE. Mom.... I know you're reading this, and I need you to email the ones of him that YOU took. Until you do, I will wait to put up our finished costumes.

Here is Josh getting Skeletized~

Here is the ADORABLE pumpkin that my MOM made and brought with her when she came to spend Halloween with us! We had a lot of fun. I'll put more up later...

sorry to be such a Bad Mummy....