Merry Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas!

From my family to yours!

Happy Eve of Christmas Eve

I went digital in 2004 at least I think I did....before 2004 all my pictures are in my scrapbooks or on negatives...I wanted to find pictures of Katelyn sitting on Santa's lap over the years....guess what I don't think I was that mom waiting in lines at the mall. The first pictures I have are from preschool some years none at all.

People starting families today or relationship are so lucky everything is documented online...do you know how hard it is to find photos on negatives in a musty old box!! Or try and undo a scrapbook just to scan a photo and try and put it back together again....ugh!!

So here is Katelyn sitting on Santa's lap when she is older and much more wiser to the man and the myth.

This is the same Santa and Mrs. Claus year after year we would go to brunch at my parents and sister's Country Club. I love the top left picture it's a fake beard after that he embraces his inner Santa and grows his own!! I loved that brunch, Santa and Mrs. Claus would arrive via helicopter it was so exciting for all.

Katelyn was never a big fan of sitting on Santa's lap....

Except for this one in I think first grade....

Unplanned event she is still in her uniform...

He looks like the "real" Santa don't ya think??

I hope Santa is good to you all!

Merry Christmas to you and yours!

Happy Holidays!

Happy Hanukkah!

Happy Kwanza!

Irish Creme Liquor

     

2 cups Half and Half

1 can sweeten condensed milk

¾ cup Whiskey

1 tsp. Instant Coffee

1 tsp. Chocolate syrup

Blend 3 minutes – chill

These babies are heading to work today with my hubby...

I hope they wait and drink it at home and not at lunch! 

Holiday drink...

On Sunday we went to probably the best brunch I've ever been to, and now a new tradition for our family. Not only was the food out of this world delicious but the entertainment was so beautiful and festive.

One of mine and my hubby's favorite part was the starter drink.....called Poinsettia.

Champagne, Triple Sec and Cranberry juice...

Yum!

What about you, do you have a favorite holiday drink?

One day at a time

Today I have been a busy baking girl.....

Butter Spritz cookies

White chocolate popcorn.....

I hope my neighbors enjoy......

Just need to make a trip to liquor store for wine...

Plan my Christmas dinner and we are set to go....

I love a stress free holiday....

Christmas music ♥

I found this on Pinterest 

A list of someone's top 25 Christmas songs....

I love the first one.....

I love Zooey Deschanel 

Her new show is so funny

Loved her in Elf

So happy to have found her music

I like her style..old school

 Enjoy!! 

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas....

It's no secret I spend way too much time online....especially on Pinterest. Here is one of my fireplace mantels influenced by Pinterest. I love how it turned out, I didn't use real greenery I'm allergic to the mess. But my glittery life like JoAnn Fabric one did the job.

Simple but festive

I also painted card board letters,

 idea found on Pinterest.

I love how it turned out too. 

How about you...is it beginning to look allot like Christmas?

Advent Fairy last year....

Hi I'm Katelyn's advent fairy...and I'm retiring after this year...it was a short career only 4 years! You see we have always had an advent calendar but never a fairy....Until we moved to Germany and Katelyn's friends introduced her to many new traditions, this being one of them. Germans do Christmas right... I think they invented Christmas.

Why am I retiring...she leaves for college next fall...she will be 18 soon...an adult!!! She disagrees.....
she looks forward to her daily gifts. This year thanks to Pinterest I became craftier and wrapped them all and numbered them. It's tough coming up with 24 little items....I told her this year I'm going out with a bang!

Kicking off the Holiday Season with......

10 things about me-Christmas version

My blogger buddy Leslie did this....

I decided to join the fun....

What is your favorite Christmas movie?

Elf- love this movie! I can watch over and over again

What is your favorite Christmas song?

All I want for Christmas is you...

Mariah Carey 

Do you have a nativity scene?

Yes I collect them amongst other things. I have one my Mom gave me, one I bought, one from Germany, Holland, Italy and Mexico.

What is your favorite Christmas animation?

I'm with Leslie on this one definitely Rudolf the red nosed reindeer!

What is your favorite childhood Christmas memory?

Every Christmas morning we lined up on the stairs....all five of us, while my parents lit the tree, turned on Christmas music, probably made coffee too waiting for our picture to be taken than off to see what Santa brought us. I remember the excitement and anticipation was over the top. 

What is your most memorable gift?

I'm going to say the Barbie Townhouse...it had an elevator and a door bell! I spent hours and hours playing with it. 

Do you have any Christmas traditions?

I always buy the Terry's Chocolate Oranges for our stockings, when we lived in Utah my family and I would go to a family friends house on Christmas Eve for a Mexican Fiesta and then go to Mass. Now living away from family we are slowly trying new traditions but last year was our first year solo...it was an adjustment and still is. 

Do you have a special Christmas wish this year?

Peace in the world, good health for all, and jobs for the unemployed...

If you could have anything for Christmas what would it be?

Ipad I know it's selfish but it's this or a new car! 

If you could spend Christmas anywhere, where would it be?

Anywhere surrounded by family....

Happy December!!

Soon....

It will be Christmas....everyone is ready, all the retail stores! 

Except Nordstrom!

Even the pet store today was decked out in Christmas garb....

♬some places are even playing music♬! 

Look here is the countdown↓

So today because time is running out ...

I planted my Amaryllis and Paper Whites!!

I'm late they say 6-12 weeks for blooms...

So either by Christmas or Valentines Day 

Not so pretty now but soon they will look like this ↓

Let the season begin....fa la la la la ♫

Toys...

Sophie woke up Christmas morning full of excitement, like she knew it was Christmas! Craig helped her with her stocking....she got a new toy bunny, chew bone and treats.

Hours of entertainment for her...the bunny was destroyed within the first hour....it's now a one eyed bunny! Her new bone is her favorite toy now and keeps her busy for hours....I hope it helps her breath!

Craig received a toy too.....not sure what we were thinking giving him that....remote control helicopter. Poor Sophie has been the target of torture.....the two of them love their new toys!

Our Christmas....

We had a wonderful Christmas, despite our first without family. Woke up early 7am...enjoyed Peppermint Mocha coffee creamer....my favorite! The babies woke up full of joy, Sophie knew something was up and she was full of energy. Katelyn came down to see what Santa brought her, prepared with all her electronics in hand....computer for Christmas music, cell phone for any early morning texts and camera to catch all the shots!

We opened presents than enjoyed a breakfast casserole and cinnamon rolls for breakfast. Stayed in our Pj's all day...made cookies, watched movies, relaxed. Prepared a turkey dinner, our first solo and learned a lot....like start the turkey earlier if you want to eat before 8 pm!

It was wonderful !

Merry Christmas!!

 My Paper Whites popped! 

It's my first time buying the kits I see every Christmas. The bulbs in a box...seems easy! I bought Paper Whites and Amaryllis patiently watched and watched, waiting and more waiting! One minute nothing and next look a Christmas beauty! My Amaryllis is close to being ready. Next year I'm going to plant earlier say when I decorate outside the day after Halloween!

Happy Tuesday!

Joining the ladies at Communal Global today! 

More collections...

I have several Nativity Scenes...I would like to collect them from everywhere I've traveled. They are hard to find and often expensive. So here are a few.....

My first a gift from my Mom given many years ago

my second 

from Rome, Italy

from Amsterdam

from Mexico

from Germany

Can't wait to add to my growing collection

Themed Christmas Trees?

Do you have one? I really like a mix of all kinds of ornaments on my tree. I have homemade ones, ones from the dollar store, lots bought from our travels and many are gifts. If you looked at my tree one my think we have a theme.....skiing! We have so many skiing Santa's and skiing snowmen. Plus skiers,skis and snow shoes! Most have been given to us, few bought also. But when you have a daughter and husband that love skiing I guess you end up with a theme tree without trying!

Here are some of my favorites-

German Skier and Newest Ornament Vintage German Camera from my sister, Beth (thanks xo)

 Bremen Town Musicians 

Santa climbing Eiffel Tower

Jim Shore Ornament-My mom has gotten me one for the last 4 plus years. I love them! I think she joined a club without knowing and doesn't know how to stop them from coming each year.....So now I have a collection and look forward to them each year! 

Eleven Days Until Christmas!!

Happy Monday!

Mantel Madness

Remember how I have five fireplaces...which means five mantels. I was so excited to decorate the three main ones. Heres how they turned out:

Our Kitchen one, I did simple and generic. I like how it came out but the lighting in this picture stinks. It's just candles with greenery and red berries with little pine trees and a Christmas plaid ribbon on top. Simple for the kitchen.

Kitchen

Family room

This fireplace is the opposite side of kitchen one, it's a see through fireplace. I collect snowmen so here is my collection. I also saw on Eddie Ross's Blog December 1st. and decided to copy him and add a lighted wreath to my mirror and I'm really happy I did. 

Living room

I also collect Santas big and small......here is my collection on display. The stocking garland is Katelyn's Advent calendar and were the Advent fairy has been leaving her little treats and gifts. I tradition that followed us home from Germany. This fireplace is one of two electric ones we have, they look pretty cheesy but on a cold morning Sophie and I are cuddled in front of this one and happy! 

Mantel Madness continues hopefully we will get the Christmas village up on the last mantel this week! 

Deck the halls....

It's officially Christmas in our house......tree is decorated....snow on the ground .....Advent fairy doing her thing....! Candy canes are being consumed....Peppermint Mocha coffee mate....yum! Let the season begin!

Merry Christmas

Marzipan

My German teacher gave me what I thought was a mini loaf of bread. The package said Marzipan and something else....It was not bread! What the hell is Marzipan and what are you suppose to do with it? Make something with it? Or just eat it? My husband took one bite and spit it out, daughter did the same! I took a little bite ....me no like!

Marzipan is everywhere here......have you and do you like it?

CHOCOLATE YOU CAN NEVER HAVE TOO MUCH!