MY WISH FOR YOU....

HAPPY NEW YEAR....This songs sums up all I want to say to the special people in my life. Those who walked thru our  life, left  huge footprints and whom we think of LOVE and ADORE. Those who are ever constant in our lives. May this year bring all your wishes come true...may worries stay small and your dreams stay big. God Bless you friends and family. You mean so much to us.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R_zi4OxJpY0

So here it is....

The top 10  of New Years Resolution for 2010.

1. Stop smoking  ( i dont smoke :)

2. Get Fit  ( I need to be better at this ;(
3. Lose Weight (yup...goes along with #2)

4. Enjoy Life More ( that WE DO...its too short)

5. Quit Drinking ( never started)

6. Get Organised ( i am 50/50 there...could use improvement)

7. Learn Something New ( finding the time...big issue)

8. Get Out of Debt ( well 3 kids to raise, 1 income and we do OK)

9. Spend more time with the Family ( Thats a BETTER category...this year its been nice)

10. Help Others ( I DO ! proudly)

I was in one of my many nights of insomnia when I came across the many articles floating around the internet about the new and upcoming year. Everyone makes a promise for change and attempts this with sincere honesty at first. Then eventually  everyone fails and this is because we are all creatures of habit. New things, new changes are difficult. That why we see the same resolutions year after year. They are HARD. Hard to keep up and maintain. I havent decided what I will attempt at making "better" or "changing" this year. I decided last year NOT to decide. I hated the feeling of "I DIDNT GET IT DONE" So...I just didnt make one at all. It worked out well for me... may decide its OK...just to LIVE and LET LIVE again. Who knows???

Finally Christmas Day...

The camcorder died !! YUP...no videos for dad to see the amazing trio in action unwrapping presents at warp speed. This almost brought me to tears considering the dinosaur camcorder we have sent me on a VHSC tape hunt that lasted 3 days. But to my dismay the new tape is still in the wrap and will forever remain there. When the kids woke up I ran ahead to "pre-pare" for the AWWWW....OOOHHHH moment. Well...that didnt get immortalized for Jim to watch . So...we just have pictures and those will have to do. Jim doesnt know b/c his ship is out and wont be pulling in for a few more weeks. This is Christmas Day in pics ONLY    :)

We ended our day with a big Turkey Dinner.

Merry Christmas to you all.

Christmas Traditions.

Well...I think everyone has special things they do during the Holidyas. We are no exception. We are HUGE bakers. On Christmas Eve all we do is bake. Some favorites for us are peppermint bark, peanut butter balls, chocolate chips, a birthday cake ( for jesus of course) brownies and sugar cookies. I could go on and on but you get it. We start with all the ingredients and off we go....Here are some pics of our baking tirade...

Its alot of fun. We all get into it

Our next big tradition is making the Reindeer Food. I already posted that recipe and poem. Jonathon really got into that one this year. He was out there spreading that food/ glitter EVERYWHERE. There was no way any reindeer was missing our house.

We also have a special Santa Key. We got this key many moons ago. Being in the military you never quite know where our home would be. How can Santa get in?? Well we had the Santa Key. As the story goes. You hang the key outside your door if you have or dont have a chimney. He can still get in. His magic makes the key work. So no matter where the navy sent us, what navy home we had or didnt have, Santa can always find his way to us. Always...

We also leave those milk and cookies out for the big red jolly ol' elf. Thats a must in this house. Especially since we know first hand his favorite cookies are chocolate chips and throw in a brownie. He has his very own mug and his very own plate

We also love to watch all the Christmas Classics, Frosty, Rudolph, Charlie Browns Christmas..ALL OF THEM. They are just classics we adore. But before the kids lay down for the night. After the food is sprinkled on the lawn, cookies are baked and the key hangs on the door. I read to the kids an old classic.
Twas the night before Christmas.

These are traditions I hope my children will pass on to our grandchildren and so forth.

Christmas at Granma and Granpa's

We travelled to my mom and dads on 12/19-12/21. Its our short time together but shared with lots of love.

Reindeer Food...

My teens reminded me to do this with Jon this year....Dont forget the carrot for them on the cookie plate either. And for Santa footprints ( dads boots step in flour stomped all the way to the tree and back.) Just a few fun things for the kids....

In a small zipoc bag , mix:
1/4 cup oatmeal ( just a handful)
1/4 cup sugar ( just a handful )

sprinkle of red or green sugar crystals (for cake decorating)
Sprinkle in some SHINY glitter any color.

THIS IS NOT EDIBLE FOR THE KIDS ;)

Attach this poem to it....

Sprinkle on the lawn at night
The moon will make it sparkle bright
As Santa's reindeer fly and roam
This will guide them to your home.

Pics taken last night....

All is calm...All is bright...

Its Christmas Eve...Lets rejoice and be glad. All the running around, hustle and bustle is about over. The stores are closing and the mad dash is at an end. It has too. Its not about the gifts, the food, the list of do's and some donts, its all about why we come together. The small minute details dont count. Not the panic and not the  the holidays stress. Its all about each other. Its all about family. Let us call to mind our own family and extended family of dear friends all over the world. I am thinking fondly of my husband who wont be home with us but never leaves our heart. I hope Christmas is as special to you as it is to us. Treasure those calm & bright moments as a family because truly thats what everyday is all about. Merry Christmas...

I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people.

For there is born to you this day in the city of David, a Savior,

Who is Christ the Lord.

Luke 2:10