Feeding the Dolphins

We got to feed the dolphins. They came so close that we were able to pet them. That was really cool. We fed the rays as well. Rays are just as slimy as dolphins. Imagine that?

Sea World 2009

The smiles on all our faces shows how much fun we had!

Sea World

We took the kids to Southern CA for Christmas. It was such a great time. Here are some pics from Sea World.

Shamu, Shamu, da, da, da-da-da-da! (If you have been to Sea World, you know that chant)

Merry Juleanuary!

I stole this title from Merry Madagascar when King Julean decides Christmas is all about him. He thinks Christmas is all about the getting, and not the giving. This post is about what I got, so that is why the title.

Doone and Rhett have been our dear friends for 15 years now! (aren't THEY old) Doone and I try to see each other every year, but this year it did not happen. I miss my friend Doone. At the beginning of December Rhett called. He told me about the gift he was giving Doone for Christmas. He decided to give her a trip to San Francisco to see Wicked. Of course she can't go alone, and wondered if I would go with her. Um, let me think about that!! So in February, Doone and I are going to San Fran to see Wicked! Thanks for the present Rhett. This year, both Doone and I love you!

Pictures with Santa

Nativity

So our fireplace is still not done! We have not touched it in two months. We will get right on it after the Holidays. But here is our nativity set anyway. My lovely sister-in-law, Camden, made those beautiful stockings one year for us.

Christmas Decor

I really love to decorate for Christmas. Some of these decorations are from friends I don't see very often. It is nice to put them up and think of all of you. Thanks for the memories, the talks, and the friendship. I miss you all.

Another Secret?

This is what I am giving my sister Mist, for Christmas. I have always thought silhouettes were really cool. I seem to see them pop up everywhere now. They are in magazines, on blogs, and in the Martha Stewart section of the store. I thought I would give them a try. They are harder and more time consuming than I thought they would be. I hope she loves them!

Can You Keep a Secret?

This is what we are giving the kids on Christmas Day to let them know we are going to DISNEYLAND!! We are also taking them to Legoland and Sea World. They have no idea we are going! It is going to be so fun to watch them open this present! They are going to pull the ticket out of the envelope to see the legoland and sea world part.

All I Want For Christmas is My Two Front Teeth.....

Darth Vader and Beautiful Butterfly

Sam was Vader this year for Halloween. Maren was a lovely butterfly. Tyler painted Maren's face and she loved it. We went trick or treating with Misty's kids. It was great weather and the kids got more candy this year than they ever have. I really do love Halloween.

Hallelujah!

I just finished a one year supply for four people of all the basic foods. It is so great to have this done! It is not exactly what we wanted to drop a few thousand dollars doing, but it is great peace of mind to have it done. Just in case you are trying to count, it is EIGHTY boxes with 6 #10 cans in each box. Add that up...
I am not going to worry about food storage for thirty years now. Isn't that great. I love it. I am so excited. Yeah!

SNOW!! (just 2 feet of it)

We have about 2 feet of snow on the ground right now. It is so beautiful. The schools have been closed for three days and Tyler has stayed home from work for three days. It has been great! Tyler has caught up on some much needed sleep. Maren lost her front tooth. Sam and Maren helped make some witch hat cupcakes. And I have just bummed around the house enjoying every second with the kids and Tyler home. What a great week. Monday is going to come too soon. But, good things must always come to an end.

Don't you just LOVE Halloween!

The kids are out of school for fall break. They wanted to decorate pumpkins this week. Of course we couldn't just carve them, right? These pumpkins took most of the day on Monday. What a great day it was. Maren and I had so much fun. Sam mostly followed us around playing with his legos. But Maren really got into it with me.
The orange pumpkins have vinyl stickers on them. The white pumpkin is painted and the "bat-o-lantern" is also painted. We added bat wings, ears and crazy eyes.

Scaredy Cats!

Sam and Maren are totally afraid of going anywhere in the house by themselves. They must have someone on the same level as they are, even if it is daytime. I just figured out why. Maren told us tonight, she is "afraid of the BOOGER MAN"! Well, I would be afraid of the booger man as well. It all makes sense now!

Barn Dance

We went to a barn dance the other night. It was really fun. The kids played in the hay, had a tractor ride and ran around until they were exhausted. Their matching red shirts were all by accident. How lucky am I they matched for the pictures!

New Fireplace!

We finally tore out the bad, bad hunter green marble on the fireplace and replaced it with brick. Tyler did a great job. It is almost finished. But here is what we have done so far.

How I Decorated with the Halloween Topiary

So I finally got the Halloween decorations out. Here is what I did with the topiary I showed a while back.

Crazy Heart Quilt

I have always wanted to make a real quilt, but didn't know how. A lovely friend of mine offered to help a group of us (thanks Carol) and after only a year and a half, this is what I made. I love it, but I now know, I will never make a quilt again. It is just not my thing. I backed it with corduroy and tied it with random buttons.