Glimpse

A glimpse into our Christmas season...

Nativity...a very special heirloom passed down from my mother from her mother...we don't have the whole set yet, but as you can tell, the most important person is present and accounted for...

O Christmas Tree...our "new" tradition (or since the dating days of Chad and me) has been to go to a place called Christmas Tree Hill Farm to pick out our (live) Christmas tree and (live) wreath for our front door...I truly believe Santa Claus lives there...

I am a lover of these German type ornaments...I hope one day my tree is covered in them...preferably Christopher Radko...:)

I fell in love with these stockings from Pottery Barn the first Christmas we lived in our own house...so I purchased them, complete with all our names monogrammed (dogs, too).

I hope you and your family enjoyed Christmas 2009 as much as ours did.

Pumpkins. Cider. Candied Apples.

The forecast this weekend is perfect for what I have in mind. Chilly, damp, and perfectly fall in every sense of the word.

This weekend, my husband's daughter comes to visit, which usually entails other visitors in our home - my nieces Tee & Cee, to be exact. It is usually up to one of the adults to think of an activity to entertain, and since everyone went apple picking two weeks ago (which I need to post pictures of, I know), this weekend, we are going to the pumpkin patch to select our very own Great Pumpkin(s) to be carved and lighted for the first time on Saturday night.

I am beyond thrilled! I really do love fall and having a lighted pumpkin to celebrate the season and the upcoming holidays just makes me smile. Plus, I really REALLY love cleaning up all the slimy pumpkin seeds that somehow manage to become stuck to every surface in my kitchen.

Along with carved pumpkins will be delicious apple cider and hot chocolate as well as home made candied apples that I really hope work out because I bought the kit and the apples and the sticks to hold them with. I haven't had a candied apple in years, so I hope it doesn't become the candied apple disaster. Which it very well could, 'cause I am most definitely not MARTHA. MARTHA probably grows her own apples and makes her own popcicle sticks out of fallen wood from her wooded acreage in New York or wherever she lives. My popcicle sticks come out of a bag from Wal-Mart.

Anyway, I am trying to make this weekend a "homey" one - complete with Yankee Candles burning and the gas logs on in the fireplace. And a mess in the kitchen, I'm sure.

Should be fun.

It's The Most Expensive Time Of The Year

Oh. My. Dear. Lord.

I just made my Christmas list for the 2009 Christmas No Using of Credit Cards Allowed Blow Out and I had to run and throw up. And then take a Cymbalta. And then wonder what illicit side jobs I can get to pay for this absolute madness. Just kidding.

I'm sure y'all know what I'm talking about because I KNOW there are some slightly obsessed females out there that are completely on the ball and already planning who/what/where to buy. The Christmas season is right around the corner folks, or right in your face if you shop at Hobby Lobby. And not only do you not remember what he*! you bought for Grandma Suzie Q last year, evidently your family has multiplied and you're buying for your second cousin twice removed, too. Awesome.

And not only THAT, but there are festivities to buy for...and I'm not just talking about Christmas, y'all. For all you Southerners, you know that the holiday season begins with Halloween and does not let up until New Year's Day's collards are gone. That's about 2 1/2 solid months of extra expenditures that are not limited to: finding the perfect Halloween costume for you, your man, and your 'lil bit, what to wear for Thanksgiving dinner at Mama 'n them's, what to wear for the Christmas photo, what to wear to the company Christmas party, what to wear for the family Christmas dinner, what to wear when you go out and drink to get over Christmas. And New Year's? Just go ahead and apply for that loan. The list goes on and on. And that doesn't even TOUCH the decorations. Halloween and Thanksgiving included. And the Christmas tree. And the wrapping paper. And the ribbon. And the numerous bottles of wine it takes to get through the entire Christmas season. And the extra bottle of Evan William's eggnog that is conducive to a very merry Christmas, thankyouverymuch.

Whatever happened to peace and good will towards men? Is that available for purchase at my local Target? Maybe we have some prioritizing to do...

Merry Merry Christmas!

Wow, the Christmas season hit hard and fast this year! I haven't posted since before Thanksgiving (which was WONDERFUL - thank you to my mom and Chad's mom for all the delicious food - and for Mrs. Avril Mivzerosky for the delicious creme brulee we enjoyed!) and now 2008 is drawing to a close. This year has brought a lot of change, not only for my small circle in the world, but for the entire country/world. Our prayers are with everyone reeling from the financial difficulties as of late and we thank God for blessing us beyond measure and keeping us from TRULY having to struggle. To Him be the glory!
I have not spent as much time as I need to really reflecting on what this season really means. I know that the reason for that is because Chad and I have not been involved in church (yes, I will admit it). That is one of the our New Year's Resolutions - actually a LIFE resolution - to become an ACTIVE member of a church that we both love. As much as I love Brookwood, I don't think Chad's heart is really in it and he would be more comfortable in a smaller group of believers. We have to come to a compromise that will encourage spiritual growth in our home. Please be in prayer that we find a good fit!
This weekend we are going to (belatedly) celebrate Chadee's 9th birthday, which was yesterday, with pizza, cake, and family, to be followed by a trip to see the lights/animals at Hollywild! I am praying the weather will be good because last year we got to celebrate in the rain - note: reindeer, plus angora-ish sweater, plus rain = stinkiness. We are also going to watch "The Nativity Story" this weekend. I watched part of it for the first time earlier this week and it was good!
Anyway, I hope everyone is having a wonderful Christmas season! I hope to post pics soon!