A Great Week!!

This has been wonderful week. The grandson has been with us all week and we have had so much fun. We have done as much as we could squeeze into each day. And as the days came to an end we only wished there was more time.

The first three days we had snow on the ground and were able to do some sledding and snowboarding. No, I did not do any snowboarding!!! But he did and he is very good at it too. I thought I would share a few pictures with you.

And of coarse I have to say that the whole day was not smooth sailing!! But he took those times with a smile as well!

Now all the fun we have had was not outside. We have spent many hours playing on the Wii. We have been bowling and playing tennis and golf. As well as quite a bit of big game hunting. But I think our fav to play together is probably Super Mario. We have played and laughed so hard that my stomach is sore. Yes sir, it has been a GREAT week.

A wonderful treat for the holidays

       I  ran  across  this  on   another  site  and   just  had  to  share  it   with  you.


                              I  hope  you   enjoy  it  as  much  as  I  did. 


     There  just  is  nothing  else  to  add.  After  you  listen  you  will  understand.


                                                     Merry Christmas!!

A Christmas Story

I wanted to share a story with you that I hope does not turn into a book!!

When my boys were about 8 and 10 we were sitting around the tree one evening talking after reading the Christmas story. And one of them commented that after we get up on Christmas morning things seemed to be over so fast. Now I ask what he meant and he explained how we get up and open gifts and then all that's left is the mess!!!

So this got me to thinking. After asking them a few more questions and discovering that what they wished was that the gift opening could last longer and that "Christmas" would last all day long. So we worked together and decided to make a plan and make just that very thing take place at our house that year. In fact we stretched it and enjoyed it so well that they wanted to make it a tradition. Here is what we came up with.

A few days before the big day we sat around the tree and handed out the gifts as if we were going to open them. They had a blast doing this because playing under the tree was a no-no so this way they got to see all their packages. Now I had made sure that the number was even for each. So then they counted them and made tiny tags for each one with a number on them. It was fun to watch them pick which to place the number 1 on and so forth.  Then after the stack was completely  numbered, we placed all the gifts back under the tree.

Now before we went to bed on Christmas eve I made a breakfast casserole (strata) and placed it in the fridge. So when we got up on Christmas morning I could put on the coffee pot and turn on the oven. The boys came down shortly and we started handing out the gifts and everyone sat in the middle of their pile. Now I had to throw a bit more fun in the mix here so, I had written the numbers down on tiny slips of paper 1-? and each boy had a small jar full of numbers. They decided who would go first and then they drew a number and found the gift.  They would open it and then the next guy would pick a number and open his.

After about 8-9 gifts I went and put the casserole in the oven. But when I returned they had talked it over and decided to add their own twist. They ask us if they could stop opening for now and play with what they had opened and have breakfast and then play some more and then after we ate dinner (around 2pm) we could sit and finish Christmas. We were not sure this was a good idea but they wanted to so we agreed and it was a wonderful Christmas and I have to say it is where a new tradition was born.

So don't be afraid to start something new!! I believe it helped our boys to appreciate things all the more. And since it was their idea it was easy to make happen as well.

Do you have any little quirky traditions at your house? Maybe something that everyone thought was corny till they tried it out? If so please leave a comment and share it with me.

And remember Christmas is not about the gifts anyway. It is about love. A love that was so strong that the baby Jesus was born just for you.

Merry Christmas everyone!!

This is Fabulous...

              

                  From   time  to  time.

                     We  run  across  things  in  our  lives  that  are  jaw  dropping.

     And  this  is  one  of  those  things.

                  I  wish  I  could  have  been  there.

                        To  have  had  the  chance  to  experience  this  in  person.

     It  was  so  awesome  to  see  and  hear.

                   I  can  imagine  the  spirit  that  filled  the  air  as  this  was  going  on.

Click here to experience a true gift of the season.

Leave me a comment and let me know what you thought. Or how you felt.

Merry Christmas to all of you!!!

Its Beginning To Look Alot Like Christmas

It is  early in December but old man winter is coming in full force.

I thought I would share a bit of what was going on in my neck of the woods today.

It seemed to not ever quit snowing. I think it is pretty and I love to watch it.

I love the way the snow is on the trees and I always have to remind myself that that is not man made. Only the father can make something this beautiful.

The snow is still falling as I am sharing this with you and I don't mind telling you I am planning a slow and quit day tomorrow.

Just a little bit of my world.....