I just had to give my darling hubby some props... every year he says this is the last year he's putting up Christmas lights and every year he puts them up again. I think he does it just because Katherine loves it so much. But the day after Christmas they all come down. He really does a great job and it's so much fun because you can see our home from the main road. He gets a lot of compliments and rightfully so. I'm so proud of his hard work especially knowing how much he hates doing it. It just makes me love him a little bit more each year.

Gingerbread house anyone?

Yesterday we went to Grandma's house to make gingerbread houses. I was so stressed, I had grocery shopping to do and pies and cookies to bake. I really didn't want to take the time to do this. However I reasoned with myself, it's my own fault, I left everything until the last minute. Granted it didn't help getting sick for an entire day last week, but still. Katherine was so excited and it seems like lately we tell her we'll do something and something else happens and it doesn't work out. How could I disappoint her yet again? So we went. I am so glad we did. I remember as a kid my mom would help us make all our teachers gingerbread houses every Christmas. It's such a fond memory. We haven't made gingerbread houses in years. I never really knew how much I missed making them. The pies and the cookies didn't get done, but it was nice to spend some quality time with family. So today you guessed it, it's baking day!

Times they are a changing....

Today my 6 yr. old announced she was texting God. I asked what she was texting him about and she told me it was a secret. After a little prodding I think she was asking him to make the world a better place. But she kept telling me it was a secret and that she was waiting for God to e-mail her back.

BREAKING NEWS!!!!!

Katherine has a boyfriend... she came home with this note tucked into her backpack. I'm wondering if this happened because she took her shirt off in school today? HMMM??? Seriously I made her wear a button down oxford shirt (which qualifies as a uniform shirt, they have to have collars) over her white turtleneck. When she got off the bus she was only wearing the turtleneck. She hated the oxford shirt even though she picked it out in the store. Guess she showed me that I can't make her do anything especially wear an ugly shirt that "makes her look fat".. all 35 lbs. of her.

It's the little things...

It's weird that sometimes the smallest of things will just make me so happy. Like when I have a headache and Katherine comes and gives me a hug and says I thought a hug might cheer you up. Or like last night when I attempted to make guacamole. Now living in Texas it's just assumed that you can make Mexican food. Like when they say bring some beans to the pot luck they mean refried not baked beans. Or that tamales don't just come in cans. At work they'll ask me to bring Mexican type stuff and I'll tell them, are you sure you want me to do that. I will bring ingredients, but as far as getting an authentic taste... hmmm me? don't think so. Well last night I attempted authentic guacamole. It turned out great! I can add that to my list of Mexican foods I can prepare. In the past I took some avocados,sour cream and salsa and mixed them up voila! Well now I know how to do it the right way. You take avocados, lime juice, jalapenos, onion, cilantro, tomato and salt and mix them together. I did manage to get a nasty burn on my hands from the jalapeno. My skin does not like the oil, next time I'll wear rubber gloves. But oh did it taste good. Danny and I had that for dinner, just guacamole and tortilla chips. I think it's the first vegetarian meal my husband has ever had. Anyway... the guacamole success will keep me on cloud nine for at least the rest of the week.

Mary Did you know???

A Twist on the Night Before Christmas

This made me stop and think... so I thought I would share.

T'was the night before Christmas and all through the town Not a sign of Baby Jesus was anywhere to be found. The people were all busy with Christmas time chores Like decorating, and baking, and shopping in stores. No one sang "Away in a manger, no crib for a bed". Instead, they sang of Santa dressed-up in bright red. Mama watched Martha Stewart, Papa drank beer from a tap. As hour upon hour the presents they'd wrap. Then what from the TV did come to their ears? 'Cept an ad, which told of a big sale at Sears. So away to the mall they all flew like a flash Buying things on credit and others with cash! And, as they made their way home from their trip to the mall, did they think about Jesus? Oh, no ... not at all! Their lives were so busy with their Christmas time things No time to remember Christ Jesus, the King.There were presents to wrap and cookies to bake. How could they stop and remember who died for their sake? To pray to the Savior, they had no time to stop. Because they needed more time to Shop til they dropped!" On Wal-mart! On K-mart! On Target! On Penney's! On Hallmark! On Zales! A quick lunch at Denny's. From the big stores downtown to the stores at the mall They would dash away, dash away, and visit them all! And up on the roof there arose such a clatter As grandpa hung icicle lights up on his brand new stepladder. He hung lights that would flash. He hung lights that would twirl. Yet, he never once prayed to Jesus ...Light of the World.
Christ's eyes ... how they twinkle!
Christ's Spirit ... how merry!
Christ's love ... how enormous!
All our burdens... He'll carry!
So instead of being busy, overworked, and uptight
Let's put Christ back in Christmas, and enjoy some good nights!
Merry CHRISTmas, my friends and to all a good night!

Our Weekend

Our Saturday started out by going to Home Depot. Daddy usually takes Katherine and helps make the kid's workshop project. Well this week Daddy was on call and couldn't go. So in Katherine's words... " We'll use Girl Power". So Mom and Katherine made the art easel. We then went home to change clothes and run to the elementary school fundraiser at Mr. Gatti's Pizza. The fundraiser was getting pictures with Santa. Santa was late! Very late! This is the photo we waited forever to get. Katherine wouldn't talk to Santa. When I asked her why she said that's not the real Santa. The real Santa is at Bass Pro Shops. However with this photo I got the photographers release to print however many copies I wanted. We then had to go back home grab some stuff and run over to my parents home to help them get ready for their annual Christmas open house. Here are a couple of photos of our (Katherine and I) contribution... we decorated the 9' Christmas Tree. We had a wonderful time visiting with family and friends. Danny's sister, who was in town from Mississippi, and his mother were able to come. Katherine was so excited. She loved opening the door for the guests and getting to eat whatever she wanted. The marshmallows and pretzels by the chocolate fountain were her favorite. It was a very long day but at the end we were glad we jam packed everything in.