look what i got! it's awesome. it's a color puzzle i spotted online about a month ago. although my dh doesn't quite "get-it", i love it! as i put it together today it helped remind me about color that i learned so long ago. what i love about it is it was fun to put together, it's a learning tool, it serves as inspiration and it reminds me of my mom. all really good things. i'm going to hang it in my create room to look at all the time. i can't wait!

what a good weekend and a good day today. we are in hanging out mode this entire week. i've remained in my pj's and sat near the couch the entire day. it's going on 5:00 pm and i have to get changed because we are continuing our fun times by going out to dinner this evening with good friends and neighbors.

this has been a tough year for a lot of people we know and we've done our best to try to make this christmas 2006 a special one for each of those close to us. i hope they all know how much they mean to us and i wish nothing but the best for everyone (including us) for the upcoming 2007 year.

happy holiday and new year everyone!

My last posts showed the kids playing in the snow. The snow is long gone and I'm a bit sad. I really like the snow and I really do like snow days. It gives all of us (me especially) a built in excuse to slow down and not get everything done. It's like Gods way of making us in the Midwest take a breath. I single out the Midwest because I know my friends in Detroit the snow does not slow them down a bit. LOL! Anyway, I'm hoping for a white Christmas but I will go as far to say that I'm wishing that only at my house - so I don't interfere with any one elses holiday travel plans. Aren't I nice?!

Ok, so I really should be stressing at this point. I am no where close to being done with Christmas shopping. Seriously. But, I put in a major push at work today and I'm off now until the New Year (so I heard my dh tell his Grandpa this evening on the phone. Patti - do you really think it's true?!). I am making a full charge ahead attempt at finishing my Christmas shopping in the next three days - like I really have a choice. I'm supposed to be upstairs right now updating my Christmas shopping list but I'll admit I'm procrastinating. I really have no idea why. I started updating it but then I realized I needed my daytimer which was in the office. That led me to sitting at my desk to reach for my daytimer and I got sidetracked by my computer. It made me check some blogs I frequent, then check my personal email, then check my business email and then update my blog. Ugggh. No wonder I only have a few gifts purchased. Even with all of this procrastination, I really am not stressing. Even with the pending Christmas Eve event happening at my house where I'm cooking dinner for nine people. My house has to be clean and presentable. I absolutely refuse any longer to stress these things. It will all get done. May not be perfect but it will be great none the less. I'll let you know how it goes.

I hope anyone who reads this is leading a stress free holiday season. We all deserve it!

Happy Holidays to all. Merry Christmas!

As explained in my previous post here lies proof of the snow ball fun!



Update: Ok, so the snowball "play" ended up with less play and more hard feelings - as they usually do. Older boys were being mean, younger boys got hurt and upset. Nothing serious but still a reality check. They did have fun in the beginning!

Ok - my photos uploaded in the wrong order so pretend to read this backwards.

Oscar, the skateboarding snow dog. It's one of his favorite things but he hasn't quite figured out how to do it just yet. Too bad he can't meet up with Tyson the professional skateboarding bulldog. Maybe someday they can meet and Oscar can get a few pointers from him. Like Tyson, Oscar is drawn to the skateboard. Good thing Alex isn't interested in it anymore because Oscar now calls it his own.

What is he thinking? No one can skateboard in the backyard - let alone in the snow! These minor facts don't stop him from trying however.

Here is a better picture of him trying on the front walk. This is the first time he's been out in the snow and so far so good.

Now this is really what snow days are all about - prepping for a huge neighborhood snow ball fight (in our backyard no less). Notice the fort of protection being built on the left. I've been informed that a team of boys (7) from up the street were coming down for the action. My boys are not the only two on their team - they were however the only ones out there at the time I took this picture.

Enjoy the snow day boys - we don't get too many of these anymore!

Oh my... just saw boys from the other team walking with a saucer filled with already created snow balls. This is getting serious! I think I'm going to peek my head out there so they all see me and know I'm watching. Want them to have fun but not get crazy!