We've Been Elfed!

Check us out!

http://elfyourself.jibjab.com/view/MVUhJqtfs9Vb6r0MKkLm

Here's Mum & Apa with their grand-kiddos

http://elfyourself.jibjab.com/view/wrO3dNBVTR747AGz

Thanks, asc for the cute idea--love yours!

December 5—This Picture and Other Holiday Memories From Childhood

I love the holiday season because it is the perfect time to create new memories and traditions for our family and reflect upon my own fun childhood memories. When I look at this picture (which is now one of my holiday decorations) I can remember so much...having breakfast with childhood friends and Santa at Sanger Harris, pretending I was a reindeer, the smell of cedar from the trunk my mom stored the Christmas ornaments in, the handmade ornaments you can see hanging on the tree in the picture, listening to a Harry Mancini LP album on the record player. Thanks, Mom and Dad for great holiday memories...hopefully I can do the same for our boy!

December 4—Holly Jolly Thursdays (a glimpse into UMS)

So, some of you may or may not know our choice for the boy's education. There are so many options available, our decision is University Model School. This type of school is a blend of both the traditional classroom and home school. WHK's school meets for classes on Monday, Wednesday and Friday and I have the pleasure of continuing his studies (as planned by his teachers) on Tuesday and Thursday. For us, it is a perfect balance...we love it!

Because we have a bit more flexibility in WHK's school schedule, we have a December tradition of completing all of our home school studies on Tuesdays so that we can have our HOLLY JOLLY THURSDAYS. On our Thursdays in December we will do fun holiday activities such as:

• having our holiday portraits made
• shopping for our Christmas shoe boxes
• soaking up the fun of the season--today we will see the Best Christmas Pageant Ever
• planning & building our gingerbread house--see last year's here
• holiday baking, shopping & wrapping

These are fun times--it is worth working double-time on Tuesdays to be able to make these memories on our HOLLY JOLLY THURSDAYS!

December 3—Peppermint Mocha Creamer

This particular holiday pleasure usually graces us early in the season. But let me tell you, when I am strolling through my neighborhood market in late October and spy the Peppermint Mocha Coffeemate in the diary section I am instantly jolted into the holiday spirit. I enjoy it even more when I am drinking my coffee from one of my holiday mugs--but that is an entry for another day…

December 2—Christmas Music!

Many years ago Craig bought me a 200 CD changer. During the holidays, I love to load it up with my 36 (and counting) Christmas CDs and put it on random/shuffle. I have everything from sacred to silly. I am a complete sucker for any store’s promotional Christmas CD usually sold at the check-out. Anyway, I get all sorts of holiday joy having it on all day long. It is a wonderful backdrop for entertaining friends and family throughout the season. I also love knowing that the boy is exposed to all different types of sounds and styles of music—hey, isn’t it OK for Handel and Jimmy Buffet to make a joyful noise? PS, if you haven't already, turn your volume on--I have a fun sampling of Christmas songs here on my blog.