Our Week in Review 2014 ~ 12/21 - 12/27

Another week bites the dust!  

Continuing with Fat Mum Slim's photo a day challenge, here are last week's prompts ...

{December 21:  This is interesting}

We have no "generic" ornaments on our Christmas tree. Every year the kids and I go pick out special ornaments to add to our tree. It is interesting to see how their interests have changed over the years. This year we had one made for our dog, Honey. I thought it was interesting that we never got her a special ornament in the five Christmases that she has been with us. I actually feel bad about that. But she has one now and I guess that's all that matters.

{December 22: 'Tis the season to ...}

'Tis the season to celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

(This is the front of our church - decorated for Christmas.)

{December 23:  Tree}

Our tree as seen through Keira's starry glasses.

{December 24:  Color}

Something that has been a bit elusive lately - the blue sky and golden sun.  It was so nice to se them both today even if they didn't stick around long.  It is now very windy and raining.  Though I hear both the sun and blue sky may come out of hiding and make an appearance on Friday.  Here's hoping!

{December 25:  Celebration}

Alex was pretty excited about the Christmas pajamas that he got to open on Christmas Eve.  It was quite a celebration.  :)

{December 26:  Animal}

Honey decided to help me open one of my Christmas gifts yesterday.  She was so fun this year!  She was so curious about everything.

{December 27:  I like ...}

I like to play around with my camera.  Especially this time of year when there are sparkle lights everywhere.

Linking up with Tamar:

We had a wonderful Christmas.  Fun times at the school Christmas party on Tuesday afternoon.  The kids have been off school since Wednesday and will be off until January 5.  Keira played a song during the Christmas Eve service at church.  I was hoping to share the video but I'm having problems getting the link.  Here is my video share on Facebook ... hopefully you can view it that way.

We made lots of cookies and treats.  Too many, in fact.  Doug's parents came to visit on Christmas morning while we were all still in our jammies.  Doug visited with his dad while his mom helped Keira make more treats.  Once they left, the kids enjoyed their gifts while I prepped for dinner.  My mom and sister came in the afternoon.  After a yummy dinner (if I do say so myself) we opened gifts and played UNO, something that has become a tradition when we get together.

On Friday I had planned to do absolutely nothing.  I slept in until almost 11:00 - I guess I really needed some sleep.  I'd hoped to spend the day in my yoga pants but our neighbor passed away a few days before Christmas and visitation was on Friday.  So Doug and I went to pay our respects.  We decided to go get a few more things for the bathroom while we were out.  Did I mention we are remodeling our bathroom?  It is the first room we did when we bought our home 17 years ago and is badly in need of updating.  Doug was going to go get some of the bigger items on Saturday morning but ended up having to go to work.  His plant shut down and needed attention.  It as a decent day weather wise so I took Honey for a walk.  It felt so good to be out in the fresh air!  We hadn't been for a walk in a while because of hunting season.  The boys played some hoops while we walked.  Then we went home and did nothing.  :)  Watched movies, ate popcorn, and snuggled on the couches.

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Our Weeks in Review 2014 ~ 11/30-12/13

So, yeah, I missed last week's post.  Doug was on vacation from work and we spent a lot of time shopping.  Not all Christmas shopping though.  We are remodeling our bathroom.  Again.  It was the first room we did when we bought our house 17 years ago and it is due for an update now that the rest of the house is done.  If I wasn't shopping with him, I was shopping with someone else!  :)  I tagged along with some ladies from church to Kraynak's (Christmas and toy store) and Daffin's Candy (chocolate!) again this year.  We went last year and had so much fun, I guess we are making it an annual thing.   We also made some Christmas candy.  Every year the deaconesses at church give out small boxes of candy for Christmas.  It is a lot of work making it but it is fun getting together.  I will probably be helping with that again this week.

Since I didn't post last week, you get bombarded with two week's worth of photos.  Sorry!

{November 30: I bought this!}

Recently I bought a package of sparkley, glittery washi tape to use in my scrapbooks and for crafting. Because one can never have too much washi tape.  True story.  :)

{December 1: Fruit}

This is the only sunshine we saw here today.  :)

{December 2: Grass}

Back in July, before the maintenance folks mowed the Far Meadow at our favorite park, Honey had a fun time running through the tall grass.

{December 3: Pop!}

Alex was excited to finally be able to open this apple-cinnamon lolli-POP from Halloween. I knew we were saving it for a reason.  :)

{December 4: Free}

Gazing at the moon is free. However, taking a trip to the moon is anything but. It is estimated that NASA spent $20-$25 billion (in 1969 dollars) sending men to the moon. That would be about $150 billion today. YIKES!

{December 5: Me}

Me ... with the birthday boy. Alex turned 9 officially at 5:12 a.m. today. My baby is growing up too fast! {sniff sniff} We got a little silly taking pics with my cell phone.  We were messing with the different modes on my phone. This was taken on "beauty" mode. My skin is not that smooth.  :)
If you missed it, I posted about Alex's ninth birthday.

{December 6: Joy is ...}

Seeing Christmas through the eyes of a child.  

Alex was so excited to (finally!) put the tree up today. He helped his dad get it up, string the lights, and put on the star. Then my in-laws came over for a visit, so Alex was even more excited when his grandma helped put ornaments on. He loves having the tree up!

{December 7: Weekends are for ...}

Worshiping Jesus and celebrating Christmas with our church family. (We had our Christmas dinner today). And enjoying the beautiful sunshine, which felt especially good as the sun has been a bit elusive lately.

{December 8: Simple pleasure}

A few years ago I decided to start collecting snow globes. It is a simple thing that makes me happy. This guy was my first and is still my favorite. He's just so cute!

{December 9: Decoration}

One of my favorite decorations at Christmastime is our tree because having it up enables me to play more.

{December 10: Closed door} 

Just one of many decorated closed doors we saw today during our walk through Kraynak's Christmas decorations.

{December 11: Something red}

I loved the Snoopy lights in the Peanuts display yesterday while visiting Kraynak's. I would have bought some of these lights if they had any in stock. Snoopy and I go way back. 

{December 12: Skyline}

This is the view out my front door ... my neighbor's mulberry tree. I love that tree. I think it has so much character.

{December 13: Much loved}

After thinking all day what I could take a photo of that is much loved, I finally decided on Honey. She's been our girl for almost 6 years (we adopted her in January when she was just a pup) and I couldn't imagine life without her.

Linking with Tamar:

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Scavenger Hunt Sunday 03.23.14

Hey there!  Happy Spring!  Welcome to another Scavenger Hunt!  This time I'm the sponsor of the list so I had to make sure to play along.  :)  So let's get right to it!

{leading lines}

Leading lines are lines within an image that lead the eyes to another point in the image.  This is one technique that I need more practice with, which is why I suggested it as a prompt.  This is not the photo I originally had in mind for the prompt, but I didn't get a chance to make the other one happen.  It's okay though because we needed a more recent photo of Keira with her violin.  And just a little shout out for my girl - she is now 1st violin/1st chair in her school orchestra!  WOOT!

{relationship}

Alex picked his Bible to read the other evening for homework.  (He reads to me or his dad every night for practice).  I love seeing my kids digging into God's word.  And I pray that he will continue to grow in his relationship with the Lord.

{good morning!}

It is a good morning when the sun is shining.  Even if the only way I can see it now is through the trees.

{together}

Keira and I went to get our eyes examined together this week.  She needs a slight prescription.  As you can see, her glasses are done already.  It will take some getting used to - seeing her with glasses.

{project}

Just a snapshot of part of a page from my 2012 Project Life album.  The album that still isn't completed yet.  {sigh}  :)

Thanks for stopping by!  Make sure you go visit Ashley for more Scavenger Hunt finds!  And have a great week!

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Scavenger Hunt Sunday 03.16.14

Hello!  Welcome to another Scavenger Hunt Sunday!  We had lots of beautiful sunshine this week.  I even got outside on Tuesday to do some running (actual exercise running - not errand running).  :)  It felt so good to get out and enjoy the warmer weather.  However, Wednesday we had rain which then changed to snow and ice.  Ah, winter in Pennsylvania.  You gotta love getting two different seasons in the same week.  :)

Anyway, you are here for the hunt, so I'll get to it ... 

{doorway}

Keira agreed to help me with this prompt, so after doing some shopping, we sought out an interesting doorway downtown.  We found these on a church.

{candid}

This candid shot of Doug and Alex cracks me up.  They were looking at Alex's eye spy book together.  Doug is hiding from the camera, as usual.  :)

{open}

I already mentioned that we have had lots of sunshine lately.  Soon it will be warm enough to open the windows and let the fresh air in.  Yay!

{look up}

After taking Keira's picture in the church's doorway, I only had to look up to see this steeple.  

{stuffed}

Alex helped me try a new gluten-free cookie recipe on Saturday.  Once he stuffed a couple in his face :) he gave me a big thumbs up.  They are yummy!

Thanks for stopping by!  Be sure to stop over and say hello to our gracious host, Ashley!

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Sunshine and Blue Skies

In the midst of winter, sunshine and blue skies are a refreshing change to the typically gray, cloudy days.

If only I could sit and let my skin and my spirit soak it all in.

Actually, why can't I?  That pesky to-do list can wait until another day, right?

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