2008 highlights

As the year draws to a close, it is a time of reflection. A time of remembering…the good and the bad.  2008 has been a wonderful year for me.  So many good things have happened.  I have grown immensely as a person, and my family is something I can be proud of.  Not everything I planned [...]

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the boy mechanic

When the Adam and Benjamin opened these gifts, their expressions said, “Oh, Grandma got us books.”  They were not too happy about it.  Apparently, the Christmas ornaments their younger brothers had been given, looked more appealing.  
I sighed in frustration.  These were books my brother had loved, and I thought my children would feel the same.
After quickly glancing through them, [...]

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painting

These last few days have been filled with painting:  The kids all got painting supplies for Christmas, courtesy of Nana.  They opened all their gifts, looked everything over, then gathered the painting supplies and  began filling pages with anything that came to mind.  It is fun to see their creativity.
Even Gideon got some paint.  I kept [...]

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christmas eve

We had so much fun getting the tree!  Dad and the older boys went skiing up the mountain and chose a ‘twin’ tree–one with two trunks–so that we could have one for the living room and they could have one in their room.  When we got home they divided the tree and we decorated this [...]

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feeding the fire

Last night, the boys came in after playing all day, in our wonderful deep snow, and set about warming up next to the stove.   Adam got permission to stoke the fire, as it was low; but then… I heard funny things.
When I investigated, I found Adam running the vent, Benjamin collecting scraps from the floor, and Caleb scooping bark out [...]

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snow enthusiastic

We Finally Have Snow!!!
This morning we woke up with a snowy blanket covering the ground.  It is real snow–not just an icy skiff–coming down.  Deep powder, soft and gentle, it is piling up into a skier’s paradise!  This Christmas break is going to be fun.
When Benjamin saw it, he began shouting, “Hurray! Hurray!  I finally get [...]

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stove-top popcorn

Popcorn is an easy, healthy snack.  By making it in an air popper or on the stove top, you control what goes into it and avoid the pitfalls of microwaved food.  Popcorn kernels sell for about $1/pound, making it one of the cheapest snacks available.
Ingredients:

1/3 cup Popcorn Kernels
3 tablespoons Oil

Instructions:

Pour oil and popcorn kernels into [...]

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christmas morning

You Christmas Stocking Will Be Filled with Money

You’ve either been really really good this year…Or Santa is trying to pay you off!  

What Will Be In Your Christmas Stocking?

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strange things are afoot…

Last night, I was decluttering my magazine/catalogue rack (now that I have placed all my Christmas orders), and came across these: 
Unread Magazines! 
Now these are not just any magazines.  These are woman’s home decorating magazines!  These are magazines I subscribe to.  Magazines, that a year ago, you couldn’t pry out of my hands, until they had [...]

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themed gifts

Today I finally got a bunch of gifts wrapped and ready to give.  This is the first time I have actually seen some of the gifts laid out.  I knew what they would look like, in my mind, but it is nice to see them come together as planned.
This gift is a pampering set for [...]

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