Kristi's 12 Days of Christmas Giveaway

Kristi from   ...and babies make four    is having her annual 12 days of Christmas giveaway.  Click on the link and join the fun.

Whose birthday is it?

                         Take the time to read an amazing post by Ann Voskamp
                                     






When I grow up (even though she's MUCH younger than me) can I be her?      :-)

Gymnastic Meet Take 2

Makenzie had her second gymnastic meet and this time she did her routine with her eyes "open".  She loves gymnastics, but the audience, not so much.  So we're putting this in the win-win category.

Warming up.

Getting first place

And the best part of the day, ice-cream afterwards.

We're proud of you Makenzie Belle.

Wordless Wednesday (almost)

The cutest little "Santa" I ever saw.

Brody

(He will be18 months in a few days)

Christmas Mantle

One of my favorite things to decorate for Christmas (or really any holiday) is our fireplace mantle.  Probably because one of my favorite parts of Christmas is the stockings.  Even when I was little, to me the stockings were better than the presents.

The kids are grown with families of their own but "Santa" still leaves stockings for everyone.    I've never done a mantle link up before and I'm so glad I happened upon the two below.  In looking at all the links, I've gotten so many great ideas.  Besides pinterest of course.  I'll definitely be trying something new next year.

Stockings:  Pottery Barn Kids (We are actually missing four of the stockings)
Stocking holders:   Target
Fire place screen: My husband got this years ago at Kirklands.  He is very partial to it.

                      Click on the link ups below to view some really spectacular Christmas mantles.
                                           


                                                              Today I'm linking up with
                                                                          Ten June

and My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia

     

Multitudes on Mondays

                                             Joining Ann Voskamp 1000 gifts.




                  Hope you'll visit. Just click on Multitudes on Mondays picture above.
                                  Remembering to be greatful in all things



I'm thankful for:
439.  church sermons that speak directly to the issues I need it to (again).
440.  beautiful december weather in Florida.
441.  pinterest ideas.
442.  a visit with my parents this weekend after church.
443.  train building with Dylan.
444.  my grandkids and my better-late-than-never (posting) of their halloween pictures.



Dorothy and the lion.



A Modern Day Fairy Princess



Spock
(Dylan doesn't know who Spock is so he decided he was a spaceman)



445.  gingerbread houses.
446.  Mike always being able to fix whatever I break.
447.  two nieces accepting Jesus into their hearts this month.
448.  Muri's new picture.
449.  being closer to finishing our Christmas shopping.
450.  peppermint mocha frappuccinos.
451.  peppermint bark.
452.  children's Christmas plays.
453.  outdoor nativitys.
454.  all day Christmas music channels.
455.  my dad wrapping all the Christmas presents for my mom.
456.  Wanda's continued healing from surgery.
457.  Christmas cards arriving in the mail.
458.  advent calendar ideas by bloggers (I especially love Pitter Patter Art's idea
               of a Random Act of Kindness advent calendar).
459.  more neighbors putting up Christmas lights this year.
460.  light traffic to work this morning. :) 


                                 What are you thankful for?






 

Trains

What is it with little boys (and big boys) and trains.  Dylan came for  a sleep over this past weekend and all he could think about or talk about was trains. So after dinner Poppy and Dylan set up the Christmas train and had lots of fun watching it go around and around f-o-r-e-v-e-r.  

Train building is serious work.

Time to start the train!

After a  night of rail-roading, a bath and pj's, I tried to do a little photo shoot by the tree.

I gave up after a few minutes because sometimes it's better just to "shoot" for another day.

We had a great visit sweet boy.