December Happenings

Can't believe December has come and is almost over. All the preparation and anticipation of Christmas will soon be here and gone. I LOVE the Christmas season! Just wish I had more time to just enjoy it... I thought I was ahead of the game this year, but still feel like I'm not quite ready for it to come. There have been lots of things to blog about, just haven't had the chance to actually sit down and do it. So as I am wide awake (darn night shift!!!) I decided to lay on the couch with my heated blanket and computer and do a little updating. I'll start off with a few pictures from our trip to Tollgate for Thanksgiving. Emma, mom and I were able to go over a few days before everyone else and just "relax." It was very enjoyable! Didn't get much done... I think we had the Hallmark channel on continuously playing Christmas movies! Enjoyed family and a good Thanksgiving meal! Got some good deals (and lost a few hours of sleep!) during the annual "Black Friday" shopping trip! Not really sure what we ended up buying, but it's more about the experience and to say that we did it, then anything. Entertained everyone with a coloring contest (the only reason mom won was because she colored every little pebble brown on her placemat and never let anyone else use the brown!). Went ballistic bowling with Missy & Leroy and their crew, KayDee, Brandi, Colton, Luke & Megan and Tony and I. It's been a long time since I've been bowling! Had a little photo shoot with Emma and got some adorable pictures! Great time and lots of fun memories!

A Fun Photo Shoot in the Snow

Enjoying the snow and relaxation while at Tollgate before everyone comes over for Thanksgiving! Decided if we wanted to get a few pictures in the snow that we needed to take them sooner rather then later. Emma was SO excited to get all dressed up and go take pictures in the snow. They turned out really cute, but the internet service is really slow here so I'll have to add more pictures when we get home. Wishing you all a happy thanksgiving!!

Strawberry Pickin'

Still trying to get the blog figured out! Can't seem to move my pictures so next time I am going to add the pictures and then write my story! Be patient with me!

Strawberry Pickin'

This morning Emma and I got up and went to a few garage sales. Found some good buys- Emma was tickled pink with her new Barbie and 5 outfits to go with her. Thought I had scored a brand new Costco nativity set for $25 (originally about $50). Set it aside to go and pay for it and the lady in front of me had just wrote a check for it. Next time lady take the item with you. Don't leave it sitting on the table for someone else to come along and buy. Also found a pack-n-play for KayDee for $5!

After the few garage sales we went to it was then time to go pick strawberries. I should have know that Emma wouldn't last very long. Between picking the ones that weren't ripe and eating the ones that were, she didn't contribute much to the 12# we picked. Brought them home and cleaned them up to make strawberry jam! Had lots of berries left over and an angel food cake mix in the cupboard so decided to make an angel food cake to go with the leftover strawberries. Good idea!! Well, turned the oven to 450 degrees, not 350 degrees. After a few minutes smelled something start to burn. Checked the oven and saw the cake was already getting "well done" after just a few minutes in the oven... so much for angel food cake and strawberries. I was actually going to take it to Jennifer cause I told her I would bring her a bowl of strawberries- sorry Jennifer! I guess I'll go buy the already make angel food cake!

Have spent all week getting ready for my garage sale next weekend. If anyone knows anyone that needs girl clothes (size 12 months to 3/4T) send them my way. And I have little girls' shoes galore!!!

Tony's out pressure washing the house and then I get to start painting and washing the outside windows! Work, work, work!

Having a BBQ, fireworks and enjoying the new fire pit Tony built in the backyard on Monday! Happy 4th of July to everyone! Be safe!!

and the pictures to go along with the previous post!!

I"m still learnng! Give me some patience and one of these days I'll figure out how to do the post and pictures together (or Donna will have to come give me a "How To Post On Your Blog More Than Twice a Year 101" class! At least here are a few pictures! And I had fun playing with the photo editing in IPhoto too!

No Worries...

Emma had her very first dance recital Wednesday evening. All those nights of dance practice this past year when I really didn't want to take her and after last night I was so glad I stuck with it. She LOVES to dance and lives in a tutu or her favorite nightgown all the time.

Getting ready for the recital, the plan was Missy was going to come over and "fix" her hair. I got Emma's hair cut short awhile back and then not long after that Emma decided to cut her hair again herself. Not once, but twice!!! Missy got her after work and I was getting ready. Emma was with Grandma in Salem so I sent Tony out to get her when they got home. When he got home I realized the dance outfit and tap shoes were still at Grandma's house. It's 5:15PM and we have to be there at 6. No worries... we'll have plenty of time!

Daddy got home with Emma and Missy started fixing Emma's hair. A new-do is called a "bi-level" if anyone is wanting a new look! Tried 3 different curling irons and the hairdresser wasn't fond of my Wal-Mart specials so she luckily had brought her own. Got the hair curled and Grandma finally showed up with the outfit. Quickly dressed and put the hair piece in and then we were out the door. 5:47PM leaving...

The program was changed at the last minute from the Lebanon High School Auditorium to Seven Oaks. It would have been a lot more comfortable at the high school. Bleachers vs. padded seats?

Emma was dancing in the first half of the program. Finally #14 her group is ready to dance. Unfortunately you were not supposed to take video or flash photography- is that why all the parents were videoing and taking pictures the night before at the dress rehearsal? Now I have to buy the $15 video just to capture Emma's first recital!

Her group did a very good job and we adorable up there on that big stage!

Emma thanks everyone for coming to watch her. Special thanks to Matthew, Marisa and Jennifer for the pretty pink flowers. Thanks to MaryLou, Bella and Gabe for my tooth fairy!

Afterwards Tony, Emma and I went to Sharis and enjoyed dinner and free pie! No I didn't eat the pie! :) And I had a very good tuscan chicken salad!

Going to the "wheeee park"

Yesterday we went to Bend for the day. Started out with some good finds at Goodwill, then to the Old Mill District to spend my REI rebate, dinner at Red Robin and then found a nice park to enjoy a little of the afternoon sun! We drove by it on the way to REI and told Emma we would maybe come back later and play there. Well, she didn't let us forget what we had told her. It was a nice and sunny day, but a little chilly!! Enjoying a couple more days at Tollgate and then back to reality.

Attempting at a blog...

Love to read other's blogs so thought I would give this a try!  We'll see how it goes...  Emma was down for a nap and it is a yucky Sunday afternoon so I'm playing on the computer but now Emma is awake- her 20 minute power nap is now over! I'll try and do some more blogging later but at least we have created one- that's the first step!