Christmas Decorations & Preparations!

The front room...dining room.

I put lights in the "snow" to make it shine...for my Moose's sled (the very old sled is from Canada...the name written on the bottom is Marcel, I just picture this French Canadian little boy racing down a hillside in his sled!)

I had to buy this "bobble" snowman this year - he was from Lowe's and every time you bump the table or turn the lazy susan he does a little dance. I hope that by next year I'll have found time to paint the wood lazy susan in a red & yellow check pattern around the rim.

Couldn't resist another picture of Mr Moose, with the lights showing better

My very favorite ornament, that is Gordon and I in 2007 in the picture inside

Some might say "gaudy", I prefer colorful :)

Gordon's favorite ornament...obviously.

I bought these giant gold ornaments when I worked in a grocery store in 1988...I still lived at home with my parents! I redid them this year with pine cones and a beautiful green ribbon & put them over the swag light fixture over the table. This room was originally the living room of this 1950's rancher, but since we have the family room with the fireplace to "live" in, I've turned it into our dining room/sitting area/craft table/entry/etc room - and so there is not a beautiful chandelier in here...so I've improvised.

This sign is over the door frame leading into the kitchen

ok, last one of Mr. Mooooooose :)

I've moved this planter, which is usually in front of the picture window, since the Christmas tree is there now. I love how well everything is doing for once - I hope it all stays healthy until I can move it back where it will get more sunlight.

and finally, the nativity, I love it the light behind it shining through the windows.

and this year I put sheets of moss around it to stage it a little better.

The family room, the mantel is different this year - I usually do my "williamsburg style" with the fruits & natural stuff, but my artificial stuff (I use both real & artificial) has disappeared...I'm hoping I just couldn't find it in the attic for some reason, but I finally gave up looking & since I'd ordered these Nativity Hurricane Candles from Dayspring, I decided to go completely different - My Mom had given me several poinsettias, sprays & a swag, so I filled in, and got the mirror at Target and bought the lettering to apply from Hobby Lobby. I love it & think I'll be leaving the candles & mirror up for quite a while past Christmas even.

And finally, the Santa Bear, I remember when he and Gordon were the same size...now Gordon is at least a foot taller than him.

Next time I'll post the wreath & the outdoor stuff. Hope everyone is having a happy December. Today is our first snow...even though it is still falling heavy and it is almost dark out, Gordon is begging me to go outside in it, so I think we'll go out & I'll just fill the bird feeders & he can get a bit of energy out...I hope. After my feet get too cold he'll have to settle for more of this:

Ok...really, this is the last shot of Mr. Moose...but isn't he just so lovable??

Disney On Ice - 100 Years of Magic

We did get to go see the show - instead of my parents I was able to take one of Gordon's little buddies and his Mom (who I have so much fun hanging out with - I'm so glad our boys like each other!) Some of my pictures are not very good...it was tough juggling all the "stuff" so my shots were pretty sporadic. Here's my friend and her little boy and Gordon, all excited and waiting for the show to begin.

The whole going to the show was thanks to my good friend - she was getting tickets for her family when she called and asked me if we'd be interested too - I'm so glad I said yes! Her two little boys seemed pretty excited about the show too.

First off...despite my look...they don't serve alcoholic beverages at the show. I'll just blame it on the lighting - and the DASH through the freezing cold rain in the parking lot on the way in to the coliseum. Gordon looks like he's saying "Really mom? Please." (oh...and I even had to blur out some cleavage...my gosh two good friends with me and neither told me I was hanging out all over the place!)

Hee hee! Love the expressions these boys have!

We were not destined to get any great "mother-son pictures" that day.

But the boys had a blast goofing off

And then the show began - here's just a few pictures, since most don't do the show justice I'll just point out some of the show. Gordon's fav - Finding Nemo (although I would have spewed my beverage...if I'd had one...when I saw the eye placement on Dori...one look at my friend & I could see she was thinking the same thing!!)

by the way that picture above was not one I took - I couldn't focus at first I was laughing so hard at it...so I got that one on google images...not sure of the source. Here's the pictures I was able to take once I got myself under control.

One lousy shot of the Beauty & the Beast...

Princes tossing Princesses around...

Goofy & a soldier from Toy StoryThen the whole army came out - it was really cool looking.

Toy Story - great costumes in the show, but after all, it was Disney.

Even a tribute to It's A Small World - thanks for putting that song in our heads!

Mickey coming down in a "hot air" balloon - a highlight for Gordon.

The band led by Jiminy Cricket

The whale from Pinocchio

Mulan...now after watching this part of the show, I want to see this Disney movie!

The Lion King...hakuna matada folks!

All the Princesses & Princes...those Princes have strong arms!

Everyone coming out for the grand finale.

Decking the Halls...with Baby Jesus...Thomas and Percy?

When I first got the boxes out of the attic Gordon immediately noticed something interesting in one of the clear bins

His face was plastered up to the plastic like it was the window to a candy shop!

Of course it was a train...one I'd bought for $8.50 a couple of years ago at a consignment shop - a Lionel Christmas train. I've never gotten it out before, so I hoped it still worked...but told Gordon he had to wait until the next day to get it out, after I decorated the tree...oh the waiting, it was excruciating for him!

Later, I had to do a double take when I walked past the table with the Nativity...some visitors from the Island of Sodor were paying tribute to the baby Jesus and a few ornaments thrown in there too...somehow I think Gordon has been playing with the Nativity set?

He was singing carols while decorating the tree in his room...I let him use all the "odd" ornaments and things that were non-breakable, and candy canes too.

Notice the "skirt" of ornaments on the tree :) I love it.
And this shows the fiber optic train we bought at Cracker Barrel back in September when we went to see Thomas the Train. It has tons of little points of light all over it and they change colors, the Train is a "gingerbread" train with candies and the lights - Gordon is loving his decorated room.
Huh...I just noticed his sippy thermos nestled under his tree. There is nothing better than Christmas with a four year old boy.

All Is Calm, All Is Bright...

so why am I'm still off balance?

Ever since last week's "incident" I've just been...discombobulated. I love that word, but not what it feels like. I feel like having a tantrum. I want my way and I can't get it. I had plans: a fun, relaxing thanksgiving weekend at home with a good friend I get to spend way to little time with, for us to continue our tradition of her helping me decorate and other fun stuff, we had plans for today - to celebrate another friend's little boy's birthday with our families getting together for a fun evening out, and plans for this weekend with my parents to visit our home and all of us to go to Disney on Ice and spend a lot of time just being together this wonderful time of the year.

All of that has changed, the ripple effects of the fire spread far - Amy's vacation was interrupted as she stepped up to help, and although we spent time together, it wasn't like it was supposed to be. We are not able to go out this evening due to my husband's work schedule. My Dad is much too weak and tired to travel over for the visit this weekend - and he has doctor appointments to schedule, so they probably won't be here until the week of Christmas sometime.

My Mom and my sister celebrated birthdays, Sunday and Monday respectively. I feel bad because I didn't get anything mailed - didn't even remember to take my Mom's stuff in the car on my way over there in the panic last week.

I know they don't mind and they understand, but it just seems like things just never work out the way I plan, and I'm kinda getting tired of that...I know God is in control, that I am so thankful to have my Dad still with us, and that things have turned out just as He planned for them - and that His plan, is the best plan, and mine, well that is just selfish attempts at control - and I guess I need these frequent reminders that I am not the one in control, and I need to just trust in Him. I wish I'd learn this lesson for once so He didn't have to keep reminding me!

All last weekend my mind kept focused all through the visit to Maggie on just getting through the crisis, saying a lot of prayers and trying not to stress out...since returning home I've felt the weight of it. I keep trying to get on track - to do a little Christmas decorating and other things to get my "holiday feeling" back - so far it hasn't worked. I keep feeling like I missed something, something more than just a turkey dinner.

I have nothing to complain about, but I feel like complaining. I think I need to stop trying to think it through, to stop trying to decorate my way to happiness, and I need to just sit quietly and get out my Bible...I need to be reminded to praise Him even when I don't get my way...what a spoiled child I am, good thing My Father is so forgiving.

The pictures are from sunrise at the cabin on 11/27.