Inside Christmas Decorations

Before I moved to my new home, I sold about 75% of the Christmas decorations I'd accumulated in the past, I don't even know how many years.

There were some things I couldn't part with and I'm so glad I didn't let them go. I've had this set of Hallmark reindeer - Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner and Blitzen AND Rudolph! They usually sat around my tree. This year I bought fiber optic lights and decorated my mantle with the reindeer and stockings.

I also got custom made name tags for the stockings made out of wood.

For the past 21 years I've been collecting Mom, Son and Daughter dated ornaments adding Granddaughter in 2013 and Grandson in 2015. There's so many that I can only put 10 year's worth on the tree without completely overloading it. Notice instead of garland I use Mardi Gras beads and stuff the tree with extra greenery.

There's also a Mother/Daughter ornament. If there was a Mother/Son ornament, I would have that too.

Instead of a traditional angel or star tree topper, I found this Happy Holidays wood stick sign.

I've had this ladder going up the side of the tree with 2 wooden elves that my Mom and Dad made many, many years ago. One of the elves is missing a leg and the other has a broken hand. Even though I can't throw them away (they're in storage) I decided to put my Snoopy characters going up the ladder.

Now if I can stay out of Michaels and any other store with Christmas decorations, I should be done with decorating for Christmas.

Christmas Decorations

I tried not to go too overboard with decorating for Christmas.

I was afraid I wasn't going to be able to hang my train but then realized I could put it on my fence so all the neighbors could see it as they drove up the road.

I then added a few characters along the side of the house - my giraffe, pig and newest addition...

a hippo. What all these things have to do with Christmas only I can appreciate.

I added a Christmas tree with presents and an elf holding a Christmas card. The final touch was ornaments in the real tree. Our neighborhood Christmas party is approaching and hopefully I'll get positive feedback.

Thanksgiving Day

So many things going on this Thanksgiving.

One of the best things was Michele and Bruce making the long trek from Colorado across Kansas to join us. 

It was also Goldie's first Thanksgiving.

While I was frantically trying to finish cooking dinner, Michele did what she does best and played games with the kids.

We then had an opportunity for a couple of photo ops. First was all the girls.

Then the boys. It may be chaotic but I love having my family around for holidays.

Michael Runs the 5K Thanksgiving Day Turkey Trot

Thanksgiving Day is the annual 5K Thanksgiving Day Turkey Trot held at Berkley Riverfront Park near downtown Kansas City.

Michael decided to join a group of his friends from Harrah's and brave the not so bad weather conditions and run the 5K.

He's not used to doing so much exercising but he did finish. 

Christmas Lights

What comes with a new house? According to Jamie, a new set of custom fit Christmas lights.

His friend Cody is starting a new business hanging Christmas lights so Jamie and Cody traded labor and I didn't have to help hang the lights.

Jamie used a red, red, white, white, red, red, etc. pattern and it looks really good. Now I need to get busy and put out the rest of my decorations before the weather begins to change again.

VIP Day with Violet

Schools have become politically correct and now call Grandparent's Day - VIP Day.

Lincoln was sick so it was just Violet and me. To stay away from the crowds, we decided to proceed backwards and visit the bookstore first. Then we did a craft together (a turkey puppet). Before heading to the donuts we stumbled across the photo booth.

On the way to Violet's classroom, all the previous activities were extremely crowded. I guess everyone was concerned they run out of donuts. Violet showed me her classroom but was very concerned about my leaving before the bell rang. Later Melissa told me it was because Violet likes to go through her folder to prepare for her school day. What a studious little girl!

First Snow of the Season

Not only was it Lincoln's birthday but we got our first snowfall of the year.

According to winter folklore, the date of the first snowfall determines the number of times it will snow during the winter season. If that's true, then we're in for 14 snowfalls this winter. Now how hard or light that may be, I'm not sure. I'm not crazy about 14 times but it's better than 30. Only time will tell.