Baking

I baked a lot this holiday season.  Sugar, molasses, peanut butter fudge, melting moments, chocolate mint, pan de polvo, peppermint fudge.  That's a lot.  I still have a freezer full.  I packed them up so I wouldn't eat them anymore.

I love to share with those I love.  Kraft packaged boxes with bakers twine for coworkers and neighbors, 'tis the season for sharing (and eating).

I need to stop baking for a while though, seriously.  I DO love it, but I DO love eating it even more.
 

I will miss the sugar and the chocolate.

It was a fun ride.

Merry Christmas

May your day be blessed and filled with love.

Seattle

Spent the day in Seattle:

• downtown
• Teddy Bear Suite at the Fairmont
• Gingerbread Houses at the Sheraton
• Malts and Johnny Rockets
• Snow at Pacific Place

It was a good day.

Bokeh

I took a bokeh photo of our tree (where the lights are out of focus).


I read the instructions from A Note from Autumn.


I was pretty proud that I figured out F-stop.


I hope you like.

December days

December is going so fast.

I don't like it.

Can we just stretttttch the month.  Only 4 days to Christmas.  I'm done shopping, but I love the "feel" of the season.  The kids are glowing.  There is a hub when you are out and about.  People are generally much more in the spirit.  And my house sparkles.

Today is my first day of holiday time off until January 4.  I have a lot planned in my head, we will see if it becomes reality.

And today my house if full of kids.  My 4 plus Bella and Lukas.  Boys are playing XBox upstairs, girls are piled on the couch watching charmed.

I'm thinking about what I can make for breakfast.

The sun is shining.

Life is good.

Days 8 and 9

What have we been up to.

Candlelight dinner.

Library books by the tree.

Hot chocolate with all the fixings.

late nights....

I'm spending my nights working on my December Daily.

It's taking more time than I had hoped, but I am getting quicker in my daily entries.

From last night.

Caribou Coffee

Last year, about this time I was at a conference in Portland, Oregon.  I visited the coffee chain of Caribou Coffee.  On their napkins, they had the following.....

Learn to say thank you in 10 languages

You’ll only be your current age once

Donate blood, you have plenty

Get your hands dirty

Step 1:  rake leaves, Step 2:  jump!

Only look back if it makes you smile

Marshmallows have no nutritional value, and that’s okay.

Savor every sip.

Dare to adventure.

Be the 1^st to enter and the last to leave the dance floor.

Indulge in chocolate therapy.

Plant lots of trees.

Be the ruler of your own life.

Have a favorite charity.

Lighten up.

Spin the globe then pack your bags.

Be the first to apologize.

Sing out loud.

Don’t wait for a new year to make a resolution.

Dance in the rain.

Pour yourself a cup of full karma.

I love this.

Hello December

You have arrived.  I've waited so long.  So glad you are here.

As with every December....the 1st brings Lita's birthday.  72 years young she is!!!

{we were signing along with the waiters and my dad was already eating her dessert)

We celebrated at our family hot spot, Puerta Vallarta.  Everyone couldn't make it, but those that did, we ate, laughed and loved.

December 1 also brings the first day of our advent calendar.  I whipped up this number {read, procrastination and staying up until 1:30am on Tuesday night}.  I think she turned our beautiful!!!

I've filled it with treats -- the first being dinner for Lita's birthday, tonight was Christmas lollipops, there are also some FUN things planned and family time at home.  Stay tuned.

I'm working on my December Daily, printed day 1 and 2 tonight but still need to work on the "story" behind the pictures.  I'll be posting updates here as it progresses too.

The girls and I got haircuts tonight.  Long overdue.  Sofia got bangs, she looks so much older.

Lilia got hers cut for the first time....sniff, sniff.

Today I received Holiday by Matthew Mead, oh heart be still.  Thick, vibrant, beautiful pages.  Dream decorations, I'm in love.

And an iPhone skin by Kelly Rae.  LOVE.

Life is good.

xo...me