Showing posts with label Christmas. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Christmas. Show all posts

Happy Christmas!

Thursday, December 29, 2011 - 
Holidays with the family are amazing. We are fortunate that we are able to spend it with members of both of our families as many of them live in Green Bay. We make the trek (usually with books on CD) and enjoy the limited days with those we love.

Traditionally, we spend Christmas Eve with my family. Christmas Eve is special - an evening with my parents, brothers, sister-in-law, niece and nephew. We had a special guest, my sister-in-law's sister, join as well this year rounding out a quiet party of ten. Drinks followed by a delicious dinner of prime rib and cheesy potatoes is always a highlight. With more drinks in hand, we finish up the evening with cherry cheesecake and opening of gifts. Just a few photos from the holiday celebration at my parents house:


On Christmas Day, hubs and I wake up to the smell of coffee brewing at my parents home. I help my mother create our traditional breakfast of eggs benedict - sorry I overcooked your egg hubs. But the rest was delish as always! We clean up and head to his mother's house to spend time with his siblings, their families (including our nieces and nephews), and his aunts, uncles and cousins. It is always a full house and great to see everyone come together. Over a buffet lunch that his mother spends so much time preparing, we gorge our bellies with the Disney holiday parade in the background. Then, all the kids rip open their gifts as we smile and laugh as they ooo and ahhh over their new toys.



And of course, Christmas Day means Packers vs. Bears. We were fortunate to head to the game and enjoy the evening together with a Packers victory! We had so much fun dancing with other fans, eating brats and kraut with some fried cheese curds and sipping on beer and/or hot chocolate with every touchdown. It was fantastic - congrats Packers on another great game!

And no, we don't know the man in Roger's jersey - talk about timing!

Hope you enjoyed your holiday (if celebrating) - I know we did!

You Got Me What!?

Wednesday, December 28, 2011 - 
Fondue. Sure, it may make people think of the 1970's or of shag carpet. It reminds me of friends of delicious cheese and chocolate. We end up dining at The Melting Pot at least a few times a year, particularly around the holidays. I had a love affair with the restaurant a while back. I still enjoy it, but not as much as I used to. But don't get me wrong, still delicious and I look forward to it every time Do You Fondue? I do! rolls around on the advent calendar. Day 20, and we ended a delicious dinner at the MP.

Day 21: Holiday Tree was a night where we would make some dinner together and enjoy under our Christmas tree lights. Unfortunately, I forgot I had a meeting. So, changes happen as mentioned before. Hubs made a great dinner and I was able to enjoy it when I got home.

Holiday gifts were all over the month this year. But our big gifts were given on day 22: Merry Christmas hubby! As we exchanged gifts, hubs received his remote control helicopter that he had been wanting, while I received my beautiful NEW CAMERA! EEK! Isn't it gorgeous?! This beauty is a Canon t3i, everything I wanted in a DSLR. I've been asking for one for quite sometime, and he went all out. Not only did he purchase a camera, but I also received three lenses and a bunch of other great accessories. And of course, every new camera needs a bag, and I got this beauty from Epiphanie. Love. I'm so in love with my holiday gifts - thanks hubby!!!



Not much can top the new camera love, but day 23: I'll Be Home for Christmas is a close one. We drove home to Green Bay that evening with a book on cd and the pups in the back seat. They love nap time.



In preparation for the Christmas Day Packer vs. Bears game, hubs received his final gift. Day 24: A Cold Christmas Eve gave hubs a new winter Packer hat for the game - which the Packers won! It was a great game, and we had a wonderful time! GO PACK GO!



Hope everyone (who was celebrating) had a great Christmas Eve!

Oh Christmas Tree...

Thursday, December 1, 2011 - 
I want to live in a house that has multiple trees.

There. I said it (again.)

This doesn't mean I need a huge house, but I just LOVE the idea of having multiple themed trees. One may ask, why would you want multiple trees?  Well, as mentioned, themes! I'm almost to the Disney themed tree that I've been collecting for quite sometime. Here are a few other trees I would like to have:
  • Classic red and green tree
  • Silver and blue tree
  • Family oriented tree - this means all those great ornaments from our parents and grandparents
  • Travel tree - since hubs and I collect ornaments when we travel, it would be great to have a tree just full of those ornaments
  • Snowman tree - I like snowman, so I have quite a collection of those ornaments
Really, there are so many more that could be had. And right now, I'm happy to report we've got two.  Sure, they aren't straight up themed, but both are pretty close.

Our artificial tree is on the first floor. This is a combination of a snowman and family oriented tree. This tree has seen a good few years, and I think after this holiday, it may be retired to the land of discarded holiday trees.The second tree is our real tree. And if I do say myself, this tree is a pretty great tree. We picked it out in a matter of five minutes, and it is perfect for us. Around 8 feet, it is a great size and has that classic shape.  Sitting in our main living area, it lights up our living room every night. And, this tree is almost a full Disney tree. There are a few ornaments regarding travel, or special meaning ornaments between the two of us.

With the trees up and ready for gifts (yes, I theme my wrapping paper every year too. This year, purple and green,) that means December is just about here.  December 1st means the return of hubs advent calendar.  I'll be keeping you posted on all the events as I did last year. It may be delayed though, because hubs and I are celebrating our four year anniversary a tad bit late (yes, September 29th has come and gone this year, I know that. Sometimes new additions delay things.) by taking a trip to LAS VEGAS!

Photo Credit

So...December 1 is "Sparkly Night Lights" meaning our night flight to Las Vegas to the strip lights!

And yes, if you keep track, I may recycle some themes from last year. Don't judge.

We leave today.  Bags are packed, pups are at the 'spa', and we are ready to go!  If you have advice on things we must do, please share. We have a slight itinerary, but everything is extremely flexible!

Christmas in Maine

Monday, November 7, 2011 - 
After spending a few hours on the Sunbeam, the group headed over to the Maine Sea Coast Mission's headquarters.  The building took my breath away - a gracious donation to the organization left a historical building that houses amazing work and programs for the coastal communities.




Once a family's home, this three story mansion has amazing architecture and history of family and servants living together.  Not to mention, a view.  A gorgeous view of the ocean and Maine coastline.  Once again, it took my breath away.

The first floor has a variety of rooms with archives, a conference room and kitchen for the staff members.  The second, what was once the family bedrooms is now the staff offices.  And the third floor - the third floor is something quite special.



What was once the servants bedrooms is now rooms full of items for children, adults, prisoners, and other members of communities the Mission serves.  These items are used for the Christmas Program.  The Christmas Program brings joy to many people during the holiday season, and our group was more than happy to have the opportunity to help bundle, wrap and label gifts.

It may not seem like much to you, but these few hours were inspiring.  I feel the desire to give more, to help more.  This is a rewarding program for all the volunteers as well as the recipients.



The whole weekend was a whirlwind of an experience.  I met some amazing women that I'm proud to call my sisters.  I met a dedicated staff of a great organization and was able to give a little back.  And I was filled with with a desire to keep on giving.  I am honored to have been given this experience, and I am responsibility for sharing it with my sisters, my friends.  Pride doesn't even begin to describe what I feel about my Founders' and all that they have done for my organization.