It's Beginning to Look Alot Like... Business!

This is my most favorite time of year. It finally gets cold enough to break out the coats. The leaves have mostly fallen. Mother nature is making way for winter. The family traditions start pilling one after another. I love it. The only draw back...I get tired. There is one event, project, or tradition to mark off the list. I love it so much. I just have a hard time saying no to some things. I want to do it all! I am learning though.
We (the kids and I) made some pumkin pie and a few small blueberry pies which they thuroughly enjoyed. I didn't notice some one was trying to grab another until after the picture was taken. Hmm!

So where does it begin. On November 8th, my mom's birthday. This year we spent time with my mom and sisters and went to a lovely dinner. On November 11th my brother's birthday, and November 17th my little sister. I missed both of thier birthday's due to that darn COLD. But oh well. Then Thanksgiving. This year my dh worked, so we visited at the fire station, which was great. There were 4 turkeys, 3 types of dressing, and butternut squash, home made cranberry sauce. Yumm. It was just as good as making a meal at home. From there off to my grandma's house where we had dessert with the family. The little ones put on a show with guitars and the adults played cards and told jokes. A real relaxing night. Here's my dad multitasking. He has a blue tooth in one ear, using a digital camera, chewing a piece of gum, and trying to tell a joke. Pretty impressive!

The Sunday after Thanksgivign we headed to Lake Tahoe where my grandma has a time share. We did nothing but relax, ate good food, and enjoyed beautiful Lake Tahoe. This was much needed. A view of the Lake from the Lake. There's a reason why they say keep Tahoe Blue. It's the largest natural lake in the world that's fed by about 65 different streams, creeks, and rivers. And it's all snow run off. A beauty!

And then there's December. MY FAVORITE MONTH. Full of tradition, crafts to do with the kids, birthdays galore, and Christmas. We usually cut down a tree and I usually am the one to decorate it while my dh gets a warm fire going... and thus begins the Christmas music. I can't help it. I crave it once December comes. Maybe this year I can decorate the bottom of the tree, and the kids can help without breaking an ornament. My dh does the garland on the outside of the house. It smells so good when you walk through the front door. My dd kicks off the month with her birthday and we are taking her to Disneyland. Christmas decor must wait an extra week. While my dh and myself really aren't Disneyland people...we're getting in free and I can't wait to see the expression on her face when we get there. Because sometimes you do anything to make your kids happy. Right? There are 5 other December birthdays (including me, December 24th is the best birthday!) Ahemmm. Anyway, we all celebrate our birthday on one day mid- month, and this year we are doing the tamalada on the same day. We make tamales as a family, about 25 people. We sing. we joke. we laugh. we cook. On my birthday dh ALWAYS makes me feel special, and I enjoy every bit of it. And on Christmas day we make a great breakfast, enjoy presents with the kids, and do our stocking stuffers (a must). It's so fun to get a new CD or Almond Rocca. Then we set off with the family.

Presents are great. But I so enjoy the warmth of the fire, a good coffee in pajamas, the gleam in the kids eyes as they discover how special the day is. It is so important for me to teach the meaning of Christmas to the kids when we pull out or little Nativity scene. I am so excited this year to meet friends who realize how important it is to make gifts for our kids to cherish. We have our own little club to enjoy crafts and each other's company. Mama Plum and I did finger puppets today. Pictures to come.



Hey, we forgot to draw Kris Kringle's this year!