Christmas

And now it is time for the obligatory  post Christmas post.   You know the one where we share all the joys that occurred over the this little holiday season. 

Since we do not have our children all the time, Christmas Eve we have all to ourselves.  The hubbie decided to take this girl out for a breakfast date.  Yay.  Breakfast is truly one of the best meals of the day.   As we were sitting there, my mother calls.  Much to everyones' surprise she won a prize from the grocery store.  This just amazes me.  These people have not been in town since like October.  I shop there every gosh darn week and get nada, zip, zero, zilch. My mom is the luckiest lady on the planet. Here was her winnings.  She requested that we indulge for Christmas. No problem.

 

Afterwards it was off to snowshow with the little brother.  Give him about four more weeks and he may just regret buying those things for me.  Who could pass up the proposition of I will help you wrap presents if you go snowshoeing with me.  Present wrapping sucks.  It is by far my least fave part of Christmas.  Next year I may seriously look into paying someone for this.

That would be the Winnie who is a black lab. Snow was pretty deep on the river.

Ha ha...yes the picture in picture thing.

 

After what is now deemed to be shoeing and some wrapping, we decided that bar food would be the perfect Christmas eve dinner.

 

Not sure I can even find the words to describe the happenings of the bar. No we were not drunk nor stupid.   Can say that someone twice our age probably should have been cut off. Or left with who he deemed to be the third lady of the day he made out with.  Strange.  It was just all very strange. Then it as homeward bound to watch my fave Christmas movie, National Lampoons Christmas Vacation.  This would also be relevant since I may or may not have taken a picture of my brother in his cold gear and referred to him as Cousin Eddie.  He wasn't exactly sure who he was.  Well now he knows.

 

Christmas Day all of our children came back home.  Due to some scheduling though we did not celebrate Christmas on Christmas day.  I have teenagers.  My mission for the day was to get some pillows finished for the living room.

Mission accomplished and I even managed to find my old strawberry shortcake thermos at my parents house (bonus).  Popped in by the little bro to see the twins presents from Santa. Then it was off for me to spend a little more time in the Wisconsin winter wonderland.

 

Winter on the marsh is so peaceful.  Managed to see a deer, couple wood peckers, three cardinals and not another soul.

 

December 26th our Christmas.  Started with the nephews in the morning.  We then found out our uncle would not be joining us for Christmas dinner. Sad. Our main discovery of the day was that my nephews love the movie Cars.  And were absolutely content on watching it on repeat.  Moo loved the wrecker, which we named Maynard.  It is important for me to state this since the hubbie corrected me on the actual name. Of course, I am known for naming things randomly whatever I wish.  So Maynard it will be.  Cooper of course loved Steve McQueen.  And their cousin was ever so sweet to pass along two of his old matchbox cars of those guys to the nephews. Snapshot of our morning.

Watching the garbage truck.   Not very often they get to see one of those.

 

 

Our dinner was an absolutely delicious ham that the little bro smoked.  The glaze he had on it.  Fantastic.  Then we had some various other sides.  Also made a snickers cake, people were a little to full to indulge in that though. 

 

After some huge tantrums through out the day we managed to make it thru most of the present unwrapping.  This year we skyped my parents into the present wrapping. Believe they enjoyed it. The teenagers also presented us with the oppurtunity to teach them a lesson.  There were a few complaints from said teenagers regarding waiting until December 26th to open presents.  Forest made his discontent known to me.  Now I may or may not have messed with this on the 25th when I told him we were unwrapping presents only for it to be just one for the nephews.  What came up and bit them in the behind was when they decided to complain to others regarding the situation.  In particular when one of said teenagers did not even say anything regarding their discontent on the matter to either parent.  One of the values we try to teach, if you have an issue bring it up.  Bringing up our personal choices to others and not voicing your opinion/issue with an involved party, bad move.  How did we handle this, you wonder.  We put out one gift for each of the teenagers from us. They opened this gift towards the beginning.  Went thru the rest of the gifts.  After everything was opened, we asked them if they liked what they got from us.  Think they were fairly stunned to realize that was their only gift.  Mind you the gifts totaled no more then $50.  We then took that chance to explain to them why they were in such a predicament.  And how self entitlement is not a trait that one would want to have. After this little lecture we bestowed upon them the remaining gifts that we got for them. A gift is a privilege not a right.  Here are some snapshots from the evening.

Oh yeah that is a fifth wheel just like Grandma and Grandpas

The next best thing to being there.  Skyping.

Oh yeah ladies, that one with the bow on his head, all mine.  Be jealous.

And when one gets a larger cost gift in my house, they get a scavenger hunt.

Hair clips from my  mommie.  They are beautiful

Another new ornament for our tree.  Made of course by my mommie. This is all folded fabric.  It is amazing.

My gift from the hubbie.  Naked 3...yay. And some more wonderful made gifts from my mom, scarves.  She is talented.

 

 

 And that pretty much rounds up our little Christmas.  I am definetly exhausted today.  I will also be taking a small break from my little section of the blog world.  My focus will be getting our yearly family video together for viewing.  Since I have some crazy new idea, this is sure not going to be an easy task.  Until 2014, my loves....Peace

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Spending Freezin'

 

At some point in time I think I missed my calling as a professional shopper or a multi millionaire. Stumbled upon this little link up over at Steph's blog.   Since I am always up for a challenge, going to see how well I do.  Here are the rules from her website:

 

The Rules1. Spending freeze lasts from January 1 - January 31.
2. No outings that are not budgeted for prior to 1/1 - no impromptu lunches, dinners, or nights out.
3. No purchases that are not budgeted for prior to 1/1 - no daily coffee runs, shiny baubles at Target, books, etc.

You can amend the rules as you see fit - if you MUST be able to purchase one coffee a week, build that into your rules.  If you are going balls to the wall and trying to spend $0 outside of bills and transportation, gird your loins and get ready to buckle down!

Whatever you lay out for yourself, be realistic with your goals for this month. Make changes to your spending habits for the next month that can work for you so you don't hate me and yourself by January 6.

Once you set your rules, live by them. Write down any expenditures that aren't in your budget, grab the button below and report in on your experience on Tuesday, February 4. Bloggers, link up your posts.

 

Ok, so there we have it. Now regarding how I am going to try and start mine or the little rules I will be making for myself.

• No outing that is not budgeted for. It is a quiet month around my neck of the woods. Really only one right now, a shopping trip to the outlet mall with the son. God help me. Which I will be giving myself a budget for.
• No items that are not budgeted for.  Above and beyond the everyday, the only item I have is a StitchFix and a few things for a family movie night.
• No unnecessary purchases. Not on the preplanned list. No Buy.  Think it maybe beneficial for me to avoid Target at all costs during this period.
• Stay within the house, grocery, and personal item budget. Which will be taken out in cash.
• Stay within my weekly cafe budget. Lately I have been getting lazy and grabbing breakfast versus taking one.

And that pretty much sums it up.  Come back around on February 4th for the recap.  Or watch my instagram for my shames.  Sure I won't disappoint.

Christmas Prequel

Twas the weekend before Christmas and all about people were scurring like a little mouse.

The Alums came home in hopes of a Marshmen win. Much to our despair those JV boys just couldn't get enough points to send those Rio boys scared out of their underwear.

To the grocery store the people then went in hopes of getting the final details for their holiday spread.
 Ham, potatoes, sugar, eggnog, all be seen as we squeeze thru the aisle in hopes no one would be mean.  In the deep stare to find tiny chocolate chips recipe plans were to be shared.  Chocolate lasagna and Snickers cake, who would care to be late for that date.

Little bro and kid in tow it is off to the mall we would all go.  Piled into that black cavalier and off we sped. Who really knew at this point what was going thru our head. Cutting off a car only to realize we were in the wrong lane, well now that was kind of vain.   Off we sped to get ahead. Getting in front of the bus was a must.  Until the bus jumps into the other lane.  The lane in which we needed to be in to turn.  Found behind the bus once again. 

Off to the parking lot to find the perfect spot.  Wrong turn and next we had to jump the curb. A spot. Now off to the mall in hopes of finding the great Christmas haul. People here, there and everywhere. Starbucks in hand had to make the rest of the trip more grand.  Into the Lush store to find the checkout line to the door. Finally though at last I had the Ocean Salt and  Mask of Magnamity in my grasp.  Next up find some toys for two adorable boys.  Little bit of this and little bit of that, but nope no baseball bat.

The weatherman then warned that this would be the weekend for a winter storm.  As I rolled from the warm bed,  behold the weatherman actually hit it on the nose.

This squirrel did have some luck in finding his nut to add to his winter fluff.

 

With the family still tucked in their beds, time for a little sugar and spice. Now did this make the house smell nice.

 

With dirty dishes abound had to call in help from the hounds.

 

After all was said and done it was time to play in the snow and have some fun.  Little bro in tow it would  be to the marsh we would go.  Little did I know, an early Christmas present for me was about to be received.

Brand new snowshoes for me!

 Here and there we seemed to be able to go everywhere. 

 

After all was said and done it was time to end the fun.

Our family then gathered for a fine Sunday evening feast.

 

 

Now as the weekend before Christmas comes to a close, we find ourselves getting all our last minute details in order.

 

May I wish everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy Holiday with those you love