Happy New Year

We are back from our vacation in Colorado. A full week of snow and fun that goes with that (skiing, sledding, snowshoeing, gameboards, eating, etc.). Our children went with us as well as our son-in-law's family. Our sweet granddaughter had both sets of grandparents with her all week! Our cabin was great and plenty of room for everyone and a beautiful view of mountains and an occasional elk. I will be posting pictures soon.

For now, I am still trying to dig out from underneath vacation and all that goes with that -- laundry and more laundry, boxes of packed goodies, all the miscellaneous that you thought was a must for a vacation week! My house is a full blown disaster and I've been too tired to dig into it yet this week (back to work, etc.). So New Years Day is the day of cleaning! What a way to ring in the New Year -- oh well, I still plan on sleeping in first!

Everyone have a Very Happy New Year. I hope 2009 is just as great as 2008 has been for our family.

Merry Christmas

This is the Christmas card we sent out this year. 2008 has been and is a big year for our family. A grandbaby in January and our youngest child to graduate as a Computer Engineer in December.

I will be taking a break from blogging. Just over Christmas Break. From our Family to Yours ... Have a Very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Christmas Angel

Here is my Christmas Angel! My granddaughter, Cora. She is 11 months old now. We're very excited about this Christmas!

Cora took her first steps last week. By Christmas she may be running! She says Mommy, Daddy and Hi (maybe other words I haven't heard yet). Now we need to practice saying Nanna and Pappa!

Cora is a sweet baby and brings much joy to our family. We love you sweetie!

New Shoes

These are my new shoes. They are soooooo comfortable. I think they are really cute too! I bought them at the Naturalizer outlet store. After wearing heels on most days, these really make my feet say "thank you"!

Favorite Christmas Movie

My all time favorite Christmas is (drumroll please):

White Christmas

You probably already figured that out by the picture to the left! I haven't sat down and watched it yet this year. I always like to watch it with my daughter. Believe it or not, but I have a copy of this movie in beta format. Does anyone else remember beta? Our beta player still works and I have many movies recorded that I watch periodically (ok, almost never!).

I need to DVR this movie and save it like I have "Its a Wonderful Life" (my 2nd favorite movie, maybe tied for 1st). My beta version may not last too much longer -- you just never know.

More on Simple Christmas

Simple Christmas Thoughts:

• A relaxed loving time with the family


• Realistic expectations with the family


• An evenly paced holiday season


• What traditions were the most enjoyable to you as a child?


• Include some of those traditions in your holiday celebrations


• Discuss with your children which holiday traditions they enjoy most


• Set aside time with your children


• Simplify holiday preparations


• Entertain less


• Cut back on outside commitments


• Watch less TV/Commercials


• Discuss gift expectations with your children


• Travel less

Lowering Expectations...If there is no such thing as "the perfect family", then how could there be such a thing as "the perfect family Christmas?"

• Identify disappointments that we have during the holidays


• Realize that people will disappoint us and that most people don't change


• Realize "family" has many definitions and shapes - accept and celebrate that which is unique about your family


• Realize we can't be everywhere, do everything and please everyone

I'm working on incooperating a Simple Christmas into our lives. Tonight I am going to go listen to our High School Choir sing. I haven't done this in several years and am looking forward to their beautiful voices singing the holiday songs -- Let the Holiday Season begin!

Monday Memory

This is my daughter playing with her blocks. This is probably 25 years ago. We lived in Hobart, Indiana. Our first place in Indiana was a two bedroom apartment within a large apartment complex.

We called her "Little Pebbles" because I pulled her little bit of hair up into a barrette! She was a very busy little girl. She was a very sweet little girl and mommy's big helper. She was also really good to play by herself.

Where has the time gone?

Simple Christmas

Our church introduced a "Simple Christmas" season. We are challenged to spend less and give more thoughtful gifts. We received resources to help us consider making Christmas time less hectic.

Ten Steps from Hectic to Simple (Movement Toward a Holier, Healthier, Less-broke Christmas!)

• Draw names
  
  
• Give family gifts instead of individual gifts
  
  
• Give gifts only to children
  
  
• Design and make your own gifts
  
  
• Give to mission and benevolent project in someone's honor
  
  
• Give and wrap gifts in a way that cares for the environment
  
  
• Give the gift of your time, talents and involvement (more presence, less presents!!)
  
  
• Adopt a family in the community
  
  
• Give to global missions
  
  
• Plan a small snack reception in your home in order to get to know your neighbors better

Our family is trying to do some of these suggestions. We are going to spend vacation time together this year in lieu of gifts and just bring gifts for Cora, my granddaughter. We also adopted a local family and have been buying gifts and grocery gift card for their family.

Is your family doing anything different this year for Christmas? Do you have some simplier suggestions?