First Snow

There is something so exciting about the first snowfall of the season.  It is fresh, new, clean, beautiful and you have not had the time and opportunity to get annoyed by it yet.

But it does bring its challenges for photography, especially in the dark.

 So cool, now I have two "snow blowers."

He still fits in his snow pants, coat and boots from last winter!

 I know, the hubs sweater is so...distracting.

Hot star.

Hope you had some winter fun today!

Holiday Fever

I have Holiday Fever.  Everything I do, hear, see, eat has to be holiday oriented.  My car radio is set on a station that only plays Christmas songs, I made the family watch Elf this morning, I am patiently waiting for the Christmas cards I ordered to get here, I whipped up some sugar cookie dough for cut outs tonight (thanks for the recipe Teresa!) and I will bake them tomorrrow.  I even have my own signature holiday drink...

Fricken' delish...

I like mine room temp but the hubs likes his heated up and with cinnamon, either way, it is fab.

My cookie cutters and some sprinkles ready for tomorrow...

I got around to replacing the burned out light bulbs of the star my dad crafted for us and the hubs hung it up tonight...

 And viola, the house is Christmas-ized.

My shopping is basically done and I only have this week of work before a nice 10 day stretch off.  Life is good.  In fact, life is great.  I don't know how I got so lucky.

We have a tree at work with names supplied by the Coalition for the Elderly so that some people who normally would not get any gifts can get a gift for Christmas.  Having the life I have had, I truly have a hard time imagining anyone who would not have anyone- no family, no friends- to spend the holiday with.  Of course, I know that the reality is, it is more common than I would like to think.  In many cases, there is a simple lack of resources from which to attain basic necessities, much less a gift of any sort.

I am fortunate to have all of the above, family, friends and resources.  I am happy I am able to make someone else's holiday a bit more merry...

James got a pair of flannel pajamas,

Genece got a fuzzy white robe and

Henry got a George Foreman Grill.

I am eager to share this experience with Sully.  He will be able to pick some names and we will go shopping for someone else for a change.  I can't wait to teach him to be giving and thoughtful of others.  I can't wait to have his heart fill with the warmth of purpose and responsibility.  We have so very much to look forward to...

December

Happy December! 

Sully has been busy cutting molars (3 for sure and possibly all 4 but he won't let me see or feel without throwing a fit).  Poor kid, he is attached to me as he is just not feeling so good.

But the celebrations must go on...

We headed to Milwaukee for a night with the Wadzinskis.  There was cake, and cake and then more cake and after that, Christmas cookies.

What?  Don't your friends make you a boob cake when they know you are coming to town?  Normal...

These little frogs were for the birthday boy!

 And of course, he loved it.

And my favoritest pic of the weekend...



Looking forward to my shopping day tomorrow!!