December fun....and fun I missed....the lesson is there somewhere....

I have had sinus infections off and on since October.....it seems I just get back to feeling like myself again and bam down I go....I am not a patient person and not a good patient.  I am usually healthy and calm and easy going however when I don't feel good all bets are off on who or when I will snap.  I keep looking for my norm, my middle, my even keel, my 'return to normalcy' and it is elusive.....add to that things like water main problems (water has been off and on for 2 months, currently off for 24 hours), billing errors, lots of drama about other things I fight fight fight and then just surrender to the chaos and what lesson is in it for me....still learning as I go.....I know in the big scheme of things it is a little matter, however I love the holidays and hate to miss a thing.....especially due to being sick!  It is a control thing....yes I know.....

In other news....Steve and I love to go down to OB the first week of December (usually on my birthday) and see the OB Christmas tree which is HUGE decorated all with beach balls....they have a surfin' santa out in front of it as well....we were able to go this year however, due to illness we missed  The OB Christmas Parade :(

 I made a quick stop in my inspiration store (Vignettes) to see what beautiful way they are decorating for the holiday....must say this years cream, silver and gold is one of the best they have been able to do....

 Lots of feature stars and owls and candles everywhere!  However just as I was about to dive into the back room Steve called and I had the car keys and he had to move the car, bummed I missed the divine back room Christmas experience  :(

 We had a yummy lunch at Shades (my standard calamari sandwich and sweet potato fries...yum)

I was housebound most of the week yet,  able to do little things around the house.  I was going to put out my 1950's Lionel Train, however, last year it was just too hard to keep the boys away from it....so I put out their toy train that they can play with all they want....also the Fisher Price Santa's village, reindeer, elves, etc.

 I added my vintage Christmas cards in the living room.....

 and added some garland around a few of the things I put out last week to warm it up a bit....

 This was our weekend we planned to do our annual Gingerbread houses....I really did not want to miss that, however, too much to take on by myself so thankful Kristen helped out this year....

 These little master builders love this project....(and love the icing and candies even more!)

 Putting up the sides of the houses.....

 Dylan mastering the icing bag.....

 I am doing some repair work on Brodys house while Dylan ices on....

 Brody loved decorating his Santa, snowman and tree for the gingerbread display....

 Dylan's decorating is far more detailed this year.....

 Mommy offers artistic suggestions.....

 Brody likes to lick the candy and then put it in the frosting.....part of the fun

 Dylan is into symmetry.....like his GiGi

 they really stayed with the project the whole morning.....

 Ta Da - the final product for this year.....

 My future builders.....these houses are now hard as a rock and are on display in the dining room

Kristen and Brian planned a Disneyland trip and invited me but I have to miss it :( due to this infection
The boys and I have been saving to have some fun money to spend at Disneyland so I said we would still empty our bank and if they helped sort and count they could still take money for a souvenir and a special treat.....

 Dylan counting all the piles of quarters....

 and doing the math....

 he calculated out how many of each coin we had and how much it would cost for the Buzz Lightyear they want and a special treat for each of them.....he was thrilled he had enough and will be in charge of the spending money when they leave tomorrow.

 I also had to miss on a girls lunch tomorrow and having company for the weekend :( 

The past few weeks have been hard ones for me so I don't like to miss fun activities, however, I know that I can only do what I can do.  Predicting my moods lately is about as easy as predicting the stock market....right now I am focusing on the positive on what I do get to do....not so much on what I don't get to do.

Dang....will miss my bubble bath tonight......so much for my focus on positive   :)

Blitz Blog Update!

I honestly do not know where the time goes!!!  November is a blur and I am behind on EVERYTHING so I am going to do a BLITZ BLOG to catch up....

We all decided to go to my brothers beautiful home in Scottsdale for Thanksgiving....Kristen, the boys and I drove over a bit early to spend *extra* time with The Addie and Shannie.....the boys are pro's at road trips and did so well...Kristen has it down on the 5.5 hrs it takes to get there and that leaves the driving more relaxing....

 We stayed at Adam and Shannie's condo Tuesday night and met my brother, sister and mom at Cracker Barrel the next day for breakfast and to see Adam and Shannon's new home...only weeks away from completion.....so beautiful and so very happy for them.....Dylan and I got a game of checkers in at Cracker Barrel....(note my hair is now long enough for Locks of Love and want to get that done this week!)

 On Thursday a.m. Kristen and the boys came over my brothers, Steve and Brian drove over from SD, Adam and Shannie joined in and all our dogs.....we were able to take our Christmas family picture as the weather was perfect.....my brothers beautiful pool was the focal point for these boys....Brody only fell in once!

 I had to give my brother a hard time....this is his beautiful one piece huge door in his entry....

 However when you look up close....he had rigged string to hang his Thanksgiving wreath.....you might be a redneck if you live in a McMansion and use string to hang your wreath.... I did get him a wreath hanger ;)

 Side Bar:  I freakin loved shopping at the Frys by his house....just look at this candy bar section!  It had a wine bar, an omelet station, a Barnes & Noble, items you would find in Pier One in their housewares section, live trees, valet parking....sign me up!

 My handsome husband and handsome brother carving the turkey!

 Two very Thankful boys.....thankful for pumpkin pie?

 And keeping with traditions, Adam and Kristen scour the ads on line and hard copy for Black Friday....they did go on Thursday night and scored BIG!

 My brother has a love for vintage vehicles like me....he just redid a 1971 Cheyene to PERFECTION....he also has a 62.....love these rides!

 Steve and I took the boys to the Pro Bass Store...they were mesmerized!

 Loved spending time with our new granddog 'Abby' she is a sweetie and I bought her a pink leopard hoodie....girl's gotta have swag!

 We declared a girls shopping day and hit the Thrift stores up for Ugly Christmas Sweaters.....we hit the Mother Lode!

 ....and decided to model them....my brother got into the groove!  Shannie is so little hers was more like a dress!

 We played games, ate so much (yummy food from my brothers restaurant and his friend made us an authentico mexican food dinner!)

Then headed home and decked some of the halls....have lots more to finalize however got this done so far.

Put my Ana-lee dolls and changed out the apothocary jars in my garden window....

 Put up our travel tree in the family room....we have collected ornaments for years from all our trips...added an Alaska Totem pole this year....already had a Florida and DC, AZ and Washington....

 I made the call not to use the 4 bins of Snowmen this year....I wanted something different on the mantel...I decided on a Winter Wonderland....I love the way it turned out but easy it was not.  Still using my wooden Santa Fireplace Screen I made years ago....in fact I made 250 sets for Childrens Hospital fundraiser....back when I had energy ;)

 I used the cutwork linens we got in Prague last December....I got home too late last year to put them out.

 Love this Santa getting ready to get in his Iron Bed....I made the quilt for it.

 The entry has the mobile from Prague....and I used the Santa cookie plates with the boys hand prints on them...need to add some greenery around this.

 Put all the vintage ornaments and Salt and Pepper Shakers in the hutch....added some red tinsel to bling it out a bit.

 We put the tree in a different spot (picture taken from stair landing) as we are hosting the 23rd annual Neighborhood party here this year....only 2 of us original's are still in the same houses however we still get together every Christmas with the old gang.

 Up close of one of my Woodland Creatures in my Winter Wonderland Mantel scape

 I fought and fought with the glitter garland...it had a mind of its own....but I change it, but it had to 'want to change'

 And the PDR (Piece de Resistance') was a BIT#$ to complete...it took me over 4 hours and 3 kinds of glue, but it really sparkles and I am happy with it.

 Another shot of the mantle....

 ...and yet another....

 I was missing my boys and they came over Friday for sleep over!  After play and dinner we got on our pj's and painted ornaments (one of our traditions)

 This is out of order, but the boys also helped decorate the tree in the living room....I missed getting a picture of all the ornaments at 3' and below...

 So this is how I started the glass tree....so full of festivity and excitment....

 After 4 hours and 3 glues I was cursing like a sailor...but not being a quitter I hung in there and was wiped when it was done.

 I also flocked some trees for the mantle...just to soften them up a bit...love playing with spray snow.

 Another shot of a good idea gone bad....

 So although I am not done and only have dent in the list of things to do....I must sign off and deal with my office that looks like this.....

 Please send any spare energy my way.  xoxoxoxoxoxoxo