I'm BACK! FINALLY!

So I know it's been eons!!! Life has changed so much since I last posted, we have moved about 2-3 hours away from my family and The Kidlet's Cousin and my Sisters and Mum and Dad and EVERYONE! I've lived in the same town my whole life and been pretty content with that. This is a big change for us, we now live near the ocean instead of a town in a deserty valley. I have learned to love the sun in only a couple months (probably because it isn't miserably hot whenever it's shining!!!)

I have lots to get caught up on after months of internet issues even before me moved, then AT&T giving us the run around for the last 2 and a half months that we've been here. We are with a new carrier and it's been fantastic...for the 2 hours that we've had it now! AHahaha!

Anyhoo, Lots of other pics but before we get too far away from it I wanted to post pics of the presents I wrapped (using a hot glue gun instead of tape pretty much changed my gift wrapping life!!!!)

I can't wait to get back into the swing of things, blog-wise. And to see how Jasmine, Tess, and the Sara(h)'s, Meggstatus, and Stephanie, Mel, and any other blog friends I forgot to mention! I've missed you birds!

Lovies and Learning,

-K

O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree

Here is our tree btw, just in case you were wondering. It is decorated with a hodge-podge of ornaments that have been collected by The Mr. and myself since we were children. The Mr's Mum (best mum-in-law EVER, btw) collected some for him growing up. My ornaments are mostly from my (Fairy) godmother. I always heard the term godmother applied to her and assumed that made her my personal fairy godmother, yes, as a child I had images of her handing me glass slippers one day. Eventually I grew up and found out what it really meant, but my engagement ring was a family heirloom handed down from her and I think it's worth 10 glass slippers. She was one of the most lovely people I have ever had the privileged to know and it still hurts to think of her being gone even if it has been almost 4 years now. On top of that (and what sparked me thinking and mentioning her in the first place) she bought my sisters and me each an ornament every Christmas since we were born. I adore my tree!!! Each ornament holds so much love and so many memories ....sigh....I miss her.

Hope this weekend is lovely and void of stress or annoyance, enjoy your self!!! Remember how much we look forward to this time all the rest of the year? Don't let long lines or grumpy people ruin it for you, it will be gone in no time!

Merry Christmas!!!

Lovies and Lucky Stars,

-K

Ps. I have NO idea why the above paragraphs are underlined and neither do I know how to get rid of it. Apologies.

Christmas Tree Lane Walks 1 & 2

Myself, W, The Cat and the Cow, My Sister.

This display has been a regular ever since I can remember...long before my parents ever lived down the street and our open house tradition began. you can't tell but they dance. A couple years ago some awful people vandalized a bunch of stuff on the Lane and this display was set on fire.....it was a very sad year. Glad to see it fixed and back to looking like the good old days.

I told you there was a crowd.

Myself and The Kidlet. (sorry so many pics are fuzzy, the flash just ruins everything)

The Mr.

The A"boob"minable Snowman.

Us.

The second night, hence the different hair (bow)

Every year my family has an open house on the night that a nearby street has their annual Walk Night. They close it to cars (which usually cause traffic jams on this street as these houses go ALL out every year) and we are free to walk like cattle packed into an enormous crowd. Everyone runs into a million people they know as pretty much everyone turns out for this thing. It happens two different nights and since people show up at my parents on both nights we have expanded the open house to both nights as well. My pop builds a fire pit in the front yard, people roast marshmallows, bring lovely treats to share or instruments to play and rabbly-rousing commences. It's alway a blast and it's crazy to think that we have been doing this since I was in highschool and now here I am with a child myself, starting a new generation to enjoy the tradition.

Sighhhhhh, still working on presents....I need to get some wrapped, there is nothing under the tree yet and it looks lonely. That reminds me, I must get some pictures of OUR tree and get them put up for you.

Stay warm and don't forget why we have this time of celebration in the first place.

Blessings, Lovies and Christmas Light Lanes,

-K

'Tis the season.

Christmas Parties are here and I'm loving every minute of it! The tree is decorated, crafting has begun and Candy Cane Lane Tea is being drunk. Sigh, how I do love Christmas. It breaks my heart to see how many people write this holiday off because of the commercialism that tries to sneak in and take over. I admit, it's there, it happens. But why let it!??!? FIGHT FOR IT!!!!

It's kind of like life....it ends up being what you make of it.

And I am going to make it about what I believe. That it is a day to celebrate my spiritual beliefs. A day to remember how much I have to be grateful for. That my Savior was born (not on this exact day of course) and as a result I have hope and peace. That it's a time to be with my family, to have fun thinking up things that might be a blessing to them, that might cheer them and encourage them. To sacrifice a bit of my time and effort and money and make my friends and family reminders of how much they mean to me. Not because I have to!!!! But because I want to!!! It's not expected, it's not demanded, it's just fun for us.

Why let something that it's NOT ended up taking over what it really IS!?!?!?

Lovies and the little town of Bethlehem,
-K