Cookies & The Nutcracker

CeCe has started a wonderful tradition with the kids. They make and decorate Christmas cookies and then deliver them to her friends in her building...

Gianna told one of CeCe's friends that she may not want to take any of her cookies because she had been licking the frosting off her platter!  Too cute!

Last night I took my girls to Julia's ballet schools' production of the Nutcracker.  We got all dressed up.  The show was wonderful!!  On our drive home, Gianna said, "Mom, I wish Clara was my sister!"  She said she wanted to watch it over and over and over again.  I'm so glad they both loved it.  I'm sure it also helped that we had front row seats! 

Gianna has been hard at work drawing each of Santa's reindeer...

Their Christmas lists have been finished and sent off with Luke (our Elf on the Shelf) to take to Santa! 

Why?

I don't understand such evil and hatred.
 

Dear God, please help ease the pain of those families who lost their babies and loved ones.

Our new stockings

I love our new stockings! We've had mismatched stockings for years and I finally decided to splurge a little and get us some nice stockings that we'll have for years to come. I did the boys lettering in red and the girls in gold. They make me happy!

 

 

Christmas Ornaments

I discovered these fabulous Christmas tree ornaments when I was in Maine over the weekend. I just fell in love!! They have so many it's so hard to choose which ones I like best! They are "Merck Family's Old World Christmas Ornaments".   I can just imagine our tree full of these...

 

 

I think each year I will treat myself to one or two.

Christmas by the Sea

I spent last weekend in Ogunquit for the annual Christmas by the Sea weekend.  Kimmy and I went for a walk on Marginal Way...

 

Just beautiful...

 

 

 



 

Had a fabulous lunch here...

 

 

Delicious food...beautiful atmosphere...great company...

 

 

Homemade potato chips...yummy!

 

 

Danny did a fabulous job managing the homefront and taking good care of the kiddies while I was away.  It's always so nice to come home.  My favorite season is here...

 

 

 

 

 It brings me JOY...

 

 

 

Practice makes perfect

Julia practicing her new solo "Meadowlark". Her Auntie Kerry has choreographed another masterpiece. I'm so excited to see it on stage!!

Happy Birthday Mom!

We had a really nice day yesterday celebrating my Mom's birthday. We went out for a delicious lunch and then back to Kimmy's house for cake and ice cream. 

My kid's spent the morning making birthday cards for Nana...

 

They were so thoughtful...



 

 

Mom taught me how to make her yummy cakes with homemade frosting, but I've yet to master her unbelievable cake decorating skills.  I don't think I inherited that talent.

 

What fabulous genes she has too.  I can only hope that I will look as young as her when I'm her age!! 

 

 

I love you Mom!!!   

An early Thanksgiving and more....

What have we been doing these days? 

Lots of creating around here which is always a good thing.  Gianna made this dog out of play-doh...

Don't they always say kids have more fun playing with the box than what's inside the box?  So true...

 

Yes, hours of fun was had with that box....

Julia has been making all kinds of wallets and bookmarks (or barkmooks as I used to call them) out of duct tape. 

So creative and pretty!!!

 

Today we had our traditional "Smith Family Thanksgiving".  I'm sure we all felt my Dad's absence today, but I just know he was there in spirit. He loved the home cooked meal and enjoying the company of his children and grandchildren. It's really not the same without him but we must go on.  Nancy has such a pretty home.  Her house is always so inviting and of course festive...

This was her mother's pattern.  Just beautiful!! 

I picture my Dad sitting right next to Nancy. 

And Dena made THE best pies ever....

Today it was the banana cream pie that was my favorite, but of course I had to have a slice of both!

Happy Thanksgiving, Dad.  I miss you every day.