December 23, 2012

ADVENT ACTIVITIES.


 a peek at some of last week's advent activities:

living room campout
rainbow bottle cap crayons
chocolate oatmeal no-bake cookies
watercolor paintings to give as gifts

some of our other advent activities that we were too busy enjoying to photograph:

christmas light scavenger hunt
caroling
build a fort
be an elf for a day
watch a christmas movie
give a gift
roast marshmallows
hiking
moonlight walk
have a picnic
eat cake for dinner

psst, christmas eve is tomorrow! merry christmas y'all!

-bette






December 12, 2012

SICK DAY, SNOW DAY.


 we've had coughs, colds and fevers in abundance the last few days, so when the first big snow came sunday morning no one really felt up to going out to play. also, it was only 8 degrees outside that morning. way too cold for all the sicklies. the next day, in typical colorado springs fashion, the sun was out threatening to melt all that beautiful snow. and by golly, we couldn't be robbed of playing in the first snow of the season. we dug through the boxes of snow gear, sorting out what fit who(the kids are giants and outgrew almost everything from last season) and getting bundled up like ralphie's little brother in the movie a christmas story. i always forget how long it takes to get everyone ready.

we had a great time sledding and throwing snowballs, like the one that took paul by surprise as soon as he stepped out the front door. he had just showered and thus, his time outside was rather short-lived. wet hair and snowballs are not friends. i'm pretty sure charlie ate his weight in snow. i don't know why he thought it tasted so good, but he chomped that powdery goodness up. everything is starting to melt today under the sun and bright blue skies. surely there will be plenty more snow days ahead and hopefully we'll be feeling better when they arrive.

-bette







December 10, 2012

WE HIKE...SORT OF.


we hoist each other up to see. we get our shoes stuck in crevices and scream for help. we carry our water bottles in fancy shmancy holders. we poke our fingers on cactus after mama says it will hurt. we commandeer misplaced tree branches. we cover rocks with dirt to make sure they're not too clean. we trespass. we crawl into pipes that we can't see the other side of. we read and comment on ugly cowboy coats. we cheeese. we pose. we say "i do it myself". we point. we dance with our shadows. 

yep. we totally hike.
 

-bette











December 5, 2012

GOOD DAYS.











long lashes on a pretty lady.
hungry boys.
the little sling that could.
coffee in my favorite mug.
handmade christmas gift in progress.
smiley sewing companion.
a sign the little artist hung at the end of the day.
stamped advent activity card.

holidays, happy days.

-bette

December 3, 2012

SUMMONING SOME CHRISTMAS CHEER.













typically around late october i start getting the itch for it....the most wonderful time of the year, the carols, the presents, the family, the food and sweet lord do i ever love decorating day. decorating day around here consists of the consumption of cocoa with a giant mound of marshmallows, dean martin crooning our favorite holiday classics, hanging and rehanging ornaments after little hands have torn them off the tree, wondering what will be in those stockings on the fireplace, whispering swear words under our breath when that one strand of lights just won't work and ending the day with the first family christmas movie of the season. the kids always beg for the grinch. i've managed to move decorating day earlier and earlier each year since paul and i have been married. there's a good chance that come easter one of these years, i'll be dragging out the nativity sets and lights. i've always been a christmas freak and proud of it.

i am the last person on earth who needs coercing when it comes to celebrating this season...usually. so, here comes the big confession. this year, i'm just not feelin' it. some unfortunate circumstances have caused us unnecessary stress this christmas and we've had to cancel our travel plans to texas as well. this will be my first christmas ever not to be with my mom or dad. it may sound childish, but it just won't be the same without seeing them. it really makes my heart sink a little each time i think about it. half of my siblings will be in texas and we won't get to be with them either. paul's parents have decided to come for a visit and we are excited to have them here. the kids are loving the christmas festivities and i'm determined to make it a wonderful time for them. i'll try not to cry or pout...you hear that santa? bring me somethin' good!

happy christmas season to all of you!

-bette