Jack Frost...busy at work

We woke up a few days ago to the remnants of Jack Frost playing in our yard. I have to say, as bad as I hate winter....this was beautiful. There was a slight breeze and the frost was falling off the trees and looked as though it was snowing big icicle shaped flakes. It was a sight to behold for sure.  

Jack Frost can decorate like no one else....he's quite an artist, when it comes right down to it!

Holly Fair Fun Times = BUSY TIMES

Dayna and I dove into our "crafting" mid summer, early fall....crafting day and night to be able to pull off our annual "Fall Sneak Peak Holly Fair Boutique" AND the annual "HOLLY FAIR". We enjoy our time we get to spend selling our "goods". Its stressful, and fun at the same time. We had a good year... and were able to sell all of our stuff. Another year down...now to come up with some new things for next year! This year's boutique/craft fair included some of the old favorites that we have done for several years, but also some NEW things that we tried out........

We had block sets, and chalk boards.....

...suitcases and wreath hangers.....

antique shoes.....

....furniture~

...made over to look old and vintage............a favorite of ours!

All in all, it was a successful long few days, but fun times were had by both of us!

.....see, we are still smiling! 

Wedding Bells and Mischief!

I guess you could say that our family had a "Christmas Brownie" (AKA elf) before they were popular. Deron's family has a LONG history with the Christmas Brownie (long before we were married). When we got married we got a Brownie, his name was "Darby". Santa dropped him off on Thanksgiving night. He left a movie and a note to let us know that he was here and would be watching to see if the kids were naughty or nice and report back to Santa. Throughout the season he would leave treats, gifts and notes. The kids have loved it. 

 This year...DARBY GOT married. Now we have two Christmas Brownies, Darby AND HAZEL. They have left little treats and a movie, but have also made a few messes here and there too.

The kids (Halle 16 and Cam almost 20) have gotten a few laughs I think. Cam even said the other day, "Mom, what happened to Darby being invisible and just leaving treats, now he's married and getting into all kinds of trouble?"..."but its FUN"......guess that means he's still a kid at heart and Darby and Hazel will stick around.

Its a fun tradition and I'm glad that its a tradition that ALL my kids grew up with, even before it was "the thing" that everyone else was doing. Traditions are fun and are what keep the magic alive for me during the holidays!

1...2...3..click

I"M SOOOO far behind on my blog posts...I should just scratch the past

and pick up with the here and now...but I couldn't resist these few "past" posts!

I always take Halle's "school year" pictures. We took these several months ago (obviously, with the green grass and NICE weather). We had a fun afternoon just shooting picture after picture. Here are a few of my favorites!

After taking her pictures, I captured a few "scenery" pictures by the lake we

were at....its amazing how if you are in the right place at the right time, you can 

see some beautiful things.....I think I was lucky on this day...right place, right time, right pictures.

HONESTLY, I think the pictures don't do the amazing scenery justice, but I thought

I would share anyway!

Can't wait for Spring and Summer to come back...its beautiful!

Did THAT just happen?

 I love "real", fresh cut Christmas Trees, BUT I am not patient when it comes to going to get one....so YEARS ago, I bought into the "ease of the trees", and got some "fake" trees....that way I could put them up when I wanted, leave them up as long as I wanted, avoid vacuuming up pine needles for a year and cleaning sap from the floors. I've adored my fake tree's but have always missed the smell of the REAL pinion pines that fragrant the air of my home for the Christmas season. The year Cameron wanted a real tree, I told him if he wanted to go and get one, he could...I would be fine with that. (Honestly, I expecting him to NOT want to journey to the mountains to chop a tree down)....two days later we had a gorgeous tree adorning our house. I took hours and wound the lights back and forth across the tree (it sat in a corner and was TOO big to go around and around with the lights). Halle and I spent an evening decorating the tree with all the "homemade" family ornaments from years past....AND THEN we scrounged for old tree balls because the tree still looked barren (yes, it is LARGE). The end result was BEAUTIFUL (at least to us). We turned on the lights and watched old sappy Christmas movies on the Hallmark channel....all was well...UNTIL..........

...two days later, I went to the store...I was gone for an hour...came home to 

THIS..........

a DOWN TREE!! 

We don't have any pets in the house that would knock it down, no one else was home....I was baffled! I thought maybe the screws from the tree stand had come undone, or that maybe the tree stand BROKE...NOPE, nothing explained the crash of my evergreen. I sat and stared in amazement, didn't know whether to laugh or cry. Deron came down from his office (he works from home) and helped me pick it up (tree stand was STILL attached) and put it back where it originally was. The ornaments scattered the floor, the lights lay mostly in a heap on the floor and all I could see was "MORE WORK". Decorating a tree once is fun, relaxing and enjoyable. Decorating the same tree AGAIN...not so much!!

 I HATE to wrap lights on trees....the worst job ever!...so having to untangle 10 strands of lights and THEN RE-WRAP the tree was difficult. Part of me ( A VERY LARGE PART OF ME) just wanted to drag the tree out of the house, along with the ornaments that were still attached and call it "GOOD RIDDENCE", but because Cameron took the time and was thoughtful enough to go and get this beauty, I decided I would spend the day RE-DECORATING it so it would be dressed when he got home from work.

The lights took approximately 2 hours to untangle and wrap....only to find out that NOW 2 strands no longer worked. I am one that likes ALOT of lights, ALOT of decorations....its not complete unless the entire tree lights up. I scrounged through some boxes and fell upon 2 more strands of lights (whew) and got my 10 strands back on the tree. 

After 3.5 hours of decorating...our REAL tree was up and lit again.................she is NOW tied to the wall, she shouldn't be going anywhere until we are ready for her to come down (but then it will be OUR decision). She is one of my favorite trees ever!

Please...Say It Isn't So?! Colors Are A Changin!

Over the course of the Fall months, I have traveled to the city off and on and had a 

chance to watch as the leaves changed from lustrous green shades of summer to the BRIGHT vibrant colors of autumn and then onto the dull faded shades before the colors completely disappear. 

I have a favorite little area that I like to frequent when I travel through

Daniels....I'v blogged about it before, Whisky Springs. I LOVE this place and try and stop there whenever

I possibly can. There is a little trail that goes up through the trees and then back down the hillside, it takes about 5-10 minutes TOPS to walk it. I love the closeness I feel with nature there! I love to sit on the 

bench at the top of the hill (yes, there really is a bench) and just listen to ABSOLUTELY nothing...its a gorgeous sound and such a peaceful sound. Makes me want to pitch a tent and stay 

awhile (but you can't camp there...only picnic) 

The RED leaves were gorgeous, but not as bright as they have been in years past...

I love fall....wished it lasted longer with all the gorgeous colors. What 

an amazing time of year!

The deep green colors, speckled with a hint of reds and greens and even some yellows....

I couldn't help but stare right at the sun peering through the clouds, it was amazing

and something I think I've only seen once or twice in my life that was this breath taking....and the picture doesn't do it justice!

As I walked down the path, out of the wooded hillside, I marveled at the beauty that 

I am blessed to be able to see each day...I think I could live in the mountains if they were this 

gorgeous all the time (winter comes, stays too long and I am not a fan). Whisky Springs closes for the winter and opens as soon as the weather clears up in the spring...I look forward to a picnic or 2 there next year and many hikes through the trees on the hill...until next year my Whisky Spring friend...OH how I shall miss thee!

Family Picture FUN Time....

Before Cameron left on his mission, we decided to get a family picture taken....after all it would be 2 years before we could get another one with EVERYONE in it. We took the afternoon and evening and met with our photographer, Sharli Fitzgerald (who is AMAZING) for some individual and group shots. We don't have them yet, but as soon as I get them...I will post some for all to see. While we were hanging out, I took a few fun shots of the kids and grandkids...

A lot were of Cameron with other people in it...I have wondered since if he was just sucking in all the memories he could because when he gets back in 2 years....EVERYTHING will be different. The people, the places, the experiences...its all going to be a change, so glad the memories remain!

Cameron and Erik having "guy time" before pictures started....

 Cameron with Kim and Kenron...I like this one because you can see Cameron studying

Kenron...almost as if he is trying to capture every moment with him. 

This is one of the most precious pictures...Uncle Jack and Kenron. 

Jack was helping Kenron jump and it made him so happy...I don't know

who had the most fun, Jack or Kenron.

Little Kayson, always has a smile on his his face and LOVES to be held, talked to

and to have someone play with him...it just does my heart good to see him so happy!

Jack and Dayna...always bring happiness to a crowd!

Cameron playing with Kayson...its a happy day

It was dinner time and EVERYONE pitched in to pull it off...

Everyone helped cook, set up, eat and clean up...those are the best meals ever!

Kenron isn't very fond of eating...but he loves to have his picture taken~

The family at meal time...FULL and ready for dessert...

PS...I'm loving Cam and Erik's faces..a photo bomb!

This girl is going to miss her brother, probably almost as much

as he will miss her. They are 2 years apart and are each others "side kick"...

Two happy little peas in a pod!

Everybody looks up to their older sister...Cameron is no exception. 

He adores his big sis!

Cameron and Dad...one of my favorite pictures of the two of them together!

 I can't help but smile when I see these last two pictures...a happy Cameron!

Family pictures were really fun...my kids always make getting our pictures

taken a FUN experience. They laugh, crack jokes and make the awkwardness of smiling for 

a camera, a heck of a lot more fun than I think MOST families get to have!

When I die and pass on to the next life...these are the things that

I'm going to remember most...happy, fun, together times!

I can't wait to see the BIG REVEAL of our FAMILY PICTURES!