"The Death Of Pretty..."

A Facebook friend of mine recently posted this article:
http://www.ncregister.com/blog/the-death-of-pretty
It is so well written and something we should all take to heart.
It is something each of us as women should remember.
It is something we should teach our young girls.
It is something men should read as well.
Take time to read and reflect on it.
It's good stuff.

This and that in December...

We had a busy December.  I already posted about some of it...but there was much more to come.  On the first Saturday of December, we went down to mom and dad's for our annual cookie baking day (for the grandkids).  This top photo of me and my sister, we were modeling the flowers in our hair that mom made us.

Geeg and all the grandkids ready to bake and decorate!  Geeg always has a station set up for each of the kids for rolling, cutting, and icing.

Me and my momma.

Pretty pretty cookies!

Me and my Pops!

Later that night, we went to mom and dad's church for an evening of ourdoor activities.

It was FREEZING...but FUN!

Here's Evan at the petting zoo.

Nate and I loved this little baby!

They had horse drawn carriage rides, petting zoo, caroling, and a warming station inside with popcorn, cotton candy, and hot cocoa.

Later in December, Nate's school had spirit week.  This particular day was "Wrapping Paper And Bow Day".  I thought we did pretty good.

This was the Christmas gift Nate made us at school.  He gave us a reindeer card, a Christmas tree photo ornament, and a reigndeer photo ornament of himself!  Cute!

Next came Christmas celebration at Geeg and Papa's house!  We had this on the 23rd.

Here's Geeg, Evan, and Logan prepping our munchies!

The guys chilling in the living room.

Me and my sissy...

Me and my honey...

My aunt who lives in Illinois, sent all of us some of these silly glasses for Christmas.

We had to take photos.

Geeg and Papa got "Coke bottle" glasses, LOL!

Jess, mom, and me...thumbs up!

We had so much food...artichoke dip, spinach dip, cheese ball, bbq kielbasa, meatballs, bacon wrapped water chestnuts, veggie platter, ham/pickle/cream cheese wraps, and desserts galore!  I'm sure I'm leaving out some things...but those were some highlights.

Then we all exchanged gifts.

Jammies are always appreciated.

Playing around with my honey.

Mom and dad had gotten a new Keurig for Christmas...so we got them a stackable storage drawer to store all their coffee...

...and a fall sampler pack of coffee, cider, and cocoa.

Geeg, Papa, and all the grandkids.

Jam was totally happy...mom and dad got him a Detroit Lions Pillow Pet, LOL!

Me and Jess...

My silly Evan.

On Christmas Eve...the boys and I made gingerbread sleighs.

We had never done anything like this...it was fun (and a little frustrating, LOL!)...

Some of the decor...

The finished product!

Up close!

Then...

Santa came to our house!

Looks like the James boys were good this year!

Proof he was here!

Time for stockings!

What did we get?

Evan got the surprise of his life for Christmas...

He loves old vintage collectible guns...

This was a 1938 World War 2 Russian gun of some sort...he'd have to tell you more about it.  He knows EVERYTHING about them.

He loves history.  He's all up on that.

Nate with some of his Legos.

Nate's big ticket item this year was a keyboard!

I think everyone had a very Merry Christmas!

We would like to wish you and yours a very blessed holiday season and a fabulous 2012!

If you bake...

If you bake...
Don't forget to check out my baking blog!
Sweet Ivy Confections
There is a link on the side of this blog.
We also have a Facebook page and a Twitter account!
FOLLOW US!
Yesterday I delivered a cake I made for a sweet friend's birthday and I just have to share it with you...
Check it out:
http://sweetivyconfections.blogspot.com/2011/12/polka-dotspiralbow-birthday-cake.html

Nate's 5th grade holiday concert!

Nate had an awesome Christmas program.

It was held at the high school auditorium because it was all three fifth grade classes...plus one third grade class...and one fourth grade class.

Each grade sang three songs.

And then they did four songs combined.

Nate is in the top row...left hand side...third one in.

They had a snow man and a Christmas tree projected on the wall.

And then also had a slide show playing with all kinds of various Christmas images and scenes from Christmas movies/books too.

It was a neat effect as they sang.

All the kids did a really nice job.

Afterward...

They had a small reception in the cafeteria.

They had cookies and punch.

Overall...a real enjoyable evening!