The Reason

I hope you are all enjoying your holiday time with family and friends. I am reminded this time each year how very blessed I am in my life with my family, friends, home and surroundings. I need to remember to take a little more time and acknowledge where all these blessing come from. So please take a moment and enjoy a few of my favorite Nativity Scene paintings.

I love this one because Joseph looks so proud and gentle.


I love how Joseph is leaning over them in such a protective way. And I love that his sleeves are rolled up like he just finished a big job.


I love how baby Jesus is glowing and how the shepherds are in awe.


I LOVE Mary's expression here and I love how young they are. They look like nervous and yet very excited new parents. Just how most parents look with their first little one.



I love that Mary looks like she is just plain pooped. She looks tired and a little beat-up, like most mother do after hours of labour. But look at her face and the way she is looking at Joesph. I see so much love and peace. And Joseph just looks so proud. But my favorite thing about this painting (except it's not a painting I now realize, it's a photo from a movie. Oops.) is how it just seems like they are having such a private moment here. No shepherds yet, no wisemen, just a young mom, dad and their new little baby. What a beautiful family.


Jesus Christ is the reason we celebrate Christmas.

Don't forget!!! :)


Have a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

Edmonton.....

here I come!

I finally got a call from the Lithotripsy unit in Edmonton yesterday and we are on our way today. Wish us luck!!

And a big thank you to

Jana
Becky
Tiffany
Shaylene

and everyone else who will be helping out with our kiddos while we are gone!

Easy Peasy Birthday Cake

We are celebrating Porter's 6th birthday today by having a sleepover with his three closest friends. Currently they are downstairs playing X-Box and I thought I'd take a minute to share the birthday cake.


It's super easy to make.

Just stack two round cakes on top (fill with whatever frosting you'd like) and frost the outside.

Use Kit Kat bars to cover the outside of the cake and then cover the top with M&M's.


For a little extra pizazz, ad a ribbon.

Easy Peasy!



I'm think I got the idea at this blog here but I'm not 100% sure.

If it's not there then at least you've got a new blog to stalk. She's great!!

Hostess with the Mostess

Are you in need of a great pick-me-up blog?

I stumbled upon this super awesome blog a few months ago and have been in love with it ever since!

Hostess with the Mostess

This blog has the BEST design, theme, decorating ideas I have ever seen.

I get so many great ideas from here. Remember my New Moon party I threw a few weeks ago? I got most of my ideas from this super duper blog.

So go on over and check it out.

You can thank me later by inviting me to your Hostess with the Mostess idea filled party!!!!

Parade of Lights

Here in Canada we do things a little different. Fireworks in October and parades in December.

Is it cold? Yes.

(Well only if you consider -12*C to be cold)

Is it fun? Definitely.

For the second year in a row Jana decided to enter a float for her and Kara's little home decor store. It was so much fun. The kids got to ride on it and shout their "Merry Christmas'" and they did a really great job. The only down side was that Kara and Ryan's kids weren't there to join in the fun. Oh well. Maybe next year?

And now, a few pictures of the Upon the Shelf Gingerbread House!

Complete with dryer vent candy canes...

Paper cup gumdrops with foam frosting...

Paper plate lollipops...

And 9 happy little boys with one cheerful little girl mixed in!

Merry Christmas!!!

It's a Beautiful Day. Cold. But Beautiful.

It's a cold but beautiful day up here in Canada. I love it!

And poor sweet Katie has to stay outside. She's feels pretty picked on. :)

"Deck the Halls"

I put up my Christmas decorations the other day and I am in HEAVEN!

I can justify this early decorating because here in Canada we are well past Thanksgiving and Christmas is only 5 weeks away!!!

I haven't done a lick of shopping but my decorations are up!

(And a big thanks to Mike for putting up with my craziness.)

And now...

A few pictures of the trees and other decorations!

This is the tree in our bedroom. It will soon have a whole bunch of gorgeous peacock feathers and other fun filler!

If you look closely you can see moi, waving at you!
Hello you!



These are the two trees in my living room. They are the boys's favorites.

This is my favorite tree this year.
(It actually looked a lot better yesterday, before Luke tried to plug it in and knocked the entire thing over. Man, the balls went flying!)

And this is the tree in my family room. It's the original Hurren Christmas Tree.

And a few other pictures...

Merry Christmas!!!