December Happenings

Husband picked out this wreath, and we have been enjoying its wintery evergreen smell greatly. It is on its way out, yet I am just not yet ready to say good bye to the sweet greeting it gives me when we come home.

N sang in our new church's Christmas choir evening. I was really pleased that he decided to do this, and it made me feel like an old members of this congregation even though we are still in the process of officially joining.

M and a new friend. His mother dresses him and his brothers as handsome as can be!

Little E enjoying a new food

We enjoyed a fun afternoon with our church friends decorating "gingerbread" houses at their home. I was pleased with myself that I sat back and let M decorate in true three year old fashion ;)

She had a very nice time, and I got some good laughs viewing the holes in her roof while it adorned our dining room table for the month.

Little Miss Red Bow

She was thin and reminded me of a Charlie Brown tree, but at least she fit inside our car! 

Our vacation ornament from Colonial Williamsburg in 2009.

Our vacation ornament from New Orleans in 2009.

Back in VA, I was surrounded by several Dillard's stores. (They are a department store a little more upscale than a Macy's.) And every New Year's Day they had a great one day sale. It was my annual tradition to head out early and hit the three stores near me to pick up some beautiful Christmas and house decor at 75% off. This was one of my first finds the first year I went, and baby E got a matching one two years later. I missed the tradition this year as we don't have any Dillard's around, but I was comforted by the simple fact that New Year's Day fell on a Sunday this year.  Even if I was back home in VA, I would not have gone out shopping on the Sabbath day anyway.  

Our first ornament was a gift from my friend Angela for our wedding. I like its style, that it holds a photo like a locket, and that she got it engraved for us. This gift started the silver and white theme on the tree.

When baby M was on her way, I asked my friend Angela if she would be willing to give me an ornament as my baby shower present.

At our new church one of our church elders makes wooden toys, puzzles, and carvings. He is very generous with all the kids of the church and gives out new figurine toys every week. We visited his work shop to see him in action and get a tour. How much fun for this mama who loves wooden toys!

We were graciously given these items plus a few more.

December also marked saying good bye to dear friends we had just met only months ago. They invited us over to their home the first day we came to church, and we were delighted to learn that they went to our church in VA a few years ago! It was such a joy to be able to talk of people we knew in common! The girls got especially attached to her in the few months we were together, and she was so helpful assisting me with them during our full Sundays at church. Thank you, M! It was wonderful getting to know you!

Happy 1st Birthday, Dear Sweet E!

Our baby E is one! We invited a family over from church and had a wonderful time together. 

Are you ready?

It is food!

The party girl and her very sleepy friends and sister. They had a lovely time playing together.

A birthday blueberry muffin :)

We are so blessed to have you in our family. You are a joy and delight to us, baby girl!

A Journey through the Forest

 I love real. I love people who are real, real pie crusts, real ingredients, and real gemstones ;) When it came to acquiring our first Christmas tree, I was sold on getting a real tree and getting it from the source. I did not want grab it at the grocery store and load it into my cart nestled between my pastry flour and butter for my real pie crusts. The means of acquiring the tree was more important to me than the end result of having it in our living room. I had been searching online for a cut-your-own tree farm for awhile when adorable pictures popped up on facebook of The Johnson Farm. That was it! I had found the place. As N was intently working on a paper, I mustered the strength to drive over an hour away into unfamiliar territory to take the girls on an adventure.

 We were welcomed by this sign and the beauty of God's creation in this corner of wooded California.

 A worker lady was kind enough to snap some pictures of us. I had mentioned to her that we just moved to this area, and she asked if we came here for my work. Her question took me aback and then I smilingly replied that it was my husband's work that brought us this way.( Thank you to my new friend Erika for the wonderful bjorn carrier.)

 The beauty of the area was remarkable!

 Excited to get started

 It was darling!

 

 Playing on the bridge

 Looking at the goats

 What this mama will do for a hayride with her kids!

 M grabbed a pumpkin for their pumpkin rolling contest.

 Holding tightly on the pumpkin

 Will one of these be our tree?

 Getting off for the fun pumpkin rolling. Perfect time to be wearing boots!

 She did not successfully roll the pumpkin into the ring at the bottom of the hill and win a free cookie, yet she had a blast.

 We had a wonderful time together bumping up and down along the dirt trail.

 There were many options and a great selection. We had two requirements ~ that it be close to the entrance because it was getting cold and that it fit inside our car.

  

We found it! She is a 5 foot tall Scotch Pine. We were getting cold at this point and ran for the hills.

 As bjorning and sawing do not mix, I asked for some help from one of the nicest strangers this girl has ever met. He was great with the girls. "Timber!" he cried.

 

 This farm christens each tree. When he dubbed our little beauty, I was confused because she did not have any ruddy limbs. I had mistaken his "red bow" for "red bough." With a quick look around, I remembered what adorned my curly headed daughters.

 My beauties with "red bow" all tucked safe and sound in our car.

 I am already looking forward to next year and will make sure N is able to join us on our adventure.