Never A Dull Moment

Instilling Traditions

It has always been the focus of holdiays past to carry on traditions within a family, and our family is no different than any other!  Sometimes traditions seem to take on a twist to "pull it off" but, none the less traditions still thrive and grow here in the heart of our family.  As I drove the mountain pass yesterday I reflected on what some of our favorite family traditions are and thought was a great topic for a blog post!  So here is a sampling of what makes the Holidays the Holidays in our family:

*Of course baking & decorating the infamous sugar cookies!! (Reb's favorite!!)

*A new ornament for each family member representing a big event in our lives the past year!  This year was Turkey hunting ornaments to represent the "rite of passage hunt" in Oklahoma.

*Christmas Eve Candle light service followed up by unwrapping PJ's and games.

*The Family Sledding Party in Walden on the School hill!!

*Family pictures!!

*Playing Santa... We pick a family to play Santa for each year then go spend a $100.00 spoiling them:stuffing stockings, making reindeer tracks, boxing up a Chirstmas meal, and a present for the family under their tree!  So far we've succeded in surprising lots of special people and not being attacked by dogs!!

*The Ho, Ho, Ho sack... My nieces and nephews LOVE the Santa sack, a muslin bag with sequins HO, HO, HO written on it!  We fill the bag with presents, then the weekend prior to Christmas make the rounds delivering our goodies to family and friends on our Christmas lists!  The boys sport Santa hats and sing carols then share their gifts for those we love and cherish!  This is our longest lasting tradition  to date and everyone loves to see the HO, HO, HO sack on its' way!!

*My favorite... Christmas Cards and letters!  The one chance a year to catch up with so many friends and families we hear from just once a year!!

*My boys favorites...The Christmas Pickle... An old European tradition where a glass pickle ornament is hid in the tree the morning of Christmas.  Whoever finds the Pickle gets a special present, generally something sweet and tasty!!

This is only a brief list of our family favs... I'd love to hear what traditions our friends and family share so post here on my blog for a extra special holiday treat to come your way!!  Thanks for sharing!!

What happened to November??

     So I just posted a new blog entry "Did the Grinch steal Christmas"... It was then that I noticed I was never here in November!!  What happened in November that took over my life and made me somehow forget my blogging world??  I look back over the month and WOW what a month I should have shared!!  Not only did I forget to share all the wonderous things I am grateful for in this cornicopia of life... We had ALOT happen in our family last month!!  So to recap:

11/1: Visit to the Doc~ Jamie you are no longer 20 and age is catching you!!  I am to young to feel geriatric!  More on this in the months to come I am sure!!

11/3: K&K Livestock is again in full swing with the purchase of Blackberry (Kaine's) and Pistol Pete .. better known as Diablo the devil steer (Kason's)

11/12-11/16: Hell Week in our home (See Oct. 9th entry for more detail!!)

11/13: I hit the mark... today I bowled a 212, my personal best and was 4 point shy of a 500 series!!

11/13: I am now a member of the board room... North Park School District Board of Education that is!

11/16: 4H Achievement Night where the boys were honored for outstanding efforts in their Livestock projects, Shooting Sports & Home Ec clubs.  Also Kaine rolled off the 4H council officer team while Kason was elected onto it!!

11/17: Little Man Brown~KASON~ turned 9!  No wonder I am feeling Geriatric!  Bowling with friends highlighted the evening!

11/17: Santa came to town and I took pics for the NP Childrens Center!

11/22: Lots of reasons to be Thankful this year!  A fantastic meal in Berthoud with my baby sisters, thier families, my Daddy & Nanita along with Grandma Darlene.

11/23-11/25: The Walls Come Down!!  We spent the remaining Thanksgiving Holiday ripping out the wall between the dining room and porch, installing new insulation and drywall, then mudding its' entirety.  All that's left is to texture and paint!

11/28-12/1: I attended my first conference as a Colorado School Board Member.  WOW the inspiration!  Our team is still in the clouds and energized at the positive drive CASB has in our education system!!  What I learned:  "The aim of education should be to teach us rather how to think, than what to think." (Quote from Bill Beattie)

I returned home in a blizzard to shoot a night wedding, then a full day of 4H on Sunday!  So here we are in the "present"... and what a gift today will be!!   

Did the Grinch Steal Christmas?

     This is so sad... my little man Kason asked me if the Grinch can really steal Christmas yesterday!  Is this a form of scolding from child to parent??  Shame on me I must say.  Generally I am the little elf that runs around spreading the joy of the holiday season, but honestly this year I haven't had the time.  I realize it is only December 6th and I shouldn't get to far ahead of myself because there is still plenty of time to play the "Ho Ho Game"!!  I feel I have been convicted of a holiday crime because I have yet to join in on all the holiday hoopla!!  So I guess this weekend to come I better pull out the decorations and hang the stockings for another year of Christmas Cheer!  If nothing else, for the sake of my childrens holiday joys!!