Eco- Kid

This is a blip from our drive home from the grocery tonight.

Papa Bear says: "Did they just throw a can out of the window?" (referring to the car in front of us)
"They did! I can't believe it. I don't like that car."

Little Chief: "Aww.....we have to keep the Earth beautiful!!"


My little enviro-chief! I think this next generation is.....well, I think they are going to be much more aware of the world they live in and their impact on the Earth. Very cool. (no global warming pun intended)

On a Wednesday

I am taking a page from my dear friend Dawn's blog playbook.

Here's what we did today:
http://lettsdish.blogspot.com/2009/01/basic-training.html

HA!

Chriatmas Day 2008

Merry Christmas Day 2008

I know this post is a little long in the making, but after the whirl wind of the holidays I just needed a moment of decompression. Granted, my "moment" as taken 3 weeks, but I feel that you all know me well enough by now that even if my posts are late, the at least will be.

So Happy Christmas to everyone! the day started off bright and early here in our house. You might even think that a little boy knew Santa was coming and charged himself up for an early rising to unwrap his booty. (we play pirates way too much)

It was a lot of fun. There were way more presents than I thought there would be, but it was so much fun watching him unwrap his gifts that I just didn't care. And really- he wasn't overly spoiled- packaging takes up a lot of space!

I think one of the best moments was when Chief opened up a gift that wasn't requested and he looked at it and said "huh?" Then when he opened a gift he did ask for he he was SOOO excited!!! "It's just what I asked for! Santa went to the store and got just what I wanted!" Crack me up.

We had a lovely Christmas dinner. We were fortunate to have extra persons at our table this year. April, Jon, and Kyle made the trip down from Brainerd to share our holiday meal. It tasted great and having the company made it very special.

I don't know how we are ever going to top this Christmas. It was filled with love, laughs, joy, family, food, fun, and gifts. We were able to spend a cozy holiday with friends and family, warm and snuggled in our new house, watching the snow fall.

Seasons Greetings to all

Christmas Eve 2008

Merry Christmas Eve 2008

It may have been the fact that we finally have a house big enough to host a holiday event or maybe the fact that we travel every year for Turkey day and Christmas or maybe I just wanted to try something new, but for whatever reason, at the age of 33, I had the pleasure of hosting my very first Christmas dinner. I had complete confidence in this endeavor for two very good reasons: my mom and my mother-in-law. They were both here for the holiday and I knew that with their help dinner would go smoothly- and it did. We kept the menu easy with only a few experimental items and it was great.

My mom stirring up some gravy

G'Ma S, G'Ma T, and little Chief getting it all ready

Our very good friends, Linda and Tony, were able to join us for our Christmas Eve dinner. I was so happy they were able to share the holiday with us. After dinner G'Ma S, G'Pa, Tony and Troy played a rousing game of Hearts. It was great to watch and GMa S came out the winner!

Papa Bear and I decide to join our Christmas gifts to each other this year and we bought a beautiful new table (which you cannot see as it is covered by a table cloth). We all fit comfortably. Had you ever seen our little 32" round glass table we have been dining on for 8 years you would understand our complete and utter joy and having a table that can accommodate our family and friends. I seriously love my new table. I think I will have to have a post just about the table. hmm....

So, after the dinner was over, the dishes washed, the cards played and the coffee drank, we prepared for Santa's arrival. We secured his cookies in a clear plastic bag (so the cat wouldn't eat it), secured his milk in a thermos (so the cat wouldn't knock it over), and wrote a little note to the man in red directing him and his reindeer to the secured said treats. Finally we got the Chief into jammies and into bed. Santa's elves wrapped and sorted gifts and after placing them under the tree treated themselves to a bit of Baily's in coffee. Every good elf should be so rewarded.

Happy New Year 2009!!!

Wishing all of our dear friends and family much love, joy, and success in the new year!

Happy New Year 2009

Peace and Prosperity,
Mama J, Little Chief, and Papa Bear

Love the Tree

This year we were able to have our very first (as a family) big, real, wonderful Christmas tree. Little Chief, Papa Bear and I went out on a chilly Minnesota morning a few weeks ago to the farmers market and picked out our tree. I was so excited that I gladly paid the rather large fee. I jumped up and down with excitement as much as for warmth while they loaded the tree on top of the jeep. I felt like a kid who was going to have the best Christmas ever!

There's our tree all dressed up. We had to buy ornaments for a big tree- we had them for our little tree- and Chief picked out the star. I started to put tinsel on the tree, got about a quarter of the way finished and then took it all off. I couldn't bring myself to block the tree in all it's lovely treeness.

Here is our tree again on Christmas Eve. Do you like the train table that doubles as an appetizer table. I like multifunctional items : )