Let it Snow!

Evangeline and I drove to TH one night last weekend to stay with Mom for the night.  We did all sorts of Christmasy things.  We made ornaments, watched a Christmas movie, had hot cocoa.  It was such fun. 

We had tickets to see a Christmas show at Beef and Boards with Papa, Karen and the Hwangs the next day.  Unfortunately it snowed so much it just wasn't going to be a safe drive to Indy.  We were bummed, but we made the most of it.  Since we were already in Terre Haute we decided to go the Clabber Girl Christmas instead.  It was a picture perfect day.  There were huge snowflakes gracefully drifting down all morning long.   Just lovely.  We saw Santa, got our face painted, made crafts, decorated cookies and took a horse and buggy ride in the falling snow.

You know, I'm proud to be from the arm pit of America.  It's a nice town and getting better every year.

Mummzie snapped this picture about 3 minutes after I pulled out of the Clabber Girl parking lot. 

And when we got home....

Her favorite snowy day pastime was eating the snow.

Here are the fruits of another cookie day with Colleen...

Merry and Bright

I really felt like I was keeping ahead of the holiday deadlines this year.  I started Christmas shopping several months ago, we decorated a few days earlier, I got my cards ordered and addressed in a timely fashion, yet here we are cramming everything in and feeling rushed and stressed once again.  There is just so much to do and I never can say no to anyone or anything.  Especially if it's something I think Evangeline will enjoy.  I really do love the holidays, but it definitely not restful. 

 

Here we are after breakfast with Santa....

 

 

Last weekend Peggy's house was on the Historical Society's Christmas House Walk.  Since I was one of the helpers at Peggy's I got to go on the walk a day early with all of the people involved with the walk.  There were 5 houses on the house walk and they were all gorgeous.  One of the houses was built in the 1850's.  It was a squeeze to those people in that house.  Another one of the houses was a foreclosed home that was renovated.  It was absolutely gorgeous.  It's so nice when people take old homes and bring them back to life.  Peggy's house was stunning if I do say so myself.  Her house is so cozy and she has such an eye for decorating.   

 

Here is painting Kyle did when he was at Eastern.  I adore it.  I made sure to point it out to everyone I knew that walked through the house. 

 

These two little elves had the job of carrying everyone's shoes to the porch as the crowd entered.  Little Evangeline joined us later (she had to nap). 

We had a very unexpected snow day last Monday.  I was shocked.  It was cancelled more due to the ice rather than snow accumulation I guess.  E.B. and I just huddled up in the house all day.  We strung some popcorn and cranberries to hang by a mess of blue jays that have taken up residence in a bush outside our house.  I very nervously ventured out to hang the chain.  I was on edge and jumpy the whole time due to my very justifiable fear of Blue Jays.  I still have vivid memories of that fateful day in my childhood....I was innocently planting petunias in my little garden patch when I was aggressively attacked by Blue Jays.  They were swooping down and trying to pull out my hair until my Mommy came running to my aid.  I do not trust Blue Jays. 

 

More of this and that...

We've been having trouble getting Evangeline to fall asleep at a decent hour lately.  She lays awake and sneaks out of her bed to play and read books.  We are always finding random things in her bed.  I discovered her with a necklace around her neck one night and made her take it off....

Evangeline:  Why can't I sleep in my necklace?

Mommy:  Because it isn't safe and I'm your mother....it's my job to keep you safe.

Evangeline:  That isn't your job!  Your job is to do the dishes!

Kyle went to check on her one night last week and this is what he found....my precious little child sleeping next to the angel of death. We couldn't help but get a good laugh over it.  It was just too bizarre.  She even got a pillow to lay it on.  How thoughtful.    

We got to surprise Papa at the VNA Hospice Holiday Celebration last Tuesday.  He was the recipient of a special award that honors someone who significantly contributes to Hospice of the Wabash Valley in various ways.  It was held at the Human Center so we really thought that he wouldn't spot us in the large room and crowd.   The coordinator set us up at a table on the complete opposite side of the facility, but as Papa was making his rounds he found our table.  He was very surprised to see us, Kristen and the girls.  The jig was up.

We are very proud of Papa.

He's a special guy.

The first big snow of the season was falling at a rapid pace as we were leaving the Hulman Center.  As we trudged back to our car in the sideways falling snow Evangeline said, "It's snowing a lot, Mommy.  Did you know that?"....I knew it, little girl.

My Sugar Plum Fairy had a dance performance at the nursing home in town last night.  She did a great job. The pictures are a tad blurry.  The flash on my little camera is broken....

Evangeline has been the source of some prize winning quotes lately...

 

This is what she said after opening up one of her jewelry boxes she found buried in her closet, "Wow! Jewelry galore!"

 

"Every time I come home my room is a mess....Mommy, do toys walk?"

 

"I praise the Lord for my Mommy and Daddy."

 

A few weeks ago Evangeline was asking Kyle how to spell something.  In mid-spell she stuck up her middle finger and said "this is your bad finger".  We had to suppress our laughter.  I asked her where she learned that and she said she learned it from Sydney.  Boo, can't I keep her tucked safely under my wing and protected from learning these things forever???! 

 

"Mom, I really want to be a mermaid.  How come I'm not a mermaid?"

 

"Mommy, did you know that I love Jesus...I love everything in this whole world."

So Thankful

"Dear Lord, we give thanks for all your blessings- for this great feast that you have provided, for the warm homes that give us shelter, for the love of our family that surrounds us today, and for all the beauties of the earth that you in your great love and wisdom have created. Amen!" 

-The Berenstain Bears Give Thanks

What a wonderful, restful, delicious Thanksgiving holiday we had.  I got a nice break from school.  We had Wednesday-Sunday off.  I stayed home with Evangeline one Wednesday and we decided to just go ahead and kick off the holiday season.  I usually make myself wait to do any decorating, even to listen to any Christmas music until after Thanksgiving, but we just couldn't take it this year.  I said screw it.  We started with the decorating on Wednesday and even watched the Grinch for good holiday measure.  Later that afternoon I went to the local little shops in Martinsville and Marshall with my mamma.  It was fun.  We both bought Christmas center pieces for our tables.  When Kyle got home from work on Wednesday we put up the tree.  The house is decked and we are all cheerful! We enjoyed watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade beside glow of the Christmas tree this year. 

 

"A long time ago, back in the day, ornaments were just circles." -Evangeline

I saw a picture of these and just had to make them....



 

Here's a lovely little turkey and pilgrim E.B. brought home from Ms. Linda's. 

We ate our way through the week.  First stop, Wayne's house for Thanksgiving with the Hutsons.  Lots of yummy food and terrific people to share it with.  Evangeline was utterly worn out that evening.  We went to Peggy's house for dinner and it was all she could do to get out of the car.  Holidays are exhausting, kid.  You might as well get used to it. 

On Friday we had Thanksgiving round 2 with my family.  Dad made a middle eastern inspired feast.  He always likes to switch it up from the traditional fare. 

 

Candice and I were laughing about how much has changed since Evangeline was a baby.  She used to immediately start balling whenever Uncle Zachary would enter the room.  Now she can't stay away from her big Unc.

Zachary and Candice are in the process of moving out to the farm.  I am looking forward to having holiday get-togethers there.  I am also looking forward to acquainting Evangeline with this special place were so much of my childhood was spent. 

No words could ever express my thankfulness for this pair. 

Ok, now we are over the holiday speed bump that is Thanksgiving (sad but true, it's a speed bump). 

Back to Christmas...
We have been soaking up every tree-side snuggling, Christmas book reading, holiday show watching, carol listening, festive coloring, seasonal coffee drinking moment of December!  Hey, it's the most wonderful time of the year (other than summer break of course). 

We attended our church's annual Hanging of the Greens last Sunday.  I adore my church and church family.  It was a lovely evening.  Evangeline had a great time.  It makes my heart smile that she feels so happy at church.  Ahhh, there again...so much to be thankful for.

Evangeline has all kinds of little household items wrapped up in napkins, bags and boxes under the tree right now.  "Presents" for Mommy and Daddy.

Kyle and I went to see a movie the other day.  First movie we have been to see in 2 years.  Maybe only the 3rd movie we have seen in a theater since we were married in 2007.  It was a sad one, "12 Years a Slave".  We went out to eat too.  It was a full blown date night!  We capped off the evening with a little Christmas shopping before we rushed back to our little darling who was happily playing at Grandma's house.



Starting to Feel a Little Jolly

Here are some of the lovely little planters Dad made me recently.  The Rosemary has a pretty new home waiting for it too when I have some time and some potting soil.



The holiday excitement and anticipation is already heavy in the air.  Peggy is one of the stops on the Marshall Historical Society Christmas walk this year so she started decorating early.  Evangeline has just been beside herself with excitement.  This is a picture Peggy sent me one day last week after they spent the day putting up the tree.  She has been asking when our tree is going up ever since. 

 

Kyle called me last week on his way to Terre Haute to tell me that I must take a drive out to see the moon over Archer Ave.  Now, for Kyle to call me to make a special trip out to see the moon only could have meant that this was really something special.  By the time we made it out of the house, about 5 minutes after he called, this is what it looked like.  When I showed the picture to Kyle he said that it didn't even compare to the moon at the time he called me.  He said that he had never seen anything like it.  Bummer, wish I could have seen it. 



Kyle's been hawking Christmas wreaths for the Rotary club.  We had 18 of these beauties in our garage last week waiting to be delivered.  It was a nice smell to walk out to my car to.

 

And here is Alphie 2.0.  I got the pattern for Christmas last year and made him shortly after.  I wasn't too happy with the construction.  I cut out all the pieces and did the embroidering for 2.0 last spring or summer so all I had to do was force myself finish the little guy.   Turning all of his little pieces right-side out was not an enjoyable task, but he is so much better made.  He will last, so I'm glad I redid him. 

Evangeline really enjoyed the first Alphie.  She was excited about the new one, but has already requested a girl elf.....Arggggg....now I need to figure out how to make an Alphie with pigtails. 

I am very much looking forward to the upcoming Turkey Day festivities.  I do so love this time of year.