Tuesday Blog Hop

The Blog Hop theme for today is "CHRISTMAS ORNAMENTS". Show a pic and/or tell a story behind your favorite Christmas ornament. Your photos and stories will help others with ideas for ornaments in the future.

This is my favorite ornament on my tree.  It was given to me the first year Travis and I were together.  His company always had a really nice dinner and then the owners wife would hand out presents.  The guys got fun things for their desks from Bombay & Co. and the girls got this beautiful hand painted ornaments.  The ornaments are hand painted from the INSIDE.  I have 5 angels like this and one that looks like a tear drop.  They are all very special.

This one was given to me by the mother of the only other person I've lived with besides my parents and my husband - my BFF Patti!  The Christmas we lived together her Mom and Dad came to help us decorate and she brought these beautiful angels.  They also have loops on the back so they could be napkin rings, but I love them as ornaments.

These are the ones that I feel make my tree stunning!  They are my favorite color, steel blue, and they have a great subtle design that reflects the lights so beautifully.  I think I might like them better than the angels, but they aren't as special.

These are my other bulbs - can you see me in the reflection?

These are Riley's ornaments.  My Mom got the stork one for me the Christmas I was pregnant.  It has the year on it which is fun.  The "1" ornament is from my MIL for Riley's first official Christmas.  So far my tree is still pretty fancy and I know that won't last much longer so I'm savoring every moment.  I know it will be fun to have "hand-crafted" ornaments made by my children, but I'm enjoying my beautiful tree right now.

OK I'm totally editing my blog right now because I forgot my tree topper!

I've never had an angel or a star because I never got around to buying one.  I actually don't have a clue where this ornament came from, but it's become my tree topper over the last few years.  I really like it because it's different and it represents what Christmas is really all about - unconditional love.  The love of a Father who sent His Son to be the sacrafice for all of us.  Merry Christmas to all!

Oh What a Beautiful Morning

This is the view out my front window this morning, I LOVE IT!  I'm sitting in my over-sized chair next to the window and my Christmas tree, drinking coffee and doing one of my favorite things - talking to you!  My little one is watching Blues Clues (kinda) and quietly playing with his toys.  I wish I could take him out in the snow, but he's been pretty sick this weekend and I really need him to be better for Bible study tomorrow, so I don't see snow men in our immediate future.  The only down side to this morning is that my hubby left for his monthly week long business trip and has to drive in this weather.  He said it's not too bad though, so that's good. 

I am so excited that my bag finally came!  I ordered this bag from Avon about a month ago, but it is so popular it was on back order.  I really wanted it for Bible study.  It will fit my book, bible and any essentials I need nicely.  Trying to lug Riley, my purse, my book and my bible all into the church and up the stairs every morning has been quite a task.  I've been using Riley's large diaper bag as a tote for all my stuff, but that's a pain.  He doesn't even really need a bag there because they don't ever change him anyway :)  I figured I could just throw a diaper and a small thing of wipes in the bag too and I'd be set.  It was only $10 and all proceeds to towards breast cancer research.  It also has 3 small pockets on the inside which I didn't know about - BONUS!

I'm so excited that I have my Christmas shopping done!  Well except for my niece and nephew because I'm going to buy their gifts when we get to Virginia.  We are leaving next Wednesday - only 10 days, woo hoo!  I can't wait to spend Christmas with my whole immediate family.  Oh back to the Christmas shopping.  I got to go out last night with my Mom and finished shopping for both Travis and Riley.  We are doing a pretty laid back Christmas this year, which is totally fine.  I really like to buy gifts for people so I'm more sad about not getting to buy a lot of gifts, not about not getting a lot.  I already got my Christmas present so I won't even have anything on Christmas Day, but I'm so ok with that.  I am much more happy having been able to use my knives this past month, especially for Thanksgiving.  My carving knive went through the ham like butter!  I was also afraid Riley wouldn't have a lot to open, but thanks to wonderful Grandparents, Great-Grandparents and Mommies who go to Midnight Black Friday sales, he's gonna be set.

Oh and can I just say I am so proud of Riley!  He has not tried to touch the ornaments on the tree since the day we put it up.  I am in awe of that!  He's just a wee bit mischeivious :)  Speaking of, I just looked over and he can now reach not only the door knob on the front door, but the dead bolt - AHHH I'm in trouble!

Well those are my thoughts and goings on for this BEAUTIFUL Monday morning God has given me.  I hope your day is full of blessing and wonder.

P.S.  I just turned on the XM Radio "The Message" and Phil Stacey's You're Not Shaken was on.  Just had to share it with you - it was empowering and I wasn't even listening that closely!

Sunday Funday!

Keely and her sister posted these questions to get to know your "blogger friends" a little bit better.  I hope you join in the fun and don't forget to go to her site and add your blog to the list!

1. How old are you?  29....the big 3-0 in April.  Oh man, not sure about that!!!!


2.Where are you from and where do you live now?  Born in Portland Oregon and basically lived in the Portland-Metro Area my whole life.  Almost 4 years ago (WOW) we moved to the suburbs of Boise, Idaho for a fresh start.  We miss all our friends and family, but we love it here.

3. What music have you been diggin lately?  Of course good old Christmas Music!  I would be happy if it was Christmas all year long.  But other than that, I love me some good contemporary worship.

4. Favorite food(s)?  Where to start?  Dessert is definately my downfall, so that probably counts :)

5. Single,married, divorced?  Very happily married for almost 9 years!

6. Kids? If so, how many and how old?  My beautiful 18 month old son Riley

7. What are 3 blogs you read daily?  I read much more than 3 on a regular basis, but 3 I love to make sure and check every day are: Emersyn Grace, Our Biggest Little Blessing; Lemonade Makin' Mama; and newly discovered Homemakers Heart.

8. What is your favorite Christmas/Holiday tradition?  Decorating my house Thanksgiving weekend and spending time with family.

9. Lastly, if you're a blogger, how long have you been blogging and if you don't have one..how long have you been reading blogs?  I have had this blog for about 18 months :)  I started it just before my son was born.  I started it so family and friends could be apart of our life with Riley, but now it's turned into my thoughts.

Lucy the Lamb

I'm really into giveaways right now.  Still haven't won anything, but one can only hope!  Today it's from Mama M. over at My Little Life.  She is giving away this adorable lamb that has a removable heart pack heart!  It's good for upset tummies or just warm snuggle time.  I would LOVE to have this for Riley to snuggle with, she is so sweet. 

Wish me luck!

Five Question Friday

1. Favorite gift you are GIVING this year?  We aren't doing a lot of gifts this year so I'm not really sure.  Probably Riley's toy bin.

2. How many parties are you attending between now and Christmas?  I don't think we have any.  We were supposed to go to one tonight, but Riley is a little sick so I'm not sure if we will go.

3. What is your favorite Christmas song?  O Holy Night

4. Who was your favorite elementary school teacher and why?  5th grade Mrs. Wollam - she taught us German, had animals in her room and read to us while we colored these cool geometric designs she printed out.  And we went on tons of field trips - she was fun!

5. If you had a choice to live in any other period of time (other than now) what era would you choose and why?  In my literary life, I life in the victorian era - beautiful dresses, carraige rides, and wonderful parties!

Thoughts for Thursday

I {heart} blogging!

 One of the best things I've gotten from blogging is meeting new friends.  Yesterday I met the sweetest lady that I now count as a blogger friend.  And you know how she found me?  Because we both said we like the movie "Julie & Julia"!  It's so amazing this world of blogging, I can't even get over it!  Of course I've made many other fun friends as well, but this one just made me think of how cool blogging can be.  And now I'm up to 17 followers!  May not seem like that many to some of you, but I've been at 15 for a long time so it was fun to have a few more friends.

My true life BFF Patti at Emersyn Grace, Our Biggest Little Blessing,  first convinced me to start my blog just before I had my son.  I have lots of friends and family out of state because we moved away from home almost 4 years ago.  I decided to do this so that all of our loved ones could be involved in our new life with our son.  My first blog entry was short and sweet, but it was the start to all of this.  My very favorite post even to this day is Riley's birth story.  It's so fun to go back and read about that amazing day and go through it all again - but without the pain :)  So for the first year it was mostly about Riley, his growth and the fun we had with him.  Then after his first birthday it turned more into my blog.  The things I'm going through being the Mommy of this wonderful, active, entertaining little boy.  I still put in stuff about him from time to time, but it's turned into a hobby and I am so grateful for it!  Thank you Patti for being my inspiration - your blog is my fav!

So for all of you who have joined me on my journey, I thank you!  Thank you for listening, giving advice and just being there for me.  I look forward to getting to know you all better and gaining new friends along the way.

If you can't read the inscription on the picture above, this is what it says:

If you are along, I'll be your shadow.

If you want to cry, I'll be your shoulder.

If you need to be happy, I'll be your smile.

But anytime you need a friend, I'll just be me.

This is how I feel about you and hopefully I can be those things for you.

I love you my friend!

Almost forgot about....WORDLESS WEDNESDAY!