Lori's First Christmas

Lori Jade

Wendy & Lori

my brother Bob, Arianne, & Lori

Michael & Lori

Sarah & Lori

The cutest baby girl ever took her parents to Vermont to spend Christmas with Grandpa and his family. Lori Jade is my oldest niece's baby girl. Oh my heck, it makes me feel old to say that--I have to keep reminding myself that I was only like 6 when Val was born! The various models holding Lori are my oldest brother's kids, all of whom have been completely won over by this sweet girl. I'm glad Val, Kurt, and Lori got to go spend Christmas with the family & wish we could have all been together!

LOST: One serving of Christmas Spirit

I am usually the biggest Christmas person in the world! I have a really easy time picking up the Christmas spirit & just love everything about this time of year. But this year has been really hard for me, for various reasons. I had a hard time getting motivated to decorate the house, make my Christmas goodies, do Christmas cards, even shop for my family & friends. I usually am the biggest gift giver! I love to plan and get the perfect gift for people & am usually so excited to see them open it & know how much they're going to love it. This year, I could really care less. I think that part of why I'm having a hard time is because we are having a very low key Christmas around here. I feel like I'm not able to give my family and the people in my life what they deserve and because of that, I'm having a hard time finding my joy of the season. A very good friend reminded me the other day that presents and material things aren't the reason for Christmas. So I've been doing some thinking since then & trying to remember the real reason for the season and my Christmas spirit. I don't know that I've really found my spirit, but I do know that I'm so grateful that we have this holiday to celebrate the birth of our Older Brother and Savior. I'm so thankful for a loving Heavenly Father who loves me unconditionally, even when I probably don't deserve it. I am thankful for the wonderful family He gave me and the wonderful friends that He has brought into my life to teach me and help me on my personal journey. I have so much to be thankful for and have been given so many blessings in my life. My goal for the rest of the holiday season is to remember those blessings and remember to show gratitude daily for all the wonderful things in my life. To all of my wonderful, wonderful friends who will read this, thank you so very much for your friendship and love and everything that you have brought into my life.

I L.O.V.E Christmas!!!

I love the house at Christmas time! It's so pretty! We finally got the decorating done--it took some time, but as always was totally worth it! Now I just need to get off my butt & get my Christmas shopping done

The Silver Bell tree. There is a silver bell on this tree for every single year since my mom and dad got married. Even though Dad's now gone, a new bell is added every year. This year is #48. I am so thankful for my parents and for the example they set for me of what a marriage should be!!



I love these little guys! They're just too dang cute!

These little elves are really really old--I think they were my grandmother's. But I love them.

The mantle, with the stocking hung--and yes, Dad's stocking always gets hung. I love decorating the mantel every year--that's my pet project.

The "fun" tree with all of the fun lights & ornaments!

2009 New Ornament

I bought our new ornament for the year today! I wasn't looking for it, but when I saw it, I knew we needed to add it to our collection. This guy is dedicated to the soccer boys in my life! He's currently the only ornament on the tree, but tomorrow's project is to finish decorating.

Christmas is underway

Christmas decorating got underway around here last night. I love the house at Christmas! It's so pretty! We always have two trees--the silver bell tree and the fun tree. Josh put up the big tree & I got the little tree. The little tree is pre-lit and was super, super easy to put up! The big tree, on the other hand, is not so easy. Josh and that tree have a love hate relationship. Josh hates that tree--actually, maybe there's no love involved after all!



The tree is up, but it's not yet fluffed and doesn't have lights. This tree always gets blue lights & I completely forgot that we didn't have enough blue lights for it, so I have to pick some up when I'm shopping this week.

I did get a few decorations up, but not a whole lot. This week though, the goal is to be done with it this week!

I think these little guys are so cute! I love finding a fun place for them to peek from!

This Santa is one of my favorites! I love fun decorations.

I started the mantel the other night. I'm not really happy with it, so I know it's not finished. I just haven't decided what else to do to it.

Oh yeah, and I found a picture from Thanksgiving. This is Josh, Spencer,and James.

Christmas gifts....

So, we really had our Christmas last week, but I haven't ever posted the photos from it! We had a terrific Christmas. We enjoyed spending time together and having the spirit in our home. My favorite part of Christmas is watching my family open the gifts that I've had fun purchasing for them! Our focus this Christmas was Josh, because he needed some clothes for his trip. He hit the mother lode this year and was very happy with his gifts.






Josh got an i-Pod and a digital camera in addition to his cool new clothes.

My first ever i-Pod! I know, how lame is that? Years after they're big, I'm finally getting my first i-Pod and it's a Shuffle, not even a cool one! But I like it, so that's really all that matters!


And this little guy was such a surprise to open up! He's from my brother, who is as much of a Red Sox fan as I am. Isn't he cute?


Several months ago, I found this purse that I loved at a store in Blackfoot. I went in there a couple of times & it was always there. I loved it more each time I saw it! I was so excited to find out that my family remembered how much I loved it & I unwrapped it for Christmas! And I still love it!

Merry Christmas!!!

Merry Christmas everyone!!! I hope you are having a fantastic day and Christmas season with your families. This is a special, magical time of year and my prayer is that in the hustle and bustle of everything going on, that we are all able to take the time to cherish the true meaning of the season and the reason that we celebrate this time of year.

We here in Idaho are experiencing a winter wonderland! Personally, I am sick of it! It sure is beautiful though. After being outside in it, however, I am jealous of my nephew James, who is spending this Christmas in beautiful Puerto Rico, where he tells me it is 80 degrees! These are some photos I took this morning...

This is outside my front door:


This facing across the street from my house:


This is my back yard:

Christmastime!

Christmas is normally my very favorite time of the year. I have been having a hard time this year, trying to get into the whole Christmas spirit. I am not sure why, but I've been having a very hard time getting enthused about anything to do with Christmas this year. Last weekend, we decided that we HAD to get the Christmas decorating done, because we are celebrating Christmas this weekend due to some family stuff. After we got the house done, I remembered why I love Christmas so much! The house is so pretty at Christmas. I love our Christmas decorations. So much of what we decorate the house with have been a part of Christmas in my family for as long as I can remember.

These cute little elves have always been one of my favorite parts of Christmas! I love these little guys! The flower arrangement in the sled is one that I made, as I make all of flower arrangements we use.

I love to decorate the mantel every year! Everyone in my family has one of these stockings. My mom made one for all of us. I love our stockings.

I love these two little snowmen! These guys were added to our Christmas about 5 years ago. They are absolutely adorable.

This is our front hall table. The flower basket is one that I did. I love the long legged Santa! I love decorations that are cute and a little bit quirky.

This Santa's a big favorite of mine. I saw him at a store right before Christmas three or four years ago and there was no way I could resist!

Bring on Christmas! I'm ready now!