Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Numero C-I-N-C-O

Happy Birthday to you,

Happy Birthday to you,

Happy Birthday dear Cader,


Happy Birthday to YOU!!!!


We plan on celebrating in grand style this year with a "Hoop It Up" Basketball party on the 9th!


You stole my heart 5 years ago today when I laid eyes on you for the very first time. You were so tiny with a head full of coal black hair! I loved to just sit with you in the rocking chair while you held on so tightly to my finger with your sweet, delicate hands.

Since then I've had the privilege of discovering FuN-NeW things to love about you each and every day for the past 1,825 days!


It is something I will never grow tired of...


I love you always,

Mommy






Tuesday, December 29, 2009

Your a COLD one, Mr. Grinch!

We've heard the stories of the Gaylord Texan's ICE exhibit for several years now, so we decided to check it out for ourselves on Sunday afternoon!


And it didn't disappoint.


This year, ICE tells the story of The Grinch Who Stole Christmas, by recreating scenes from the book in intricately carved, larger-than-life ice sculptures set in a walk-through world.




Here are a few fun facts about ICE:


3:
the number of types of ice used in the construction of ICE! ~ Clear “glass-like” crystal ice – so flawless that it is compared to Waterford Crystal – makes up 80 percent of the sculptures ~ “White ice” blocks, which are more like compacted snow, make up 15 percent of the sculptures ~ Colored ice, which is dyed brilliant colors, is used for highlighting and accenting the remaining 5 percent of the sculptures



9:
DEGREES that is! The temperature inside the exhibit.
Don't worry though, they provide HUGE blue parkas to keep you warm!



34:
the approximate number of days needed to hand-carve the ICE display



40:
the number of artisans from the City of Harbin (China) Tourism and Development Commission, who sculpt the attraction by hand



1,400+:
the number of LED lights frozen within ICE


5,000:
the number of ICE blocks hand-carved and transformed into our winter wonderland


2,000,000:
pounds.
That's the amount of ice it took to create the exhibit this year!


Oh and I'll throw in one more TIP...wait till after Christmas Day to visit, like we did.
You can thank me for that little jewel next year when you don't have to wait, like some folks did,
in line for 2 hours.
And now my favorite stanza from the Grinch theme song...
ah, hem!
"You're a monster, Mr. Grinch,
Your heart's an empty hole,
Your brain is full of spiders, you have garlic in your soul, Mr. Gri-inch,
I wouldn't touch you with a thirty-nine-and-a-half foot pole!"

Monday, December 21, 2009

A Shepherd Boy


Our church put on a nativity play this year called "Miracle on Main Street."

Cade played the role of a shepherd boy.

He looked very grown up this year on stage...so unafraid, so comfortable,
so B-I-G.

You did a super job little man!


"Angels we have heard on high"


Ray, you were the perfect Joseph





Hanging with the angel band!
My shepherd spied me...furiously snapping photos of him
"For unto us a child is born,
to us a son is given;
and His name shall be called,
WONDERFUL COUNSELOR,
MIGHTY GOD,
EVERLASTING FATHER,
PRINCE OF PEACE."
Isaiah 9:6


This Christmas let's remember the true giver and the gift.

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Way Back Wednesday

Can I just say it for the record...

I love posting on "Way Back Wednesdays."


It is so exciting to dig through my photo archives and look at all the treasured
moments we captured on film.


Today's photo is from December 2007, 2 years ago today.

This was Gracyn...all 8 lbs. and 6 oz. of her.



Having been blessed with one healthy little boy and a brand new baby girl truly made it a

December to remember!


What is it in your life that's making THIS December one to remember?






Wednesday, December 9, 2009

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

Tuesday TRUEISM

I'm BEHIND!!!!!!!!
Normally at this point in December, I have...
- mailed out my Christmas cards
- completed my Christmas shopping
- wrapped most of my gifts
- planned out my holidays
This particular year, I cannot check any of those things off my list.
But you know what I'm NOT going to do,
P-A-N-I-C.
You know what I AM going to do,
take it one day at a time.
It will all get done before December 25th and no one
will be all the wiser.
Except for my loyal blog readers, of course :)
Just keeping it real on truthful tuesday...what are you behind on?

Monday, December 7, 2009

Ree and Me...a recipe for fun!




Thursday night my friend Jennifer and I loaded up the Tahoe, set the GPS, and headed south to Austin for a book signing with none other than the pioneer woman herself!


That's right kiddies, we got to hob nob with the undisputed QUEEN of food blogging,

REE DRUMMOND


What a fun night. We arrived at the bookstore around 6 p.m. and by 7, you couldn't stir 'em with a stick! It was packed. Ree briefly came down and did a quick Q&A session with the crowd then proceeded to sign copies of her first cookbook, The Pioneer Woman Cooks. Which is chalked full of down home yummy southern recipes and beautiful photography and stories...just like her blog!


My favorite question that someone asked was,"How many packages of butter does she go through in a month!" In true Pioneer Woman form she replied, "That's too personal of a question, I'd rather not answer that!"

HA!

Let me tell you that she was as delightful in person as she seems on her blog! She even hooked everyone at the book signing up with a free t-shirt which her husband a.k.a. Marlboro Man toted to the event!


Now...my only dilemma is what to cook first!



What's that?

You have never even heard of The Pioneer Woman?


Well good grief.

Crawl out from beneath that rock and go visit:


She ROCKS!!!!!


Oh and if you want a great Christmas gift for the chef in the family you can pick up her new cookbook at a great price from amazon.com!