2011 IN PICTURES....

I'm under no delusions of my photographic ability but every once in awhile I capture some good ones....here are my favorites of the year!



The hawk....my hero for carrying off one of the many rabbits that torment me!

The rents and the kids at the rodeo!

Easter egg hunt!!  Love their anticipation!

Sweet Noah....Just a swingin'!

Classic 4th of July...red, white, and blue, watermelon, a picnic in the park and happy smiles!

It was so fun to actually capture a picture of a firework!

We finally got my Dad to go tanking through his beloved Sandhills.

So fun to watch CM pitch last summer.

Oops!

Cam was trying to give his big sis a thank-you kiss after he opened her gift to him. 

GOOD BYE (and good riddance) 2011

This picture showcases two of my favorite things.....sunsets and the beauty of Nebraska!

2012......BRING IT!!

We wish you all a very blessed New Year!

I CONFESS....

I don't have much Christmas cheer this year. Oh I've been trying with these last few posts, and a few parties and my shopping is all done but that is all just surface stuff. In all honesty my heart is just burdened for so many people (plus it has been a rather rough month here at Park Place) this year that it has taken a lot of the shiny and sparkly out of Christmas.

I'm thinking of (and praying for):

friends who lost their 9 year old son last summer to a very rare medical condition,
the families of my Aunt Vera, Uncle Richard, and Aunt Helen,
our pastor and his wife who lost their adult son suddenly and then 2 weeks later her father,
and a family who used to go to our church whose 11 year old son died last night as the result of a brain tumor.

All of these people are facing their first Christmas without their loved ones and I KNOW how extremely painful that is.

I'm also thinking of:

the many couples I know who are experiencing problems in their marriages,
the families I know that are suffering the consequences of divorce, and
the parents I know whose children are sick.

And these are just the major things.  There are many, many hurting people in this world and there are very few that I can help. 

But I can invest my time in things that matter, and I can pray and I can celebrate the ultimate GIFT that was given to all of us. 

That will have to be enough this year.....

TOP 5 CHRISTMAS ALBUMS.....

There are MILLIONS of Christmas albums (cd's or downloads to you millenials)out there, but right here right now you can see the top 5 of all time!

5. Mariah Carey-Merry Christmas
Now I'm not really a fan of hers but I have to say this Christmas album is great! It has a good mix of secular and "church" music on it and boy can she belt it out!!  Just realized she has a new Christmas album out this year....I'm going to have to download that. 

4.  Steven Curtis Chapman-The Music of Christmas
Some familiar and some not but all great lyrics and catchy tunes.

3.  Amy Grant-Home for Christmas
Lots of good songs on this one....especially The Night Before Christmas.

2.  Jim Reeves-12 songs of Christmas
This is an oldie but it has some of the greatest Christmas songs on it including Senor Santa Claus.  Jim Reeves was a country singer with a beautiful voice who died in the prime of his life and career in a plane crash.  My mom used to play this record a lot around Christmas and we always kind of rolled our eyes but it just doesn't seem like Christmas without hearing these songs.  So glad that my sister found it on cd a couple of years back.  The Jingle Bells that is on this album was also used in the movie Elf.  Now stop rolling your eyes and go find this recording! 

1.  Amy Grant-A Christmas Album
Hands down the BEST Christmas recording ever (and I'm not just saying that because Amy and I are best friends)!!  Love every song on it but especially Love Has Come, Tennessee Christmas and Heirlooms.  If I only had one Christmas cd that I could listen to this would be it and I should know since I've been listening to it since 1983! 

TOP 5 CHRISTMAS MOVIES....

This week I'm counting down my top 5 in various Christmas categories. Join the fun!!

Agree, disagree, discussion.....


5. The Santa Claus-A cute movie even if it is "gasp" about Santa!

4. Scrooged-This one is not for the kiddies (unless you have the Guardian on your tv). I like it because I like Bill Murray and it is classic 80's.

3. Elf-"The best way to spread Christmas Cheer is by singing loud for all to hear." Enough said.

2. It's a Wonderful Life-Who wouldn't like a chance to see the ways in which they have influenced or changed the direction of another's life?

1. A Christmas Carol-I love, love, love this story....the redemption of a man's life and I'll watch any version of it and there are A LOT of versions!

TOP 5 CHRISTMAS TREATS...

Welcome to top 5 week. Feel free to play along by leaving your own list or comment.

Top 5 Christmas treats....it just doesn't taste like Christmas without these.

5. Reese's bells-These are a new addition to the list. They are tasty little morsels that are way better than just a regular pb cup.
4. Crab Dip-Sam's favorite and mine too!
3. Homemade popcorn balls-The kind my Grandma used to make. The ones with corn syrup not marshmallows. They are so good. The kids and I are planning on making some soon!
2. My mom's frosted sugar cookies-Hers are so good. Mine never turn out as well but I'm not giving up!
1. My m-i-l's prime rib for Christmas Day dinner-No explanation needed!

A LIST....

These things are a drag:

(In random order and not necessarily equal in "dragginess")

Expensive car repairs
Bickering children
A brown Christmas
White tile in the entryway
Muddy shoes
Mean, unprofessional bosses
Vengeful ex-step aunts
Divorce
Cancer
Death

These things are good:

(Also in random order and not necessarily equal in their goodness)

Twinkling Christmas lights
Jim Reeves 12 Songs of Christmas cd
Hot chocolate with whipped cream
The Waltons
Snuggies
Hugs from kids
1st grade Christmas program
Helpful parents
Praying friends
The HOPE of this Christmas season

Thanksgiving Eve.....

A day off from school and therefore a day free from routines and schedules,
making turkey cookies with the kids and we all survived,
a husband who agreed to stop his busy black Friday preparations and pick out some new lights for our Christmas tree,
neighbor kids who my own kids love playing with and spent an hour today at the park with,
a car with 125,000 miles on it that is still running,
a new pair of very comfy pajamas,
crab dip, berry-glazed chocolate cake, and cream puff dessert for tomorrow,
a fall that has been filled with beautiful light and lots of color,
Sixty degree weather in November,
an extended family whom I love,
the anticipation of spending Thanksgiving with some of them,
my in-laws who are so good to me,
my parents and sister who put up with me,
the man who I get to share my life with,
the kids who I get to hug and kiss and love on,
and most of all the love and grace of my Heavenly Father.

For all these things I give thanks (and this is just today's list!).

Amen

5 QUESTION FRIDAY....

1.  Regis Philbin.....I will miss you or Good riddance??

2.  Christmas shopping....I'm done, I'm 1/2 done or I haven't started??

3.  Twilight books....Definitely read or Don't bother??

4.   Christmas Tree....Before Thanksgiving or After Thanksgiving??

5.   Cell Phone....Should an 11 year old tween have one or not??

Have a great weekend!!  GO BIG RED!!

A SLOW FALL and BIG & TALL......

There hasn't been much blogging getting done around here this fall as I have been out enjoying the beauty and the cold and the darkness of fall (Yes...that was sarcasm!).  Hey at least I tried.  I will concede that the light and the sunsets and sunrises and leaves have been beautiful over the last few months.  But now it is time now to hunker down......

Anyhoo, my topic today is Big and Tall t-shirts.......
If you know me you know I'm married to a big guy!  For his t-shirts to fit correctly I usually have to buy them in the big and tall section.  My question is this.  Why can't big and tall clothes be normal?  I look at the regular t-shirts and they are just plain colors, sometimes with a bit of a cute design on them.  And then I look over at the big and tall and see things like this on the t-shirt.

"Congratulate me.  I used to be anorexic."

Or how about this classic.

A t-shirt with a picture of two thumbs pointing to the wearer saying, "This guy needs a beer."

Or the ever popular

"I have a six pack" with a picture of a six pack of beer on it. 

Seriously.....

I just want to buy a normal t-shirt!!

THEY'RE BACK.......5 QUESTIONS

1.  What is one thing that you regularly buy that you have noticed is now more expensive?

2.  What is one thing that you have changed as a result of the economy?

3.  What is one thing you buy less of in order to save more?

4.  What is your "go to" meal at the end of your shopping cycle when the cupboards are a little bare?

5.  What treats did you give out to trick or treaters this year?

Have a great weekend!!  Go Huskers!!

OCTOBER IN PICTURES

and a few words.....




Pig Races at school




Climbing Trees in Hershey





Annual Weenie Roast



Trying to take some fall pictures




International Day at School
Beautiful Sunrise



Bring on November!!
















THE CUTEST LITTLE JACK-O-LANTERN.....

QUESTION....

Notice any differences??