Christmas Past

December is upon us, just one day away. I can't believe that this Saturday will be December 1st. I'm as ready as I can be for the month to fly by in a blur. Better a blur than a Brrr I suppose....though I would like it to be a bit cooler. Sweater weather would be nice.

I've been downloading Christmas kits for the last month to prepare for the month ahead in hopes that I can get some great pages created. I also need to start working on the annual Christmas newsletter. Joy O' Joy. Truly I enjoy doing it but right now it seems a bit daunting.

To help me steady myself for the Xmas extravaganza I did a layout from the past when Hallie was one. It was her second Christmas and she was so little. Take a peek at Christmas past while I steel myself and say hello to Christmas present.

Fall Traditions

Fall for us always means a trip to Georgia, We make a pumpkin run for our normal bakers dozen, visit my father and tour my Uncle James's 280 acre farm. Except for the drive, it's always a chance for us to step out of the rat race and enjoy the simpler things that life has to offer. It also make us appreciate what we have and take for granted.

The scrap page below is one of Hallie in a peanut field that had just been plowed, picked and rolled to make peanut hay. You would think fresh hay would be soft but it is actually hard and prickly. At least the cows enjoy it.

Meow

Just a quick peek at a page I'm working on of Hallie. It's not 100% to where I want it to be so I'll keep working on it. That could mean that by the next time you view it there's a strong chance that it'll be totally different.

I love the look on her face though.

This shot is from her 5th Birthday party.

Halloween Treats

Due to our Kitchen remodel my husband decided not to put up any Halloween decorations. Since we normally blow out the neighborhood with our displays we felt sort of shameful so we made the best choice and decided to ditch the home front and trick-or-treat with Hallie's cousin, Lindsey and her family.

Both of the girls, Hallie and Lindsey, dressed as pirates this year so they looked super cute but don't they always?

Here they both are in there costumes:

My little Pirate Lass:The girls got more candy than they knew what to do with and they had an excellent time Arrghh!

175 Christmas songs and counting.

One of my goals tonight was to try to put some of my Christmas albums on my iPod. Well, 175 Xmas songs later I'm still not done. I still have 4 more albums to put on here but two of those discs are missing and the other two are out in the car and at 11:33 at night I just can't find the gumption to get up and go get them.

Who knew I had so many songs? In all I know that I'll end up with well over 200 of them. The only thing that I can say to my defense is that it is an excellent acoustic variety that would appeal to every music lovers soul. I've got a little Jim Brickman, Harry Connick Jr., several country artists, the rat pack, all the old classics, some Alvin and the Chipmunks for Hallie, John Denver and the Muppets for myself, and some classics remixed by alternative and pop groups.
Now I just need to get one of those iPod adapter things for the car so Hallie and I can listen in the car. Ah, can't you just hear the Christmas spirit pouring from the speakers so loud that Hallie and I have to roll down the windows to even hear it? It's that time of the season so I should enjoy it while I can.

Two of my current favorites are Jason Mraz and his rendition of Winter Wonderland. It's an excellent little snazzy jazzy piece. Also iPod lovers should check out Colbie Caillat and her Christmas song Mistletoe. She is one of my favorite mellow singers of the moment.

Moving on to older subjects that I've neglected.................