Christmas Break

I am so enjoying this extra long Christmas Break.  It is nice to have a break from routine.

This guy was caught during the night right out my back door. You and your friends can come and visit all you want but leave my plants alone.

                                                       

I made two batches of cinnamon caramels and lots of snowflake cookies for neighbor goodies.

Friends took me to Sushi for my birthday!

Happy New Year

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving has come and gone for another year.  Ours was nice.  We spent the day with my husbands sister and her family.  Roma is an incredible cook, baker, chocolate and cheese maker.

The night before Thanksgiving is Bothell pie night.  Neighbors down the road invite LOTS of people over for pie.  The premise is that after Thanksgiving dinner, you are too full for pie, so come on over, bring a pie to share and eat a slice or two.   Most people know each other. If not you may end up making a new friend or running into an old friend like I did that night.  Bothell pie night is a fun tradition!

Pearl Harbour Fund Raiser

The past two Saturdays were spent shopping for, preparing, and rolling sushi.  It was a family affair.   The high school band that Malachi is a member of was invited to march in the Pearl Harbour Day Parade this year.  A lot of  fund raising was done, but just two weeks ago we found out that we, personally, are  six hundred dollars short. This is after paying five hundred dollars already.  So, we brained stormed and came up with a way to earn money.  Sushi fundraiser.  So the past two Saturday nights we had friends over who generously donated in exchange for sushi.  Jerry learned how to roll just by practice and eating a lot of sushi over the past several years.  I prefer to have sushi at home rather than any restaurant now.

Update:  Malachi had so much fun going to Hawaii!  He was able to go to the Polynesian Cultural Center, snorkeling, tour the island and then go to the USS Arizona.  The band performed in the Pearl Harbor Memorial Parade at night on December 7th .  I am so glad he was able to have such an awesome experience. Pearl Harbor has always held a special place in my heart.  I went there the first time when I was thirteen years old and saw first hand what servicemen are willing to do for my freedom. I love my country and those that serve.  God bless them and their families. 

Cold day

Yummy warm cookies for my boys lunches made in the early morning.

For lunch I had clam chowder that I made for dinner last night.  Tastes even better the next day.

The chowder warmed me up on the inside when it was cold on the outside.

Snow Day

Three days in a row.  I'm trying to make this a habit this time, so I figure repetition is a good thing.  Kids are up and off to school.  Lunches are made.  Smoothies, eggs and pancakes are in their tummies.  So they are set till later today unless the phone rings from one of their schools.  I'm in for the day watching the snow fall outside.  I like it. I think snow is peaceful and pretty.  I will work on my new project today in between laundry.

Not a great picture, but I think it's funny that the station wagon is in the December 2013 Anthropologie mailer.  I like driving a more compact car.

  

Another project.  Most people have a lot going at the same time right? I should have spread sheet of all the projects I have started so I can check them off as I get them done.  Although over the years, I have finished several.  Hundreds even.   I think I will make a cup of hot cocoa and get to work.  

Early Morning

Woke up early this morning.  I need to go to the store for air born.  The first cold of the season has come to roost.  Ki needs to go to school, at least for his A.P. and honor classes.  Then he can come home to rest.  Last night I got a package off to Elder Harward.  He has been in Athens, Georgia for a month now.  His birthday is coming up.  I crammed as much as I could into the priority box from the post office for twelve dollars.  Lucky me because it was heavy.  I made a crock pot full of pulled pork chili for dinner.  Good meal to have on piano lesson, soccer practice, scout night, when everyone can grab a bowl when needed.  I also worked on a new design.  I love when I get ideas in my head.