Penny Serenade

If you haven't seen this movie... "Penny Serenade"... run out right now and get it!

Rent it... buy it... just get it!

This ranks as one of my all-time favorites ... ever!

It is not the best acted film, or best written, or best cinematography... it is just a good, tear-jerker that you will laugh and cry... and you will feel good that you just spent two hours watching a good ole' Cary Grant and Irene Dunne movie that was worth watching!

They just don't make them like they use too!

And, I have often thought that there is no way they could ever re-make this film. Cary Grant and Irene Dunne cannot be duplicated. The black and white should never be colorized. This movie is pure emotion (all of your emotions) and that make this such a special film.

Even, my hubby... who does not share in my love of old films... even gives his thumbs up approval for this one!

Trust me on this one!

Christmas Cooper

He put up with an entire day of me making him wear his Christmas collar!

Christmas Table

Thought my Christmas Eve dinner table turned out pretty...

Baby Lily...

Here are a few pictures of our baby Lily, who really isn't even a baby anymore. Just precious pictures of our darling Lily... whom Brian and I always say " we are so glad we had her" :-)

Christmas Morning

We woke up to the wonders of what Santa left behind... and everyone got what they wished for Christmas.

Caroline got her beloved "Baby Alive"

Lily got her new "Big Girl Bike"

Mommy got her "white christmas outside"

Daddy got "lots of smiling little girls beaming over their new presents"

He actually stopped by our house before his big trip!

Yep, that is right! Santa made a quick stop at our house at 4 p.m. to tell say hello to the girls! He even brought by some small gifts for them.

The girls went nuts! They were screaming and jumping and couldn't believe that Santa would actually stop by their house before he took off on his sleigh trip around the world!

He told them that if they were good, he would be back that night to deliver their presents! And they must have been good, because later that night... Caroline and I heard Santa outside her window. He was shaking his sleigh bells and telling Rudolph to be quiet. Then next thing we knew, he was inside our home and walking down the stairs to our tree. Caroline and I crept quietly over the staircase and actually saw his back as he put the presents under the tree!

Caroline was so excited... she ran back to her room, so he wouldn't see her and fell back to sleep dreaming of what he had left behind under the tree!

Twas the Night Before Christmas...

Oops... I forgot to tell Santa!

So we went back to tell him what we forgot!

Gifts for the Baby Jesus

Caroline's school (a catholic one) hosts a baby shower for the baby jesus. Every child brings a gift for baby jesus (which is donated to a local organization that helps women and children) and the kids get to open them up and show the class. Caroline was determined to get the baby jesus a duck rattle... because she really thought he'd like it. It really helps the kids understand the reason for the season!

One of the many reasons I love catholic school!

Crown Center Christmas

On Dec. 15th, the family headed to Kansas City in a blizzard to go to Crown Center for some Christmas fun...plus attend the WSU v. UMKC game. The girls finally had their big chance to see and talk to Santa... and talk they did! They told him exactly what they wanted and asked him what kind of cookies they should leave him on Christmas Eve.

They also met a few of Santa's friends... Garfield, a penguin, a green crayola crayon, a snowman. With the snow falling outside, it was a great way to get into the holiday spirit.

The girls also went over to Kailidoscope, which was so much fun! Very creative! Caroline could have spent the entire day there!

Read this Book!

A page turner...

Can't set it down...

Read this book!

It's that good!

Get This Book!

Just got this book "Feather Your Nest" by Mary Carol Garrity for my birthday... from my dear friend Marna! I have been reading and studying it like I am going to have a final on it! It is that good! You will be inspired and excited to "feather your own nest"... I guarantee!

Oh The Weather Outside is Frightful!

No pictures yet, but let me tell you... I should have some beauties of the ice storm we are getting tonight!


It looks like the girls and I will be hunkering down on Tuesday watching some movies and drinking some cocoa!

A New Tradition

The girls started a new tradition in our family... making a gingerbread house, or in our house, a gingerbread doghouse! If you looked close, you'll see little sweettart dog bones attached to the house :-)

And, as you can see from the pictures, you'll see both girls are quite proud of their accomplishments, especially all the frosting and candies that landed in tummies!

Dec. 1st... Jumping into the Holidays!

Forgot the camera tonight, so you'll just have to read about our evening!

The family was invited in a "Gingerbread" cookie and house making party at some friends of ours. The entire playgroup families got together for the evening... and you know when it comes to treats, my girls were front and center decorating their gingerbread men!

Caroline and I left the party early and attended a Christmas ballet show that was phenomenal. Caroline and her friend Elizabeth got all dressed up in their finest and sat on the front row- mesmerized watching this wonderful show!

It 's was the perfect first day of December... we'll see what the second one brings!