Ice Carver in the Making?

Perhaps it will become a hobby. I love that he created this out of carving a chunk of snow -tool used? Why the swingset of course!

Finally

got some Christmas cookies made - White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Cookies - yes they were worth the wait!!

What a way to wake up

on a Sunday morning...

It's the little things

that makes our lives full of smiles. Take, for example, this game we started. The boys have these little puzzle animal erasers. I started hiding them one night just for fun. Now it's a daily, or almost daily game. I came home yesterday to find the DH has now started hiding them too. Photo above is Aaron's most creative hiding place so far. He took the picture too!

Birthday Cake

It's a week later but tell me, does my husband know how to make an awesome birthday cake or what?

Ok, hockey again

but I can't help myself. Went to a game Friday - we were down 3 - 0 end of the second period. Not sure what happened in that locker room but the boys sure kicked some Hershey Bear butt when they came back. We won 4-3 and it was awesome. Just got done listening to tonight's game - won again. This time it was 5-2 against the Albany River Rats. Penguins are currently in the number 1 position! Let's Go Pens!

Cheesy Bacon Ranch Pulls

I think I cook when I am stressed which can be good or bad depending... but in this case it was good. Cheesey Bacon Ranch Pulls - YUM!!! So many other options popped into our minds as we ate this with tomato soup.

1 round loaf of bread
12 oz cheese thinly sliced
Real bacon bits
½ C butter, melted
1 Tbsp Ranch dressing mix

Cut bread in both directions being careful not to cut through the bottom crust.
Place cheese between slices and sprinkle with bacon – making sure to get it between cuts also. Mix butter and Ranch mix – pour over bread.

Wrap in foil and bake at 350 degrees on baking sheet for 15 minutes

Remove foil and bake an additional 10 minutes. YUM!!

Let's Go Pens!

Yes, it's true. I love hockey. I'm not a huge sports fan. I can watch and cheer. I used to play. I can also take it or leave it. But hockey, well hockey is another story all together.

It started three years ago. We took the boys to see the baby Pens for their birthdays (awesome birthday packages if anyone is interested!) Thought I would be bored and hate it. I was wrong. So wrong! I loved it. I couldn't get enough. The shots, the blocks, the fights. I loved it all.

From then on we started going to games. Season (partial) ticket holders are we. I love the chanting, the goals, the overtime, the players, the announcers, the cold... Ah yes, I am a diehard hockey fan and lovin every minute of it.

The family went to another game last night. I was thrilled to see Thiessen in the goal and even more thrilled when they won 4-1. Listening to tonight's game on the computer as I type. LET'S GO PENS!

Best.Greeting.Ever.

There's nothing like:

feeling loved and wanted,

feeling you are important in someone's world,

the feeling you get when you drive up the driveway at the end of a very long day and see this at the window on the porch. Best.Greeting.EVER!

Taking time to notice

DH walks by the couch where a very tired, lonely little boy sat. He looks down, smiles, and goes over to sit with him and hug him. Tired lonely little boy lights up, cuddles in and, while still very tired, he is no longer lonely. My heart fills with joy as I see the love in my home.

'TIME' with family

Last week I think my favorite photo would be of Grandpa and the boys when they came over for Nathan's birthday supper. Nothing better than a good hug and smiles!

Interviewing Question and Answer

Ever go to an interview and be asked, "What is your biggest fault?" Well I usually say being a perfectionist. But it's tied with being a procrastinator. Not that I am killing myself at deadline time or anything, I'm not a professional procrastinator. But I do procrastinate. Put something in a pile to do later. Pick it up and move it five times before actually putting it away. Who's with me here?

Reading one of my blog updates tonight I see this: '28 Ways to Stop Complicating Your Life'. If you know me you know that people making things complicated drives me crazy. I'm reading through the list saying 'yep', 'uh huh', and 'oh yeah'. Then I see...

#8 - "Start taking action and making changes. Action and change are often resisted when they’re needed most. Get a hold of yourself and have discipline. Discipline is choosing what you really want over what you want right now. Putting something off makes it instantly harder and scarier. What we don’t start today won’t be finished by tomorrow. And there’s nothing more stressful than the perpetual lingering of an unfinished task." Truth is - they are right. Nothing drives me crazier than seeing that pile of things to do day after day after day. Not that that pile won't always be there, there will always be a ton of things to do, but they will be different things, not the same ones piling up.

So I got busy - cut out some ideas for things I want to create, cleaned out the cubby area, filed some papers, and threw things away. My space is much clearer now and so is my head. Nike really had a great idea with their 'Just Do It' campaign!

One Little Word

One single word can truly be a powerful thing. It can be the corner stone of a great creation or the ripple in the pond that changes everything around it. One single word can bring forth a smile or a tear. It can be a catalyst for adding creativity and enjoyment to your life.

If you're in the scrapping world you probably know what I am talking about - Ali Edwards and her 'One Little Word' that has taken on big meaning. In the past years I've used Love, Create, and Togetherness. If you get email from me you might remember seeing those in my signature. I've used them, thought about them, but haven't lived them or really done anything with them. But that's about to change.

This year my word is 'TIME' and this year it really comes from the heart in so many ways.

I’m sure you’re all with me when I say I never have enough TIME. This is something I have been struggling with a lot and something that will be an even bigger challenge for me in the coming year. I make TIME for others, but often not for those I really want to make TIME for. I am organized but TIME seems to get sucked up in a noiseless vacuum and disappears. I turn around and things I wanted to allow TIME for in my day have to be put off, yet again. As you may have noticed, if you know me, I pack a lot into a regular day. However, there is not usually something simply for me.

I need to make TIME for me, my family, my home, my creative outlet (better known as scrapping). I need to remember that I have the TIME now and that I need to make the most of it today because once today is gone there is no getting it back.

This year my word is TIME and this year I will try to live it.

Happy New Year

Oh my, when did my life get so busy??? The boys had birthdays and that was the end of my blogging life in 2011. Pathetic! When at first you don't succeed......

Great holiday break for all of us - lots of down time, family togetherness, playing, and resting, even for the family cat.