Brrrrrrrrrrrr....

Photo 365 + 99 - December 31

It was a little chilly at the marina today, and very empty with all of the boats out of the water.

Pictures (for the wall this time!)

Photo 365 + 98 - December 30

After spending the better part of my Christmas break cleaning up the house, I have finally gotten the chance to do something that I wanted to do - get some pictures framed! Now it's time to get them up on the walls - good thing I still have a couple of days off!

Special gift

Photo 365 + 97 - December 29

This is one of the very special Christmas gifts I received from Cindy this year. Besides the fact that it was filled with some of my favorite homemade treats, Cindy told me that the container was hand-painted by her mom. This is extra special because her mom is in the advanced stages of Alzheimer's, and her painting days are long over. I will definitely treasure this gift, and hope it helps me remember to enjoy life and my family.

Spoiled girl

Photo 365 + 96 - December 28

And I'm the one accused of spoiling her? I'm pretty sure she wasn't invited up on the furniture when Dale was deployed...just sayin'.

Give it back!

Photo 365 + 95 - December 27

Trinka got a new ball for Christmas from Jeff and Torque, and since it's not totally slobbery (yet) she gets to keep it in the house. She loves to drop it on you when you're sitting on the couch so you can throw it for her. She wasn't too thrilled when Dale wouldn't throw it back.

Tire Killer

Photo 365 + 94 - December 26

Last week during the snowstorm, Dale heard a telltale hissing sound when he walked past my car. This is what they pulled out of my brand new tire.

The Reason for the Season

Photo 365 + 93 - December 25

I don't think I need to say anything else, except Merry Christmas!

At Mom's

Photo 365 + 92 - December 24

Christmas Eve is traditionally spent at Mom's, and this year was no different. No James and no Kayla, but the evening was a lot of fun with Kristin and Steve and the kids, Mom and Fred, and Laura and Andy.

Christmas Angels

Photo 365 + 91 - December 23

Today was the Christmas program at church. The kids always do such an awesome job...no matter how bad the practices seem to go. I have lots of memories of our kids participating and helping out...hard to believe that Kristin's kids will soon be too old. Time flies by.

Christmas at Grandmas

Photo 365 + 90 - December 22

Nope not Grandma Sandy's - this time it was Grandma Sheila's. Happy first Christmas, Chase! This little guy has absolutely the bluest eyes. Reminds me a lot of his daddy at that age.

Cleanup

Photo 365 + 89 - December 21

After every snowstorm the cleanup must occur. The path on the sidewalk is very deceptive of how much snow we actually got, since the rain came afterward and melted a lot of it, and then it got cold and froze. Predictions for 40s and sunshine this weekend will be much appreciated...if they actually happen.

My newest creation

Photo 365 + 88 - December 20

I'm not sure if I've been working on beaded ornaments since last Christmas or the year before...can't remember. But this week I finally finished my first one. I'm pretty happy with how it turned out. I've gotten the process figured out, so maybe next year I can share these.

What a difference a day makes...

Photo 365 + 87 - December 19

I don't think we're going to have to be dreaming about a white Christmas any longer. The couple inches we got yesterday are supposed to be followed up by a winter storm tomorrow. Our part of the state is forecasted to get up to 8 inches...although the accumulation numbers always need to be taken with a grain of salt. Waiting and seeing is the only reliable method.

Changing weather

Photo 365 + 86 - December 18

Here is the beautiful sunrise through the trees in the backyard as I walked out of the house to my car to go to work. By the time I drove the 15 minutes to get there, I literally watched the clouds cover up the sun for it to be seen no longer for the rest of the day. By the time I left work there was at least 4 inches of sticky wet snow on my car. I think I can wait to see what the rest of this week brings in the weather department.

Hark the Herald Angels!

Photo 365 + 85 - December 17

This is one of my favorite candle decorations I have - my herald angels, along with my big angel. The big angel usually stays out by itself - I may need to keep the other two out right along with them.

Our tree...

Photo 365 + 84 - December 16

Well I think we're almost ready for Christmas. After a full day of shopping in the rain yesterday, plus a lot of online shopping, there are just a couple more little things that we need to retrieve. I almost feel ahead of the game, since there's still another weekend before Christmas Eve.

New Addition

Photo 365 + 83 - December 15

Last year, Joseph talked me into buying a quartet of Peanuts characters. They play together, different Christmas carols. When Dale and I were in Hallmark today looking for ornaments, he pointed out a new one to me - Hallmark added an addition. So now there are five - and an awesome quintet they make!

For my babies...

Photo 365 + 82 - December 14

Part of my Hallmark ornament collection includes "Baby's First Ornaments" for Laura, Kayla and James. I've been asked more than once why they weren't included with their ornaments when I packed them up for each of them, and as I will always tell them, those ornaments stay on my tree.

Santa...

Photo 365 + 81 - December 13

Cindy has some of the neatest Santas. This one is hanging on her Christmas tree, which we get to enjoy downstairs this year.

Vehicles...and more vehicles...

Photo 365 + 80 - December 12

It has now come to the point that I am afraid to count the number of vehicles hanging on the Christmas tree. When Hallmark came out with their classic cars series, I thought, hey - Dale would really like that. And 20 years later, they are still producing cars in that series. Plus the planes, Harley Davidson motorcycles and trucks he has hanging on there too, the number is becoming mind numbing. I do like the airplanes, though. They can hang on the lightest branches and really look like they're flying.

Winter sky

Photo 365 + 79 - December 11

As the days get shorter and shorter I find it more and more difficult to find enough daylight to take pictures. I guess I'll have to find some creative ways to shoot indoors.

Decorating...at home this time

Photo 365 + 78 - December 10

We've actually almost finished decorating the house. The tree went up yesterday, most of the ornaments are on it, and the boxes are now ready to be stowed away. It's fun to showcase some of our ornaments. None of them came out of the box last year since Dale was gone, so it's nice to see them. Now it's on to shopping!

Pretty to look at, but...

Photo 365 + 77 - December 9

Living in Wisconsin, I have seen my share of snow. That doesn't mean that I like it - just that I'm forced to endure it. Today we had our first measurable snowfall in ages - Milwaukee actually broke the record for longest time without measurable snowfall, since the snow we got only fell as rain at the airport. I'm hoping it melts quickly.

Decorating

Photo 365 + 76 - December 8

I'm not a big fan of having to participate in Christmas decorating, although I absolutely love the end result. Dale and I did go and help decorate the church today, and as always, the end result was breathtaking.

His Masterpiece

Photo 365 + 75 - December 7

We had a get together tonight with good friends - most of whom we got close to when the kids were in school and playing soccer together. Dale actually planned the appetizer we were going to bring, shopped for the ingredients, and made it himself. It was a nice, easy recipe, but it was awesome to not have to worry about it.

Let there be (Christmas) light!

Photo 365 + 74 - December 6

We don't have any other Christmas decorations up, but I did get the lights up last weekend. It's too bad that no matter how I set the camera I cannot get the blue to be as true blue as it is when the lights are lit.

Frosty morning

Photo 365 + 73 - December 5

I do everything I can to not have to scrape the frost off of my windshield in the morning. One of these days it will fit in the garage, but until then I will suffer through it. No worries - I was not driving while I took these pictures.

You're leaving again??

Photo 365 + 72 - December 4

This is the face that I keep in my mind when I walk out the door. How can you not feel guilty when she looks at you like that?

Chocolate!

Photo 365 + 71 - December 3

Three different kinds of chocolate, to be exact. And all wrapped around Kit Kat bars. It's no wonder I can't lose any weight!

When they gather...

Photo 365 + 70 - December 2

It seems when the men gather, out comes the xBox...I think it's a sickness.

Happy Birthday Rebecca & Steve!

Photo 365 + 69 - December 1

Kristin is very diligent about celebrating birthdays, and today we got together to celebrate Rebecca's and Steve's. They are always a good time - good food and good company!

Belated Birthday

Photo 365 + 68 - November 30

My birthday came and went in October, and this week Cindy apologized for forgetting and gave me a wonderful birthday package. Included was an October wine glass, which I told her was definitely an anytime glass - not just October!

Business Shoot

Photo 365 + 67 - November 29

Tonight I got to do something a little bit different. My friend, Sheila, recommended me to take some business shots for her boss. It earned me a very nice dinner at the Farmstead, and some new shots for my portfolio.