New Year's Resolutions:
1. Clean, declutter and organize my house from top to bottom. (this will start in Feb when I am unemployed.)
2. Scrapbook more--ultimate goal is to complete at least a page a day for 366 layouts this year..but will settle for 183 --a page every two days!
3. Once again..to eat healthy and exercise. Maybe this year I will do it!!!
4. To have more family time--doing activities outside of the house.
5. To become a better photographer
6. To journal more
Monday, December 31, 2007
Saturday, December 29, 2007
My planner
I had bought these planners at the dollar store a month ago. After visiting Lain Ehmann blog and seeing her awesome planner, I was inspired to create.
Plain Jane to 
Plain Jane to "Beautiful!!!" (direct quote from daughter, Addie)
Thursday, December 27, 2007
Finally have my Christmas pictures!
On Christmas Eve, Addie and I went to my sister's house to have a birthday party for Jesus. The girls made a cake and exchanged presents with each other. They had a blast.
My mom made Addie's Christmas outfit. It turned out so cute! 
Then Addie and I went to Tina's to get a kitten for Gram. Here is Addie holding the box in the car with the kitten inside as we drove to Gram's house.
Here is Addie holding the new kitten.
We went to Gram and Pop's for dinner on Christmas Eve. We exchanged gifts with the family.
We went to Gram and Pop's for dinner on Christmas Eve. We exchanged gifts with the family.
I actually got a picture of me and Addison in front of the Christmas tree.
My mom made Addie's Christmas outfit. It turned out so cute!Here is Addie after she opened her gifts Christmas day! What a mess..but she did pick up all the wrapping paper for me.
Here is Addie painting on new easel that Santa brought her. She was laughing in this picture!
Sunday, December 23, 2007
Christmas Program
This is Addie in the Christmas program at my sister's church last Sunday. She had a blast. The production was awesome. The program was called "The Plain Truth."
Christmas Writing Challenge #8: on Christmas Day in the Morning
Christmas Writing Challenge #8: on Christmas Day in the Morning
Writing Prompt: Write about your Christmas mornings. Where you early-morning openers? Did you follow a certain M.O.? Or was it something random every year? Who passed out gifts? Did you open one at a time or all at once? Did you eat before or after opening gifts? What were your Christmas-morning breakfasts like? Is there something specific or unique that stands out in your memory?
I am an early morning person. My husband is not. So normally we have to wait for him to wake up before we open presents. But this year will be different. My daughter understands more this year and I don't think she will wait for him. (LOL). Normally, my husband passes out the gifts because I am the one taking the pictures. Because he just doesn't take the pictures I want! After we open presents than we will have breakfast. We don't have anything fancy but I think our Christmas traditions are going to change as my daughter gets older.
The Christmases that I spent with my Aunt and my cousin. We always opened presents first than had breakfast.
Writing Prompt: Write about your Christmas mornings. Where you early-morning openers? Did you follow a certain M.O.? Or was it something random every year? Who passed out gifts? Did you open one at a time or all at once? Did you eat before or after opening gifts? What were your Christmas-morning breakfasts like? Is there something specific or unique that stands out in your memory?
I am an early morning person. My husband is not. So normally we have to wait for him to wake up before we open presents. But this year will be different. My daughter understands more this year and I don't think she will wait for him. (LOL). Normally, my husband passes out the gifts because I am the one taking the pictures. Because he just doesn't take the pictures I want! After we open presents than we will have breakfast. We don't have anything fancy but I think our Christmas traditions are going to change as my daughter gets older.
The Christmases that I spent with my Aunt and my cousin. We always opened presents first than had breakfast.
Friday, December 21, 2007
Christmas Writing Challenge #7
Christmas Writing Challenge #7: Holiday Treats
The Prompt: Write about the foods you had during the holidays, growing up. You can also include recipes if you want!
Growing up we celebrated Hanukkah. Every year we would get together at one my relatives' house and eat Potato Latkas.
Potato Latkas
Ingredients:4 large potatos - peeled & grated2 eggs1/8 teaspoon baking powder1 1/2 teaspoons salt1 tablespoon flourOil
Directions:
Drain potatos to remove most moisture.
In bowl, mix eggs, baking powder, salt & flour
Add potatos and mix.
In frying pan, cover bottom with 1/2" oil.
Heat oil. (Electric skillet set heat to 400 degrees).
Drop mixture into hot oil by large spoonful.
Brown on both sides.
When cooked, drain on paper bags covered with paper towels.
Notes:
Mixture will turn brown during preparation or cooking. No problem.A food processor or blender can be handy for grating the potatos.Sometimes a tablespoon or two of finely grated onion are added to the mixture.Can be served with any of all of: sour cream, sugar or apple sauce
One of my favorite foods at Christmas is fudge. I love fudge..yummy.
The Prompt: Write about the foods you had during the holidays, growing up. You can also include recipes if you want!
Growing up we celebrated Hanukkah. Every year we would get together at one my relatives' house and eat Potato Latkas.
Potato Latkas
Ingredients:4 large potatos - peeled & grated2 eggs1/8 teaspoon baking powder1 1/2 teaspoons salt1 tablespoon flourOil
Directions:
Drain potatos to remove most moisture.
In bowl, mix eggs, baking powder, salt & flour
Add potatos and mix.
In frying pan, cover bottom with 1/2" oil.
Heat oil. (Electric skillet set heat to 400 degrees).
Drop mixture into hot oil by large spoonful.
Brown on both sides.
When cooked, drain on paper bags covered with paper towels.
Notes:
Mixture will turn brown during preparation or cooking. No problem.A food processor or blender can be handy for grating the potatos.Sometimes a tablespoon or two of finely grated onion are added to the mixture.Can be served with any of all of: sour cream, sugar or apple sauce
One of my favorite foods at Christmas is fudge. I love fudge..yummy.
Thursday, December 20, 2007
Christmas Writing Challenge #6
Christmas Writing Challenge #6: An Overdue Thank-You Letter
Writing Prompt: Write a letter to someone who made one, a few, or all of your childhood Christmases special, thanking them for what they did.
I had totally forgotten about this dear couple that lived down from the street from me. They were like an aunt and uncle to me. I spent many of days at their house. I would dog sit for them when they were out of town. For some reason they popped into my head. I have looked them up on http://www.whitepages.com/ and found their address. I do plan to send the letter to them.
Dear Barbara and Ross,
Thank you letting me part of your Christmases in the past. I had forgotten about this until I started participating in a writing challenge online. You would include me in your holiday festitivies. I remember my favorite was coming to help decorate the tree. But I did enjoy it all. I guess what I love best was the fact you included me in your family. It was always nice that I could come to your home and just be with you. I am sorry we have lost contact since you moved away.
I know it has been along time since we spoke and saw each other. Mom and Dad still live in the same house. They are both doing well. Dad is semi retired. He does odd and ends jobs. Mom is looking foward to retiring in a few years. I am married have been married for 8 years to my husband. We have a beautiful 3 year old daughter. My sister has 4 children now, two sons, 1 step-son and a 4 year old daughter. Mom has enjoyed sewing for the granddaughters now.
I hope all is well with your family and would love a chance to see you again.
Writing Prompt: Write a letter to someone who made one, a few, or all of your childhood Christmases special, thanking them for what they did.
I had totally forgotten about this dear couple that lived down from the street from me. They were like an aunt and uncle to me. I spent many of days at their house. I would dog sit for them when they were out of town. For some reason they popped into my head. I have looked them up on http://www.whitepages.com/ and found their address. I do plan to send the letter to them.
Dear Barbara and Ross,
Thank you letting me part of your Christmases in the past. I had forgotten about this until I started participating in a writing challenge online. You would include me in your holiday festitivies. I remember my favorite was coming to help decorate the tree. But I did enjoy it all. I guess what I love best was the fact you included me in your family. It was always nice that I could come to your home and just be with you. I am sorry we have lost contact since you moved away.
I know it has been along time since we spoke and saw each other. Mom and Dad still live in the same house. They are both doing well. Dad is semi retired. He does odd and ends jobs. Mom is looking foward to retiring in a few years. I am married have been married for 8 years to my husband. We have a beautiful 3 year old daughter. My sister has 4 children now, two sons, 1 step-son and a 4 year old daughter. Mom has enjoyed sewing for the granddaughters now.
I hope all is well with your family and would love a chance to see you again.
Friday, December 14, 2007
Christmas Writing Challenge #5: Traditional Gifts
This is the writing prop for Amy Soresen's writing challenge.
Christmas Writing Challenge #5: Traditional Gifts
Writing Prompt: What traditional gifts---things you received every year---did you get? Out of those traditional gifts, which individual one stands out the most in your memory?
Traditions give a personal shape to our holiday experiences. It seems like each family develops its own, unique spin on more universal traditions. Traditional gifts are important, I think, because they are a combination of knowledge (you know you're getting something from that category) and surprise (you don't know what specific thing it'll be). These are the gifts that, if they were missing, the holidays wouldn't feel right.
Growing up I didn't have any traditional gifts that I received from year to year. As I got older I would receive money each year from my grandparents. But I think this would be a nice tradition to start with my daughter. Now, I need to think of something that would be special to start with.
Now I am playing catch up with the first two writing challenges since I didn't have much to write about with this challenge.
Christmas Writing Challenge #1: Wished-for Photo
Writing Prompt: Write about a photo you wish someone had taken
I think that we have clearer memories of the experiences we have pictures of, because the pictures help us involve another sense (vision) with the memory. But I also think that the majority of people twenty or thirty years ago didn't think about taking pictures the way we do now (obviously, digital cameras have a huge impact on how many photos we take and what we photograph), so we don't have very many pictures to help jar our memories. Maybe this writing prompt will help you remember something you've forgotten. You might want to give some of the back story before you write about the wished-for photo, like I did here. Happy writing!
I wish I had more photos from my childhood in general. I am lucky that I have access to all the photos my grandparents took at different events. I really need to start scanning those but I don't have a working scanner at home.
I wish I had more photographs of me with my mom's mom. She died when I was 3 years old. She celebrated Christmas and would love to have a picture with her at Christmas time.
Christmas Writing Challenge #2: Most Vivid Memory
Writing Prompt: When you think of your childhood Christmases, what is the most vivid memory you have?
My friend is still scanning my photos, so today's another photo-less writing prompt (unless you have a photo to go along with your vivid memory; if so, lucky you!). I think the most vivid memories have two separate connections that keep them strong: a sensory connection and an emotional one. If that holds true for you, include those details in the telling.
My most vivid Christmas from my childhood would have to be when we visited my aunt and uncle in TX for Christmas. Again, I grew up in a Jewish household so this was my first Christmas that I remember. I was 5 years old at the time. I remembering being so upset that Santa left the presents when we out looking at Christmas lights. I received an itch and sketch and played with for hours. Especially in the car on the ride home.
Christmas Writing Challenge #5: Traditional Gifts
Writing Prompt: What traditional gifts---things you received every year---did you get? Out of those traditional gifts, which individual one stands out the most in your memory?
Traditions give a personal shape to our holiday experiences. It seems like each family develops its own, unique spin on more universal traditions. Traditional gifts are important, I think, because they are a combination of knowledge (you know you're getting something from that category) and surprise (you don't know what specific thing it'll be). These are the gifts that, if they were missing, the holidays wouldn't feel right.
Growing up I didn't have any traditional gifts that I received from year to year. As I got older I would receive money each year from my grandparents. But I think this would be a nice tradition to start with my daughter. Now, I need to think of something that would be special to start with.
Now I am playing catch up with the first two writing challenges since I didn't have much to write about with this challenge.
Christmas Writing Challenge #1: Wished-for Photo
Writing Prompt: Write about a photo you wish someone had taken
I think that we have clearer memories of the experiences we have pictures of, because the pictures help us involve another sense (vision) with the memory. But I also think that the majority of people twenty or thirty years ago didn't think about taking pictures the way we do now (obviously, digital cameras have a huge impact on how many photos we take and what we photograph), so we don't have very many pictures to help jar our memories. Maybe this writing prompt will help you remember something you've forgotten. You might want to give some of the back story before you write about the wished-for photo, like I did here. Happy writing!
I wish I had more photos from my childhood in general. I am lucky that I have access to all the photos my grandparents took at different events. I really need to start scanning those but I don't have a working scanner at home.
I wish I had more photographs of me with my mom's mom. She died when I was 3 years old. She celebrated Christmas and would love to have a picture with her at Christmas time.
Christmas Writing Challenge #2: Most Vivid Memory
Writing Prompt: When you think of your childhood Christmases, what is the most vivid memory you have?
My friend is still scanning my photos, so today's another photo-less writing prompt (unless you have a photo to go along with your vivid memory; if so, lucky you!). I think the most vivid memories have two separate connections that keep them strong: a sensory connection and an emotional one. If that holds true for you, include those details in the telling.
My most vivid Christmas from my childhood would have to be when we visited my aunt and uncle in TX for Christmas. Again, I grew up in a Jewish household so this was my first Christmas that I remember. I was 5 years old at the time. I remembering being so upset that Santa left the presents when we out looking at Christmas lights. I received an itch and sketch and played with for hours. Especially in the car on the ride home.
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
Christmas lights and Santa
We met my sis, bro in law, and niece at the courthouse in town for the Christmas light display and pictures with Santa. Here are a few pictures--
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Christmas Writing Challenge #4
Christmas Writing Challenge #4: (from Amy Sorensen's writing challenge)
December Activities
Writing prompt: What activities and experiences did you have during December that made it feel like Christmas to you?
We didn't celebrate Christmas at my house instead we celebrated Hanukkah. When I was younger there were not the decorations for Hanukkah as there are now. Every year and even to this day, my mom had these blue felt bags shaped like a dreidel that would be overflowing with gifts. Mom has since made a dreidel bag for all 5 grandchildren. It is always so nice to see those bags.
Every year we would have a family get together with the aunts, uncles and cousins. We would eat the traditional potato latkes that were full of grease until we made ourselves sick. My cousins and I would play the dreidel game and hope we would win all the gelt (usually we played for pennies.) But as we grew up and family members moved off our celebrations got smaller until the grandchildren started making appearances.
Occasionally, we would go to my aunt and cousin house to celebrate Christmas with them. It was such a fun time waking up on Christmas morning and opening gifts. I grew up in an area that the Jewish community was pretty small so most of my friends celebrated Christmas and I was always envious of all the activities that had.
Since my husband is not Jewish and we are not raising my daughter Jewish, we are developing our own traditions for Christmas. Now that Addie is getting older and can help..we have decorated her little purple tree that a friend gave her on her second Christmas. I know it is Christmas time when we have the annual Santa picture. The town we live in has a Christmas parade every year so we have been going the last couple of years. It is the first Monday in December. We have a get together before Christmas with my husband's aunts, uncles, and cousins. On Christmas Eve, my husbands immediate family goes to my in-laws for the traditional meal of Spaghetti and meatballs (yummy..I can taste them right now.) This year Addie made a ceramic christmas oranment for the tree at one the pottery places. So, I think that will be a new tradition for us each year.
Decorating the purple tree.
Painting Christmas oranments.
December Activities
Writing prompt: What activities and experiences did you have during December that made it feel like Christmas to you?
We didn't celebrate Christmas at my house instead we celebrated Hanukkah. When I was younger there were not the decorations for Hanukkah as there are now. Every year and even to this day, my mom had these blue felt bags shaped like a dreidel that would be overflowing with gifts. Mom has since made a dreidel bag for all 5 grandchildren. It is always so nice to see those bags.
Every year we would have a family get together with the aunts, uncles and cousins. We would eat the traditional potato latkes that were full of grease until we made ourselves sick. My cousins and I would play the dreidel game and hope we would win all the gelt (usually we played for pennies.) But as we grew up and family members moved off our celebrations got smaller until the grandchildren started making appearances.
Occasionally, we would go to my aunt and cousin house to celebrate Christmas with them. It was such a fun time waking up on Christmas morning and opening gifts. I grew up in an area that the Jewish community was pretty small so most of my friends celebrated Christmas and I was always envious of all the activities that had.
Since my husband is not Jewish and we are not raising my daughter Jewish, we are developing our own traditions for Christmas. Now that Addie is getting older and can help..we have decorated her little purple tree that a friend gave her on her second Christmas. I know it is Christmas time when we have the annual Santa picture. The town we live in has a Christmas parade every year so we have been going the last couple of years. It is the first Monday in December. We have a get together before Christmas with my husband's aunts, uncles, and cousins. On Christmas Eve, my husbands immediate family goes to my in-laws for the traditional meal of Spaghetti and meatballs (yummy..I can taste them right now.) This year Addie made a ceramic christmas oranment for the tree at one the pottery places. So, I think that will be a new tradition for us each year.
Decorating the purple tree.
Painting Christmas oranments.
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