Day 335 [Christmas Cards]

Last day of November...WOW!

Special Happy Birthday shout out to my uber fabulous Goddaughter!

Happy Birthday Kennedy!  Love you!

Today I got the last of the Christmas cards addressed, stamped and mailed out.

I'm super happy with how great they turned out and I must say...I LOVE Costco!

With my $5 off coupon, I purchased 100 cards, with envelopes, for under $24!

Love

Day 334 [Tree Trimming]

My boys decided to give me full rein of decorating the Christmas Tree this year!

What fun!

Since neither of them had an interest I took the time today while they were at work/school to make the bare tree beautiful.

I long to do a theme tree and a second tree with our collection of ornaments over the years, but for now I will stick to the one tree.  I sort of meshed the two styles together. 

I used the red/gold balls I bought last year that graced our staircase railing and used them on the tree along with a careful selection from our collection of ornaments.

It was really enjoyable to have full control of tree trimming this year.

I'm sure this will be a new tradition *smile*

Day 333 [Macy's Star]

Part 3 of our Friday festivities.

The final event of the night was the lighting of the Macy's Star.

It was very cool how they did it.  It started with the top of the star being lit first, then it fanned out until the long bottom tail was lit.

At that point the fireworks started to end the show.

We had a perfect position on the street to take in this event.

We were as close at you could get to the Macy's store, right at the baracade, dead center in the street.

It was awesome!  We had great view of the tree and primo view of the star.

Just as the fireworks began, so did the rain.

We were more then happy to head to the car and make our way home for some hot dinner.

The rest of the weekend was enjoyable as well.

Saturday we had dinner at my Mother In Law's house, afterwhich we stopped in for a quick visit with our friends, the Rosemonds.  It was a late night.

Sunday was a bit of a relaxing day.

I started the holiday decorating process, Michel and I went for a run (our first in 9 days, due to the snow and holiday) while Bailey met up with some friends at the mall and took in a movie.

Now my boys are settling into the bed to start their work/school weeks.

Tomorrow I will be getting the decorations on the tree...neither of the boys really has any interest in doing it, so I will crank the Christmas music and spread holiday cheer around my house, while doing laundry and other Monday chores!

Day 332 [Westlake Tree Lighting]

Maybe it's cheating, but I'm going with it.

I am taking a break from the camera for today and tomorrow to post about out family day out.

The tree lighting at Westlake Center was fun to take in on Friday.

It's something we have always wanted to do and I'm happy that we made the commitment to do it.

I got this shot of the tree after the festivities were over and we were making our way through the crowd to our car.  We had to pass by the tree so I was able to get a closer shot then from where we were standing.

The lighting itself was fun.  It took a while for them to get to it, with all the festive musical acts they had prior to the lighting.

We were just happy when the time finally came as it started to rain as soon as the Macy's Star was lit!

More on that for tomorrow's post...

Day 331 [Family Day Out]

We made Friday a Family Day Out.

Too bad our adult daughter was working and unable to join us.

We went into the city, Seattle, to take in the holiday festivities.

Parked near Westlake Center, walked down to Zeek's near the Space Needle for a delicious pizza lunch.

Walked back to the shopping district to mosey in and out of the shops filled with holiday shoppers.

Took a good long break in a Starbucks enjoying a hot beverage and watching the people walk by on the street.  Took our son to see the amazing building that houses the library downtown.

Stopped in at Borders for some leisurely browsing.

We then headed to the street to stake our claim on a primo position to take in the lighting of the holiday tree and Macy's star.

More to come tomorrow....

Day 330 [Turkey Day]

Turkey Dinner Day has arrived!

YUM YUM!!!

Today is a day we reflect on all we are thankful for in our lives, spend time with our loved ones, eat way too much food and just be together.

I'm thankful for a very blessed life.

We traveled to my parent's house for a delicious dinner.

We enjoyed a friendly game of Mexican train dominos after dinner.

The boys (cousins) played some kid games together then setteled in to watch a movie together.

It was a thankful and enjoyable turkey day!



Day 329 [Fall/Winter]

It's fall with winter weather!

We are still in a deep freeze here.

Snow is covering everything and now the remainder of fall is falling on top of winter.

Day 328 [Gobble, Gobble]

Since I'm snowed in today, I made up these little guys.

When I saw them on this blog I knew I had to make some up for the pilgrims on Thanksgiving!

They turned out so cute and were the perfect little project to do while watching tv on this otherwise homebound day.

You still have time to make some up for the pilgrims in your life! ;)

Day 327 [Seeing Red]

The beauty of a gift!

I saw this ceramic cup at 'my' Starbucks store last week.

I didn't buy since I have a daughter who works for Starbucks, I requested she pick one up for me....may as well make good use of her discount! ;)

She told me no problem, they had 20 or more at her store.

She had the next day off and when she went to work the day later all that were in her store were scooped up and purchased by a single lady.  Not that I blame her...just look at that beauty!

Bummer for me.

So I posted to Facebook my desire for this cup...my daughter was on the hunt.

I have GREAT friends...seriously, great!

Many texted me, commented on my FB post, etc., asking if I had gotten the cup.

When my friend Mary texted if I found one, I sadly had not, she promptly told me she found 2 at her Starbucks and bought them!  She brought it by my house today, snow day and all!

She wouldn't let me pay her for it either!

Thanks Mary! 

You are so sweet to remember me during your Starbucks run and even sweeter for making my day brighter!  I will enjoy my new cup for a long time with sweet hot drinks! 

Day 326 [First Snow Of The Season]

Today we are getting our first taste of snowflakes for this season.

El Nina seems to be showing she will be giving us quite a winter here in the PNW.

It's been snowing since I took this picture late this afternoon and isn't showing any signs for stopping.

I'm curious to what the morning will bring.  

Day 325 [Mt. Si]

The man and I took a little drive to the foothills today.

Our destination was the outlet mall in North Bend.

This was the view from the parking lot.

I believe that's Mt. Si, but I may be wrong.

In any event, the views of the hills from there are amazing!

It was cold today and the mountains have all gotten snow, enough to open the ski resorts...before Thanksgiving!  Not a common event in these parts.

We headed into downtown Seattle after this for a day of browsing in the stores and just being together.

I 'heart' days like these.

Day 324 [A Little Texture]

A texture shot of a large vase I have in my foyer.



Day 323 [Hairy Situation]

He got his haircut last night.

There's not as much hair to cut these days.

Seems to be less and less each visit to the chair!

He would like to just shave it, I'm not quite ready for that.

The good husband he is, he keeps what hair he does have, for me!

After his cut, he commented that it seems his hair is more grey then brown these days.

I didn't have the heart to tell him, it's been that way for a while!

Day 322 [Ariport Pickup]

I picked up a wonderful package at the airport today.

My husband!

He was gone for two nights and I'm happy to have him back.

He was down in L.A. for business.  Too bad for him, he had to leave the sunny 75* weather to come home to 45* rain and wind....with a potential chance for snow this weekend.  

While he was away I had to endure a wind storm that left me a bit on edge all by myself...well, I did have the 15 year old here, but he's not much comfort at night. 

I will be resting much better this evening with my love next to me.

Day 321 [Starbucks Peppermint Brownie]

This morning, while waiting in line to order my morning Starbucks, my eye happened upon a delictible treat in the case.  The Peppermint Brownie has returned to Starbucks for this fine holiday season!

One just had to come home with me, so I ordered one up!

I must say, it's delicious and I have absolutely no guilt over enjoying this treat as much as I did! 

I will have to limit my desire to devour too many of these this holiday season, but I figure a few between now and Christmas can't hurt!