2016 Reflections

It has been a great year but one of growth.

My oldest graduated and that was only one of the highlights of the year.

I also got to do something on my travel bucket list- we rode bikes on the Hiawatha Trail.

 I had a Moving Adventure with my sister. I also got to crash a wedding.

 I saw my youngest march in his first parade.

We did lots of geocaching and activities with geocaching.

earth day clean up with other cachers 

It was a good year!

Goodbye 2016!

Sunrise/Sunset Round-Up

When I was going through my phone photos for the year, I noticed I really really loved taking photos of sunrises and sunsets. I complied my love in these Project Life pages.(Digital Version) So I bring to you, my love of mainly sunrises of the year. Because evidently I got that kind of time on my hands.

Day After Christmas Linky

Now that the Hub Bub of Christmas has died down, are you in need of new entertainment.

We're really bad at judging risks to kids. We/re really good at judging parents.

Pool Table Countertops - I love me some Victoria Elizabeth Barnes.  This idea is frankly genius.

31 Great Books for Students, Chosen by Students

You Said You Need This More Than Anything Else - If you need a spiritual read, read this.  It was meant as an advent read but it is a good read anytime.

Word Porn Quote
Graphic by Me

December Daily - Merry Christmas

On the last day we had snow on the ground,,I gathered the guys together to take this picture.  None of them are real big fans of picture taking. I am clearly the shortest person in the picture.  My boys are now 14 and 18. I am impressed we got a group picture to include in our Christmas Cards.

Merry Christmas

from our Family

to Yours!

December Daily - Santa's Sweatshop

Dec 23rd
My husband loves me.  I mean he REALLY loves me.  I came up with some last minute gifts I wanted to make (meaning I needed him to make).

 So my husband helped me make these lovely reclaimed pine flooring boxes and 3D Christmas Trees.

 I had seen pallet boxes at several craft shows but I kept telling myself my Husband could make me something better or something unique. The idea for the 3-D trees is from Pneumatic Addict. I love it when a plan comes together!

December Daily - Sugar Cookie Cutout Ritual

Dec 22nd

Decorating Sugar Cookies is definitely a thing we do at our house.  I love it when my Mom and Dad are visiting because it is definitely their thing. Both of them really get into it.  However, this year I was on my own.  I pre-made the cutouts .  I find that my kids have sugar cookie ADD.  They will decorate for about 5 minutes.  Baking and decorating in the same day is something I try to avoid. Sugar cookie decorating kinda stresses me out. 

This year I did decorating with my son's and the kid I babysit.  It was messy and fun.  I tried the chocolate powdered sugar frosting (Betty Crocker) for one of the colors.  It was quite good.  I think it might of been my babysitting kid's first time doing sugar cookies.  He was pretty darn excited. 

***loved this reflection on Christmas Rituals at Dinner: The Love Story- Doorways into Christmas

December Daily - Internship and Santa

December 21st

Today, Santa was at my son's internship.

Since the first weeks of school, my oldest has had an internship at a local bowling alley.  He does clean up and serves beverages.  The number one thing he wanted to do after High School was to work. He is working on getting job skills by doing this internship and taking some customer service classes. 

My oldest made an interesting observation about Santa's Elves - He explained he thought the elves had the worst job making toys  They don't get gifts only make gifts.  

December Daily - Polls and Reindeer

December 20th

Well juvenile boys sure enjoy a good poll.  So here is the polling results.

Farts Funny

yes
yes
yes
No (me)

Tigger on the Santa's Naughty List  ( Tigger is our loud mouth dog)

YES
YES
YES
YES

Heather on Santa's Naughty List

Yes
Yes
Yes (Me)
No (Oldest Son)

Add caption

****Reindeer Pattern Idea is from I Heart Crafty Things

December Daily - Hot Air Balloon Races

December 19th

I am watching a 1st grader in the mornings during this week of break.  Chuck and I and this little guy are always game for some fun.  We made some hot air balloons out of balloons and cupcake holders. We dropped the balloon from the second floor railing.

Chuck got the idea of creating some static with the balloons. Soon we were sticking them to the walls.

December Daily - Impromptu Photos

December 18th

When we were at Nonna's for Thanksgiving, I took some impromptu Christmas photos of the boys and dog in front of her beautiful tree.

I really like the one I captured of Chuck.  I can't believe how grown up this kid has become. 

I even took a selfie with Nonna's beautiful tree.

My oldest enduring a photo session.  Not exactly his favorite thing to do.

And last but not least a picture of the loud mouth dog TIGGER

December Daily - Garage Workshop

Scary Larry the Shop Mascot got a little bit
of Christmas Spirit.

December 17th

There is nowhere else my husband would rather be than in his garage workshop.  A couple weeks ago the chaos had gotten too bad in there and he decided to do something about it.  He designed and built a lumber cart.  Some place to put all the shot up target sticks for our Matchstick Frames and other miscellaneous lumber we had stored in our garage. I think it turned out really well. Yesterday, we worked on in the shop and I appreciated this so much as there was room to walk in our garage.

Almost Christmas Linky

Nester's Christmas Tour Linky - Need Christmas Decorating inspiration click away

Falling Fish Fries Power Lines - File this under only in Seattle

Kid LEGO Themed Christmas Tree

2016 Christmas Picture Books

December Daily - Hawaiian Snowman

December 16

Spotted this Hawaiian Snowman while out thrifting with my friend.  Of course, this was way before it snowed.  It cracked me up. The snow we got was very dry and not really good for making snowmen. 

This was our last snow day of the year.  I kinda wish I was in Hawaii making a snowman. The temperature was in the 20s for the day and much of our town was accessible but the side roads remain an ice rink.

December Daily -Yet Another Snow Day

December 15th

“Ice doesn’t melt if you don’t take it out of the freezer. Ferndale is still in the freezer.” - Riley Sweeney (City of Ferndale)

Yet another snow day was called.  Friday is a snow day as well. NO new snow but county roads are still a bit of a skating rink. The high temperature was in the upper twenties. The kids were happy but the adults not so much There was a suggestion by the adults that we all try to help shovel the snow and ice so school could happen today.  This is day 5 of no school.  We will have to make up the days at the end of June.  Everyone is a bit on the frustrated side but I am glad our school district puts safety of students and staff as a priority.

What I Read December and My Favorite Book Picks of the Year

Once again we have reached the end of the year.  During Thanksgiving, I had a chance to read a couple of books.

The Nightingale by Kirstin Hannah

Why or Why does every Kristin Hannah book make me ugly cry.  I admit the end of this book made me cry.  The setting is WWII and secret ops in France by the resistance. It is a tale of  two sisters. I really enjoyed this quick read.



The Nest by Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney

It took me a bit to get into the dysfunction of the Plumb family and their inheritance they call the NEST.  I thought it was an interesting read.  I could see where some people could be put off by this book.

Top Picks From My Reading Year

No Baggage by Clara Bensen - You all know I simply can't resist a travel story. This one was unique.

Lab Girl by Hope Jahren

America's First Daughter by Stephanie Dray and  Laura Kamole

Ranger Confidential by Andrea Lankford

I am linking up to Modern Mrs Darcy's Quick Lit.  Check out what everyone is reading.

December Daily - Puzzle

December 14

With all our snow days, we finished our Christmas puzzle in record time.  In the past we have had a history of losing at least one piece, I am proud to say we didn't lose a single piece this time.  It was a group effort to finish between Heather, Kevin, and Cody. This 500 piece puzzle had lots of  glitter.

December Daily - Attack of the Gingerbread Monster

Notice the decapitated ninja at top of photo

Decemember 13th

Another no school day, I think we all are OVER it.  We are in the deep freeze no new snow but lots of ice. My young charge this morning was really in gingerbread ninja's .  However a gingerbread monster was out to get the gingerbread ninja's. We collaboratively did the ninja scene.

December Daily - Snow Fun

December 12

We had a snow day.  We had an extra little person.  So, we spent quite a bit of time outside enjoying the snow.  Because it was so icy, it wasn't good for much. It was difficult to make a snowman. We ended up picking up chunks of snow left by the snow plow to stack to make a snowman. In the warm inside, we made snowman art. The top snowman picture is by me and the bottom one by my young charge.

I used Project Life to make the layout. I love the ease of this app to turn your photos into scrapbook layouts.

December Daily - Dog Days

December 11

At Nonna's House
Tigger's Favorite Place

Our Dog, Tigger, is one of a kind.  Tigger is one hundred percent spoiled. He has been trying to sleep as close to the gas fireplace as possible. We have joked that his butt was going to catch on fire.  

He also loves the snow.  Mainly he loves to eat it and catch it.

December Daily - Rare sighting of Teenage Boy

December 10

Charlie was spotted in the kitchen baking some WORLD'S BEST COOKIES (Chocolate Chip and butterscotch).  He was making the cookies as a birthday gift for a friend. On this rather cold day, it was great to have the smell of cookies.  Not only that but he allowed us to sample some too!  BONUS!

Tis the Season Linky

These Grandma -Friendly Remote Modifications - These are pretty hilarious.  I admit to sometimes having problems with my T.V. remote and I am not a Grandma.

Christmas Lights are the Only Way to Accessorize Your Beard this Season - So want to see in person.

Did You Ever Wonder Why We Put Oranges in Stockings?

 

December Daily - Snow Day

We had for "reals" a snow day here in western Washington.  Cody decided to give sledding a try with our boogie board.

You can take a kid out of Southern California but you can't take the Southern California out of the kid.  He was also wearing rubber boots.  I have neglected to buy snow boots the last couple of years due to our mild winters.

Hey everyone needs a squirrel hat! I did a bit of snow exploring but I like my snow viewing best from the inside of my house.

December Daily - Pumpkin Brittle

December 8th

Every once a while, my Husband gets a wild hair.  Last night he decided to make pumpkin brittle. With Martha's help , he turned out some delicious brittle.

One of my Grandpa H's favorite candies was peanut brittle.  I think of homemade candy as a Christmas tradition.

Pumpkin Seed Brittle