Thank you and Happy New Year!

Thank you for being part of our lives this year.

In 2014, we plan to keep on playing.

 Keep on creating.

 Keep on collecting.

And keep on making special memories.

 Please know that I enjoy your company and sincerely thank you for viewing my blogging adventures. 

Wishing you much love and happiness in 2014.  Happy New Year!

No shortage of outdoor winter fun!

We've had several years without a white Christmas and so it's been wonderful spending so much time outdoors getting fresh air and loads of winter exercise. 

 Chris has been staying on top of our ice rink with his homemade zamboni.  

I think I shared his creation last year on the blog.

 It's pcv piping with several holes drilled into the piping. A joga mat smooths the water onto the ice.

The hose is connected to our water heater in our furnace room.  The process if fairly involved, but Chris has it down to a science.

As you can imagine, we're still loving the addition of the extra lighting over the rink.

This is a view of the ice rink from our sunroom.   Isn't it a pretty?

There is definitely no shortage of winter fun in West Michigan right now.

Merriment modifications to the backyard ice rink!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas.  It certainly has felt like an old fashioned Christmas with all our snow.

The woods behind our house is extra beautiful right now.

The shadows against the white snow make the photos look black-and-white. 

The day before Christmas, Chris brought home several strings of the large Christmas screw-in bulbs on clearance.

I tried to not watch him balanced on top of his ladder.  It was positioned in large mounds of snow and ice.

He had big plans for additional lighting around the backyard ice rink.

Just as Chris envisioned, the lights are over-the-top amazing.

It looks like a winter carnival in our backyard.

Yes.  We are spoiled.

Bring your skates!

Everyone is welcome!

 

Have yourself a very Merry Christmas!

Like many parts of the country, an ice storm had the girls starting their Christmas break a day early. 

 We are so fortunate to have power. The trees are beautiful, but yet so dangerously heavy with ice.

The last few days have been a whirlwind of preparations and travel.

I "think" all the gifts are wrapped.

We even squeezed in some baking and a trip to a bakery for Angel Wings.

We all had a wonderful time with Chris's family feasting on yummy Polish food.

May your Christmas be blessed with the love of family and joy of Christ's birth. 

May all the wonders of the holiday season be yours throughout the year!

Wishing you a very Merry Christmas! 

And a blessed New Year!

XOXO

HoHoHo Merry Christmas!

Although I've promised a couple of faculty that I'd be available for email questions, I'm officially on break from the University until January 3rd!!  I might be taking a vacation from work, but I'll still be blogging. 

We have extended family to visit.

And I haven't attempted any Christmas baking.

I've even got a few more gifts that need to be purchased.

None of the gifts are wrapped.

Let's hope I can remember where I stashed everything!

 Enjoy this Christmas Season.

It seems to be moving way too fast!

Slow down, Christmas.  Slow down!
XOXO

Hard at work...estate sale Christmas rescues!

Back on this July post, I shared the set of hand-painted Christmas elves that Chris rescued from a barn occupied by a raccoon family.  

Chris got all the motors working and the elves are now hard at work making toys in our living room.

The amount of labor these tiny creatures clock in is pretty astounding.

If you think about it, without the help of the elves, Santa  wouldn't be nearly as jolly.

Sending you all a little Christmas "elf" magic.

I know I could use a few more elves to help me finish up the cards, shopping, wrapping and baking.

XOXO

PS.  If you'd like to see the elves in action, here's a link to a youtube video that Chris shot this summer of his motorized elves.