Author: Carey

December Snow

Snow in our neck of the world is a bit rare, let alone over a foot! We have been blanketed in the white stuff for over the past few weeks. Schools have been closesd since it started hitting the ground, which is unfortunate for the kids because they’ll be going to school until July! Luckily today, the temperature warmed up to start melting some of it. We are expected to get more again tonight and before the new year. Enjoy!

Our backyard looking south east.

Our backyard looking north east.

The main road to our house looking north.

The main road looking south.

Our house looking east from the main road.

Our street looking south.

Snow play

The first snow started falling about a week ago, the day it started, Isabel started asking to go out and play. After the purchase of some new all weather boots, we headed out for some snow play fun! Enjoy!

All ready!

This is fun!

More snow started falling again around 1 p.m. and continued steadily until late at night. Unfortunately, the snow was to powdery to build a snowman. Isabel didn’t care though…

Dig. Dig. Dig.

Isabel’s 1st snow angel.

House building

For some reason, I never thought that building/decorating a gingerbread house with Isabel would be a fun thing to do. For one, the first time I every built one, was for school and it was from scratch (no pretty premade pieces here!). It was so sad…the pieces were all lopsided and uneven; so the whole house leaned. Very sad. Miserable little house. Second, I just never thought of it…until my cousin Tear-a (Tera) mentioned to me. So I purchased a home and tonight we constructed it and decorated! She had so much fun! Enjoy…and thanks T for the idea!

The walls and roof are on; now we just wait for the “glue” to dry.

All the decor!

Gino and I added the icing and let her do the decorating. She was very neat about the whole thing; Gino and I walked with icing all over! I never dreamed it would be so messy…but it was fun!

Her house.

Side view.

Back of house.

Front and side.

Gino and I did the work on the tree, snowman, and gingerbread man.
Otherwise it was all Isabel.

Note to self for next year: Do this project AFTER dinner not BEFORE!

Practice writing

Today I thought I would try and see if Isabel could write some simple letters. She did rather well for her first try. We’ll keep practicing and share what she does with you. Enjoy!

This practice sample are the letter’s: A and I.
Can you see Isabel’s letter’s in pink?

This practice sample are the letter’s: B and C
Can you see Isabel’s letter’s in pink?
(Hint: her B is on it’s side)

This practice sample are the letter’s: H and O
Isabel drew a D in blue instead.

This practice sample is the letter: E
She started out doing an amazing job then got frustrated with it.
Can you see Isabel’s E?
(Hint: It looks like a perfect L)

Happy Birthday Karlee

My first real job, as most teen girls in high school, was babysitter. I watched several different kids throughout school and after high school as well. However, the beginning of my senior year, I was given the opportunity to watch a very special girl and her name was Karlee. I watched Karlee for just over a year. Then her family decided to move away, I was so sad to see her leave. I missed her and her family.

Throughout the years, I often wondered about Karlee and her parents. What was she like? What did she like to do? Was she happy? Was she ok? All normal questions to ask when someone leaves an impression in your heart and life…

1990
Karlee and I.

March 1991
She was even in my senior pictures.

1992
A few years after they moved, I got a few cards from her mom
and pictures of Karlee. Then we lost touch…

Then last year I joined a social website called “Facebook”. If you have no idea what that is, it’s a social networking site where you can connect with people you know. You can search for people you might know, too.

One night when I was online within Facebook, I decided that I would search for Karlee. I figured she has to be on there since it’s a site created for young people.  So I typed in her name and the first person listed was Karlee so-and-so, the name was different then what I knew but the face looked a little familiar to me. So I sent a message with some info that I knew about Karlee and she wrote me back! It was Karlee!

2007 – Junior year in high school.
She’s a gorgeous girl! Love her smile, reminds of her mother…

2008 – Summer before freshman year in college.
There’s that smile again!
She is going to school with a major in Nutritional Sciences;
with a minor of Allied Health.

Happy Birthday, Karlee!

God bless you on the road ahead. I have enjoyed reconnecting with you and getting to know you all over again. You were a special little girl to me and have grown into an amazing women. Keep in touch…

Christmas Questionaire

I noticed this on my cousins blog and decided to play along…something fun and different! Enjoy!

1. Eggnog or Hot Chocolate?
Carey: Hot chocolate.
Gino: Eggnog

2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree?
Carey: Wrap.
Gino: Or in the driveway.

3. Colored lights on tree/house or white?
Carey: Colored lights on the tree with white lights on the house and inside decor.
Gino: Mix it up. Whatever I’m in the mood for.

4. Do you hang mistletoe?
Carey: No. Used to when I was younger living with my parents.
Gino: No.

5. When do you put your decorations up?
Carey: Christmas decor goes up the week of Thanksgiving.
Gino: (same as above)

6. What is your favorite holiday dish (excluding dessert)?
Carey: Turkey.
Gino: Yams with marshmallows.

7. Favorite holiday memory as a child.
Carey: Spending holidays with family and extended family. The whole HUGE crowd!
Gino: Grandpa Eddie dressing up as Santa Claus.

8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa?
Carey: I was 5 or 6. They also told me there was no Easter Bunny or Tooth Fairy.
Gino: Don’t remember.

9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve?
Carey: No.
Gino: We did as kids.

10. How do you decorate your Christmas Tree?
Carey: Lights, garland, ornaments, and then topper.
Gino: Top to bottom.

11. Snow! Love it or Dread it?
Carey: Dislike it! Dread it! Avoid it!
Gino: (same as above)

12. Can you ice skate?
Carey: No.
Gino: No.

13. Do you remember your favorite gift?
Carey: Yes.
Gino:

14. What is the most important thing about the Holidays for you?
Carey: Jesus’ birth. Without him there would be no hope.
Gino:

15. What is your favorite Holiday Dessert?
Carey: My sister-in-laws homemade holiday candy!
Gino:

16. What is your favorite holiday tradition?
Carey: Spending time with family. It’s been years since we have had family around for the Christmas holiday.
Gino:

17. What tops your tree?
Carey: A mother of pearl Christmas star.
Gino: (same as above).

18. Which do you prefer giving or receiving?
Carey: Giving.
Gino:

19. What is your favorite Christmas Song?
Carey: My all time favorite song is: “Heirlooms” written by Bob Farrell, Brown Bannister, and Amy Grant and sung by Amy Grant on her Christmas Album.  Otherwise, all the traditional ones…and a few new ones too.
Gino:

20. Candy Canes​!​ Yuck or Yum?
Carey: Yum.

21. What do you want for Christmas?
Carey:
Gino:

22. Do you attend an annual Christmas Party?
Carey: No.
Gino:

23. Do you dress up on Christmas or wear PJs?
Carey: Pj’s! Unless of course I’m going out, then I dress up.
Gino:

24. Do you own a Santa hat?
Carey: I have 2 from when I worked @ Wal*Mart years ago.
Gino:

25. Who do you normally spend Christmas with?
Carey: Jesus and my family.
Gino: