Christmas Company

This week has been so fun. We had the chance to make dinner for some of our good friends from SoCal. The Cardwells come to camp every summer for a week of vacation, so it was fun to visit with them at home! Scott, Donna, Rachel, Charles and Sarah came through Redding on their way to Sun River, Oregon for Christmas. Scott's parents, Ralph and Geri, came too. They are some of Gordon and Dottie's very best friends. {too bad they were in Dallas for the holidays and missed them!}

The pressure was on!!! Dottie has told me so many stories about how Geri made the most delicious food and helped her learn how to be a good wife and mother. Gordon travelled a lot (or had youth activities going on) so Dottie was frequently invited to The Cardwells with her 3 boys (she later had Laurie and Brad!) for a meal and a little break. She told me that Geri always sent her home with wonderful hand me down clothes and toys AND leftover food packed up! She appreciated Geri's kind friendship and godly example so much.

I tried to fix a pretty table...but I was sure missing my SIL, Laurie! She is the Master at tablescapes!

I used a white boa on the light fixture and hung some ornaments too. {and I fully expected my husband to make some comment like, "Did a goose fly into our light?" But, he refrained.}

Anna and I made sugar cookies and she made Pioneer Woman's "Texas Sheet Cake" all.by.herself. It was De-lish!

Lindsay asked all day long "when are the Cardwells going to get here?" and "are they going to bring their dog, Sneakers?" One summer the Cardwells brought Lindsay a little stuffed bear (in her hand in this picture) she has slept with it ever since and it is named, "Sneakers". She was THRILLED when they showed up with the REAL Sneakers!

Poor baby had back surgery just after Thanksgiving, so she had to be kept still!

The kids enjoyed eating at their own table and catching up. These kids are SO nice to Lindsay, it is no wonder she loves them so...

And we adults had a wonderful visit too! Shae was busy working at Bath and Body Works in the VERY busy mall, so she missed out on all the fun! {But, looks like she will be able to pay some of her school bill for next semester~yay~}

The rest of our Christmas break has been pretty chill. Lindsay plays with her blocks and watches public television (Yay for Clifford!) while Anna goes from one friend's house to another then basketball practice at night. I cook, clean, wash clothes, wrap presents......you get the picture...Scott is very busily working on a precious gift for Lindsay for Christmas! The sawdust is somehow ALL OVER my kitchen floor!

Only 2 more days!

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I'm {kinda} Over Fall Now

After a VERY stressful week of volleyball {we ended up in First place!} I was ready for something fun and festive. We have playoff games coming up this next week, so Saturday was the perfect time to go with my mother-in-law and sneak away to some holiday open houses at a few stores!I had never been to "House of Design" in Red Bluff. Wow! I sure have been missing out!
It was a wonderland of Christmas decor! The staff must have worked around the clock, everything was breath taking! { we sipped on the most delicious apple cider while we "ooed and awed"}
This was my favorite area, the "pear green" tree and garland was beautiful!
The garland, oh the garland.....
There were so many cute things and they were displayed so perfectly, it made you think you needed everything! {but, I think I better wait to get my Christmas boxes down from the attic and see what I bought last year at the sales 1/2 off!!!}
It doesn't hurt to take pictures and try to recreate it with what you already have though.
Isn't it lovely??
There were many trees all beautifully done in their own unique themes.
They had some Fall displays as well. Wouldn't it be so nice to have a friend, that had a store like this, to come over and decorate your house for all the holidays?!
Love the wheat and the unbelievable garland!
I thought I would throw this in for the Moms of girls...what a cute idea! Little lights under the tulle. This would be darling as an end table.
Later that evening, Shae, Anna and I went to see "A Christmas Carol" in 3D. The effects were awesome, but we don't recommend the movie. It was pretty scary (Anna had her glasses on top of her head for a big portion of the movie). THAT particular movie is a downer anyway, but this version is somewhat dark and dreary (and extra scary).
Lindsay has been telling Scott she wanted to "go on a date" with him all week. Saturday morning she reminded him that he promised he would take her out to dinner all by themselves without Mommy and the girls so they did just that while we were at the movie!

We had a very nice, relaxing weekend. I think I can handle a stressful volleyball game on Tuesday night now...and I think I might just be "over" Fall and ready to get my Christmas decorations out!!
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Christmas Decorations

I finally got around to taking a few pictures of my house decorated for Christmas. ( I can see in the pictures that it is time to paint, though!) . I really LOVE these "Believe" blocks! I was originally going to make some, but found them already done at a cute gift shop here in town, so I figured my time was worth more. I do think I will try them on my mantle next year though!

This is my living room-the room you see when you walk in the door. This is my first year to have a tree in the living room AND the family room. Ever since I was teaching school in Texas I have wanted 2 trees! Our school secretary had the whole staff over one night, she had a tree in her living room that was so formal and beautiful AND one in her family room with all the colored lights and kid ornaments! I was soooo impressed!

My living room tree is not exactly the way I want it, but it is there! I have all thePrecious Moments ornaments on it, I will hit the sales after Christmas with this tree in mind!

This is the family room "Cowboy" tree. My Texas SILs have sort of started a tradition for me. Ever since we moved to California, they have sent me the cutest western ornaments for my tree! Beckie (who live here in town) even got me a darling long horn belt buckle ornament this year. Yee Haw!

* One extra great thing about today is the invitation the girls and I received for tonight! Since Scott is gone we have had some pretty "lame" dinners, I must admit, so when we were invited to go over to Brad and Beckie's house for dinner tonight, we were so happy! The bonus is , we get to see Austin and Gavin! Lindsay has been planning her strategy to sit by Austin all afternoon! Gotta go...it's time to eat!