Snowflakes for Sandy Hook

I have not commented on the devastating situation that occurred in CT a couple weeks ago.  It is not because I don't care, but really I have no words for such tragedy.  It is a sick reminder of the sinful world we live in and our utter need for a Savior.  Another reminder of the importance of Christmas yesterday.  I don't have a WIWW post for you today or a Christmas update.  I will be back next week with Christmas updates and fun "new" outfits.  But for now if you are home for another day or so this week consider making snowflakes...
If you haven't yet heard those elementary school students will be starting back to school next year in a new building.  The Connecticut Parent Teacher Student Association are working to create a "winter wonderland" to help the students make the transition into the new environment.  
So if you are feeling helpless and have some paper and scissors, you could cut some snowflakes to send up to Sandy Hook.  It could be a fun activity to do with kids too (without having to explain the horrific event that preceded the project if you don't want to)

Linking up with Shanna for Random Wednesday.

'Twas the Night Before Christmas...

Twas the night before Christmas, when all thro' the house,
2 Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;
3 The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
4 In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there;
5 The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
6 While visions of sugar plums danc'd in their heads,
7 And Mama in her 'kerchief, and I in my cap,
8 Had just settled our brains for a long winter's nap-
9 When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
10 I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
11 Away to the window I flew like a flash,
12 Tore open the shutters, and threw up the sash.
13 The moon on the breast of the new fallen snow,
14 Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below;
15 When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
16 But a minature sleigh, and eight tiny rein-deer,
17 With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
18 I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick.
19 More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
20 And he whistled, and shouted, and call'd them by name:
21 "Now! Dasher, now! Dancer, now! Prancer, and Vixen,
22 "On! Comet, on! Cupid, on! Dunder and Blixem;
23 "To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
24 "Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!"
25 As dry leaves before the wild hurricane fly,
26 When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky;
27 So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,
28 With the sleigh full of Toys - and St. Nicholas too:
29 And then in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
30 The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
31 As I drew in my head, and was turning around,
32 Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound:
33 He was dress'd all in fur, from his head to his foot,
34 And his clothes were all tarnish'd with ashes and soot;
35 A bundle of toys was flung on his back,
36 And he look'd like a peddler just opening his pack:
37 His eyes - how they twinkled! his dimples how merry,
38 His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry;
39 His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
40 And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow;
41 The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
42 And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath.
43 He had a broad face, and a little round belly
44 That shook when he laugh'd, like a bowl full of jelly:
45 He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
46 And I laugh'd when I saw him in spite of myself;
47 A wink of his eye and a twist of his head
48 Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.
49 He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
50 And fill'd all the stockings; then turn'd with a jerk,
51 And laying his finger aside of his nose
52 And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose.
53 He sprung to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
54 And away they all flew, like the down of a thistle:
55 But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight-
56 Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night.

Clement Clarke Moore and Henry Livingston Jr.

Merry Christmas Everyone!

P.S. It is snowing outside right now!  We might have a white Christmas :)

Chuck E Cheese's

I think I  mentioned how we went to Chuck E Cheese a couple weeks ago for my niece's birthday party.  It really was a blast.  I don't know if I had ever been to Chuck E Cheese before and although I was a bit squeamish about all the germs running around that place, I got over it and we had a great time.

Now here is a quick tip if you ever plan on making the trip- GO EARLY!  My sister-in-law is smart so they planned the party for 9am when it opened.  The first hour was amazing because we were the only people there!  We had free range roaming around all the games and activities.  Around 10:00 more kids started coming and it started to get a little loud.  By 10:30 I had to get out of there because it was flat out load, crazy, and miserable with kids running around.  

The mini merry-go-round was Phoebe's favorite.  She could have stayed on that thing ALL day long.  Every time it stopped she said "more please" and cried whenever we tried to take her off.

Before we discovered the merry-go-round she had fun riding in the Chuck E Cheese car, riding Clifford the Big Red Dog, and climbing up the jungle gym  with Daddy.

Mommy and Daddy got to enjoy playing some games too.  I love skee-ball!  It has been forever since I've played, but I was so excited to brush up on my skills at Chuck E Cheese.  I don't know if it was the pregnant belly or what, but I really don't remember skee-ball being so hard on the back bending over to roll the ball...

Merry Christmas!

I love this time of year.  I love getting Christmas cards in the mail and hanging them on our wall.  I love seeing pictures of every one's family and reading mini-Christmas updates.

We've done different things for cards each year.  I like the idea of a post card (we do lots of post card mailings- invitations etc.) because of the cheaper postage.  That was my original plan this year, but I came across this card design on Etsy from Elegant Prints.  I liked that I could use multiple pictures AND include a mini-update.  So we opted for the card and full-postage.  My goal is always to get cards out for less than $1 each including postage.  We came in at about  $1.05 this year.  As usual we do all our printing at Overnight Prints.  We've always been pleased with the company and quality, but I will say that the company must be getting much bigger because the turn around time has become a bit ridiculous.  

(And yes Chris and I both proof-read this about six time each and still found mistakes in the final product.  Oh well.)

If you didn't get one in the mail- Merry Christmas!