I would say that probably 80% of the people on my Christmas card list I never hear from any other time of the year. Each year I either make a card or at the very least include a personal note written on a bought card and honestly, it is a bit discouraging when we receive cards from some folks each year with nothing more than their names hastily written on. I assume the card is the message they wish to convey but still it all seems so impersonal and leaves me a little let down truthfully.
I know sending cards is a great way to keep in touch and also an excellent way to share Christ's truth with loved ones. Maybe this feeling is just a funk I am in and in a week or so I'll want to write out all those cards.
It's funny, I've always thought in the past that people who don't send cards were Scrooge-like, missing out on the fun of it. So maybe this year I'm a card Scrooge.
Thoughts anyone???
~Penni
, which is way early for me. But it just made me realize how close Thanksgiving really is. I'm going to make a list today of all the things I want to get done this week. I usually bake my pies on Wednesday, still have to practice cookies with Sarah, that will probably be Tuesday. It's things like that I need to make a list for, otherwise I'll forget the things I need to get done, and only do the things I want to do. 
I will be finishing up our Christmas cards today. Well, the cards are done, pictures developed and yearly letter printed out. I just need to sign the letter, put the kids ages on the back of the pictures, then put it all in the envelopes. Maybe I'm a little optimistic on getting that all done today, but it's my goal. We also have a bible study tonight, so we'll see how much I get done. I just made a mental list of all the things I need to bake this week, I'm tired all ready.
We finished school already. We have this whole week off, makes things easier for me. But the kids doubled up on their school work on Thursday, and had Friday off too. Which was nice. I helped out decorating our church last Thursday, it was lots of fun. The kids were so good, and finished all their school work while I was gone. (Proud mama here).
Friday was a great day. I went to a new woman's bible study I'm going to on Friday mornings, and it was such a blessing. Then in the evening the kids both had homeschool outings to go to, so Paul and I had a date night.
We went to the Olive Garden, and had such a nice time. We haven't had a date in a couple of weeks, it was very nice.Saturday we decided to brave the stores and do our grocery shopping on the Saturday before Thanksgiving.
It was a bit of a mad house, but it was fun. The hardest part was the cold, blowing wind. We all just wanted to get home. I thought I had gotten everything I needed and wouldn't have to go back out to the store before Thanksgiving, I was wrong. 
I forgot to get a big thing of cool whip for a fruit salad I'm making. Can't make it without it, so I guess I'll be running back to the store real quick on Monday. Then I won't enter a store again until after the weekend sometime. I stay clear of them all during this time of the year. We don't do the black Friday shopping, and I just read today how they limit those 'specials' anyway. Like those tvs or something big on sale. Only 4 can be sold from the whole store! Only four people will get that big deal. Ugh, so not worth it to me.What we do the day after Thanksgiving is put up all our Christmas decorations. As most of my regular readers know, we put up our decorations the day after Thanksgiving, and take them down the day after Christmas. But we really enjoy setting them up. We eat Thanksgiving leftovers, drink eggnog, and watch It's A Wonderful Life. My kids really enjoy that movie. And it really is a fun, relaxing day. We are pretty mellow with our decorations, so it only takes a few hours. Hanging the Christmas lights in the kids bedroom takes the longest, but it's what they love the most. Falling to sleep with their Christmas lights on.
Well I should get going and work on the Christmas cards. It's snowing pretty heavy out right now. We need to go out tonight, I hope it lets up soon. But it is so pretty.
Bummer deal. Once again our hard drive on our laptop has crashed.
Yep it just died this past Feb., November 2008, and one other time before that. This will be our fourth replacement.
It is still under warranty so we should be back within a week or so.
Not the end of the world but an inconvience. You would think that we would learn to back it up. Maybe we will this time.
We don't really have changing of the seasons in the desert, at least not where I live. This tree outside my mom's window is so pretty. The picture does not really capture the deep burnt orange color. 
My dad came to visit today too.
We love Nutella around here. If you've never tried it before, I highly recommend it. Just be aware that it is a highly addictive substance, it comes in a tiny jar, and if you eat too much of it, you'll be as big as a barn in no time.
Eliza had her first encounter with Nutella the other day.
Eliza, meet Nutella on whole wheat.
Nutella, meet Eliza.
Besides being highly delectable, Nutella also makes a lovely false beard if you want to impersonate your daddy.
I just can't stop taking pictures of Eliza, no matter what she's eating. You'd think I'd be over the whole cute-kid-eating-and-making-a-mess thing, but I'm not. I love me a messy baby eating spaghetti.
And Eliza? She loves her some Brian Williams. Really. He draws her like a moth to a flame.
I prefer Nutella, personally.
I write you sitting comfortably in my home - although that may not sound surprising - I have been without use of my pc/internet access for what seems like forever. But tonight, it is working again, and I am sitting on my couch with my laptop, watching The Sound of Music with my family at the same time. I do hope to visit with all my friends, but before I go around and visit, I wanted to at least finish my post of Biltmore Estate.
Have you ever visited the Biltmore Estate in Ashville, North Carolina? If not, it is worth the effort if ever given the chance to visit it. The house covers 4 acres, totaling 175,000 square feet. It consists of 250 rooms and includes 35 guest and family rooms, 43 bathrooms, 65 fireplaces, and three kitchens. The old fashioned kitchens are my favorite rooms in the house. In fact, I love everything in the basement - the 70,00 gallon indoor pool, the old fashioned laundry rooms, and the multiple pantrys. I wish I had pictures to share of all this, but you are not allowed to take pictures once in the house. Also in the basement is a gymnsasium and a bowling alley.
.A favorite room of my children and husband is the two story library. This is an amazing room filled with old books and beautiful woodwork.
Upstairs on the third floor, in addition to more bedrooms, are areas where guests once
played parlor games and took afternoon tea, as well as rooms formerly occupied by ladies’
maidservants.
.
Fully electric and centrally heated, Biltmore House, at the time of its completion, was
considered one of the most technologically advanced structures ever built. It used some of Thomas Edison’s first lightbulbs, elaborate indoor plumbing for all 34 bedrooms and even had several elevators (that still work today.)
So that's it - now I'm going to see if I can come by and visit and say hi!
Congratulations all you nominees. I plan on doing some visiting to get to know you. (o:
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Brandon and I made it to WA after a 4 hour plane delay. Sigh.. For those who don't know, about a week ago my mom fell and broke her ankle. She had surgery on Monday. They put in some hardware and she is not to put any weight on it at all for many many weeks.She is wheelchair bound for now. Brandon and I came up to help take care of her and the house. She is doing much better than last week. 
I apologize for my previous post. I wrote it half-serious and half tongue-in-cheek. I am over my self-pity party now.
Physically I am feeling a little better, and the sun is out today, so things are looking up. I wonder if I should go get one of those lamps for people with Seasonal Affective Disorder? My attitude really takes a dive when the sun is gone for 5 full days in a row.
Ryan is feeling better as well. No one else is complaining of an ailment at this moment, so perhaps we will be able to have a nice weekend.
We are planning to go up to see Jeff's mom tomorrow. If the weather cooperates, we may get to take a walk along the beach.
Sunday after church we hope to put up our Christmas tree. We've never put it up this early, but I knew it would make my husband really happy if we put it up early this year. He's so into everything about Christmas.
I hope you have a lovely weekend, whatever you are doing.
Blessings,
Jenn
