The man behind the lens

My son, Ahren picked up his dad's camera to record all the memories of Christmas day.

I don't think these photos will make the family album this year.

Although they are award winning photos, I don't think Ahren should quit his day job.

Merry Christmas!

Let it Snow!

Here on the East Coast in Pennsylvania, we've been hit with two winter storms. 

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We were driving home after a hockey game when the first snow storm began.

My nieces and nephew came to watch their cousin, Brandon play hockey.

 After arriving home, it kept snowing and snowing.

The second storm came in two parts: once late a night, letting up for rush hour, and then starting again around 11:30am.  It snowed the rest of the day.  

Schools were closed one day and an 2 hour delay on another.

The second storm also brought a cold rain. Everything turned into ice.

 Looks like we aren't going anywhere for awhile.

If I were Santa….

If I were Santa, I'd be a girl-Santa.  Not only would be a girl-Santa, but a girl-Santa-holding-a-hockey-bag (in lieu of a sack).  In my hockey bag would be all the sticks, skates and pucks any hockey elf could ask for.

In return, this girl-Santa-holding-a-hockey-bag would not ask for anything in return other than seeing the bright smiles on the little elves faces.

A little over ten years ago I was that girl-Santa who gave her elf hockey skates for Christmas.  Oh, if you could have seen the joy on his face when he opened the box.  His smile went from ear to ear, his face lit up and (I swear) his eyes sparkled.  He hugged the skates and said "Wow!"  He was in awe and couldn't wait to go skating.

His hockey path was forged at that moment… and he's still playing….

Now this girl-Santa is the one grinning from ear to ear, watching her elf in awe….
all while he plays a sport he has loved since he was a little boy!

Best moment since last Christmas?

What is the best thing that has happened to you, since last Christmas?

I couldn't think of just one thing that stuck out.  I decided to list an important milestone for every month of 2013.

January
The NHL lockout ended and hockey was back!

February
Zachary got his drivers license

March
Todd and Zachary visited Full Sail University

April
Easter egg decorating

May
Zachary's senior prom

June
Zachary graduated high school

July
Todd and I celebrated our 19th wedding anniversary

August
Family vacation to Ocean City, NJ

September
Brandon's hockey season began and was named captain to both teams he plays for.

October
My mother-in-law turned 70!

November
Thanksgiving and family blessings.

December
looking forward to Christmas!

How to make 3D Snowflakes

3D Snowflakes are gorgeous and look complicated to make.  

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Actually, they are pretty easy to do.

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All you need is six 8 1/2 x 11 pieces of paper, scotch tape, scissors and a stapler.

Bend to make a triangle.

 Cut off edge.

 Fold triangle again.

 Make three cuts equally spaced apart.  Get as close to the crease edge as you can.
Do not cut the crease.

You need to make six cut triangles.

It's important to make all the same. 

When you open the paper up, it will look like this.

 Next you will be curling and taping.

I numbered each layer to make it easier to explain.

 Curl #1 and use scotch tape to hold together.

 Curl #3

Turn over and curl #2 and #4.

 Make 6 of them.

Staple the tips together to make the center of the snowflake.

Spread apart and hold two sides together.  

When you hold two sides together you will see what looks like an X. 

You want to staple the two 'X's together.

It's a bit awkward, but you'll get the hang of it.

Final Snowflake.

These snowflakes make very pretty winter decorations.

Happy Crafting!

It's beginning to look like Christmas… in my house

The day after Thanksgiving we ate leftovers and took down all the fall stuff.

 I was excited as we began putting out the Christmas decorations.  

I love the smell of the free pine tree and cinnamon potpourri.  

Snowmen are my favorite winter decorations.

 I love red Poinsettia's.

 This is my version of "elf on the shelf".  My elf isn't as scary looking. =)

My house has an Americana theme to it.

We have a faux tree that is set up in our family room.

It's to small of a space to fit our live tree.

Some of my favorite tree decorations.

How do you decorate for the holidays?