Recent happenings and catching up from Christmas! I shouldn't wait so long, because now I don't have much to say but I still want to post pictures. :) First of all, Antoine's birthday. I made a couple cupcakes with some of the cake batter for his cake and let him start 'celebrating' before lunch. I had the camera in the kitchen and caught him praying before he ate his cupcake. :) Sweetness....

People we don't see often enough...

If you ever want to do something nice for me, buy me a sock monkey.

Cameron started the day off by shooting his first rabbit. :)

And a surprise bridal shower for Lori.

And lastly, we had Christmas with Steve's family over New Years. The first evening we were at his mom's house for supper and 'The Game'. Then we headed out to a big house at the Chesapeak Bay. It was a great place to be with so many people. Now of coarse, I'm wishing I would have ventured out and about more even though it was blitzing cold and windy. Wish I would have taken more pictures. Steve took some for me. :) I mostly stayed inside and tried not to be sick. But even inside, I pretty much left my camera up on the shelf.

The brave ones who went out for a walk in the ice and snow.

Hot Chocolate...

Hmmm... something going on with scotch tape here... 

I think this was beyond brave. Some of the guys and one girl (Larissa :) ) went out and jumped in the bay. Just to give you an idea of how cold it was, the next morning it was frozen over! And none of them got sick. (or at least if they did, they didn't let us know!)

A bridge through the bamboo out to the docks. And the one morning we saw quite a few eagles out over the bay. It was the first time I saw a bald eagle- they are soo beautiful!

until next time...

~ellen

Zachary was absolutely thrilled with all the gifts and stuff going on and got almost as excited about everyone else's gifts as his own! Go to  iheartfaces for more 'best face' photos!

Christmas time... Time for gingerbread houses...

The boys disappeared before it was finished, but of course the girls didn't mind. :) They ate leftover sugar and candy until they were bouncing off the walls.

Time for Christmas stories...

I love this book- have always liked books with animals as the characters.

And gifts start to show up under the tree...

Antoine made this 'card' for me and put it with the gifts...

Making snowflake cards for cousins...

And Christmas programs... Kalei's first one at school...

Victoria couldn't stop smiling and choking herself with her braids. :)

And Cameron was a father who went off to war and never returned.

This little guy  would turn around and stare at me almost every time he heard the camera. Then he would just grin and grin!

And of coarse, there's cookie baking, candy making, menu planning. For today though, I want to focus on Antoine's birthday. Need to bake and decorate a cake (cringe!) and wrap his birthday present. But oh joy, I don't have to make supper- we're going out for that! Then having cake and ice cream here. :)

Off to the races...

~ellen

i♥faces...

This weeks theme is 'Sweet Dreams'. This picture has been posted before, but not for the contest. It's my dad, a hardworking farmer, on a typical Sunday afternoon. :) Go to http://iheartfaces.blogspot.com/2009/12/week-48-sweet-dreams-photo-challenge.html for more sweet dreams photos!

~ellen

                                                              It was a beautiful snowy day yesterday. Quiet and windstill.

Transforming this place into a wonderland.

The kids wanted to go outside and build a snowman so I bundled them up. That can still be a lengthy process- their time outside usually lasts about as long as the bundling up. :) They finally got outside and then forgot about the snowman.

Why is it so fun to taste the snow? To catch it on your tongue? I don't know, but I must admit I still do it too.

Even the animals seemed to be having a good time. :)

Cameron missed out becuase he was at basketball practice. But I was right, it didn't last long and they were soon back inside asking for hot chocolate with snowman marshmallows.

The snow was also perfect for putting me in the mood for decorating the tree.

Here we are. :)

Hope you're enjoying the season!

~ellen