the tree is up & Santa letters have been sent!

i made sure to take advantage of our down time over the Thanksgiving break, & put our tree up...cause u see, we put it off so long last year - busy with everything else, then issues with the lights - it ended up that we didn't get ornaments on until Christmas eve! which was actually kinda fun at the time...but we want to be able to enjoy the lights & the magic of having a decorated tree in the house for a while before the big day gets here...so this year, we got it done early! ;0)

i LOVE, LOVE, LOVE that our tree is full of mostly handmade-by-the-kiddos ornaments! that's full of the awesome!

we also got another big holiday-to-do done...the letters to Santa!

(click the photos to enlarge & read the kiddos' wishes)

the envelope has been addressed, stamped, & is on its way!

i have a feeling that the kiddos will not only be getting a return letter...but in that letter, there may or may not be mention of Santa videos sent to Mama's email inbox (u have to check this out! 3 videos have already been made & sent...& they are VERY cool!)

so...are u ready for Christmas yet? what about the shopping? i still have a good bit to do there...but the important wishes have already been taken care of - i know better than to wait til last minute to get those ;0)

happy holidays!

wordless Wednesday...my uncle is Santa!

(my dad's brother in the New Market Christmas parade 12/4/10)

the North Pole Express...

have u seen The Polar Express?

we took the kiddos to Moorefield WVa on Saturday for their version of The Polar Express...called The North Pole Express

it's a ride on the Potomac Eagle scenic railroad...the kiddos wore their PJs & we boarded just after dinner time...heading towards the "North Pole", just like in the book/movie!

they handed out copies of the book & read the story as we headed "north"

the train stopped at one point...from what we understood, there were caribou on the tracks! ;0) then, the conductor came thru & punched all the kiddos' tickets!

it was pretty neat...i caught a video of him stopping by our seats...



once we arrived at the North Pole, the lights inside the train went off so we could see better...it was a little village across the river, full of lights...quite magical!

the train slowed down so we could take a good, long look...then stopped, & backed up, so we could head home...on the way back, the kiddos got to color

there was live music & we sang Christmas carols

& they brought around hot cocoa & cookies to everyone

then, Santa showed up! he must have jumped on the train when we stopped at the North Pole ;0)

it was pretty fun...the kiddos definitely want to go again next year!

weekend cakes...

it was a fudge chip kinda weekend...Saturday actually...all 3 were due Saturday...& each cake was fudge chip!

i started out with a Dan Marino jersey cake for a surprise 40th birthday party...of course, fudge chip...iced in buttercream & decorated with fondant numbers & stripes

next, came this English cottage...for another surprise party! this birthday girls loves murder mysteries...so her family hosted one - complete with a murder mystery cake

fudge chip again...iced in buttercream & topped with a rice krispie treat cottage (covered in fondant & decorated with buttercream vines)...see the murder victim in the hedges?

last, came this fun cake for 14yo Valerie...not a surprise party this time - but her cake was a surprise!

Valerie's mom ordered fudge chip because Valerie is a chocolate fiend! she loves bright blue & zebra stripes too...i'm not sure what the pickle symbolized - but it sounded like it was something perfectly fitting for the birthday girl...the white is buttercream - everything else is fondant...the #14 topper is not completely edible

here's an email i got from Valerie's mom right after the party...
"Your cake was a HIT!! My daughter is STILL talking about it. All her friends took photos of it and posted it on their Facebook. I had just about every woman in the party room ask who made it! Thank you, I am forever grateful to you."

thx for looking!

{this moment} a walk with my son, the gentleman

{this moment}

"Photos - no words - capturing a moment from the week.
A simple, special, extraordinary moment.
A moment I want to pause, savor and remember."

inspired by SouleMama - a Friday ritual

Thanksgiving picture marathon...

Thanksgiving day at Grandma & Pop's...of course, LOTS of food!

meeting their newest cousin
(Jaden with Curt's brother's new son, Xavier)

playing Wii with more cousins

& making memories with fabulous grandparents!

Saturday...celebrating Gabby's 8th birthday

a 2nd Thanksgiving meal with my dad's side of the family (which is HUGE - so tons more food!)...unfortunately, i was too busy chatting to remember to take pics

then, visiting my Papaw while he's in town
(my mom's father)

then, having company on Sunday...my BFF, Misty, & her fam were in from NC

the kiddos played & played & played some more!

so well, that Willow actually cried when it was time for them to head home :0(

it was a BUSY extended weekend...full of lots of food, fun, family & friends...pretty darn perfect! :0)

cornrows...

they only lasted about 3 days, before starting to frizz out too much...then Jaden asked me to take em out...

& they hurt like hell going in...

but he LOVED his hair this way!!!

& of course Aunt Faye had to hook the girls up too...

she does every time we drive up to visit Curt's parent's place & she's there...
(this was Thanksgiving day)

why do they sit so perfectly still & actually enjoy getting their hair done by someone else? but they'll hardly let me near it any more!

that's ok...i'm sure getting their hair done on holidays is a memory the kiddos will carry with them forever...thx Aunt Faye! ♥