BFF bracelets and "gingerbread house and our gingerbread house"

Here we have Emma, modeling her BFF bracelet. I had these made for her and her three BFFs. Thanks Janet.

Funny name for the title? Once Emma's gingerbread house was complete, she wanted me to take pictures, of course! Later that night we were running to the store and Emma informed me that our house looked like a gingerbread hosue. Since Our house is brown stucco, it really does resemble a gingerbread house. I wouldn't suggest eating though.
This is "our" gingerbread house
the front...

closer

closer

the back. gotta love the hearts on the roof. it's a girl house.

Our candycane tree, it was hard to get a good picture of it.
I had better plans for the candycanes but this year it didn't work...maybe next year. They are kinda cute in the tree though.

My finials that I love! (I should wrap the cords onto the hooks)

a spiral tree forest

Our roof, done by yours truely.

from the road.

29

In 364 ShOrT days, my twenties will be a thing of the past. My friend and co-worker, Dionne, has been bugging me for weeks to find out my birthday, I finally told her so she then began to bug me about my age. I don't really care about my age, I'm happy and healthy and that's what matters right? Regardless, I answered with 42, she said "okay" and never asked again. Yesterday at lunch there was a big chocolate cake on the staff table that read "Happy 42nd Birthday Mrs. Steele" Now for the kicker, one of her male student had seen the cake earlier in the day and said to her "damn she looks good for 42" LOVE THAT! He came into my room later and told me Happy Birthday and asked if I was really 42, I said no, how old do ya think I am? He guessed 25.

We had a great dinner at Cafe Rio last night with some friends and then we all went to the South Hills to see the lights. It was cold, below zero, but worth it to see the excitment in my daughters' eyes, the smiles on their faces, and the "pitty" that kept coming from Elly's little mouth. The hot cocoa that we had afterwards was better than any cake ever could've been!

Thanks to all of you who wished me a happy day :-)

Viva Las Vegas and Christmas decor

My grandparents took most of the Maraotz clan to Vegas to celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary and Thanksgiving. I am very thankful for having such a great family! We had a good trip, a bit hectic at times but overall good!

Getting ready for take off! (i don't know why her cheeks are so rosy!)

The plane ride there was fine but the trip home was rough, they were both so tired and therfore a little naughty. Eric and I were glad to land in Idaho Falls, all though sad we couldn't stay.
This picture is out of order but it cetainly is cute!

The view from the pool

Swimming fun for the whole family.

The Marsden gals

Me and my gals

Emma's jump from the cliff as she called it, really just a rock, but cliff sounds so much better and makes her sound brave!

Bowling babes! We bowled a total of four games while on vacation. Eric beat me once and I beat him once, it was only by one point but that's all it takes.

The ball barely made it but she had fun!

By the end of the trip, Emma was using the finger holes instead of just rolling the ball.

She had to wear dresses all but one day while on vaca. And not just plain dresses, they had to be sparkly to match her "groovy red slippers"

cute cousins who are great posers!

More cute cousins at the boling alley.

now the little cousings at the bowling alley.

FUN on Fremont Street. This is where Emma saw the dancing girls and was very curious about them dancing on tables and wondering if they were wearing swimsuits. YES they were!

Emma and Grandma before the Lion King at the Mandalay Bay. The highlight of the trip for her was the show, she now roars and calls herself Nala. Yesterday at Preschool she drew a lion, an elephant and a giraffe and I have to say she is quite the artist.

AND NOW ONTO CHRISTMAS DECOR at our house!

Some of my favorites...

I love this wreath and decided this year to put it on an easel instead of on the wall.

I love snowmen so when I saw this at Mom's, I had to have it.

This is a big ball that hangs about eight feet down from the ceiling fan in our family room, we call it the kissing ball so whenever someone is under it, they get kissed.

cut lil guy in the kitchen window

The traditional Christmas wreath...that really needs a bow. It's a good thing my mom doesn't look at my blog :-) I love COSTCO for many reasons but this time of year, it's cuz of their great-smelling good'ol traditional Christmas wreaths.

The best for last..............my NEW 9ft tree! I LOVE it so much. Finally a tree in my house that looks good. When ya have 17 ft ceilings a regular tree just doesn't do the trick. I really need to get out the ladder and put some decorations at the top of the tree!

~HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO ALL~