A Girl Party

 Last evening while our boys went to an Eagles game, the girls got together for a "girlie" evening.  Oh what fun; pajamas, crowns, special desserts, play time and of course a movie.  Here one of our youngest is proudly wearing her Princess crown.

Although Little Women wasn't as big a hit as Little House On The Prairie, the girls did love the dresses and the scenery.  We didn't make it through the movie, maybe in a few years.  But our new tradition started and it will be such fun in the years to come.
Blessings on your weekend my friends.
Noreen

The Music Of Christmas

Happy Friday Friends,  When you think of the Christmas season what impacts your senses the most?
For me, music has always had been an important part of my life, from early childhood on.  My dad loved to sing and had a wonderful voice.  I think all three of us kids also loved to sing, though some were better than others and some of us(namely me)always thought I sounded better than I did.  One memory from my childhood is that when records-33rmp-came out my dad would play Bing Crosby's White Christmas album the entire month of Dec.  I can still remember it playing throughout our home; one year our daughter gave me a cassette tape of the songs but the technology hadn't improved yet and the quality wasn't good.  As our daughters were growing up I always played Amy Grant's Christmas album and of course the children's music such as GT and The Halo Express.  I love carols as well and have several instrumental c.d.'s that play in the evening.
What sums up Christmas for you? 
Have a wonderful day and weekend dear ones.
Hugs, Noreen  

Wednesday greetings to you!  How is your week going?  Ours is flying by but next week promises to be totally relaxed with nothing left to do.  Monday I saw my girlfriend and met her sister who lives here in Colorado. I had hoped to stay the night but we were having friends for dinner last night and I had so much to do that I choose to come home.  As it was, yesterday was spent running to several grocery stores and getting our dinner preparations done.  We had such a nice time with our friends and the meal was perfect.  Today we have a commitment this afternoon but other than that we have a relaxed day.  Tomorrow I have another girls party-an ornament exchange at a friends house. 
Our friends last night asked about our family traditions when our daughter's were growing up so I thought I'd share a few more.  Each Christmas eve our family would go out looking at holiday lights and then come home and watch a holiday movie such as Little House On The Prairie or another wonderful movie, then when the girls would go up to get ready for bed I always had laid out new holiday pajamas for both girls.  We never put out presents until after the girls went to bed so that when they went down in the morning it was a wonderful surprise. 
The countdown is on dear friends so stop and enjoy the festivities!
Hugs and blessings, Noreen

Good Morning To You, I hope you had a wonderful weekend filled with all sorts of Christmas preparations and traditions.  I went to a ladies fellowship yesterday with my good friend and it was such fun; a dinner and guest speaker whose topic was Hats and Their History.  I love girl times, be it with our daughters and their girls or with friends.  As a young mother I was blessed with lots of other woman with young ones; in my case my own mother was deceased so I didn't have her to guide me along, but I had the absolute best sister and sister of my heart as well as good friends.  I'm not really sure how it came about but when my girls were about 9 and 7, we decided to have a yearly "girls" Christmas date in San Francisco.  The first several years, we dressed up in our finest dresses, went to a very nice restaurant for lunch and then attended the Nutcracker Ballet at the Opera House.  Oh my, the ladies in real fur coats and little girls in their finest-what a sight to behold.  It was a very expensive day but my sil and my sister split the cost with me so it was affordable.  We did this for a few years and then decided to go see A Christmas Carol or Little Women and one year we even went to the Dickens Fair.  My daughters have such fond memories of these days.  We also bought each gal a special Christmas pin to wear throughout the season, just to remember our occasion.  Somewhere along the years we ended up letting this slip by and when we spent time with our dear sil in Oct. she mentioned that we will need to start this up again because we have so many little girls.  I see Denver in the future for such dates.
This Friday our men and boys are going to a hockey game so all of the girls will gather at our oldest daughter's house, have a fancy dessert and watch Little Women on their big screen.  I can't wait; for me this is what the holidays are about!
Hugs to you,
Noreen

Christmas Traditions

Happy Saturday friends,  One of the things I love about blogging, at this time of year, is hearing what family traditions other friends had.  Growing up we didn't have many and when I had my own children I decided that I wanted to incorporate lots of fun experiences that our girls would always remember.  There were many but today I just want to share two.  Each year we would treck to an area that had Christmas tree farms and cut our own tree.  When we lived in San Jose, Ca. we always went to the same tree farm in the Santa Cruz mountains.  It was so much fun, trompsing through the rows and rows of trees to find the perfect one.  I must confess that I am very picking when it comes to Christmas trees.  The farms generally had hot chocolate and cookies and our girls grew up thinking this was the norm.  After we got our tree home, depending on the day, hubby would put it up for us and the girls and I would decorate.  Each year I always purchased a special ornament for them and a few for me.  This way by the time they were married and had a home of their own they would have a fairly good collection.  When I gave them all their ornaments I didn't want to be left with none, which is why I always got a couple for myself.  I can say that both girls still have each of their ornaments and as we look at them, it brings back fond memories.  The year we moved to Sonoma County in Ca. we didn't think it was practical to drive three hours one way to get to the tree farm we always went to.  Our oldest daughter is very much a traditionalist(in a wonderful way)and she was so devastated that we weren't going to Santa Cruz to get a tree.  Nothing was making her happy, not the promises of a farm just as nice or lunch afterward; it simply would not be the same.  We found a tree farm close to the coast that was run my a family and the grandpa met us in the driveway to welcome us.  They had all their family working and even a special child with Downs was helping-which touched our hearts.  Slowly the disappointment began to fade as we walked around this lovely farm with well shaped trees and no poison oak.  When we found our perfect tree and went to pay for it, the family told us about an apple farm that had crafts and food. In fact, the apple farm was owned by a family that attended the same church as we did.  We headed their next and got some apple bread, bought some crafts and enjoyed the holiday atmosphere.
Our daughter decided this would now work for us.  These are a few of the things that made our holidays brighter each year and both our daughters carry on the traditions now.  We have a fake tree, which I said I'd never own, but I do love it-it's so easy to put up and we don't have to constantly worry about the needles on the floor or watering it.  Never thought I'd say that!
If you don't have Christmas traditions, start some today.  If your kids are grown, start some with your grands.
Have a fun-filled weekend.
Noreen

Happy Friday Friends,  I wanted to share our Christmas sled and rocking horse with you.  My darling hubby and girls got me the sled many years ago and it is filled with wonderful Christmas bears and sometimes even a grand child for photo op's.  The grands love all the decorations in our family room because they are meant to be played with. 
Our weekend is pretty relaxed, on Sunday I am going to a Christmas tea at my friends church but other than that I think we will be at home.  All the shopping is done, presents mailed, cards sent as well so we can just focus on spending time with family and friends.  I hope you have a weekend filled with wonder and joy.
Hugs,
Noreen

Greetings dear friends,  I'm posting my Thankful Thursday early as tomorrow I have several other commitments and not sure I'll be on the computer.  I want to thank two very special ladies for the generous hearts; Elaine at http://www.peaceforthejourney.com/ sent me Chris Tomlin's c.d. of Christmas Worship Songs. I love worship songs and this arrived today and I'm already listening to it.  Thank you Elaine.  If you haven't met Elaine yet, she is an incredible testimony of living faith, please visit her.
My dear friend, Beth Herring at http://www.aninstrument4hisglory.blogspot.com/, sent me David Platt's book; I've heard incredible things about it and can't wait to sit and read.  If you don't know Beth, please take a minute to visit her-you won't be sorry.  In the midst of this busy season and different trials in our lives, both these ladies take time to minister to me and to others.  They are encouragers and share the heart of God to all who read their writing. Thank you Beth!
 I just wish I was near both of you so I could run over and give you big hugs.
Blessings today,
Noreen