news from the north: December 2009

Friday, December 25, 2009

Merry Christmas!

We have had such a blessed day! It has been snowing since yesterday so we woke up to a white and snowy Christmas day! I can't think of a better way to spend this day - no offense to those who like warmth and beaches but I wouldn't trade with you for the world!

The little ones didn't get up early. Actually, Dan got up first and then I did but I think it was after 8. We had some banana bread, pumpkin bread, a tea ring and I put a breakfast casserole in the oven to bake.

The kids looked like this when they came out of their rooms:

We opened presents and then ate some breakfast casserole. Then, we opened our stockings. God was very good to us this year and we were able to actually buy Christmas gifts for the first time in several years. What a fun time we had!

One of the kid's presents was a igloo mold from Grandma and Grandpa so we went outside to try our hand at igloo making. Kylie, Levi, Macy and myself made a snowman while Grandpa, Dan and Shelby started the igloo. We have the perfect snow for both the igloo and the snowman today. We were out there for 2-3 hours but the temperatures were pretty warm so it wasn't painful. :)

This has been one of my favorite Christmas'. It might just have something to do with the wonderful snow and how it makes it feel like 'the perfect Christmas"! I LOVE THE SNOW!

Merry Christmas!

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Christmas music

I love Christmas music. Ask Dan, I start listening to it when the first snow flies and continue listening to it until the new year has been celebrated. (He'll say that I start listening to it in August but he's stretching it a little bit.) We have an agreement that I'll listen to it when he's not around, that is until Thanksgiving has been celebrated and then I can listen to it anytime. :) I love the traditional carols and the new songs.

As I was growing up, I remember my mom listening to Elvis and Bing Crosby and Johnny Mathis. I still remember the front of the album covers. My brother and sisters and I would roll around on the floor laughing when Elvis would sing Blue Christmas and the ladies in the background would sing "who hoo, hoo, hoo". We thought that was so hilarious. Now, I played Elvis for the kids in the car the other day and they were cracking up over the same song.

Some of my favorite Christmas albums are:

Faith Hill - Joy to the World - the best song on this without a doubt is A Baby Changes Everything. It is so moving and if you listen to the words, they will bring tears to your eyes. I also love her song called Where are you Christmas that is on the Dr Suess How the Grinch Stole Christmas.
Kylie Minogue does the best version of Santa baby.

Steven Curtis Chapman -this whole cd is excellent!

Celine Dion - These are the Special Times and Another Year has Gone By are two of my favorites.

Oakridge Boys - This old album reminds me of time spent with my sister decorating her house for Christmas.

Mercy Me has a wonderful Christmas album that has a song called Joseph's Lullaby. It's wonderful song.

Patti Loveless - great bluegrass music!

Mariah Carey - Miss You Most at Christmastime and All I Want for Christmas is You are great but the whole cd is good.

I bought the Bing Crosby, Elvis and Johnny Mathis cds and those are favorites also!

What would Christmas be like without Christmas music?

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Grandma and Grandpa Edblad are here. Today we baked cutout cookies and then we decorated gingerbread men that Grandma brought with.

The kids are all flying high and and it's almost impossible to corral them. They love Christmas time just as much as I do and emotions are running high. Add in a lot of sugar, not so much sleep, g&g here, presents piling up under the tree and, well, we're gonna need a spatula to scrape them off the ceiling. It's all right...I feel about the same way but I am a little better at keeping a lid on it. Well, sort of! :)