Starting to take the ‘holiday’ stuff down and return it all to the basement…but I only do a little bit at a time. I really do love all the decorations, and it’s hard to go ‘cold turkey’ back to what all of a sudden seems very empty!!
still up...not quite ready to take it down
a yummy 'signature' drink
d making those cocktails
LOVE photo cards
the boys actually made these in the 5th grade!
the couples:)
love them lots!
Thanks for letting me share….
Happy Parenting!
D and C
Christmas is over…the giving, the receiving, the hoopla, and the excitement. Now is the time for the gratitude! I’m sure you and your children shared their thanks with those who were with them during the holidays, but what about those who sent their gifts?? Have your children written their thank you notes yet?
For some reason…I never seem to see the idea that kids could also send a thank you note to Santa! They are always eager to send out those ‘requesting’ letters before Christmas. But what about being grateful for what was received? The poor old guy gets left behind…I wonder why… Is it because we as little folks never wrote notes ourselves? I don’t remember ever writing a thank you letter to Santa, but now that I think about it, I think I should have!
So let’s start a grateful campaign…have your children write a sweet note to the ‘happy old soul’ and give them the idea that thank you notes are always a great way to go:)
Happy Parenting!
D and C
Scott and Lauren are engaged!!! ….as of Christmas Eve morning, during a walk with the puppy in the park!
We are all so excited!!
the happy couple 
My lovely, romantic son actually found the ring she had posted on pinterest….sneaky, huh?
gorgeous
We all celebrated at our traditional Christmas Eve dinner out…with Lauren’s family and ours, too
An exciting start to our Christmas!!!!
A very Merry Christmas to all of you
Happy Parenting,
D and C
Another beautiful TLG Christmas…delicious meal, great presents, but most of all…wonderful friends!!!
Every year, as many of us as possible get together and have FUN!!! 9 of the 12 possible adults, 8 of the possible 15 “kids”…..
a signature cocktail...
a yummy pork roast
many tasty side dishes...
great folks...
more lovelies...
I love these people sooo much…those who attended and those who couldn’t… Our Torch Lake Group:))
One of our continuing traditions since the kids were babies! More traditions coming soon!
Happy Parenting!
D and C
C and I were checking out the ornaments on last year’s tree, and I was telling him the stories of each one…where and who it came from, how long we had had it, whatever I could remember. C said I should take a photo of each ornament and tell the story on the back so the stories wouldn’t be forgotten in the future. That sounded like a great idea until I began taking the ornaments off the tree and decided I would NEVER get finished…way too many of them:)
So here is my compromise: photos of groups of ornaments that have similar stories…here are way too many of them for you to see, but definitely not all of them!
F2's childhood ornaments
my childhood 'Horns'
some of C's
more of C's
some of S's
more of S's
lovely TLG ornaments
birds for luck and more of D's childhood
bells
love elves and angels
more angels
collected during our travels
more travel
metal...plus college
love the teacher ornaments
gifts from family and friends
Okay…I know…that’s enough, right?? I have at least twenty more photos, but you get the idea, I’m sure! I love that C thought of this plan. Looking at the photos will make it easier to tell the stories of individual ornaments and reliving the memories that make them special!
Find happiness in the season and share it with your children:)
Happy Parenting!
D and C
What brings you joy, makes you happy, gives you peace? Here are some photos, quotes, and thoughts that make me joyful.
Joyful Thursdays #46
Here are three things that make me happy and bring me joy:
1) Christmas cards- bought, addressed, and sent: Check!
2) I actually got to talk to a group of students, and adults, about their ‘Kindness and Compassion Club’ – usually called the KC Club. I shared some Goodness Gorilla stories with them about sharing kindnesses with others. They are so excited to be organizing ways of helping….a possible Penny Challenge in the works:)
3) Saw the James Bond movie, Skyfall…it was impressive! If you like action and surprises, give it a shot! Lots of fun!
Happy Parenting!
D and C
Do your kids know about kindness and respect? How did they act at the Thanksgiving dinner table?
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| beautiful table, wonderful kids?? |
If your children sat at the table for the entire dinner, interacted politely with those around them, remembered to say Please and Thank You, and Smiled - Congratulations! You must have been doing something right for years!! If that did not look like your table – All of these things can be taught with you as the model. Practice now for a new look for the holiday tables:
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| with Gramma and Grandad Gallimore workin’ on manners |
2. Kids need to practice talking to adults, being kind and respectful. Being able to talk to you on a daily basis shows how they will interact with others. Be kind in the family also since you are always being a role model, good or not so much…
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| Practicing manners with Gramma and Grampa Finkbeiner starts early!! |
4. Smiling can be taught!!! Try it…we told our kids that fake smiles were better than real frowns. Besides, your brain reads those smile muscles as happiness – it actually makes you feel better if you smile. HONEST!! Give it a shot!
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| Torch Lake kids being happy!! |
D and C
I said I would share with you photos of Thanksgiving if I could remember…so here are a few…with thanks to L for reminding me to take them:)))))
this half is prettier...
this half has been ravaged...
some of our favorites:)
a toasting 'little beer'
and a toast to all for a year filled with giving thanks….
the folks that I give thanks for...wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving!!
Enjoy your last day of the Thanksgiving weekend with peace, joy, and love! Share those thoughts with your youngin’s and allow them the joy of giving to others!!
Happy Parenting!
D and C
What brings you joy, makes you happy, gives you peace? Here are some photos, quotes, and thoughts that make me joyful.
Joyful Thursdays #44
Here are three things that make me happy and bring me joy:
For this Thanksgiving Day, 2012….
1) family, near and far
2) wonderful friends…
(and many others!!!)
3) a Thanksgiving dinner….My favorite meal of the year!! I love all of it! I’m preparing it for the guys and their girls and will be sure to share some photos soon…if my brain allows me to remember to do that!!!
Enjoy a peaceful, joyful, and grateful Thanksgiving Day!!
Happy Parenting!
D and C
Just reminiscing about Halloweens past…want to see??
Sooo much fun!! We had a great time coming up with costumes that didn’t require buying much. When they could be used as pajamas or sweats….success! The boys always worked with Daddy to figure out what the jack-o-lanterns would look like:)
These photos were all from the mountains of slides I worked on this year….love the memories!!
Happy Parenting!
D and C
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