Ornaments, Ornaments

While I was at the Laker game, Jeff set up our tree....I grew up with LIVE trees my whole life...until I met Jeff....and had indoor cats....About 5 years ago, Jeff convinced me to get a FAKE tree. I love our tree...not only do I NOT have to crawl under the tree to water it, but, it's pre-lit...and it rotates....

I have been collecting Precious Moments Ornaments since 1988...the first Christmas after I graduated from college....Last year, Hallmark and PM started releasing Disney ornaments...Belle and Ariel were released this year. Cinderella was released last year.

The dated ornaments are below....originally I didn't care for the cardinal..but, it looks great in the tree....

The Hoover Dam ornaments are hidden in the tree...the boys picked these out on our trip to Las Vegas and Hoover Dam in August.

Shelley and I were so happy with our Macy's ornament this year...we try to get a Macy's Shopping Bag ornament as a remembrance of our SF shopping trips....one year we chose a tree...because we didn't find a Macy's ornament that we liked....this year is really cute!

I try to get the boys a special ornament...I found this basketball for them @ Macy's this year....it's really sparkly (sp?) ...they loved it!

He shoots...He SCORES!!!!

Time for some catch up....


On Friday, we attended the Notre Dame de Namur Thanksgiving Classic....a basketball tournament. It was a fun evening that started with Ramen at Santa Ramen...(yum), then the basketball game NDNU vs Cal State East Bay and it was concluded with dessert at a bakery in San Mateo. (BTW: CSEB won...71 to NDNU's 64)


I have blogged about Santa Ramen before....it reopens for dinner at 5:30 p.m. If you are NOT in line by 5:15...you risk NOT getting in. With Friday being a holiday for most people (Jeff had to work in the am), the line filled up quickly. We were the 4th party in line...so, we got in...but many people didn't...this is the line....at 5:40...

This was also a line OUTSIDE...and it was cold...when we left. One man stomped away saying "There is NO WAY noodles are THAT GOOD"...my response...um, yes it is!!!

Back to the game...during halftime, one of the coaches (Jeff's friend) told Jordan, Neil and Bradley to come down and shoot around....

Jordan's response....it's a BIG court....hee hee...

Jichan's Service and (ahem!) Cards

Today we had a short family gathering/service for Jeff's father. It has been 3 years since he has passed...and it seems like a long time. It was nice to have the family over....At most of the family get togethers...cards are involved....someone was obviously NOT checking IDs at the card table....since Jordan made it....I heard that Uncle Doug spotted him the buyin. He seems to be doing better....

...at least better than Uncle Zak. Poor Uncle Zak...

Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving!!!! We spent the day at my brother Dave's house. It was also Kylie's FIRST birthday!!!! She was born last year ON Thanksgiving Day.

Here she is with Jordan....
Neil is with Sage, Kylie's brother....later in the day, Jordan taught Sage how to play poker....sigh....the next generation is already being corrupted!!!

This morning the boys and I stopped at "The Flower Shop" to pick up flowers for Jichan's (Jeff's father) Memorial service that we are having at the house tomorrow. Of course we have a friend at the shop....Yuki is such an adorable dog....

almost done...and false advertising???

Well, Thanksgiving is two days away...My cards are done, addressed, glittered and stuffed. Jordan and Jeff put on the stamps and return address labels...tomorrow Neil and Jordan will seal the envelopes...phew! Now I can get back to my sewing and crocheting!!! Okay, so my rant for the night...Jeff had his chiropractic appointment today and he wanted to try the burgers at Jack's Prime Burger. They had a $10 special - burger, fries and shake. Neil didn't want the special, but he had a fantastic looking kid's grilled cheese sandwich and fries for $4.99.

I feel like I am writing a math problem: Jordan, Jeff and Sheri have the $10 special, Neil has the $4.99 kid's meal. Approximately how much should the bill be BEFORE tax?

For some reason, each meal had 51 cents added to the price....when we questioned our server, he said the tax was calculated into the tab...BUT...there was another tax line calculated against the "so-called" built in tax price....so.....someone please explain. The Manager couldn't, but he reversed it and credited us $2.50...it really should have been $2.04...hmmm...maybe they can't do math.

BTW: I liked the burger and especially the fries and shake...but, I don't know if I'll go back.

Cards, Cookies and Football!!!

Yeah!!! I finished my Holiday letter....and am putting the final touches (aka glitter) on my "heart" trees. I had written in my cards earlier in the month...but am having problems printing out my envelopes...oh the horrors...I have to HAND address each envelope...sigh....I have 50 done...just another 70 to go!!! Here is a close-up of one of the cards...the first few had dots...for Christmas tree balls...but, I got bored making all those dots....sorry

My other bit of excitement was trying out "Double Delight Peanut Butter Cookies". I saw the recipe on Oprah and had to check it out...I love Peanut butter cookies....This recipe was really easy. First you make a ball of peanut butter and powdered sugar...then you take Pillsbury Peanut butter dough and wrap it around the ball. Finally, roll the ball in a mixture of cinnamon sugar and finely chopped peanuts, flatten out the balls a little and bake...quite yummy...you can find the recipe here.

Have you seen The Blind Side? Oh my...I think this is now my favorite movie....I rate it a 3 kleenex movie...it had so many touching moments and also VERY funny moments. Sandra Bullock does a GREAT job! Keep your eyes open for It's Complicated...it starts Alec Baldwin, Meryl Streep and Steve Martin! It looks hilarious!!!! (funny note: a relative on Jeff's Mom's side of the family was married to Meryl Streep's nephew....Jeff jokingly calls her "Auntie Meryl").

Wrap, wrap, wrap...

I decided to try to do some wire-wrapping on the fused glass pieces that I bought last week at BABE....The heart didn't turn out that great...the Christmas tree is simple, but, it turned out a little better....I think I need to play a little more...but, I ran out of wire :( Besides the wire work...I haven't done that much....I need to finish another afghan before Christmas, so, I am trying to focus on that...hopefully, I can finish before the end of the weekend...opps...it's Saturday night already...okay, my NEW goal....by Thanksgiving...