Sunriver Recap

Gosh, where do I even begin?  First of all, I want to attempt to express how fortunate I feel to have been able to experience this past week with a Christmas away from home in one of our families favorite places, Central Oregon.  We had an incredible time and to be able to spend it with family in a beautiful house in a gorgeous neighborhood is absolutely priceless.   I could go on and on with the descriptive words, but I'll spare ya! 

What did we do?  What didn't we do is more like it!  We shopped in the Sunriver Village, hot tubbed, played in the snow, visited Bend a couple times, toured the Deschutes Brewery, ate LOTS, watched movies, participated in many of the Sunriver Traditions activities (Gingerbread Junction, 'Twas the Night Before Christmas event, Grand Illumination,
etc.), sledding, snow skiing at Mt. Bachelor, played Wii games, the usual Christmas activities...on and on it went!  So hard to get back to real life...we so did not want to leave... 

Didn't do much editing or commenting of pics...wanted to just get them up, so here ya go!  Click for Sunriver Christmas photos

Tour of our Sunriver Rental

Santa Gifts

We're back from an incredible week in Sunriver, Oregon and I have so much to share and pictures to post but I'm overwhelmed by the amount of stuff we brought back and the mess it's created that I have barely begun to process it all!  At the least, I wanted to get these videos up of the kids opening their Santa gifts.  Both of their reactions are funny, Ella's the most!  The only thing she wanted from Santa was a white horse, a REAL white horse...no fake ones.  Well that obviously wasn't going to happen because Santa of course does not bring live animals.  Since we don't yet live on a farm, Santa had to get creative and brought her a couple alternatives.  One of which is a realistic baby doll.  Guess what she named her baby?  Thunder!  No joke!

Merry Christmas from the Lee/Milcheck's!

And here we are more cleaned up later in the day!

Happy Holidays!

So happy to say I'm posting from our 'second home' in Central Oregon! There is tons of snow and it's been coming down all day....LOVE IT! Unfortunately forgot/lost the camera cord to my better camera so I can't share many photos but I sure wish I could...I've been snapping away hoping to capture the beauty and feeling of the snow all around.

Taken in our "neighborhood"...from my computer here the ornaments look fake, but they're not...no retouching done whatsoever here!

Happy Holidays...enjoy your family and the season!!

Elves are back!

Well they've actually been back for awhile now, I just haven't had a chance to get together a post about them.  This is the second year that Jacob and Ella have had elves come stay with us before Christmas.  The elves are on special loan from Santa at the North Pole and they come and live with us for 2-3 weeks before Christmas to make sure the kids are behaving and to hang out.  The problem is, the elves bring along mischief themselves!!  The kids have had such a blast waking up and seeing what "trouble" their elves have gotten into.

Here are photos of some of their adventures....


Found hangin' around the Christmas tree


Playing Playstation!!

This one was a big hit-the elves driving the car!

They brought cereal bowls and showed up swimming in them.

Brought and opened a gift from Santa...sun-catcher ornament craft.

Tonight I hear they're going to be bringing the kids some new socks and underwear!

One Night Only!

Ella's performance was a rousing success!!

That was last night and tonight we just got back from dinner and Broadway on Ice starring Dorothy Hamill and Franc D'Ambrosio!  So much culture in our hometown!

Dance Rehearsal

Ella had her first dance rehearsal for her upcoming Christmas performance this afternoon and it was very exciting.  She got to preform on a big stage and was so excited about it...no stage fright for this girl!  Unfortunately I was stuck back stage but Aaron worked the video and still camera so I got a few images of her. 



I edited the video down a little to just show the parts where you can see her best.  In the first part she's the one right next to the instructor and she's also the only one wearing a hat...

 

One day

I hope to own this house. 

Our Dancing Princess

(Click the photo to view it larger).

Ella will be dancing in her first showcase in a few days...so excited for her!   Hopefully I can share some video too.

And the winner is...

Angela!!  Woo hoo!  I will send you out a flame bag Monday morning Angela, I hope you like it...though I hope you and your family don't have to use it often! 

Since Stephanie asked, and I do have enough material to make a few extras, I would be willing to 'sell' them.  I don't really feel right about selling them but there is a little time and money involved in making them so if anyone wants one let me know and for let's say, a $5 gift card, I'll happily make you one! 

Reminder!

Only 1 more day before I draw for the headache bag (see post a few days down)! 

Holiday Treats

A few years ago I created this Christmas snack mix and named it "Sam's Magical Holiday Mix."  It's a secret why it's named that! 

I will share what's in it though....
Cinnamon Toast Crunch
Cheerios
Stick pretzels
Kettle Korn
Peanuts
Butterscotch chips
White chocolate
Red and green sprinkles

Mix all together (I totally make it up as to the measurements of each ingredient) and then drizzle melted white chocolate and red and green sprinkles while mixing.

Candy Covered Marshmallows

This one's pretty self-explanatory and so simple, plus makes quite an impression
because they're so fun looking.  Stick a marshmallow on a stick (I've used popsicle and bakery sticks), dip into melted chocolate, then sprinkle with candy or sprinkles.  There are so many things available this time of year to use....mini chocolate chips, fun sprinkles, red hots, crushed candy canes, tons of different chocolate chips, coconut, it goes on and on.  My favorite are the crushed Heath bar chips!

Teacher Gift

We're kinda new to the grade-school environment so I didn't quite know what to do about a gift for Jacob's Kindergarten teacher.  On the advice of a good friend who is a Kindergarten teacher, I decided to make a personalized ornament.  Here's what I came up with....

I printed the name of each child in the class multiple times (using Excel and copied the name in a column-I used different fonts for girls and boys) onto colored paper which I then cut into strips and rolled around a pencil.  I secured the strip with a little glue and put them into a clear glass ornament.  Added the year with a rub-on transfer, some ribbon and wa-la a little remembrance of her class of '07!

Headache bags - and a chance to win something!

I dusted off my grandma's old Singer sewing machine and have been making 'boo boo bags.'  My kids have grown up with these and we all use them frequently, for a variety ailments.  For awhile Jacob was having headaches/migraines frequently and the only relief he would get was by putting an 'ice cold bag' (as well call them around here) on his head and laying in a dark room.  We have quite an assortment of 'headache bags' both homemade and store bought.  I wanted to try making my own and customize them with fun, soft fabric and maybe adding some herbs such as lavender.  They are not only good for headaches but sore muscles, sprains, sunburns, bruises, toothache, etc.  We keep ours in the freezer but they can also be heated in the microwave.  I intend to give them as gifts, but I wanted the opportunity to share something with my blog readers. 

Everyone that comments on this post will be entered into a drawing for a free headache bag!  I will draw a name on Friday of this week.  As long as you live in the US and even if I don't know you-please enter!

Speaking of opportunites to win something...awhile back I posted an entry about an A-B-C playlist  (A-B-C MIX) ...while I got a few emails, comments, and responses that people had a playlist to share, I still haven't actually seen anyone's playlist---so that means that contest is still open too!   

Creative Weekend

I've spent the weekend creating a variety of gifts and holiday themed items...for me that is a very fun and relaxing time.  I did manage to shower, but immediately put my pj's immediately back on.  So it's been a good weekend so far!  So often I get ideas and inspiration from other people's blogs so I thought I'd post some of my creations on here to maybe inspire someone else to create.  Rather then post everything all at once, I set a variety of entries to post at various times over the next few days.

One item Jacob and I made tonight while Grandma and Ella were at a Christmas play, was Oreo balls.  I
know I shared the recipe last year but it is such a hit, it can be repeated!

OREO BALLS

1 package Oreo cookies, crushed

8 ounces cream cheese, softened

1 package white almond bark

1 package chocolate almond bark

Using a hand held mixer, mix Oreos and cream cheese together.  Roll
into walnut size balls.  Chill for an hour.  Melt approximately 3/4
package of chocolate almond bark.  Dip balls into the melted bark.
Allow to harden on wax paper.  Melt about 1/4 package of white almond
bark.  Decorate with drizzles of the white almond bark. 

ENJOY!

Speaking of chocolate, I have something else I want to share.  Aaron's cousin, Jenny and her partner Zahra, have started an artisan chocolate company.  If you're looking for a gift you want to ship directly to someone, think about sending them some homemade chocolate.  Jenny makes some very unique flavored truffles that I haven't seen anywhere else.  I'm looking forward to trying the drinking chocolate....mmmmm!  Click here for Hedonist-Artisan Chocolates

Sights of Christmas around our home

I love that we all have our own handmade stockings.  My Mom made the kids, my grandma made mine, and I made Aaron's.

I have had this nativity for all my life.  I don't know where it came from (Mom?) but it is hand-stamped "made in Italy" on the bottom.  ~~Edited to add-spoke with my Mom and she too had them all her life!~

A new purchase this holiday season.  Feather's are apparently 'hot' this season but the second I saw this I just had to have it.  A peacock feather Christmas tree-what could be better?! 

This time, it's not a wig!

Time Waster

Please join me in the madness!  Spot the Difference

Homemade Lens Cover Magic

This is the coolest thing...I received an email today from one of my very favorite sites (Photojojo) with the coolest doo-dad you can make for your camera to really trick out the bokeh in photos.  Bokeh refers to the out of focus area of a photo and is achieved by setting your camera to a low aperture value.  Bokeh is beneficial in photography because it is a way to emphasize the primary subject. 
An example of using Bokeh:


Photo of Aaron in front of our Christmas tree (using the lowest possible aperture).

Now this is what I made to fit over my lens using cardstock, electrical tape and an exacto knife...

And these are the resulting images...

How cool is that?

At this point I still don't understand how this works, but I love it just the same!  I can have some fun with the holidays lights and this trick...time to really get creative...

People always ask if they're twins

I see it...

A little something to get you (really ME) in the mood for Christmas

This photo supplied by Disney Resorts, shows Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter Rob Thomas posing with Santa Goofy on Saturday, Nov. 24, 2007 in Santa's Sleigh at the Magic Kingdom theme park in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. Thomas, a solo artist and lead singer of the multi-platinum-selling rock/pop group 'matchbox twenty,' was on vacation with friends and family at Walt Disney World resort during the Thanksgiving holiday weekend.

Aww...and this little gem I just got...

Thanksgiving and school break over...BRING ON CHRISTMAS!

So many reasons to be THANKFUL

I have so many things to be thankful for this year.  One thing I definitely have to be thankful for is that my children have found such a great group of friends.  As a result (or maybe the cause!), Aaron and I have an incredible group of friends too.

This is a picture taken recently of a small smattering of their friends...aren't they a great looking bunch?

Golfing with Daddy

Jacob is lucky this week and has the whole week off of school due to a new Thanksgiving break.  Jacob got even luckier when Daddy took him golfing with him this morning!  He really seemed to enjoy going out to a real golf course to try out his new clubs...I think he was getting tired of the Aqua Golf!

 

Grandma's Buttons

I have a bit of a thing for buttons.  I have collected them for as long as I can remember.  If a clothing item comes with a spare or a button falls off something, I absolutely CANNOT throw it away.  It immediately goes into my huge button jar.  When Aaron's grandmother passed away this past summer I inherited her big box of buttons.  Seems she too was a button collector!  She took it a couple steps further however, hers were sorted by color and she would even cut the buttons off of clothing before tossing old clothes.  How genius! 

Recently I saw an idea to make a button tree as a Christmas decoration.  The majority of the buttons used were Great Lee's, but in my collection I also have buttons of my Nana and Aaron's Grandma Erickson.  I thought it was the perfect item to make with Grandma's buttons.  We will think of them always.

Yippee!

Chug a chugga....

That's the sound of the MB20 groupie train starting up!  Tour dates were released this morning!


Jan 25, 2008 Hard Rock Live at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Hollywood, FL
Jan 26, 2008 St. Pete Times Forum Tampa, FL
Jan 28, 2008 Philips Arena Atlanta, GA
Jan 29, 2008 Cricket Arena Charlotte, NC
Feb 1, 2008 Sears Centre Hoffman Estates, IL
Feb 2, 2008 Palace of Auburn Hills Auburn Hills, MI
Feb 4, 2008 Xcel Energy Center St. Paul, MN
Feb 5, 2008 Bradley Center Milwaukee, WI
Feb 7, 2008 Quicken Loans Arena Cleveland, OH
Feb 8, 2008 Patriot Center Fairfax, VA
Feb 12, 2008 Turning Stone Resort & Casino Verona, NY
Feb 14, 2008 Madison Square Garden New York, NY
Feb 15, 2008 The Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa Event Center Atlantic City, NJ
Feb 16, 2008 Seneca Niagara Casino Theatre Niagara Falls, NY
Feb 18, 2008 Mohegan Sun Arena Uncasville, CT
Feb 19, 2008 Sovereign Center Reading, PA
Feb 21, 2008 Times Union Center Albany, NY
Feb 22, 2008 Air Canada Centre Toronto, ON
Feb 25, 2008 Sprint Center Kansas City, MO
Feb 26, 2008 Qwest Center Omaha, NE
Feb 28, 2008 Toyota Center Houston, TX
Feb 29, 2008 Nokia Theatre Grand Prairie, TX
Mar 2, 2008 Ford Center Oklahoma City, OK
Mar 4, 2008 World Arena Colorado Springs, CO
Mar 5, 2008 Broomfield Events Center Broomfield, CO
Mar 6, 2008 E Center Salt Lake City, UT
Mar 8, 2008 Key Arena Seattle, WA
Mar 9, 2008 General Motors Place Vancouver, BC
Mar 12, 2008 HP Pavilion San Jose, CA
Mar 14, 2008 Reno Events Center Reno, NV
Mar 16, 2008 Staples Center Arena Los Angeles, CA
Mar 17, 2008 Cricket Pavilion Phoenix, AZ
Mar 18, 2008 The Pearl Concert Theater Las Vegas, NV

Last day of soccer....ahhhh

1. "Enjoy Family Soccer Ball", 2. soccer ball and grass, 3. Soccer Balls on Ice, 4. soccer ball, 5. Soccer ball 1 (Moeraki Boulders), 6. Mexican Soccer Ball, 7. Soccer Ball, 8. Soccer Ball in Water, 9. soccer ball

Can you pick out Aaron?

(Updated with the answer...)

And you won't be able to pick him out from this one.  Why?  BECAUSE HE WAS INSIDE!

Fire yesterday, late afternoon, off of Placer.  2 houses destroyed.