more matt madness

really just a bunch of pictures from our few days of February fun celebrating Matt.... big brother's gifts always come with lots of layers....

and another...

last one...

well worth it!

somehow when the kids opt for no birthday party...

what was once thought to be a cost effective plan...

becomes kinda costly...

bring on the dragon sushi

add a little Sherlock Holmes...

a quick meet up with Mam and Pap....

for even more...

he loves golf balls...

especially when the box is loaded with some cash...

as always... - it was FUN celebrating YOU my boy!!

a Rennick Christmas morn

it happened one december...

we went to a switchfoot concert

at DisneyWalk...which gave us our first taste of the sites and sounds of the Christmas season...

then she was a toy soldier with her dance group that performed for senior homes and at Vista Murrieta high school....so fun...

and made a new friend in dance class...

we made lots of homemade hot chocolate and drank it in our Christmas mugs by our partially decorated Christmas tree...

snuck out to eat ice cream by the fire while brother was at basketball practice...

this guy played Bob Crachitt in the Christmas Carol, of which I have photos to prove but they have not been edited by Mr. R.....

went to a lovely Christmas wedding....

Christmas piano recital with this dear friend...

played the violin at a rescue center

....met up with favorite neighborhood friends to see Santa at the big white star

saw the house with the 125,000 lights,

wrote letters to Santa and mailed them off at Macy's for the Make A Wish Foundation,

made chocolate covered pretzels for friends,

cookies for neighbors,

ate lots of candy canes,

decorated gingerbread cookies,

read the pop-up advent calendar each night,

watched Charlie Brown Christmas,

the Grinch,

the Polar Express,

Christmas Carol and

Miracle on 34th Street....

sang Christmas carols (and discussed their theology),

shopped and shopped,

wrapped and wrapped,

oohed and ahhed.....

am I done now?

Merry Christmas!

"In all your ways acknowledge Him"

Prov. 3:6

things I want to do next year

Besides not still shopping on December 21 - next year I would love to use a few of these ideas

...I am really liking burlap right now, plus these little "fake" presents hook on with ornament hooks right onto the burlap - it looks so pretty

in the backyard I would love to set these on the table - ooh I still might, they look wintery

I could totally see one of these above Bria's bed - they are very easy to make









links to these ideas and more :)

the lettered cottage

the inspired room

just a girl

I Heart Saturday AND......trader joe bags

Cute enough to be used as gift tags this year...

I Heart Saturday AND.....our thanksgiving table

Mom put green beans in one of MiMi's (my grandmother who passed away four years ago) beautiful china dishes, mashed potatoes are in a bowl MiMi gave me for Christmas about five years ago, stuffing in pretty green bowl I bought for my mom several years ago that we both love and...

gravy in a glass measuring cup - ahh :) oh well! I love meaningful dishware - maybe it will all be on Bria's table one day..

oh, and Bria made the pretty place cards and set the table with the napkins - sweet girl!

Always love to share at Tuesdays Unwrapped

remembering them

If you live in my town - go see the flags by the police station and library! It makes you pause. Today is when we are supposed to pause and remember. It is really the least we can do.