Well part 2 is going to be big... Lots of pictures. I had intended on doing a weekly update, but that didn't happen - obviously! So here's the rest of the December story (almost) in one post. Tiffani is up with Brianna right now and Les & I will go get her, so there may be more pictures from 2011 still...
The first weekend we went to the Caldwell night light parade, the following weekend was the Kuna Night Light Parade. I had been invited to a Christmas party with some friends from Reed on the same night. Tiffani was participating in the parade with the Color Guard, but they were just walking along and throwing out candy, so I opted to go to the party with friends (just 5 of us girls watching a movie and munching on snacks we all brought). We had a lot of fun and it was so good to see and hang out with my "long lost friends". :) Les took some pictures at the parade, but the camera was slow at "rebooting" and Tiffani had walked on by before he could snap a picture of her! He did get one of our friend Mark driving the old Kuna school bus though. And one of Rob's "horse" as he likes to call it.
The following week I did a little baking and made some goodie boxes to give to my co-workers. And Tiffani stayed late at school doing yearbook stuff and then we had to go shopping one night and get stuff for her friends and food stuffs to add to the care package that the FCA (Fellowship of Christian Athletes) was putting together to deliver to a a family here in Kuna. All this time I was feeling ok - but my voice would be gone by about mid day everyday that last week of school. And then to be working with such honest children who would tell you multiple times a day that your voice sounds funny. I was so glad by the end of the day on the 16th! But relief didn't come right away even though I didn't have to talk alot anymore...
Saturday night we went out to Ron & Judy's to help decorate their tree. I couldn't get warm and stayed in my double layer coat all night and wrapped in a blanket as we all watched Tiffani hang things on the tree! Katie Cat decided my lap would be a good place to lay for the longest time. I didn't have the energy to care and she was helping keep me warm.
This is what happens when you let Tiffani play with the camera and mess with the settings...
the tree...
Tiffani...
Not sure what she did to the camera, but this is what I get when she's done!
Then Monday, bright and early, Tiffani had her wisdom teeth out. Monday after we got home was ...interesting, to say the least. After she finally calmed down and was able to fall asleep, I got a little nap in also. Brianna got home later in the afternoon that day and so all was well. :)
Tiffani didn't have a lot of energy, some thing about lack of eating, I am sure! But she spent the next several days camped out in the media room playing her Harry Potter game on the wii and Simba was always very near.
I made peppermint ice cream. YUM! It was basically vanilla ice cream with crushed candy canes in it. It was just the right amount of peppermint flavor without being overpowering.
We also made plans to go see some Christmas Lights Friday evening. Last year we did that on Christmas Eve and all the houses with musical light shows were extremely busy and by the time we got to some place to eat it was very late and everything was closed. I think we ended up at a Shari's after 11pm. That didn't make for a fun night. So this time we went a day earlier and stopped to eat along the way. Much nicer evening!
Here's a few pictures of some of the houses we saw. The second one was very simply done compared to the others, but it was still a light show put to music and was very nice. The other two were very elaborate! Les took some video too, of bits and pieces. When he posts them to youtube I'll share the link. (hint, hint Les)
We also went to the Capitol building. We used to do that every year when the girls were little. It's been awhile since we'd done that though. But the huge tree used to be put up on the top of the steps and you could walk up under it. You also used to be able to go inside in the evening. I don't know when they quit doing both... but this year the tree is out in the very front next to the road almost and the doors were locked so we got a picture of the poinsettia "tree" from outside. It starts on the bottom floor and is stacked up through the middle to the next floor. It's really cool to be able to see the whole thing in person - inside! I guess you have to go during the daytime now-a-days.
Christmas morning...
The girls were both on the same track for Les and got him posters...
Brianna's was a large poster that says "Courage - He who is not courageous enough to take risks will accomplish nothing in life." There is a mountain/rock climber standing on top of a rock in the clouds in the bottom corner.
Tiffani created a collage of pictures and had them printed on a 2012 calendar/postert hrough Walgreens. She also put the quote, "ANY fool can be a father, but it takes a real man to be a daddy. ~Philip Whitmore Senior" between the pictures of Les carrying each girl during their senior picture shoots. Les has it hanging in his cubicle at work. :)
Tiffani and Simba on her bed Christmas morning.
Pure confusion... a zipper!?
Tiffani got it!!
(She did see it together at the store, just didn't know she was getting one.)
It is a zipper that zips up around itself to form a pencil pouch. Pretty cool actually!
Got this sock monkey scarf from the book fair at school... Brianna opened it & thought we'd got her sock monkey socks. She got a little more excited when she thought it was a scarf and a lot more excited when she realized it was a scarf, but the sock monkey "heads" were mittens attached to the scarf. She loved it! And kept it on most of the day.
Les volunteered us to bring a vege tray as part of our contribution to dinner... Partly Mostly because I had made these for our school potluck and he didn't get any of it. So I made them again - which was no big deal and doesn't take many vege's at all and it is so very good!
Tiffani made reindeer cupcakes for dessert, which we had along with that peppermint ice cream. Here she's putting the finishing touches on them so they wouldn't suffer any casualties during transportation.
This is Tracy's dog Rocko (I believe!) sitting on Tracy's lap and sleeping on Jadd's shoulder. Sweet picture.
I sure like this picture of Brianna.
The gift card reads...
Cowgirl Wine Glass
You don't have to be a cowgirl to like this wine glass
but a sense of humor does help.
Everyone will like it and remember your unique glass.
There's a lid to save, shake and even keep you from spilling your drink!
Heck, you can keep the bugs out too.
Perfect for wine, beer, iced tea, and even white lightening...
Every glass is hand assembled.
I have a rule about washing...
Hand made ~ hand wash!
The finished product...
a pint jar on a candle stick holder. :)
Yes, Les & I made them - but I didn't come up with the idea... they are all over the Internet. But it was a cute idea and I knew that these unique glasses would be appreciated!
The girls always look forward to their t-shirts from Tracy.
This year Tiffani got one with an old fashioned camera on it.
And Brianna's was printed with.... do you know...??
Michael Buble. Sweet!
Just gotta end the post with another picture of Tracy's dogs, Beni and Rocko. Rocko is asleep on Tracy's lap (again or still... not sure!) and Beni is standing beside her with his head on Rocko. Cute.
That brings ya'll up to date - Tiffani left with Brianna on Monday and we will head up to get her tomorrow. Les worked, so I had the house to myself - and just cleaned! Exciting, huh!? And tried to convince Simba that Tiffani wasn't coming through the back door anytime soon...
