Hello and Happy Monday!
I hope everyone had a lovely Christmas!! We had a lot of wonderful family time. Lots of games, laughs, good food and even some rest time in between. Of course hockey has still been going strong in between too, and my son even has a tourney this week! My daughter has several days of hockey too - so right back to the grind. I will also be doing more caregiving this week, celebrating a 20th anniversary with my hubby, and making goodies for a fun New Year's Eve party! Still busy days and fun ahead, so popping in for this post....but then planning to take the rest of this week off while my kiddos are still on break.
THE WEATHER OUTSIDE IS:
It's really been feeling like our normal winter lately. Much chillier temps and a couple of days ago we got quite a few more inches of snow. So now we're truly back to the northwoods I know this time of year - a cold world of white. Today it's about 20* F out, but with windchill they say it's more like 8*. Bbrrrr. I'll share some photos of our pretty snow at the end of the post. It's gray and cloudy today and they say another system is moving in tonight and we may get another 4 inches or so of snow.
ON THE BREAKFAST PLATE THIS MORNING:
Buttered toast and vanilla coffee with sweet cream.
AS I LOOK OUTSIDE MY WINDOW:
I see beautiful snow covered trees and blankets of the white stuff all around. So pretty.
RIGHT NOW I AM:
Trying to keep the schedule of my day straight and just spoke to my hubby about the plans. I need to pick up my MIL in awhile, take my daughter to my hubby for her hockey, then take my MIL out to lunch with family friends of hers (I know them well too) to visit and catch up with them...or at least as much as my MIL is able. I will primarily be handling the conversation for her, which is so sad. Then grab my son and take him up to his hockey. Get back and pick up my daughter from her hockey and then get my MIL home. Whew!! I guess you could just call me a chauffeur service. Lol!
AS I LOOK AROUND THE HOUSE:
Not too bad and pretty tidy, as we just celebrated a belated Christmas with my Dad and step Mom yesterday. We hosted 22 people here Christmas day, so we did have a little aftermath to clean up, but all and all in pretty good shape. Of course the usual laundry, and I still have a few dishes to load.
ON TODAY'S TO DO LIST:
The above mentioned running around, and then I need to get my son to a haircut appointment tonight. Buckle up because it's going to be a busy day! Lol
CURRENTLY READING:
Been too busy (or tired) at night to have done any reading very recently.
ON THE TV TODAY:
I still have my Call the Midwife Christmas special taped that I haven't watched. We have a few movies taped too. Yesterday we watched the Packers have a HORRENDOUS game against Arizona. My hubby loved that of course. And then the Vikings had a great game - and of course my hubby loved that EVEN MORE. Ggrrr!! He's such a stinker.
ON THE MENU THIS WEEK:
MONDAY: leftover homemade pizza from when we had belated Xmas with my Dad yesterday
TUESDAY: unsure, but it's our 20th wedding anniversary, so maybe a special dinner
WEDNESDAY: thinking I may make meatloaf dinner (so for the in-law's too)
THURSDAY: New Year's Eve party at my bro & sis-in-law's house - making some kind of appetizer, hot chocolate cookies, and maybe caramel cashew bars. They'll be having pizza for everyone there too.
FRIDAY:No plan yet (still really need to make grocery list for this week)
WHAT I AM CREATING AT THE MOMENT:
Memories with my kiddos while they're home on break. ;)
NEW RECIPE I WANT TO TRY THIS WEEK:
New Year's appetizer may be new - and the hot cocoa cookies (they look really good!)
TIP OF THE WEEK:
FROM THE CAMERA:
PRAYER, INSPIRATIONAL QUOTE OR DEVOTIONAL:

Was even thinking of making fruit skewers for New Year's - I have found that if you put just about anything on a stick, kiddos will think it's fun and try it!
FROM THE CAMERA:
My Aunt and Uncle hamming it up with Annie and me.
Annie wanted to take this penguin home and put him on her bed with her stuffed animals. Lol
We love going to the beautiful holiday light show, near where we live, every year before Christmas.
I love our sleigh bed, but especially at Christmas time.
Love this sweet little "Believe" nativity on my dresser.
Our house on Christmas Eve night, right after opening gifts. We were getting the tables all set for Christmas guests the next day and the ham dinner.
Another table getting all set.
One of the desserts I made for Christmas - pineapple upside down cake...MMmmm!
The day after our first real "snow storm" a few days ago. So bright and pretty in a frosty world of white.
PRAYER, INSPIRATIONAL QUOTE OR DEVOTIONAL: