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More of klds' photos

Sunday, December 31st

Happy New Year's Eve...

"Should auld acquaintance be forgot, And never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot, And auld lang syne."

klds on 12.31.06 @ 02:22 PM CST [link]

Friday, December 29th

Let's Party...

When:December 31, 2006
Time:6:30 p.m.
Where:Ken & Sue's house
Why:New Years Eve, Delaney, Kameron & Kelsie's Birthday parties and a family gathering all wrapped in one.

klds on 12.29.06 @ 07:13 PM CST [link]

Thursday, December 28th

De clutter...

Jaunary is a great month to de-clutter your life. A new year is also a great time to reflect, to look at the past year and make positive changes in your life, such as simplifying it. This may sound difficult, but it can be done.
Some of us feel we were born disorganized, and that’s why we live in a mess. This is far from the truth. It is a skill, and we can all learn it, but we have allowed ourselves over time to continue to fall into bad habits. Here are a few simple rules: 1) If you take it out, put it back. 2) If you open it, close it. 3) If you throw it down, pick it up. 4) If you take it off, hang it up.
Consider the ten basic laws of stuff from the “Complete Idiot’s Guide to Organnizing Your Life.”

1. Stuff breeds
2. Useless stuff crowds out the ‘good’ stuff
3. Dust loves stuff
4. Stuff loves to stay where it lands
5. Stuff expands to fill space available
6. Over time, stuff becomes ‘invisible’
7. Stuff costs you money more than once
8. Stuff has a powerful effect on your state of mind
9. Stuff takes on value only when it’s used
10. Stuff doesn’t make you happy. You do.

When we start to de-clutter or downsize, our home and our life will become more functional and easier to clean. We will have more time to do the fun things in life and, perhaps, entertain more as we no longer live in clutter, chaos and confusion. Click link for how to get started...

klds on 12.28.06 @ 01:03 AM CST [more..]

Happy Birthday Kameron...

"Sing a song of Birthdays
Full of fun and cheer
And may you keep on having them
For many a happy year."

Let's all wish Kameron a very happy birthday!
klds on 12.28.06 @ 12:26 AM CST [link]

Tuesday, December 26th

Boxing Day...

Boxing Day is celebrated on December 26th.

Boxing Day, also known as the Feast of St. Stephen (after the first Christian martyr), originated in England in the middle of the nineteenth century under Queen Victoria. It originated as a holiday for members of the merchant class to give boxes containing food and fruit, clothing, and/or money to trades people and servants. The gifts were an expression of gratitude similar to the bonuses many employers offer their employees today. These gifts, usually given in boxes, gave the holiday it's name, "Boxing Day".

Also related to the origin of Boxing Day is the tradition of opening the alms boxes placed in churches over the Christmas season. The contents of these boxes were distributed amongst the poor, by the clergy, the day after Christmas.

Today, Boxing Day is a holiday in the United Kingdom, Canada, and many other Commonwealth nations. It is a time for family and friends to gather with lots of food and fun. Outdoor sports such as soccer, horse racing and hunting are popular on this holiday. Retailers offer huge savings on many items on this day, making it the biggest shopping day of the year in Canada.

Throughout the Christmas season, many organizations keep the original tradition of Boxing Day alive by donating their time, energy, and money to fill the Food Bank and provide gifts for the poor.
klds on 12.26.06 @ 02:25 PM CST [link]

Saturday, December 23rd

From The DiSanto House to Yours...

"The best Christmas of all is the presence of a happy family
all wrapped up with one another."

klds on 12.23.06 @ 12:41 PM CST [link]

Friday, December 22nd

The longest night of the year...

Did last night seem long- it should have... December 21 is the Winter Solstice.
The winter solstice marks the shortest day and the longest night of the year. The sun appears at its lowest point in the sky, and its noontime elevation appears to be the same for several days before and after the solstice. Hence the origin of the word solstice, which comes from Latin solstitium, from sol, “sun” and -stitium, “a stoppage.” Following the winter solstice, the days begin to grow longer and the nights shorter.
klds on 12.22.06 @ 12:54 AM CST [link]

Christmas Cards...

A relatively recent phenomenon, the sending of commercially printed Christmas cards originated in London in 1843.
Previously, people had exchanged handwritten holiday greetings. First in person. Then via post. By 1822, homemade Christmas cards had become the bane of the U.S. postal system. That year, the Superintendent of Mails in Washington, D.C., complained of the need to hire sixteen extra mailmen. Fearful of future bottlenecks, he petitioned Congress to limit the exchange of cards by post, concluding, "I don’t know what we’ll do if it keeps on."
Not only did it keep on, but with the marketing of attractive commercial cards the postal burden worsened. The first Christmas card designed for sale was by London artist John Calcott Horsley.
Printed cards soon became the rage in England; then in Germany. But it required an additional thirty years for Americans to take to the idea. In 1875, Boston lithographer Louis Prang, a native of Germany, began publishing cards, and earned the title "father of the American Christmas card."
Today more than two billion Christmas cards are exchanged annually, just within the United States. Christmas is the number one card-selling holiday of the year.
klds on 12.22.06 @ 12:44 AM CST [link]

Card delivery king...

Kevin Michael will arrive home today around 12:00. On Saturday, he and Kameron will make the yearly visit to deliver cards to the nursing homes. In case you didn't know... this is Kevin's favorite holiday!
klds on 12.22.06 @ 12:38 AM CST [link]

Need a laugh...

If you would like to see Elf Delaney- cut and paste this address into your address bar- Enjoy!
http://www.elfyourself.com/?userid=79c6aa60391a81d26db0b5cG06122022
klds on 12.22.06 @ 12:36 AM CST [link]

Thursday, December 21st

Peace on Earth...

Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me, Let there be peace on earth, the peace that was meant to be. With God as our Father, brothers all are we, Let me walk with my brother, in perfect harmony.
Let peace begin with me, let this be the moment now, With every step I take, let this be my solemn vow,
To take each moment and live each moment in peace eternally. Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me!
klds on 12.21.06 @ 12:49 AM CST [link]

Please read...

Our very own English language has one of the largest vocabulary sets of all the languages in the world, containing somewhere around 600,000 to 1,000,000 words. By the late teen years, speakers of English can claim an average vocabulary of approximately 50,000-60,000 words. In 1945, the average American student between the ages of 6 and 14 had a written vocabulary of about 25,000 words. Today, with the advent of television and the Internet, that written vocabulary has dropped to about 10,000 words. It is estimated that students must learn more than 88,000 words by 9th grade to read the textbooks that they are now asked to read.
klds on 12.21.06 @ 12:42 AM CST [link]

Reindeer Droppings...

Each year I make our trail mix to give to my coworkers. Since this year I have no coworkers and David and I are together, we made it for his employees. We love to do this for people just to say, "Hey, we were thinking about you." It's not too hard to make and we go to Sams Club to buy the ingredients. This year we made it a little different and added some extra chocolate. We call this mix Reindeer Droppings, but if you are interested it is made up of:

Mixed nuts (mostly cashews, almonds, peanuts but any mix will do)
Honey Roasted Peanuts
Raisins
Chocolate-covered raisins
Holiday M&Ms (preferable during the season - gives it the red and green)

We mix it in a bowl, add it to some little clear bags that you get in the cake/baking isle at crafts stores, and tie it with somethign pretty -- this year we got some of that wire with the little red stars on it and twisted on and curled it. They look really festive and cute! We giggled and laughed while making the holiday concoction... it really put us in the holiday spirit.
klds on 12.21.06 @ 12:36 AM CST [link]

Tuesday, December 19th

Attempt at World Record...

Hawthorn Elementary School participated in the World Record attempt for the most people reading simultaneously at multiple locations. Just for your information, the old record was 155,528 students from 737 schools in the United Kingdom who read William Wordsworth’s poem, “Daffodils” on March 19, 2004. For our attempt, 483,527 students in 2,106 locations, 50 states, and 24 countries were registered to take part. We were the only Park Hill school registered to take part in this event!!
It was fun to watch the children be a part of this (I was a witness- you need 1 witness for every 20 children). Now all the forms get sent in and we will find out in January if we broke the record.

klds on 12.19.06 @ 02:18 PM CST [link]

Maybe this is why she likes lellow...

"I am a princess. All girls are. Even if they live in tiny, old attics; even if they dress in rags; even if they aren't pretty, or smart, or young. They're still princesses. All of us."

She is our little princess looking might fine dressed as Belle- and in lellow!
klds on 12.19.06 @ 12:53 AM CST [link]

Basketball...

Kameron is playing basketball- he plays Mondays and Wednesdays. As of last week he was 2-2 but Nana tells me he is one heck of a rebounder (like his daddy) and a pretty good shot. He played last night but I am not sure how he did (Sue?) Way to go Kam!
klds on 12.19.06 @ 12:50 AM CST [link]

Christmas Angels Watch Over Us...

No figures in the Bible are as delightful as the Christmas angels. The heavenly angels are described as messengers of god. The word angels is Greek in origin and means messenger or one who is sent. Angels are supposed to be immortal spirits. Angels are said to live in Heaven and are thought to be intermediaries of God and our link to the mystical kingdom of heaven. Angel pictures are traditionally pictures that portray angels with human bodies and wings. Poets and artists have portrayed the angel with wings as symbols of innocence or virtue. They also symbolize purity, peace and love. The concept of angels with a human body and angel wings began in the Hebrew Bible or Old Testament of Christianity. The New Testament says that they rejoice when people on earth are sorry for their sins. Christianity has developed the most elaborate doctrines about angels. Christianity recognizes an order of beings in which they rank above humans beings but under God. In the Bible nine ranks of angels have been counted. Seraphim angles and Cherubim angels are thought to be the highest order of angels. The Archangel is a chief angel or a leader among the angels. Saint Michael is known as an Archangel. Guardian angels or angel guardians represent a comforting presence for all of us.
See link for more on angels...
klds on 12.19.06 @ 12:47 AM CST [more..]

Monday, December 18th

Santa Claus is Coming to Town

P1010192-550 (235k image)

Here's a picture of my mom telling Santa what she wants for Christmas. Too cute! My dad did this for his union.
Erin on 12.18.06 @ 10:54 AM CST [link]

Nativity of Jesus..

The Nativity refers to the birth of Jesus. According to biblical accounts, Jesus was born to the Virgin Mary, assisted by her husband Joseph, in the city of Bethlehem. The birth took place in a stable, surrounded by farm animals, and the infant Jesus was laid in a manger. Shepherds from the fields surrounding Bethlehem were told of the birth by an angel, and were the first to see the child. Nativity scenes traditionally include the Three Wise Men, Balthazar, Melchior, and Caspar, who are said to have followed the Star of Bethlehem, found Jesus, and presented gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
Did you know Delaney can tell you all of this (except she will answer God to Jesus's father). How cool!
Let's not forget what Christmas is really about...
klds on 12.18.06 @ 10:35 AM CST [link]

Beautiful...

klds on 12.18.06 @ 12:31 AM CST [link]

A sneek peek...

* Kim finished this semester of school (so far an A and A-)
* Karen bit into a piece of popcorn and cracked her tooth- crap- here comes another crown
* Delaney and family went to see "High School Musical" play and had a bowling birthday party this weekend
* Kameron has his Christmas shopping done- he did it all himself (with a little help from mom, Nana and the school)
* Kevin is back from his "trips" and can't wait to go home for a relaxing Christmas
* Erin is finishing up her projects and will leave for New York Wednesday or Thursday (if her car is back)
* Clark got to be Santa at his Union this past weekend
Tell us what is up in your neck of the woods?
klds on 12.18.06 @ 12:30 AM CST [link]

Saturday, December 16th

Just a thought...

klds on 12.16.06 @ 12:29 AM CST [link]

Birthday Cake...

This is the cake Linda brought to me this morning- I even blew out the candle. When I got home this evening it was a beautiful pudding cake. YUM!
klds on 12.16.06 @ 12:28 AM CST [link]

Friday, December 15th

Poppycock...

Ingredients
1 cup butter
1/2 cup Karo or corn syrup
1 1/4 cups sugar
1 tsp vanilla
1 1/2 bags unsalted peanuts

Instructions
Microwave above(except the peanuts) for 9-15 minutes, until forms thread when dropped in cold water.
Pop 2 quarts salted popcorn. Put popcorn and peanuts into a greased bowl. Pour the sauce over and stir. Turn out in pan lined with waxed paper and spread out a little. Let cool and break apart.
Store in sealed containers.
klds on 12.15.06 @ 12:52 AM CST [link]

Snowmen...

Snowmen
Snowmen were probably first made by people to scare away evil winter spirits. But now they are just a good excuse to have lots of fun in the snow!

Probably the most famous snowman is 'Frosty the Snowman' who appears in a Christmas song of the same name. The song was written in 1950 by Steve Nelson and Jack Rollins. It was recorded in 1953 by the American singer Perry Como and became very popular. A film called Frosty the Snowman was made in 1969 and told the story of a magical snowman who came to life and became best friends with a little girl.

Some Snow and Ice Records

The largest snowman in the world was made in Bethel, Maine U.S.A on February 17th 1999. It was 113 ft, 7.5in (35.5m) high! It was called 'Angus' after Bethel's town mayor!

The thickest ice in the world in found in Antarctica. The thickest bit of ice that scientists have measured by using radio echo soundings was 2.97 miles (4.8km) thick!

The most amount of snow to fall in 12 months was at a ski resort called Paradise on Mt Rainier, Washington state, USA It feel between February 19th 1971 and February 18th 1972, that was a total of 1224 inches! That's 94ft (28.5m)! Perhaps it should be called Mt Snowier!
klds on 12.15.06 @ 12:50 AM CST [link]

Happy Birthday Lala...

"The best birthdays of all are those that haven’t arrived yet."

klds on 12.15.06 @ 12:34 AM CST [link]

Thursday, December 14th

What a Great day!

Delaney is having a great day- loves her presents (thinks Lala is nice cause I let her open a present yesterday and today), received some Care Bears that took her breathe away and she was just having a ball. This is the outfit she wore today- our 4 year old.
klds on 12.14.06 @ 07:05 PM CST [link]

Fostering a Generous Spirit...

Although many children focus on what they will receive during the holidays -- three simple practices can help foster a spirit of generosity in young children this time of year, and all year long:

* Offer homemade gifts. Leave purchased gifts to adults, who better understand financial sacrifice and generosity. For children to appreciate the act of giving, they need to have a personal connection to the gifts they offer to others. Making presents is one of the simplest (and most cost effective) ways to do this.

* Remember that generosity and gratitude go hand-in-hand. Teaching children to say "thank you" and "you are welcome" as part of gift exchanges is more than simple manners; it's a lesson about generosity. Even young children will eventually "make the connection between saying 'thank you' and receiving something" and learn that generosity is valued.

* Embrace charitable acts and place them in a context that makes sense. To give to those whom we do not know is to embrace our human family. For young children, this is an abstract concept. As Mr. Rogers once reminded us, "[It's tempting to ask] children to help 'the needy' or those who are 'less fortunate,' [but] that kind of thinking divides people into 'us' and 'them' and doesn't necessarily contribute to a sense of 'neighborliness.' ... All of us at some time or other need help ... and everyone is a giver and a receiver. It is far better to say to our children that we are gathering sweaters for people who are cold and don't have the money to buy warm clothing.'"
klds on 12.14.06 @ 12:40 AM CST [link]

Happy Birthday Delaney...

"Another year of collecting memories."

Today Delaney is 4- Let's all wish her a great day!
klds on 12.14.06 @ 12:10 AM CST [link]

Wednesday, December 13th

Spread the joy...

"There is no ideal Christmas; only the one Christmas you decide to make
as a reflection of your values, desires, affections, traditions."

klds on 12.13.06 @ 12:22 AM CST [link]

For the love of Mickey Mouse...

"You can dream, create, design and build the most wonderful place in the world,
but it requires people to make the dream a reality."

klds on 12.13.06 @ 12:16 AM CST [link]

Tuesday, December 12th

Kelsie, what do you want for Christmas?

"Toys"
"What kind of toys?"
"Lellow"

klds on 12.12.06 @ 01:17 AM CST [link]

Holiday Tips...

1. Avoid carrot sticks. Anyone who puts carrots on a holiday buffet
table knows nothing of the Christmas spirit. In fact, if you see carrots,
leave immediately. Go next door, where they're serving rum balls.

2. Drink as much eggnog as you can. And quickly. Like fine single-malt
scotch, it's rare. In fact, it's even rarer than single-malt scotch.
You can't find it any other time of year but now. So drink up! Who cares that it has
10,000 calories in every sip? It's not as if you're going to turn into an
eggnog-aholicor something. It's a treat. Enjoy it. Have one for me. Have two. It's later
than you think. It's Christmas!

3. If something comes with gravy, use it. That's the whole point of
gravy. Gravy does not stand alone. Pour it on. Make a volcano out of your
mashed potatoes. Fill it with gravy. Eat the volcano. Repeat.

4. As for mashed potatoes, always ask if they're made with skim milk or
whole milk. If it's skim, pass. Why bother? It's like buying a sports
car with an automatic transmission.

5. Do not have a snack before going to a party in an effort to control
your eating. The whole point of going to a Christmas party is to eat other
people's food for free. Lots of it. Helloooo!

6. Under no circumstances should you exercise between now and New
Year's. You can do that in January when you have nothing else to do. This is
the time for long naps, which you'll need after circling the buffet table
while carrying a 10-pound plate of food and that vat of eggnog.

7. If you come across something really good at a buffet table, like
frosted Christmas cookies in the shape and size of Santa, position yourself
near them and don't budge. Have as many as you can before becoming the
center of attention. They're like a beautiful pair of shoes. If you leave them
behind, you're never going to see them again.

8. Same for pies. Apple. Pumpkin. Mincemeat. Have a slice of each. Or,
if you don't like mincemeat, have two apples and one pumpkin. Always have
three. When else do you get to have more than one dessert? Labor Day?

9. Did someone mention fruitcake? Granted, it's loaded with the
mandatory celebratory calories, but avoid it at all cost. I mean, have some
standards.

10. One final tip: If you don't feel terrible when you leave the party
or get up from the table, you haven't been paying attention. Reread all
tips; startover, but hurry, January is just around the corner.

Remember this motto to live by: "Life should NOT be a journey to the
grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well
preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, martini in the
other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming "WOO HOO what a
ride!"
klds on 12.12.06 @ 12:52 AM CST [link]

No bake cookies...

1/2 cup butter or margarine
1/2 cup peanut butter
1/2 cup milk
1/4 cup cocoa
2 cups sugar
1/2 cup coconut
3 cups oatmeal
In a large saucepan add butter, peanut butter, milk, cocoa and sugar. Boil for one minute and add vanilla. Then add coconut and oatmeal. Drop onto wax paper and let sit for 45 minutes.
klds on 12.12.06 @ 12:47 AM CST [link]

Monday, December 11th

Let's play a game...

Make a set of cards like you see here- make two of each card then play memory with the kids. You can pick cards that they can learn great facts from, add the alphabet or what ever version you would like. It's lots of fun and also it increases their memory skills. It's a good thing!
klds on 12.11.06 @ 12:33 AM CST [link]

Christmas Facts...

Fruitcakes can be enjoyed as long as 25 years after baking.

About two billion Christmas cards are exchanged every year in the United States.

1867 was the first year that Macy's department store in New York City remained open until midnight on Christmas Eve.

"Yuletide" for "Christmastime" is a term derived from the yule log, which in olden days was a huge log used as the foundation of the holiday fires.

Evergreens as Christmas trees is a German tradition, started as early as 700 A.D.

A Christian ban on mistletoe was in effect throughout the Middle Ages, with the Church suggesting holly as a substitute.

For Scandinavians, the goddess of love is strongly associated with mistletoe, which may be where our tradition of kissing under mistletoe comes from.

Poinsettias became a Christmas tradition starting in 1828, when Joel Roberts Poinsett, a U.S. ambassador, imported the plant from Mexico.

The idea of Santa Claus in a red and white suit came from the original Saint Nicholas. Those colors were the colors of the traditional bishop's robes.
klds on 12.11.06 @ 12:11 AM CST [link]

Sunday, December 10th

Katie's semi-Formal

Well last night I had my first Semi Formal =) I had some friends over to take pictures before the dance then we all went together. I had a blast! Everyone looked gorgeous!! I actually used my sister's dress from last year because i couldn't find one that I liked. It worked out really well! Just thought maybe you guys would like to see a picture.The one on the right is Jenna Patrick and the one on the left is Liz Bondor.

okay here's another picture..it's me and my daddio =) i'm not smiling very much in this one though...
Love and miss you all!!!
♥ Kate the great =)
KatieB on 12.10.06 @ 02:30 PM CST [link]

Smile, Christmas is coming!

IMG_6983-600 (119k image)

"I just like to smile. Smiling's my favorite." - Buddy Elf from the movie "Elf"
Erin on 12.10.06 @ 02:19 PM CST [link]

Saturday, December 9th

Here's something to remember the "Poop" story...

Materials Needed:
* Zip-Top Sandwich Bag
* Small Red and Green Candies
* Paper
Instructions:
Simply put a handfull of of red and green candies (use holiday M and Ms, jelly beans, ect.) in the zip-top sandwich bag to be the "poop". If you want a little more variety, add some Christmas colored sprinkles or some edible glitter.
Print out the poem, cut it out, and stapled it to the top of the sandwich bag ...

klds on 12.09.06 @ 12:43 AM CST [link]

Christmas Blessing Snack Mix

Materials Needed:
* 2 cups Bugles brand corn snacks
* 2 cups small pretzel twists
* 1 cup red hots
* 1 cup peanuts
* 1 cup M&Ms brand chocolate candy (red and green)
* 16 Hershey's brand chocolate kisses

Instructions:
In a large bowl, mix all the ingredients together. You can make this mix as a family and eat while discussing each ingredient and how it relates to Christmas.
If this is for a gift, print out the tag above.
klds on 12.09.06 @ 12:25 AM CST [link]

Believe it or not...

The abbreviation of Xmas for Christmas is not irreligious. The first letter of the word Christ in Greek is chi, which is identical to our X. Xmas was originally an ecclesiastical abbreviation that was used in tables and charts. In the early days of printing, when font sizes were limited and type was set by hand, abbreviations and ditto marks were used liberally. Xmas came into general use from the church!
klds on 12.09.06 @ 12:02 AM CST [link]

Friday, December 8th

Choo-choo! Here we go...

candy-train (26k image)

I could not believe that we couldn't remember how to make these, so I did a search and look what I found! This one has other elements on the back, but we only did the front one. My mom said that we did these for the Bazzaar one year. Too fun!
Erin on 12.08.06 @ 01:26 PM CST [link]

Music and Caroling...

Caroling, caroling, now we go
Christmas bells are ringing
Caroling, caroling thru the snow
Christmas bells are ringing

Joyous voices sweet and clear
Sing the sad of heart to cheer
Ding dong, ding dong
Christmas bells are ringing

Christmas music is a genre which is normally performed during the time period leading up to, and sometimes shortly past, Christmas. Christmas songs frequently are the focus of holiday themes directly taken from Christmas, but occasionally they have no content addressing the holiday, and instead focus on the winter season as a whole. There is a set of songs that are played continuously during the Christmas season. Since this list is relatively short, you tend to hear each song about 700 times over the course of the few weeks leading up to Christmas.

Songs which are traditional, even some without a specific religious context, are often called Christmas carols.The word carol came from a Greek dance called a choraulein, which was accompanied by flute music. The tradition of Christmas caroling has been around in North America for close to 200 years. Every year, groups of choirs, children in Boy and Girl Scouts, families, friends and neighbors get together to sing the spirit of Christmas and spread the Christmas joy. Caroling is usually informal. No elaborate costumes, no decorations, just the voices singing (some trying harder than others) the spirit of the holidays with songs many people have heard throughout their lives. Singing Christmas carols helps to spread the Christmas cheer.
klds on 12.08.06 @ 12:01 AM CST [link]

Thursday, December 7th

Mary D. and Beth

Would everyone please send a card and message to Mary D. and Beth. Mary called yesterday and she is having a hard time right now with the holidays and missing her mother. Write them a happy note about what they mean to you so they feel the love that they felt for and from their mother. I called Uncle Jim and he and Cindy are going to get something going to share together with them. Thanks. Mom
Hot Mama on 12.07.06 @ 07:10 AM CST [link]

Few more prayers...

Well I was fearful if Linda went back to work it would not be good (hospital understaffed and she works too hard)- she lifted many patients and her leg began to hurt- today the doctor said it was bleeding inside and took her off work for 5 days- please give a few more prayers that all heals well.
klds on 12.07.06 @ 01:11 AM CST [link]

Delicious Holiday Wreath...

The wreath has significant meaning for the season. It's circular shape represents eternity, for it has no beginning and no end. From a christian religious perspective, it represents an unending circle of life. The evergreen, most frequently used in making wreathes, symbolizes growth and everlasting life. Holly branches have thorns. When used in a wreath it represents the thorn on Jesus' crown when he was crucified. Bright red holly berries symbolize Jesus' blood that was shed for us.

This beautiful symbol of the holiday is a delicious way to say "Merry Christmas"!

What you'll need:
* 2 bags M&M’S® Brand Milk Chocolate Candies for the Holidays
* 1 bag marshmallows
* 3 crisp rice cereal
* 1 1/2 tablespoons margarine
* 1 tub ready-to-spread vanilla frosting
* A few drops green food coloring
* 1 red satin bow(s)

What to do:
1. Melt margarine in a saucepan over low heat. Add 5-oz. of marshmallows and stir until completely melted. Remove from heat and tint with food coloring. Mix in crisp rice cereal.
2. Coat your hands with margarine and form mixture into a ring on wax paper. (Ring should be about 7 inches in diameter.)
3. Stir a few drops of food coloring in the frosting until blended thoroughly. Reserve 1/4 cup and set aside. Using a butter knife or spatula, spread a thin layer of frosting over the entire ring.
4. Place green M&M’S® Brand Milk Chocolate Candies for the Holidays all over the ring. For any open spots, dab some of the vanilla frosting on the back of the green M&M’S® Brand Milk Chocolate Candies for the Holidays and place where needed.
5. Dab frosting on the red M&M’S® Brand Milk Chocolate Candies for the Holidays, and place 3 candies in a cluster to create berries.
6. Dab frosting on the back of the bow, and place on wreath. Slice to serve!
klds on 12.07.06 @ 01:02 AM CST [link]

The Twelve Days of Christmas...

The Twelve Days of Christmas is probably the most misunderstood part of the church year among Christians who are not part of liturgical church traditions. Contrary to much popular belief, these are not the twelve days before Christmas, but in most of the Western Church are the twelve days from Christmas until the beginning of Epiphany (January 6th; the 12 days count from December 25th until January 5th). In some traditions, the first day of Christmas begins on the evening of December 25th but the following day is considered the First Day of Christmas (December 26th).
The popular song "The Twelve Days of Christmas" is usually seen as simply a nonsense song for children. However, some have suggested that it is a song of Christian instruction dating to the 16th century religious wars in England, with hidden references to the basic teachings of the Faith. They contend that it was a mnemonic device to teach the catechism to youngsters.
Click link to find out what the song means...
klds on 12.07.06 @ 12:49 AM CST [more..]

Attack At Pearl Harbor, 1941

History - in every century,
records an act that lives forevermore.
We'll recall - as in to line we fall,
the thing that happened on Hawaii's shore.

Let's REMEMBER PEARL HARBOR -
As we go to meet the foe -
Let's REMEMBER PEARL HARBOR
As we did the Alamo.

We will always remember -
how they died for liberty,
Let's REMEMBER PEARL HARBOR
and go on to victory.

The surprise was complete. The attacking planes came in two waves; the first hit its target at 7:53 AM, the second at 8:55. By 9:55 it was all over. By 1:00 PM the carriers that launched the planes from 274 miles off the coast of Oahu were heading back to Japan.

Behind them they left chaos, 2,403 dead, 188 destroyed planes and a crippled Pacific Fleet that included 8 damaged or destroyed battleships.
klds on 12.07.06 @ 12:36 AM CST [link]

Wednesday, December 6th

Christmas Pretzel Reindeer Recipe...

1. Melt the chocolate in the microwave according to package directions.
2. Lay pretzel on wax paper. Spoon melted chocolate into each pretzel hole.
3. Place green M&M's for the eyes and red for the nose.
4. Place broken pretzel at the top to resemble antlers.
klds on 12.06.06 @ 01:11 AM CST [link]

Let's share...

For hundreds of millions of people around the world, Christmas is the biggest holiday of the year.
Have you ever wondered where traditions like Santa Claus come from?

Kimmie thought it would be fun to share how traditions of the holidays began and fun information the kids might enjoy. Each day we will share with you some interesting facts about Christmas.

What is Christmas?
The word Christmas comes from the words Cristes maesse, or "Christ's Mass." Christmas is the celebration of the birth of Jesus for members of the Christian religion. Most historians peg the first celebration of Christmas to Rome in 336 A.D.
Christmas is both a holiday and a holy day. In America it is one of the biggest event of the year (especially for kids), and for members of the Christian religions it is an important day on the religious calendar.
klds on 12.06.06 @ 12:39 AM CST [link]

Christmas Cosmopolitan...

Linda and I went to Bonefish Grill for Dinner Monday night (an early birthday dinner). They had this drink- I tried it-it was pretty good so I'll share...
ingredients:
• 1 oz. Sky Blue Vanilla Vodka
• 1/2 oz. white cranberry juice
• 1 tsp. lime juice fresh

Mixing instructions: Place all ingredients in a shaker with ice. Shake and strain into a chilled martini glass. Option: To garnish, float a few frozen cranberries after pouring.
klds on 12.06.06 @ 12:30 AM CST [link]

Tuesday, December 5th

Cool Idea from Xerox (thanks Kay)...

Something cool that Xerox is doing.
If you go to this web site, Let's Say Thanks you can pick out a thank you card and Xerox will print it and it will be sent to a soldier that is currently serving in Iraq. You can't pick out who gets it, but it will go to some member of the armed services.
How AMAZING it would be if we could get everyone we know to send one!!!
This is a great site.
Please send a card. It is FREE and it only takes a second.
Wouldn't it be wonderful if the soldiers received a bunch of these? Whether y ou are for or against the war, our guys and gals over there need to know we are behind them ...
klds on 12.05.06 @ 12:10 PM CST [link]

Holiday Shopping

For those of you who like to do online shopping this holiday season, might I suggest starting at http://www.shopformuseums.com. With NO EXTRA COST TO YOU, a portion of your purchase amount is donated to the museum, park, zoo, aquarium or other related organization of your choice. This is a great way to keep some of those online funds in your community! Share this information with others!
beth on 12.05.06 @ 07:40 AM CST [link]

4 years old and she gets her first haircut!

Well it seems Delaney inherited her mommy's hair- it gets very tangled in the back. So to help with that, shape it up and help it grow, Delaney got her first haircut. She was a very good girl as seen in this shot though she did think they would cut off more hair than a trim. (Kameron got a new hair cut too I hear- send a picture).
klds on 12.05.06 @ 12:55 AM CST [link]

More info on getting into the Christmas Spirit...

Christmas is supposed to be a time of peace, love and goodwill to all. But with all the stress and commotion of the season, many of us end up feeling more like Mr. Scrooge than Santa Claus.
Instructions:
STEP 1: Shop early. Nothing takes away the Christmas spirit like fighting for parking and struggling through crowds.
STEP 2: Wish people that you meet in stores and other casual environments a happy holiday. Say it with a smile.
STEP 3: Drop spare coins in the Salvation Army collection buckets.
STEP 4: Do something nice for someone. Offer to baby-sit so a friend can do her Christmas shopping, take cookies to your neighbors, or shovel an elderly neighbor's walk.
STEP 5: Volunteer your time to a worthy holiday cause. Even if you are busy, you can spare an hour or two to help people less fortunate than yourself.
STEP 6: Organize a drive at work or in your neighborhood. Collect food and personal items and donate them to a local shelter for the homeless or for battered women.
STEP 7: Play Christmas music.
STEP 8: Watch Christmas movies. "It's a Wonderful Life" is a good one for reviving a flagging Christmas spirit, as is "How the Grinch Stole Christmas."
STEP 9: Read "A Christmas Carol" and "A Child's Christmas in Wales."
STEP 10: Decorate your house for the holidays.
STEP 11: Don't spend more money than you have. Anxiety over after-Christmas bills can ruin your holiday.

Tips & Warnings

The true holiday spirit is about love and kindness, not materialism and shopping. Do your best not to get caught up in the latter.

klds on 12.05.06 @ 12:46 AM CST [link]

FRAUD ALERT...

We received this from our local sherriff's department...
Well the crooks have found a way to rob you of your gift card balance. If you buy Gift Cards from a display rack that has various store cards you may become a victim of theft. Crooks are now jotting down the card numbers in the store and then wait a few days and call to see how much of a balance THEY have on the card. Once they find the card is "activated", and then they go online and start shopping. You may want to purchase your card from a customer service person, where they do not have the Gift Cards viewable to the public.
As the holiday season approaches, remember to keep purchases, purses, backpacks and other bags out of view by locking them in your trunk. Criminals know to walk through shopping center parking lots to look for your newly purchased gifts. Also, be sure to keep the receipts separate from the purchased items. Criminals often return the items for cash or a gift card before you ever know they're gone!
klds on 12.05.06 @ 12:35 AM CST [link]

Monday, December 4th

Getting into the holiday spirit...

You know, that spirit of happiness and friendliness; the one of smiles and helping hands, red bows and snow, eager children and candy canes. That spirit doesn't always come automatically, but it does come - whenever you're really ready for it.
Here are some frugal ways to open yourself to it!

1. Be the first to say 'Merry Christmas!'
2. Each day give at least one heartfelt compliment to someone.
3. Add something handmade to your decorations this year.
4. Smile at someone who looks grouchy. Don't let your feelings get hurt if they don't smile back.
5. Give the bank teller a candy cane.
6. Wave to Santa at the mall.
7. Tell your kids or grandkids what Christmas was like when you were a child. You might not think things were so different, but they are to a child.
8. Have an informal open house instead of a formal party. Put out some food, light the tree and enjoy your company.
9. Offer home made hot chocolate (Keep a pot ready to heat) to everyone who comes to your door, including the mailman.
10. Wear a sprig of holly, a small ornament or a plaid ribbon on your lapel or in your hair.
11. Go caroling. Look around for groups to go with if you can't round up enough enthusiasts on your own.
12. Take part in a local tree lighting ceremony.
13. Decorate your car - hang an ornament from the rearview mirror, or wire a wreath on the front.
14. Sing 'Jingle Bells' while cooking dinner.
15. Help elderly neighbors, family and friends put up decorations. (Don't forget to help them take them down again later!)
16. Sign your Christmas cards with a red or green pen.
17. Make donations to charities by simply clicking.
18. Hug a child.
19. Turn off the lights, the tv and the stereo and sit quietly in the light of the Christmas tree thinking about why you celebrate it.

klds on 12.04.06 @ 12:29 AM CST [link]

10 simple ways to get your car ready for winter...

061128_winter_car_hmed4p.hmedium (16k image)

If the weather outside is frightful, is your auto ready? Click link for your ten tips...

klds on 12.04.06 @ 12:23 AM CST [more..]

Friday, December 1st

Today is the day...

A little scared but we will be going to the hospital at 6:30 this morning. The procedure can take between 2-6 hours and no guarantee that they can fix it. So keep praying for success and a safe procedure. I will be staying at the hospital overnight with Linda but will let people know how things are going.
EDITED:It took 1.5 hours. The doctor was able to set the heart into the irregular pattern, map it, radiozap it and then tried it again- after he could not get it to go into the irregualr pattern which means it was 100% successful. She was out all day and we left the hospital at 7am. We took it easy today and will again tomorrow. It's nice to have this over and the outcome so positive. Thanks for all the prayers- I know they helped.
klds on 12.01.06 @ 12:31 AM CST [link]

December 1- World AIDS Day...

The red ribbon is the international symbol of HIV awareness. Wear it as a sign of support for the 40 million people living with HIV worldwide, and encourage your friends and family to wear red ribbons as a sign that together we can stop the spread of HIV and bring an end to prejudice.
klds on 12.01.06 @ 12:27 AM CST [link]

Winter has arrived...

The first storm, on the heels of near-record high temperatures, rolled through on Wednesday afternoon, dumping half an inch of ice on tree limbs and power lines. The second system left up to 2 foot of snow around Kansas City. The Plaza got 9", Parkville 3-4" and our house=0". It is -2 with lots of ice left so school is out Friday which will make my trip to the hospital easier.
klds on 12.01.06 @ 12:17 AM CST [link]

December 2006
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