December In Palm Beach

Katherine

"It's A Beautiful Day In Paradise"

December 2008

It does not get any better than this.

December in Paradise

Lake Worth Beach Today...
With Brent returning to Atlanta tomorrow and Andrew returning to Utah on Tuesday, soaking up every ray of warmth is high on the list. We headed to Lake Worth Beach for a Picnic and then on to the water.

Brent always has an ample supply of sunscreen ready to slather on at any given moment.

Bud's Chicken was on the menu today.
Loooove Buds Chicken! Don't love having to wear my glasses with more and more regularity.

A Change of clothes after lunch and Katherine is ready to head to the glorious sand and water.

Katherine and Andrew....you can write a caption
Megan took a power nap inside the large hole she dug.

Ron and I were just plain happy to sit and feel the breeze, soak in the sun, and watch the waves, people, birds, and general beauty of our surroundings.

Andrew could not resist pestering Katherine for any length of time. For those of you who know Andrew..I am sure you are finding it difficult to believe Andrew would pester anyone. (Not)

Brent enjoyed every minute of Lake Worth Beach. Now it is back to Atlanta...wind chill and all.

Andrew in front of the newly restored Lake Worth Pier. Salt Lake City...here he comes.

I will put up with summer...ALL OF IT... for beautiful days like today in December!

Ins and Outs of December

At My Front Door...

In come the Carolers...Feliz Navidad! I love when my amiga, Nohemi, brings the Spanish Speaking Carolers to my door step. This is a highlight of every December. Gracias!

Out My Front Door...

For my Bishop and friend, One of his famous sayings is now framed for his every day enjoyment. If you have ever attended Church Services in my Ward (Congregation), then you know this was the ideal gift for a Bishop who reminds us every week that we are enjoying another beautiful day in paradise!

In My Kitchen...

Cookies with my children and their friends. I always forget how easy Spritz cookies are to make with a cookie press. The kids did most of the work all on their own. I would rather make pretty Spritz Butter Cookies with a cookie press any day than Cut Out Sugar Cookies with icing....

In My Opinion...

When it comes to Cut Out Sugar Cookies, call me the Little Red Hen. I would rather eat the delicious end product than: Make the dough, chill the dough, roll out the dough, cut each individual cookie, place them on a sheet, bake them, cool them, make the icing, ice the cookies, decorate the cookies, etc. JUST TOO MANY STEPS...thank goodness they are delicious in the end. I only make cut out cookies TWICE per year...Christmas and Valentines.

I love the Ins and Outs of December!

Every In and Out celebrates Christmas and creates memories!

A Season First

First of The Season

December, being the last month of the year,

is a month for so many firsts...

First Eggnog, Peppermint Ice Cream, Gingerbread Houses,

Dress Up Clothes, Cookie Recipes, Christmas Decorations,

Parties, Christmas Cards, Hot Cider, and.....

CLEMENTINES!

Hooray For Clementines!

My first of the season came home today!

I have been known to give these as gifts in place of a plate of cookies.

The clementines in a wooden box look great with a big bow on them!

When my boys were younger, Jeffrey ate and entire box of Clementines

during one movie. He loves them, also!

What is your favorite FIRST OF THE SEASON in December?

Full Throttle

Last Week and Beyond

It seems that when life is the most "bloggable" (new word for spell-check), I have the least amount of time to actually sit down and blog about life at full-throttle speed.

This photo has nothing, yet everything to do with the post below. I decided I had better get some Thanksgiving photos posted before Christmas comes and goes.Here we are in Gainesville, FL after our family favorite... Eating Out on Thanksgiving!

Last week was Non-stop Parties and Fun. Too much going in the evenings for my comfort, yet I am thankful for each event.

During the school year, I absolutely do not like to get in the car and go anywhere once we pull into the driveway at 2:30 after school. Last week, every night was packed full on top of days that were packed full.

Here is a re-cap of last week.

Monday: Megan's evening school program "Coming To America" (The Ellis Island Experience followed on Wednesday) I will definitely blog about this amazing program.She was in full "immigrant" costume.

Tuesday: Ron took the day off and we went shopping all day (a first in our marriage of 27 years)

In the evening, I hosted the Primary Activity Day Girls for Gingerbread House Building

Wednesday: During the day Megan had the Ellis Island Experience at School. I worked in the

Medical Unit administering immunizations to the immigrants (how ironic for me... I

cannot even look at a needle)

Katherine had voice lessons at 4

The evening found us hosting the Young Women for Gingerbread House Building

and Christmas Celebration

Thursday: Baking, Santa Lucia Day, Piano Lessons after school and then on to The Kravis

Center downtown where Katherine performed with the School Chorus. After the

Performance, we hit City Place for dinner at Cheesecake Factory. Late night for a

school night!

Friday: Shopping and Deliveries for my work. Picked up girls early from school to go deliver

cookies I made on Thursday to Ron's office. Went to see Santa at Gardens Mall, but the

line was too long. Girls had sleepover trade-offs with friends. We were beat Friday night.

Saturday: Took the girls shopping for Christmas gifts for those on their lists and then the BIG

EVENT.... We hosted all the Spanish Speaking people from Church at our house for

a "FIESTA". It was sooooo much fun. Dancing inside and outside, foods from various

Latin Countries, Karaoke in English and Espanol. Someone brought an amazing

sound system and great music to match. My house was literally rocking and rolling

Saturday night. Photos to follow.

Sunday: Church, then Ron and I left early to attend a party for my work at The Breakers Hotel. We

enjoyed their famous Sunday Champagne Brunch... a first for us (of course,

no Champagne) I did taste Caviar for the first time... no thanks.Back to Church for Ron

to help with Tithing Settlement. In the evening, I had Presidency Meeting with the Young

Women, Bishops Youth Council Meeting, and a Youth Fireside.

Oh yes, and somewhere in between all of the above, I did laundry, cleaned floors and bathrooms, cleaned up after Riley, attended school room-mom meetings, slept, cooked dinner,etc. etc. etc., sent out Christmas Cards, shopped for myself and those I work for, read stories to girls, kept the Advent Calendar doors filled, etc. etc. etc..... Full throttle..... Just like most moms during the month of December!

Ron has been at the Church most every night and longer than usual on Sundays due to Tithing Settlement. That should be done this week.

Today..... I picked up the girls from school and headed to see Santa at The Gardens Mall. The wait was the longest I have every waited... 45 minutes. I think this is the last year for the magic of Santa. With Katherine being 10 and Megan being 8, we are already living on borrowed time. Photos later. I have to load them.