Brown Shoes and Holiday Mood

Today is wear brown shoes day. And yes I did wear brown shoes today! I took out all my brown shoes in my closet and snapped a quick picture of all them. I have flats to heels, sandals to boots. What kind of brown shoes do you have?

You can go here and take the quiz to find out what Holiday Mood you are in!

Pay It Forward Book Exchange

It's that wonderful time of the month! Another book exchange/giveaway. Please visit Overwhelmed with Joy for more book exchange/giveaways.

Here is the book that I am giving away this month.

Here is what Amazon.com has to say about the book. Interweaving scripture, paraphrase and garden imagery, Karla Dornacher writes and illustrates a beautiful botanical book of devotional thoughts that explore God's handiwork as the Master Gardener in the heart-gardens of His people. An ideal gift book for women who enjoy gardening or for any woman seeking to "grow, blossom and bear much fruit" in her walk with God.

To win this lovely gift book all you need to do is leave me a comment. That's all! Be sure and leave a way for me to get in contact with you in case you are the lucky winner. This contest is open to everyone. Even if you don't have a blog. You have until Sunday, December 16 to leave a comment and please just enter only one time. On Monday, December 17, in the evening, I'll put all the names into a bowl and have my DS draw out the lucky winner.

Thanks for entering the giveaway and have a great day!

Dickens

In Galveston, TX they host the most fabulous Dickens Festival. This year was so crowded and fun because my parents tagged along. My DS had fun explaining things to them. He was a great tour guide. Vendors line the streets selling their handicrafts and food. There is a special children's area with camels and elephants to ride and a small patch of real snow to play in and get wet. We always have a seafood lunch at one of the well know restaurants and then wonder over to the Elissa, an old sailing ship, and explore. While there, they had a stage set up for performers and we happened onto a sword swallowing act. The guy was quite good and entertaining. I couldn't handle it and had to look away when he hammered a long nail into his nose. YUCK! Starbucks was set up right outside the Elissa, handing out free samples of their newest holiday flavor. I had two and they were yummy. We looked around some more and then claimed out space for the Queen's parade. Right after the parade we started for home. The weather was great and we had a great time. Here are a few pictures from the dayThe Elissa.My mom, DH and DS on the Elissa.People dressed up in that time period clothing. My favorite part!

Yum!

Old fashion bikes

Bag pipe band.

People dressed up.

Beautiful mules pulling a wagon with someone important.

Fire brigade.

Thanks for looking!

Busy Saturday

We are exhausted! We've had an early and busy day. Tonight we are laying around watching TV. My parents had a great time on their cruise. My workshop was OK. I didn't like the book they picked to highlight for a Christmas workshop. Dickens on the Strand was very crowded. I'll post pictures later. When we got home we started to hang the outdoor Christmas lights. We have way too many bulbs burned out so we had to make a run to the store. We'll finish it up tomorrow. I set the DVR to record a Christmas movie on the Hallmark channel so I going to go curl up on the couch and view it.

Have a great evening!

Friday Fill In

1. When my blog is broken, I'm sad and find something else to do.

2. I saw the most amazing person this morning.

3. P.S. I love You is the new movie I'm most looking forward to seeing. (I read the book and loved it!)

4. Work: Necessary and Fun

5. Of all the new TV shows, I enjoy my old favorite, Grey's Anatomy, the most.

6. If only the weekends were longer and the work week shorter.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to dinner and shoe shopping, tomorrow my plans include a day in Galveston picking up my parents from the cruise ship terminal, a teacher holiday workshop and Dickens on the Strand Festival and Sunday, I am having lunch with the girls and hopefully finish decorating my house.

** My responses are the bolded words. You can play along just post your answers on your site and let me know that you played so that I can comes read yours**

Thursday Thirteen~Children Christmas Books

Here are the top 13 Children's Christmas books that I love to read. Story of Holly and Ivy by Rumer Godden
The Legend of the Candy Cane by Lori Walburg

A Wish for Wings That Work: An Opus Christmas Story by Berkeley Breathed

The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg
Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer by Robert Lewis May
A Snowman Named Just Bob by Mark Kimball Moulton
Snowmen at Christmas by Caralyn Buehner

The Jolly Christmas Postman by Allan Ahlberg

The Wild Christmas Reindeer by Jan Brett
Country Angel Christmas by Tomie dePaola
A Cowboy Christmas: The Miracle of Lone Pine Ridge by Audrey Wood
The Gift of the Magi by O Henry
Jingle Bells by Iza Trapani



What are your favorite Children Christmas books?

Fun Birthday Party

We attended a fun birthday party given by the Melkus Family for their son. They had the party at Incredible Pizza. It's a place with a huge pizza, pasta, salad, soup and dessert buffet. There are different themed rooms in which you can seat and eat your food. Then the main attraction is the game area. Video games, ball games, driving games, miniature golf, bumper cars, bowling and mini go-karts race cars.

My boys enjoyed the go kart race cars. It's run like a real race. There is an announcer over a loud speaker giving status at to what car is in the lead, how many laps to go, etc. The winner of the race receives a ribbon and my DH won both races that we did. Here are a couple of pictures from the race.

Waiting to get into the cars.

My DS was the first in the line up.

My DS acting like he is cool.

My DS in burnt orange Texas colors and his friend Alex in maroon Aggie colors. Needless to say Texas lost to Texas A & M in the football game that day. We were shocked.

My DH and Johanna last in the line up. Johanna drove like a turtle and DH was super fast.

DH with his winning ribbon.