Happy New Year- It's 2009!

Wow, it's already the end of 2008! It went by so fast. :) I hope that 2009 will be a wonderful year for your family! Have a Happy New Year!

Scripture of the Day-John 14:3

"And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also." -John 14:3

Almost Back to Normal...

Hi Everyone! I hope that each of you had a wonderful Christmas celebrating the birth of Jesus! Iwoke up on Christmas day and opened my presents with my wonderful family. :) Usually after we open our presents we get ready for my mom's mom to come over. This year she was not feeling up to it so we went to see her at her home. We opened our gifts from her and after a little more visiting with her when headed over to my other Grandma's house. My Aunt Kim, Uncle Bobby, and my cousins, Caroline and Christopher were also there. It was so much fun!We ate a wonderful meal by Grandma, we gathered in the living room to open...you guessed it more presents. Grandma gave Katie, Andrew and I a very special gift this year and we will have lots of fun with it in the coming years. We have wanted one ever since it came out and so Grandma pitched in with my Mom and Dad and bought us a Wii! We have already played it several times and it is so much fun. It makes you feel like you are actually playing, for example bowling. Thank you so much Grandma, we will enjoy it a lot! :) Our Christmas decorations are going to be taken down and stored away in the attic today. It will be so nice to get back to "normal" when the time comes to take everything down. I have enjoyed every part of my holiday break, but now I think it's time to get back in the swing of things. Just thought I would tell you what I've been up to. Have a wonderful week!

Blessings,

P.S. What do you think of my blog colors? Is it to bold? Please let me know. :)

Christmas Fun with Friends

Last week, we went to Sarah-Anne and Clark's house to spend some time with them before all the hustle and bustle began. While we were there Sarah-Anne, Mrs. Melanie, Mom, and I worked on making some cards for some people. Everyone did a wonderful job and so I wanted to share them with you! *This will be my last post until next week, but I wish everyone a very Merry Christmas as we celebrate the birth of Jesus!

Their house was so pretty with decorations!





We had hot tea and very good food while we were there. Yum! :)
Merry Christmas Everyone!

*Sarah-Anne, Mrs. Melanie, and Clark: Thank you for having us over to your house! We had fun and can't wait until next time. Andrew will be sure to bring his present that Clark gave him. :) He loves it!

Cleaning and Organizing the Kitchen

The other day, Mom asked if I would help her organize the kitchen cabinets. When I started helping her the kitchen was a complete disaster! Dishes were in the sink, on the counter, and the dishwasher was full! It was defintely worth it to get the kitchen cleaned. Because, after we all worked on getting the kitchen in shape we wrapped some Christmas presents! I love making every present look like the persons personality. Very fun! :) Here are a few pictures of our hard work.

*Counter Before*Counter After*Above Stove Cabinets Before*Above Stove Cabinets After*Side Cabinets Before*Side Cabinets After

Many Christmas Blessings,

Emily

Unfading Beauty

Hi Everyone!

I just wanted to let you all know that my sister, Katie has now finished her blog and it is up and running. YAY! :) She would love for you to visit at:

http://unfading-beauty.blogspot.com/

Happy reading!

Emily

Recipe of the Week- Vegetable-Fruit Cream Cheese Ball

I absolutely love this cheese ball recipe! My mom always makes it at Christmas to take to get togethers. We eat it with some whole grain crackers from Sam's Club. It is SO good and I definitely recommend you try this recipe. I could eat it by the spoonful, so you know that it's good. :-)

*Vegetable-Fruit Cream Cheese Ball*

Ingredients:

1/2 of a green pepper, diced

1 and a 1/2 cup chopped pecans

1 tsp. minced onion (or 2 T.)

1 1/2 to 3 tsp. salt

1 small can crushed pineapple, drained

2 (8 oz.) pkgs. cream cheese, softened

1 tsp. onion powder

2 tsp. chives

2 tsp. dillweed

Directions: Mix all ingredients together. Shape into a ball. Cover with additional chopped pecans if desired. Serve with wheat or butter crackers.

Have an amazing week!

~Emily

Gingerbread Houses...

Sorry that it's been awhile but, with the Christmas season here it's been VERY busy at my house. I have been trying to post about this for a really long time. OK, we went to a friends house (the first of the month) to decorate gingerbread houses. My friend Sarah-Anne and her brother Clark were also there. It was a lot of fun! :) I told Sarah-Anne and my brother, Andrew that I would post their gingerbread houses up here when I did mine. So, I hope you enjoy!

Christmas Blessings,
Emily

*Pink and Yellow Candy Cottage-by Me

Candyland-by AndrewRed and Green Coconut Cottage-By Sarah-AnneHere are a few edited pictures of my house...

The 2008 Plum Pretty Award!!!

I want to give the 2008 Plum Pretty Blogging Award to: Meredith, Holly and Katie, Katie (my sister), and the Long Ladies! Congrats to all of you!!!

2008 Plum Pretty Blogging Award Rules

• Give to 4 people.
• Leave a comment on the persons blog to tell them about the award.
• Put the award on your sidebar of your blog.

Have a wonderful week! :)

Emily

A Yummy Giveaway!

Christmas has finally begun and I just wanted to let you all know about a giveaway that my friend Meredith from Striving to Serve at Home is hosting. Meredith is giving away a classic gift box from her company the Dillard's Mill Peanut Company. If you would like to enter into the giveaway then visit her blog here. Get on over there and check it out for a chance to win a wonderful gift for your family or a special friend! :)

*You can also visit the new Dillard's Mill Peanut Company website here.

Have a wonderful Holiday Season!

Emily

P.S. I will be having some very neat posts soon! We have been getting ready for Christmas...

New Look for the Winter Season!

I was wondering if you like my new background for the Christmas/Winter Season? I wanted to keep it pink, but I thought it might need something. What are your thoughts?

Thanks so much!

~Emily

Tagged!

I was tagged by my awesome blogging friend, Meredith.

This picture was taken at a family birthday celebration this year. It was my cousin, my mom and my uncle's birthday. Well, my mom's birthday is in Janaury, my Uncle Bobby's birthday is in Febuary, and Christopher's (my cousin) birthday is in March so we all celebrated together. It was a very good carrot cake, Aunt Kim!

*The rules are as follows: Go to your Picture file, go to the 5th folder, open up the 5th picture, post it, and tag 5 people. I am tagging The Long Ladies, Liz , Mrs. Lori , Kelli, and Lindsay.

Have a nice week everyone!

Emily