This is the time of year where I like to take it all in. The little joys of the season. The wreaths and bows that people hang to remind us that there is a common thread that ties us all together.
I wanted to thank Evi fromSexta-Feira for honoring me with this fun Christmas Award!
1. A Christmas Memory...
As a kid we would go every year to cut down a tree. One year we picked what we thought was a big tree but were second guessing ourselves when the owners of the tree farm were laughing at us and were a bit beside themselves when the tree we picked broke their netting machine when putting it through. Still confident in our decision, it was roped to our car and we were off. The tree was in place at home and once cut, it took up the whole width of the room minus a foot or two. It would not stand up straight so my dad enlisted the help of neighbors to come on over to rope the thing up to the ceiling and upper banister. Mr. White with cigarette in mouth, came in laughing at what he saw. "Geez Jer" was all I remember him saying. But my dad was determined and with a little help that tree was stabilized and ready for the season. The funny thing is when some of our neighbors went to get their trees the workers at the tree farm were still talking about our tree being the biggest they had ever sold!
2. Favorite Christmas Song...
This was a hard one for me because I do like every old Christmas song out there. Sinatra to Bing Crosby... they all take me away to Christmases of the past. But this one always gets turned up loud!
3. All I Want for Christmas...
I want great memories for the beans. As my dear friend Cara would say, just to have them look back when they have their own families and think "WOW that was awesome!" would be the best present.
4. A Wish for 2014...
To continue to grow as a person. For my family to be healthy. And grow lots of stuff!
I wanted to take a minute to thank you all for coming along on this blog journey with me. I know I've said it before but I have really enjoyed getting to know each and every one of you. Wishing you all the happiest of holidays in the days to come!
And because I couldn't just choose a few of you I am passing this award on to all of you!
Haha, your story about the biggest tree is pretty funny. It broke the netting machine? Wowza. Also, love your pictures of the winter wonderland and the kiddos...
Christmas doesn't get much better than this, girlfriend...the Beans window shopping, and undoubtedly getting so excited about Christmas - I miss the snow and the change of the seasons. Thank you for the photos - and your memories. Merry Christmas, my friend - XOXOXOXO
PS - LOVE the tree story - I think we all have one about a too big tree, but to have them talking about it long after you left - yep, I think you win! XOXO
Now THAT'S some snow! Great story. We get all caught up in everything as adults, and are most likely missing the best parts. I know my favorite Christmas memories have nothing to do with things I received. It was time spent and festive activities, for sure.
Really enjoyed this post Nicole! Merry Christmas to you and your lovely family. That snow is a far cry from the warmth of summer here, the noise of the cicadas in the trees outside and the smell of mangoes! Sarah xox
I loved the story of the tree too. The little ones look so cute. When I look back at all the Christmas we have had my best was when the kids were little. There is nothing better than seeing the joy of a childs eyes on Christmas morning.
Such a nice post, Nicole! I love the first photo of your sweet little beans looking in the shop window! You have captured the essence of this lovely season with your beautiful photos. The story of your big Christmas tree reminds me of the movie Christmas Vacation! Just too funny and what a sweet memory. I just know your little family will always have wonderful memories with you to make everything so special. Wishing you and your family the very best during this lovely holiday season, Nicole. Big hug xo Karen
I am in love with the first photo of The Beans and also the Snow Angel pic.
The year we moved to a house with a huge family room, we went for a BIG tree. It was so big that we had to put bolts into the beams and string it up with fishing line. The family room was huge so we got away with it, but never bought such a big tree again.
Your right in wanting to pass on the magic of Christmas to your beans! I am so glad I cam across your blog. I have enjoyed getting to know you and your family as well!! LIz
Oh Nicole.. snow angels and Christmas Memories! Just a perfect post... a well deserved award too! And I am so happy that I have found you through our blogging! Wishing you and all your beans, a very Merry Christmas and a super Happy New Year!
That was so fun to read Nicole! I am still cracking up about the Christmas tree! Hilarious! I hope you have the Merriest of Christmases with your adorable Beans! Lots of love!!
Happy Christmas to you and all of yours Nicole! You are a truly worthy winner of any award and very generous to award it to everyone in return. I love your Christmas tree story, just hilarious. I wonder what your neighbours who had to come and help thought about it all! It is a great memory for you though. I love the picture of the beans in their hats looking in the window and playing in the snow - just perfect. xx
So you had yourself a clark griswold tree :P I love the snow angel photo and the lovely snow scenes. I sure wish it would snow here rather than just be plain cold. Merry Christmas!
That was fun to read. We are huge BNL fans here. We listen to them all the time. I once saw them in concert and ended up with cheese powder all over me because the audience brings it to throw around during "If I Had a Million Dollars," when they mention Kraft Dinner (mac and cheese). I hope you have a wonderful holiday with your family.
Lovely pictures and soo funny about the tree. My son channels his inner Grisewald every Christmas. He loves it all, the lights, music, movies, skating parties and so on. We always say he keeps Christmas in his heart.
What great photos... all those little footprints in the snow remind me of winters past and being little again! :D Hugs and Happy Holidays my sweet blogging sister, Beth P
Pretty photos, Nicole. I love the first one of your children with all the pretty hats! Also what a great idea using cardboard for a chain--I never thought to do that, but I love the texture of it--nice.
Isn't that song just ridiculously likeable?! I don't even usually care for Barenaked Ladies much, but that's one of my favorites on my Christmas mix. Love the pics, esp. the kids looking in the store window--classic!!
Oh Nic! I was giggling so much from reading about your gigantic Christmas tree...what a great Christmas memory to have. And I love what you said about bows and wreaths and bows being is a common thread that ties us all together - SO beautiful!
Wishing you and your family a very wonderful Christmas, my friend! xx
Great pictures! I especially love the snow angel. As for music, my wife has a tape of her high school choir singing Christmas songs from a classified number of years ago and it is still our favorite.
Love, love, LOVED this post. You seem to bring everything back into proper focus Nicole ... do you know you have that special gift? Every time you write something, it's heartwarming, sentimental and spiced up with humour. You get it. You get the simplicity of life and embrace it. You are obviously enjoying life with the Beans and your wonderful husband, and it's such a pleasure to see it (and share it!). Thank you. I loved the tree story ... I'm glad that once that tree was chosen there was no going back! "We can do this" has been a motto in my family all my growing up years, and it's a good lesson. The Barenaked music was great background for this post. I have a good assortment of Christmas music, but must add this Canadian group to my collection, eh! Merry Christmas & Happy New Year Nicole!! Wendy xox
Love your collection of photos and Christmas memories. You have the sweetest way with words that warms the heart through and through. Love the photo of your little bean in the snow. Are you warmer this weekend? We're balmy and rainy and it has melted all the snow and turned everything into a swamp, but I don't mind. At least it feels like spring. Have a lovely weekend Nicole. Cindy
Enjoyed reading your Christmas memories, especially about the far too big Christmas tree (haha), and your pictures are beautiful as well. The first picture of the little beans with their pretty hats in front of a shopwindow is so sweet, must be a favourite photo. Wish you all Happy Christmas days!
Merry Christmas Nic! I love that memory! How sweet;) I'm sure you've already made some wonderful memories for your littles! xoxo Kaara come enter my favorite things giveaway if you'd like ;)
What a fun post! I loved all your stories and pretty holiday images. It can be such a hectic time of year, that it really is nice to just slow down and savor the little things. Wishing you lots of relaxing family time this Christmas! Hugs!
You are the sweetest, Nicole. Generous, kind and mindful. I feel rather blessed to have discovered your blog this year and connected with you. Thank you for always brightening my day. Those snow filled Christmas photos are straight out of a fairy tale and I'm still giggling at your Griswalds mega tree story ;-) Belinda xx
Nicole, this is a great post. Your pictures are gorgeous and I especially like the one with your bean making the snow angel. The story about the tree that broke the netting machine is so funny and is the kind of story that is a tradition to pass down in each generation. The photos of the snow are so beautiful. I hope we will get a little snow down here this winter so our grands can enjoy it. When it snows down here everything gets so quiet for a while because most of the traffic stops because we do not have the snowplows as do places that receive a lot of snow. It takes a while to get things moving again. I hope your family will have the best Christmas ever and a happy and healthy 2014!
Hi Nicole, just briefly stopping by to wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas! I really enjoyed reading your story about buying the biggest Christmas tree, this is the kind of stuff that memories are made off and I am sure that you are able to create some wonderful ones for your own kids :-)! Christina
Happy holidays to you, your husband and the little beans. Loved all the pictures of the little "angles" and the too-big Christmas tree story. All the best for the new year Nicole!
Belated Merry Christmas and early Happy New Year! Your tree sounds like the Griswold family tree from A Christmas Vacation. Very funny! Love the music clip. I didn't know they sang Christmas songs. You always post the best music clips. Yay!
Merry Christmas to you and your family Nicole - have a lovely, crafty, spicy, herby time - Bernice xxx
ReplyDeleteHaha, your story about the biggest tree is pretty funny. It broke the netting machine? Wowza.
ReplyDeleteAlso, love your pictures of the winter wonderland and the kiddos...
Christmas doesn't get much better than this, girlfriend...the Beans window shopping, and undoubtedly getting so excited about Christmas - I miss the snow and the change of the seasons. Thank you for the photos - and your memories. Merry Christmas, my friend - XOXOXOXO
ReplyDeletePS - LOVE the tree story - I think we all have one about a too big tree, but to have them talking about it long after you left - yep, I think you win! XOXO
ReplyDeleteNow THAT'S some snow! Great story. We get all caught up in everything as adults, and are most likely missing the best parts. I know my favorite Christmas memories have nothing to do with things I received. It was time spent and festive activities, for sure.
ReplyDeleteReally enjoyed this post Nicole! Merry Christmas to you and your lovely family. That snow is a far cry from the warmth of summer here, the noise of the cicadas in the trees outside and the smell of mangoes!
ReplyDeleteSarah xox
I loved the story of the tree too. The little ones look so cute. When I look back at all the Christmas we have had my best was when the kids were little. There is nothing better than seeing the joy of a childs eyes on Christmas morning.
ReplyDeletethe beans are so sweet-Merry Christmas Nicole
ReplyDeleteSuch a nice post, Nicole! I love the first photo of your sweet little beans looking in the shop window! You have captured the essence of this lovely season with your beautiful photos. The story of your big Christmas tree reminds me of the movie Christmas Vacation! Just too funny and what a sweet memory. I just know your little family will always have wonderful memories with you to make everything so special. Wishing you and your family the very best during this lovely holiday season, Nicole. Big hug xo Karen
ReplyDeleteI am in love with the first photo of The Beans and also the Snow Angel pic.
ReplyDeleteThe year we moved to a house with a huge family room, we went for a BIG tree. It was so big that we had to put bolts into the beams and string it up with fishing line. The family room was huge so we got away with it, but never bought such a big tree again.
Your right in wanting to pass on the magic of Christmas to your beans! I am so glad I cam across your blog. I have enjoyed getting to know you and your family as well!!
ReplyDeleteLIz
I'm just imagining that huge tree - what a wonderful memory. I hope you and yours have a very happy Christmas.
ReplyDeleteOh Nicole.. snow angels and Christmas Memories! Just a perfect post... a well deserved award too! And I am so happy that I have found you through our blogging! Wishing you and all your beans, a very Merry Christmas and a super Happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteas they say.. go BIG or go home!
ReplyDeleteIt's so fun to read about your memories! Merry Christmas to you and your family, Nicole!!!
ReplyDeleteThat was so fun to read Nicole! I am still cracking up about the Christmas tree! Hilarious! I hope you have the Merriest of Christmases with your adorable Beans! Lots of love!!
ReplyDeleteHaha! I enjoyed reading your answers! :)
ReplyDeleteYour pictures are so beautiful, they made me smile. I love the second one!
Merry Christmas and I hope the new year will bring everything you asked for!
Happy Christmas to you and all of yours Nicole! You are a truly worthy winner of any award and very generous to award it to everyone in return. I love your Christmas tree story, just hilarious. I wonder what your neighbours who had to come and help thought about it all! It is a great memory for you though. I love the picture of the beans in their hats looking in the window and playing in the snow - just perfect. xx
ReplyDeleteSo you had yourself a clark griswold tree :P I love the snow angel photo and the lovely snow scenes. I sure wish it would snow here rather than just be plain cold. Merry Christmas!
ReplyDeleteThat was fun to read. We are huge BNL fans here. We listen to them all the time. I once saw them in concert and ended up with cheese powder all over me because the audience brings it to throw around during "If I Had a Million Dollars," when they mention Kraft Dinner (mac and cheese). I hope you have a wonderful holiday with your family.
ReplyDeleteLovely pictures and soo funny about the tree. My son channels his inner Grisewald every Christmas. He loves it all, the lights, music, movies, skating parties and so on. We always say he keeps Christmas in his heart.
ReplyDeleteWhat great photos... all those little footprints in the snow remind me of winters past and being little again! :D
ReplyDeleteHugs and Happy Holidays my sweet blogging sister,
Beth P
Pretty photos, Nicole. I love the first one of your children with all the pretty hats! Also what a great idea using cardboard for a chain--I never thought to do that, but I love the texture of it--nice.
ReplyDeleteIsn't that song just ridiculously likeable?! I don't even usually care for Barenaked Ladies much, but that's one of my favorites on my Christmas mix. Love the pics, esp. the kids looking in the store window--classic!!
ReplyDeleteOh Nic! I was giggling so much from reading about your gigantic Christmas tree...what a great Christmas memory to have. And I love what you said about bows and wreaths and bows being is a common thread that ties us all together - SO beautiful!
ReplyDeleteWishing you and your family a very wonderful Christmas, my friend! xx
Great pictures! I especially love the snow angel. As for music, my wife has a tape of her high school choir singing Christmas songs from a classified number of years ago and it is still our favorite.
ReplyDeleteLove, love, LOVED this post. You seem to bring everything back into proper focus Nicole ... do you know you have that special gift? Every time you write something, it's heartwarming, sentimental and spiced up with humour. You get it. You get the simplicity of life and embrace it. You are obviously enjoying life with the Beans and your wonderful husband, and it's such a pleasure to see it (and share it!). Thank you. I loved the tree story ... I'm glad that once that tree was chosen there was no going back! "We can do this" has been a motto in my family all my growing up years, and it's a good lesson. The Barenaked music was great background for this post. I have a good assortment of Christmas music, but must add this Canadian group to my collection, eh! Merry Christmas & Happy New Year Nicole!! Wendy xox
ReplyDeleteLooks like you all have been having such a lovely time.
ReplyDeleteLove your collection of photos and Christmas memories. You have the sweetest way with words that warms the heart through and through. Love the photo of your little bean in the snow.
ReplyDeleteAre you warmer this weekend? We're balmy and rainy and it has melted all the snow and turned everything into a swamp, but I don't mind. At least it feels like spring.
Have a lovely weekend Nicole.
Cindy
Enjoyed reading your Christmas memories, especially about the far too big Christmas tree (haha), and your pictures are beautiful as well. The first picture of the little beans with their pretty hats in front of a shopwindow is so sweet, must be a favourite photo.
ReplyDeleteWish you all Happy Christmas days!
Merry Christmas Nic! I love that memory! How sweet;) I'm sure you've already made some wonderful memories for your littles!
ReplyDeletexoxo Kaara
come enter my favorite things giveaway if you'd like ;)
What a fun post! I loved all your stories and pretty holiday images. It can be such a hectic time of year, that it really is nice to just slow down and savor the little things. Wishing you lots of relaxing family time this Christmas! Hugs!
ReplyDeleteYou are the sweetest, Nicole. Generous, kind and mindful. I feel rather blessed to have discovered your blog this year and connected with you. Thank you for always brightening my day. Those snow filled Christmas photos are straight out of a fairy tale and I'm still giggling at your Griswalds mega tree story ;-) Belinda xx
ReplyDeleteNicole, this is a great post. Your pictures are gorgeous and I especially like the one with your bean making the snow angel. The story about the tree that broke the netting machine is so funny and is the kind of story that is a tradition to pass down in each generation. The photos of the snow are so beautiful. I hope we will get a little snow down here this winter so our grands can enjoy it. When it snows down here everything gets so quiet for a while because most of the traffic stops because we do not have the snowplows as do places that receive a lot of snow. It takes a while to get things moving again. I hope your family will have the best Christmas ever and a happy and healthy 2014!
ReplyDeleteMy Christmas wish is to one year have a white christmas! It was 40oC here yesterday!
ReplyDeletex
Hi Nicole, just briefly stopping by to wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas! I really enjoyed reading your story about buying the biggest Christmas tree, this is the kind of stuff that memories are made off and I am sure that you are able to create some wonderful ones for your own kids :-)!
ReplyDeleteChristina
Happy holidays to you, your husband and the little beans. Loved all the pictures of the little "angles" and the too-big Christmas tree story. All the best for the new year Nicole!
ReplyDeleteI hope you get all your wishes in the New Year and more besides!
ReplyDeleteBelated Merry Christmas and early Happy New Year! Your tree sounds like the Griswold family tree from A Christmas Vacation. Very funny! Love the music clip. I didn't know they sang Christmas songs. You always post the best music clips. Yay!
ReplyDelete