Happy New Year!

(photos by google.com)

6 hours, 51 seconds, and counting.....
and we will leave behind 2009
and welcome in 2010!

Happy New Year!

Who knows what the new year will hold?
I hope it will be a year that is filled with:
proud accomplishments
satisfying friendships
great memories
lots of laughter
good health
family fun
service
peace
joy

"Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors,
and let each new year find you a better man." (or woman)
-Ben Franklin

Tonight as I am standing on the porch (banging on a kitchen pan) I will be thinking of you and wishing you all a great new year!

♥
JoAnn

A universal symbol of hospitality....and a delicious treat...

Did you know that the pineapple is considered a universal symbol of hospitality and is used to welcome guests in many societies?

During our family Christmas party on Sunday, we found two of these beauties sitting on our front porch. Our party was starting to wind down, people were preparing to leave, things were being loaded in cars, when we noticed them resting by the door.

No card, no instructions, just two big, fresh pineapples waiting to be discovered.

Well,
We couldn't let our guests leave without sampling the delicious fruit.
The pineapple was chilled, ripened to perfection, and as sweet as honey. It was the perfect ending to a fun evening (and a great palate cleanser)!

We never did figure out who the donor was, but it was one of our favorite gifts.
Not only did we get to enjoy it, but we got to share it with our guests.
THANK YOU!
(I wish I could thank someone personally!)

♥
JoAnn

The best of Christmas.....

(enlarge pictures by clicking on them)

spending time with family....

eating good food.....

(Getting all your favorite recipes put in one book. Thanks, Liz!)


and
being free to express yourself.

"I wish we could put up some Christmas Spirit in jars and open a jar of it every month."
-Harlan Miller

♥
JoAnn

Santa found us!

Here is a brief look at our Christmas so far:


Christmas Eve.....

We started off the evening with a yummy dinner, a crazy game, and more.

Christmas day.....

Maddie documented the whole event....(of course, she only got pictures of our legs and feet)...

Brooklyn slept through it all......

AND

the rest of us are refusing to be seen in our "morning hair" and p.j's!

More coming later......but, it has been a great holiday!

♥
JoAnn

Christmas videos....

Video

I found this video on another blog (bBchronicles) and thought it was perfect for Christmas.
(Thanks for sharing it!)

I think you will enjoy it, too!

Below is another great video. Both are worth your time!


I hope you all have a wonderful holiday and feel the love of the Savior.
Merry Christmas!
♥
JoAnn

Looks like a white Christmas.....stormy day today

Storm front arrived.
Bad air departed.
White Christmas coming (3 more days)!

♥
JoAnn

Teacher gift ideas.....

If you are looking for some cute ideas for
teacher gifts (or work/neighbor gifts)
I LOVE this one!

One of my students and her mom made this cute supply vase. Flowers are always lovely, but they never last and who doesn't need office supplies?
(Did you notice the Life Savers?)

I also saw this cute idea for covering notebook binders on the blog Just a Girl
and I made my own version.

I bought this 6 pack of notepads at Walmart for around $2.00.


Pulled out some scrapbook paper that I like.


Cut a piece of paper and glued it over the binder.

I added a pen and a little calendar.
The total cost is around $2.00 per gift.

Now all I need to do is FINISH some of my other projects.

Did you know that we had to find a new place to sleep last night?
My bed was covered with a big project and I didn't want to move it!!!!

Have a great day!
♥
JoAnn