Happy New Year!

To leave the old with a burst of song,
To recall the old and forgive the wrong,
To forget the things that bind you fast,
To the vain regrets of the year that's past;
To have the strength to let go of your hold
Of the not worth while of the days grown old;
To dare go forth with a purpose true,
To the unknown task of the year that's new;
To help your brother along the road,
To assist with his work and lift his load;
To add your gift to the world's good cheer,
Is to have and to give a HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!

11 years

In our family there are a lot of celebrations packed in the last week of the year.  There is Christmas, then on New Year's Day is my son's birthday.  And the day after Christmas is our wedding anniversary, which we both forgot this year.  I just remembered today.
Here is to 11 years. 

(this was our cake topper, made by one of David's friends from a photograph of us before we got married)

Snow day in Arizona

It's hard to believe that I have not seen snow falling in almost a decade.  My kids have been asking for snow and we've been trying to catch some snow events in Phoenix.  A snow event is usually a few tons of snow dumped by a truck at a park.  A few weeks ago we heard that there is 'snow fall' every night at a local shopping center.  But we were disappointed to learn firsthand that this falling snow (it was falling for real) was soap suds.
Yesterday we were going to give it another try looking for snow and we went downtown Phoenix at Patriot Square.  We even got trinkets and things to decorate a snowman.  Patrick brought a magician hat, Maggie took her whistle/flute to use it for a nose (we were out of carrots).


Snow we found but not enough for a snow man.  I am not sure how much snow was there earlier in the day, but when we go there there was a little tiny hill of snow with a lot of wet grass and mud around it.  But that didn't matter because there was enough for a snow ball fight.




I think they really enjoyed themselves, because when I asked if they were ready to go home Maggie yelled at me: '5 minutes'


My mom said if I moved back to Nebraska I'd have snow right in my back yard.  But I think I prefer a shovel-free driveway in Arizona for now.

Santa came through the doggy door

We don't have a fireplace, and this fact concerned Patrick.  How will Santa be able to come and drop presents off?
My husband told him that in our house Santa comes through the doggy door.  We are so thankful to our dog Worf for letting Santa in.
Everyone is busy now playing with their toys that Santa brought.

Robot wallet

My son asked me to make him a robot wallet.  So I did.

Tree saplings

I heard that Home Depot has a pile of Christmas tree saplings and they are free.  So I picked up a bundle.


I had a few old chocolate and licorice cans, and they made perfect containers for the branches.





And I had also made a few Christmas tree pins to continue my abandoning, but instead of that I gave them to the ladies in the post office and one to my mail lady.

Together

It's a rare occasion that we are all in one photograph.  But here we are.

Home

I 'borrowed' this photo from a friend that posted it on Facebook.  This is home, this is where I grew up.  It does look a little different, the statue of Alexander the Great on his horse is new, it wasn't there 17 years ago.  Somewhere off to the side of this location is also where Mother Theresa of Calcutta was born. 
For a long time I didn't really miss Skopje, my city.  I didn't really miss my country, Macedonia.  I miss it now.  And although I most likely will never live there again I sometimes like to daydream about it.

A little devil inside an angel

She looks like a little angel, but there is a tiny devil inside her.  When my husband picked her up from preschool yesterday, she told her class: Goodbye suckers!!


Goodbye suckers??????
Ahhhhhh I love her!

Leftover ribbon and lace

Some leftover pieces of ribbon and lace, too small for a big project, were perfect for making and decorating these tiny felt trees we made.

Around town