Saturday, December 26, 2009

Beautiful Holiday

In spite of Michael's basement flooding yesterday, dogs trying to rip each other's heads off, forgetting ingredients for the nacho dip, Michael not realizing the stores would be closed so he wouldn't be able to get the sandwich rolls and burnt Brussels sprouts....we had one heck of a wonderful day! I hope you did too.

Matt, Rebecca and Moki fixing breakfast
Michael got his flooding under control and was able to get to our house by dinner. The dogs loved each other one minute and were trying to kill each other the next. I somehow forgot the taco seasoning for the nacho dip, but Irv found some at Walgreens of all places, and bought some small dinner rolls that worked for the sandwiches and the Brussels sprouts.....well, lets just say...they were pretty ugly!

Rebecca and Moki
Like I have always said, I don't get stressed over things like that. The dog issue is a bit unnerving, just because I wouldn't want any one's dog to get hurt, but they seem to work things out themselves as dogs usually do.

Chris, Tresa and Moki
Rebecca's little dog, Moki is about the funniest little dog I have ever seen. If the big dogs even look at her the wrong way, or what she interprets as the wrong way...man that little 3 pounder growls and snaps and the dogs back off like she was a big pit bull. We have had more laughs over her BIG attitude this week.

Rebecca and Sparky
On Christmas Eve when Rebecca's flight was due in, we just kept hoping that the weather would cooperate and she would get here on time. Well, her flight from Grand Junction to Denver was delayed and she missed her flight to Chicago!! Thanks goodness they had added a flight and she got in an hour later than expected. The plane was almost empty and she had 5 seats to herself!

Tresa refusing to smile for a picture
I have saved some pictures for other posts, but here are a few from Christmas at the Kroll's.

Moki the Magnificent

Matt unwillingly trying on Rebecca's new scarf


Nice fit
Bernadette and Michael keeping an eye on the wii scores

Have a wonderful rest of the day! Chat with you soon.

I'm Here!

I didn't fall asleep last night until about 3:00 a.m. and slept really really late....8:00 a.m. I have lots of pictures to upload and stories to write about, but right now....I am headed out into the snow to get some bagels and Starbucks!!

I'll be back a bit later!

Hope everyone had a wonderful holiday!

Friday, December 25, 2009

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas to you! I hope you have a wonderful day today. Remember to smile, hug the ones you love...and maybe even the ones you don't love....you never know... you just might make their day. I hope your day is filled with family, good food with lots of laughing and lots of love. Make it the best day ever and I will chat with you tomorrow.

Thursday, December 24, 2009

It's Christmas Eve!!

I almost forgot to post the awesome stuff I got in a little gift exchange I did. It was organized by Angela of Pickles on Pizza fame. I was so excited when I opened my package from Creative Coquette at Foxy Monster! Some little birdie told her that I LOVE socks, and she sent me these! They are just so soft and so warm....I could live in them.

Then as if the socks weren't enough, she sent me this darling gingerbread girl necklace from her shop. It is so cute. I wore it to work the next day and got tons of compliments on it. Isn't it just the best?

So, here it is Christmas Eve. I am cleaning house this morning and then just chilling out. We normally stop by Irv's nephew's house on Christmas Eve, but we need to see if and when Rebecca's flight gets in. The weather is suppose to be horrific over much of the country today so we are playing it by ear.

Later this evening, we will be popping in some frozen pizzas that Irv will work his magic on and just enjoy each others company. Tomorrow it will be a full house....full of family, food, fun and DOGS!

Enjoy your day and if you are celebrating Christmas today....I hope it is the best ever!

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

He's Home

Matt arrived at 9:00 last night. He drove 8 hours on Monday afternoon and evening to get himself over the mountains and a little past Denver. That left 14 hours for yesterday. He managed to beat the bad weather and his trip was uneventful....just the way mommy likes it.

There were some nice big hugs, we introduced Luna and Maggie, Matt had a bowl of vegetarian chili and then off he went to see his brother. He stayed overnight at Michael and Bernadette's house and was heading out this morning to do some shopping.

Irv and I both took today off. My plan is to put on some Christmas music and do some baking. The weather is suppose to be nasty, so I'm happy to stay inside. Irv has some shopping to do. Rebecca's (Matt's girlfriend) flight comes in at 3:00 p. m. tomorrow. We are hoping the weather will be okay by then. That will also mean one more dog introduction.

Smile, be grateful for all that you have, hug someone you love, enjoy your day and I will chat with you soon.

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Deck the Halls

Little note: Matt decided to leave Telluride early because of all of the nasty weather that was about to descend on Colorado, Iowa and Illinois. He drove through a blizzard coming home one year and it was not fun, so I think this was a very wise decision. He called last night when he stopped for the night and he has 14 hours to go! That means if all goes well....he will be home early this evening!!!!! Chee Hoo!

Here are the last of our special Christmas decorations....

This little beauty was made by one of the boys....not sure which one any more...the initials on the bottom are MK...which could be either. It's made from a plastic bottle covered with tissue paper. The face is drawn on and then he has cotton sticking out of the top of the bottle as the white on the end of his hat. He has definitely taken a beating over the years, but he's hanging in there.

This lovely clay snow man was made by Tresa in 1982. He weighs a ton and he's full of cracks....but with very careful handling...he could be around for a while yet.

And last, but definitely not least.....the famous and infamous "Blue Angel". What on earth was I thinking when I bought this tree topper....and yes, I really did buy it. I thought she was so cute....at the time. The kids loved her though and every year they took turns being lifted into the air by daddy to place the wonderful little angel on the top of the tree. It was such an honor. She no longer graces the top of the tree, but does still get the respect she so deserves with a spot on the living room shelf!

Now we just have a big, clear snowflake that I wire to the top of the tree. I've never been able to find something that I really like, but I keep looking. One day I will find it.

What tops your Christmas tree if you have one?

Monday, December 21, 2009

I Feel Like I Am Back In Kindergarten.....

and it's Show and Tell time!! Here is what I want to share with you today.....

Irv and I did a fine job at the grocery store on Sunday. We had to put one of the seats down in the Prius to get it all in! All I can say is that people better be very hungry when they are here.


Remember the cute little candle holders I bought at IKEA for 49 cents each? Here is what I did with some of them.

I LOVE hot chocolate in the winter. I bought some of the little individual packages and put them out on the table for whoever might want some this week. I also included goodies that Irv got as gifts last week....candied pecans, fudge and chocolate covered pretzels. I'll add some cookies when they are done and I will also put out some holiday tea bags and then people can just make want they want and enjoy....and I won't forget the FLUFF!

Here is what I did with all of the little old ornaments that I didn't hang on the tree. Bern already checked them all out when she was here Saturday. She loved the idea.

Many, many years ago we had some friends that lived across the street from us. They moved to Mississippi...but one year when they were out Christmas shopping they came across this hard cover book. It isn't one of those books you have made to include people's names....this is a honest to goodness book....and yes, Kroll is our last name! Isn't that awesome? I display it every year.

My shopping is done, the gifts are all wrapped, the house is clean and now all I can do is wait.......

Are you ready?

Sunday, December 20, 2009

Holiday Preparations

Yesterday was a wonderful day. I started cleaning the house and when it was time to take a little break, I made some hot chocolate and an English Muffin, put on some Christmas music and watched the snow fall. Then it was back to work.

In the afternoon, Irv and Bernadette met at the local park to introduce their Aussie Teagan to our little Maggie on "neutral " ground. It went well. Four dogs familiar with each other....now just two more to throw into the mix next week!

Bern wanted place mats for her dining room table. She found a tablecloth and napkins in the fabric she wanted, but no place mats. She didn't want a tablecloth, but the smart little girl bought it along with the napkins and decided to make her own. She brought the fabric over and we figured out what size she wanted and how many she could get out of the tablecloth. She left and headed over to the fabric store to get the fabric for the backs and the thread. She'll get it all washed and dried tonight and as soon as we can, we'll get together, get them cut and sewn. The fabric was awesome and they will look fantastic when she gets them done.

After that I sat and put the finishing touches on the menu for Friday's dinner. We will have eight people.....two are vegetarians and one is gluten free...so coming up with something yummy for everyone is fun and challenging.

I ended up with pork roast, roasted new potatoes, cheese and potato pirogi from a great deli, a broccoli cheese casserole if I can find gluten free cream of mushroom soup....if not, broccoli with toasted garlic and hazelnuts, roasted Brussels sprouts with pecans and a wonderful green salad. I am hungry just thinking about it.

We'll have lots of snacks, and I'm going to get some packages of gourmet hot chocolate in a variety of flavors and a great big jar of marshmallow fluff!!

Today we will be buying baby food and other baby things to add to the bags for our local food pantry. Haven't bought that kind of stuff in about 26 years!

Matti and Luna will be leaving Telluride early Tuesday morning. He will stop somewhere for the night and then finish the journey on Wednesday. I can't wait for him to get here. His girlfriend, Rebecca, is flying in on Christmas Eve. We are hoping for good weather so her flight gets in on time. We'll pop some pizzas in the oven and chat the evening away......

Is anything better than this time of year? I don't think so.

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