Christmas can't be very far away...

One thing about my husband that you may not know is that he has 4 brothers. 3 older and 1 younger so that makes him #4. This past year the oldest brother and his wife (married for 10 years with my 2 nieces) came up with an idea for a family Christmas present. Genius right? Each brother (& wife) compiled pictures of the events from their past year and had it printed into a book from Shutterfly. It's a great family yearbook to look back at the past year.

We could have even turned it into a calendar.

The other great thing about Christmas?
...lights? (love them, but no)
...family? (love them too, but no)
...food?  (yumm-o!, but no)


Cards. Who doesn't love receiving all the extra mail for a month?!? Now I combine my love of photography and the excitement of Christmas cards all at the same time!! Usually it takes me forever to choose just one design . I'm the kind of person that would choose variety. Luckily Shutterfly offers tons of choices to pick from. When doing some initial browsing, here are my criteria:


-Say Merry Christmas because I'm traditional like that
-1-3 pictures
-something that tickles my fancy :) 


like this one:

Now if you want to get in on the Christmas fun you can!

Share on Twitter or Facebook: Bloggers get 50 free holiday cards from Shutterfly http://bit.ly/sfly2010 

5 Day Christmas Extravaganza--with pictures

We knew very early on that this year was going to be like no other...at least we can hope. I say that because we were BUSY. Everyday, we were going somewhere else. Let me explain.


Day 1: Christmas Eve- 4 out of 5 brother were home today. Which meant lots of catching up and a lunch with Granddad..yum. :) Followed by a Christmas Eve service at church. Once the family was settled after the service (all comfy again) with good food from a late dinner in our bellies, we played a family game of charades. Let's just say the "wedded" team lost even though we had 4 players. A combination of pushing the button at the wrong time and just plain hard words like "gas giant"--try picturing your mother in law doing that one--led to our demise.


Day 2: Christmas! The alarm---ohh yes, alarm--went off at 7:45 so that we could shower, pack, and be on the road by 9 to visit my family in Woolrich (the town where the store started/has the mill where things were made). It's a 2.5-3 hour drive.

We arrived during the present opening. Normally this happens after the food, but they were trying to wait for us to eat. I was very thankful. 

So we opened, we ate, we chatted and of course there was the opportunity to test out some of the gifts.

 This is one of my gram's cats that she saved from a shelter..Miss Daisy.

Day 3: A Clark Christmas Our time there was short lived because on Saturday the alarm sounded at 7:45am again to head back to Shillington for the Clark family Christmas gathering. I'm glad we were able to work it into our schedule because the WHOLE family was there. Even my sister in law who is scheduled for a c-section tomorrow [more on this later]

Here is the Clark Family Run-down. 

4 generations.1 Great-Grandfather who has 3 children w/ 3 spouses.

Those 3 parental units have a combined total of 13 kids--who now have 7 spouses.

And there are 4 great grandchildren (and 2 on the way)

If you lost count there are 30 people in this picture (but 1 spouse & 1 fiance are missing)

[it's a good thing they had stairs big enough]

Day 4: Zelinske Christmas Today ended up rather full as well. Church, V&S lunch [courtesy of Granddad & Pete], Eagles game, & gifts with my parents & grandmother.

Day 5: The finale I've dubbed this day the finale because I have nothing on my mental calendar after this day. Monday is Shady Maple with my Zelinske cousins to stuff more food into my stomach. But even more exciting is the birth of my 2nd niece. This is very exciting to me. The last time a baby came into the Linsky family, I was not even engaged yet. Wow--maybe we'll be next ;).

Now we have unpacking, organizing, and I'm sure some relaxing to do during this final week of vacation. The only present that I'm still hoping to get is a JOB. hahah 

Hopefully I have some awesome news to write about...meeting the next little baby girl. Otherwise, you may just hear some more about this year's extravaganza.

Merry Christmas!

Not sure how much I'll be posting the next couple days, because we STILL don't know how our traveling is going to work out due to weather. 

So I'll leave you with this...Our Christmas card that was NEVER printed or sent out because I wanted a winter picture of us. hahah. ohhh well.

Christmas is here

Really, I can't believe that Christmas is this week. Even though I put up a tree after eating Thanksgiving dinner, and even though I put up our "tree", and even though I've been listening to Christmas music for quite awhile, it still does not feel like Christmas is on Friday!

Why?? I think it's because I have had little to worry about in the way of buying gifts. Because of our current situation, it was pretty obvious that we would not be buying gifts for anyone. I have however, spent a good deal of time making gifts for people. [it's much cheaper that way..usually]


Here is one project...or at least part of a project. [I can't show the final project yet...since it is a Christmas present for someone] I used a cricut machine and it was lots of fun. I experimented with printing numbers, letters, and shapes of all kinds and sizes. (this was taken in the midst of experimentation)

I'm happy to say that all gifts are finished, so I have some wrapping to do. Maybe tomorrow it will feel like Christmas when Greg is done with school.

T-minus 2 days until another brother comes home.
T-minus 4 days until Christmas.

T-mines 7 days until another niece is born!

...now to think of some more projects.

Christmas Lights

I must admit that this year, I am saddened there are only a few strings of lights on the house. However for you to fully understand what I mean I think it's important to tell you we probably have at least 50 strands of lights that have been used before to decorate our house for Christmas. For example, here is what was NOT used this year. Normally I would expect these 3 boxes of lights to be strung all around the inside and outside of the house. [fyi-they are big boxes] ...maybe next year. Yesterday, while out with the pups (playing in the snow) I decided to take a little video to add some Christmas spirit to my blog...AND to let you all have a sneak peak at our (Greg's) Christmas Light Show. Enjoy! [make sure to have your speakers on!]

A Zelinske Tradition

Ever since I can remember, my grandfather, Bum as we called him [maybe more on that name later] always made cut out cookies. Since they were soo tasty, my parents got the recipe and it was the one cookie that we made and ate EVERY year. Well, Bum passed away September of 2008 and I the cookies took on a whole knew meaning. Now they aren't just a cookie but they remind me of him.

So in honor of him, I took my first crack at it. My directions more or less were to cream butter & sugar, add the egg, vanilla, baking powder, and flour. Roll out, cut out, bake for 6 minutes (depending on your oven). GREAT this should be a piece of cake.

But no...then came the exceptions. 

"Well," my mom said, "I'm never sure how thick to roll them. 

If you roll them too thick they won't cook (aka raw egg), 

and if you roll them too thin they will burn." 

My response....

"How on earth am I supposed to know how thick or thin to roll them."

My mom's response...

"Roll one set and bake them. If they come out okay, you did it right.

If they burn or don't cook, you did it wrong."

Ohhh of course! Why didn't I think of that. Without a real clear answer (and by the way I left out the conversation about whether it should be butter or shortening) off I went with the recipe with no intention to make them this weekend due to other plans. We tried going to church this morning, but we have to use a windy and hilly road to get there. We got about 85% there when we hit a stoppage of cars on a hill that we classified as a "sheet of ice". So no church today, we turned around and came back home. 

Which leads me to my cookies. The first batch was thick--they were in the oven for quite awhile, and although they were checked frequently they got a little brown...really only a little. So I rolled the next 2 batches better (at least in my opinion). And here they are in all their sprinkled glory (next time I will be using colored sugar...sooo much better than sprinkles). They are a little crunchy..not burnt...crunchy. They look pretty, but someday I'll have to try again to do them justice.

 

 

**Now for my grandfather's name, Bum. The story is that he would always tell the first Zelinske grandchild (not me, I'm the 3rd) "You're a bum." and eventually my cousin responded..."No, your a bum". So the name was born, Bum...or Bum-Bum because we repeated cool names like that.

The best Christmas present

It's always interesting to me to ask people what their favorite present is, or ask what is the best present they've ever received. Lots of answers tend to include something that holds value. Not monetary value (although that could come with it), but usually more for the reason of love or memories from the person that gave it to them. I happened to be talking with my brother (in-law) and as we are ALL very budget strapped this year we are all looking for ways to give someone we love something but that doesn't cost a ton of money. When you are looking for something that is cheaper to do, it usually [not always] means making something--and truly some of the homemade gifts can be the best. So that's what he's doing..and I have to say it is going to be amazing. He thought of an idea, but wasn't sure if it was possible and Katy to the rescue. I'm taking care of the girly appearance--AKA no messy manly handwriting, and he is taking care of the rest. I really hope she is going to LOVE it, even though I'm pretty sure she will. I can't wait to post pictures of it...after Christmas of course, just in case she happens to read this. I think what I'm most excited about is that I get to use one of my loves/hobbies for something USEFUL and for someone else's benefit...not just for random things.



On the super plus side, I was summoned to jury duty again for Monday. (I was supposed to have it in September but didn't have to go). Much to my surprise I do not have to go on Monday, and I can go to work since I already have a day scheduled. phew! what a relief.


Now, I'm off to organize and design my plan of attack. Now if I could only think of something for my hubby.

The First Snowfall

The first snow is always anticipated and welcomed with open arms. Most likely because we haven't seen it or enjoyed it for since the end of last winter (February/March). But I can truly and honestly say that I haven't seen a snowfall as beautiful as this for a very long time. First of all I have to mention that Berks County, PA usually gets nothing compared to what they are forecasting so when they forecast 1-3 inches, we tend to get zero-nada snow. But yesterday to my surprise it started. Early in the storm it switch back and forth between a rainy snow and a heavy snow. We don't normally get heavy, wet (snowball snow) unless the rain comes after to dissolve it all away.

I was so excited to have THE MOST BEAUTIFUL drive to church this morning. Glad the hubs was driving so I could simply savor the splendor that we were driving through. The trees and woods that lined the roads all had branches coated with white while the sun began to glisten through branches and simply sparkle off the snowflakes and ice. The snow on the ground, was untouched by humans (maybe just a straw animal print here or there). It was so absolutely perfect. If it hadn't been a Sunday and I wouldn't have been on my way to church I would have had about 500 pictures to share with you. But instead, you are left with just some of what I got yesterday while it was snowing.

 Our view from atop

Beautiful, just beautiful.

What better winter combination could there be than Christmas lights and snow?

 The house decorations thus far...hopefully soon Greg (and I since his back is still injured from Thanksgiving) will be back out there to be the brightest house on the block.

 Stay tuned for more Christmas lights to come. Happy Winter Wonderland everyone!

Tis the season to give and receive...

Christmas Cards.

I start looking as soon as I see them. Naturally there are so very many that I like, uhh..no  scratch that...LOVE. Then it comes time to decide. Luckily I was born with an innate ability to talk myself out of things. Of course looking at prices helps--but sales do not. So when faced with the decision of buying customized cards (buy 50 get 25 free!) I almost caved...until I realized it would cost closer to $50.00 plus shipping. That my dear friends is NOT in the budget. Plus I don't think I would even need that many. My correspondence list is rather slim.


So off I went to my dear Photoshop program. Even looked back at last year's card so as to not do anything similar and yet simultaneously be inspired. (My how things have changed in a year)

 Still not inspired, I turned to pages and pages of other customizable cards. I am happy to report that I found an idea that I like and tried to replicate in a similar (not identical) pattern. And I am very happy with it...even ecstatic to get them sent out. The puppies had their "photo-shoot". I was going to get our picture tonight, but the hubby was putting up Christmas lights and re-injured/popped something in his back---so maybe tomorrow. As soon as that is all set, they will be signed, sealed, delivered. Can't wait to see the finished product! And not to mention getting your cards in the mail.

Christmas-fying: Step One

Recently, I've been saddened by the fact that our 'married' Christmas tree would be unused this year--well more to say that we don't have room for it this year. Luckily Walmart came through for me and provided me with a real tree for our tiny space: a Norfolk Pine.

 So I added a short strand of white lights and some mini blue, green, and silver ornaments. Complete with a silver star on top.

And our Charlie Brown Christmas tree was complete!!

Can't wait to put up the rest of the lights. :)

Christmas can't be very far away...

Thanksgiving is here, literally--it's tomorrow. For me Thanksgiving has always been a time of hopping in the car and driving multiple hours to visit family. After the turkey is eaten and the tryptophan has worn off it means it's time for Black Friday shopping. My cousin, my brother and I were always left under the care of the men in the family while my mom, aunt, and grandmother hit the stores armed with their list--well at least 2 lists (my cousin's & my brother's). I truly must be the WORST Christmas list maker in the world. 

I mean sure--when I was younger I had lists..at least I remember circling almost every toy in the Toys'R'Us catalog, but then again that was when Santa (my Pappy) was calling me on Christmas Eve to make sure I was going to bed early. Since I've been a teenager, there have always been one or two things that would be "my list". This year is a whole different story.

I actually find myself asking my HUSBAND what I should put on my Christmas list--WHO does that? Now you might ask, why am I so worried about my list? Well, let me tell you. My grandmother asks for it at Thanksgiving even now...which means TOMORROW. I have always been the practical one--so naturally my list is pathetic. So pathetic my husband laughs. "Sheets? Who puts sheets on their Christmas list?" My reply: 1-they are expensive, 2-why not? hahahah Well I've wasted time from trying to come up with a list to write this post and now Greg is on his way home and I must leave to deliver my list. Here's to hoping I come up with some better things than slippers (which are a high priority on my list this year). :) Happy Thanksgiving!