Goodbye 2010

In a few hours it will be a new year. It will be January 1, 2011. Does that freak any of you out, because it seems just like yesterday it was January 1, 2010. How time flies.

It's fun, at the end of one year, to think back at what's happened during that year. To see what you've done, accomplished, and haven't gotten to yet. You almost have to look back to look ahead and see what you need to get done. So that you can make a new list of things you want to accomplish.

So now I say, goodbye 2010. It was a good year, but it's almost over. And I'm ready for a new one.

~Haley

Miscellany Wednesday

1. You know what, I didn't take one picture on Christmas day. Isn't that horrible? I didn't even think about it. *sigh* I'll have to do better next year.

2. Did everyone have a good Christmas? I did! What's your favorite thing you got? A few favorites of mine were soundtracks (Bourne ones and Inception), earrings, jewelry box, and books. I spent most of the day in the kitchen cooking, which was fun!

3.  We went to see The Voyage of The Dawn Treader yesterday. I thought Eustace would drive me crazy, but he really didn't. I liked it better than the second one. But one thing I don't get is, why in the world was the White Witch in it?! She was killed in the first one. I don't know what it is, but they just can't seem to let her character go.

4. We're supposed to get a good bit of snow in the next couple of days. The weather people are calling it an "Arctic blast". It wasn't supposed to start until later today, but apparently it's been snowing since last night. We haven't had a good snow this winter, so I'm hoping we'll get a lot from this one. It'll be around until Friday, so I think we will. Hopefully. ;)

5. It will be January 1, 2011 in a few days. That's really strange to think about. I just know I'll accidentally write 2010 the first few times. I can't believe another year is almost over! They just seem to go by faster and faster.

~Haley

Oreo Balls Recipe

Josh and I made these for the first time yesterday and they turned out delicious! They were fun, easy, and pretty when finished. :)

Oreo Balls-

1 package regular size Oreo cookies, crushed
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1 package white almond bark
1 package chocolate almond bark

What to do-

Using a blender or hand held mixer, mix Oreos and cream cheese together. Roll into walnut size balls. Chill for an hour. Melt approximately 3/4 package white almond bark. Stick a toothpick in an Oreo ball and dip it in melted white almond bark. Allow to harden on wax paper, which takes about 15 minutes. While waiting, melt about 1/4 package of chocolate almond bark. When Oreo balls are no longer sticky to the touch, decorate with drizzles of chocolate almond bark. Enjoy! :)

~Haley

Cookies...

Last week I baked a few different kinds of cookies. There's just something about cookies and Christmas that click, don't you think? I love baking Christmas treats! Put on my favorite music and an apron, and I could stay in the kitchen all day! ;)

Have a blessed Christmas week!

~Haley

POTC- On Stranger Tides Trailer

Oh my gosh, when I saw the trailer was out my heart leaped for joy! I love that trilogy and just can not wait for the next one to come out! Yes, I'm just a little excited. :)

Doesn't it look great?! Hans Zimmer is doing the soundtrack, so you know the music's going to be good. It's definitely one of the movies coming out next year that I'm looking forward to the most. But, I guess you could already tell that. ;)

~Haley

Toby Got Dressed Up

A few weeks ago I dressed Toby up for a photo shoot. Aren't his Santa hat and bell collar just adorable? I sure think so! Usually he pulls his hat off right after you put it on him, but this time he didn't because I had treats. ;)

He's too cute!!

~Haley

The Bourne Trilogy

Okay, so what do I say about these movies? I can't think of anything else but they are great, terrific, very action packed (which I absolutely love), really cool, and definitely some of my favorites!

A couple of nights ago Mom, Pop, and I were watchig the last one on TV. It was pretty dumb to watch it because, although I'd seen the last one four or five times, I'd never seen the first two, Mom had never seen any of them, and Pop had seen them all.  After five minutes of commercials (and they were still going strong) Pop suggested just putting the dvd's in. We put Bourne Identity in, and liked that one so much we went right ahead and put  Bourne Supremacy in.

We weren't able to watch Bourne Ultimatum last night, so we'll probably watch it tonight. I can't wait to watch it and know what's going on. ;)

Oh, and in case you're wondering, I am convinced he's the best fighter ever.

Who doesn't like a guy who can handle a gun?

I really liked Marie.

Do any of y'all know who this is? It's Karl Urban- aka Eomer in The Two Towers and The Return of the King. Josh figured that out. ;) He was bad in these, though. :( You can pretty much figure that out by looking at the picture. He looks mean there.

I really liked the music in these, too. It went perfectly with the movies. John Powell did a great job! I want the soundtracks.

Have you seen them? If so, did you like them as much as I did?

~Haley

Some of my favorite Christmas movies...

Are:

The Polar Express

This is the story of a young hero boy on Christmas Eve who boards on a powerful magical train that's headed to the North Pole and Santa Claus's home. What unfolds is an an adventure which follows a doubting boy, who takes an extraordinary train ride to the North Pole; during this ride, he embarks on a journey of self-discovery which shows him that the wonder of life never fades for those who believe. Taken from imdb.

Silver Bells

Widower Christopher 'Christy' Byrne makes his preteen son Danny and daughter Bridget help out on the family tree farm, top priority. His year's highlight is selling their Christmas trees in New York. When Danny is sixteen, he runs away there to pursue his own dream, photography. Museum employee Catherine O'Mara securely helps him with assignments and study facilities. Christy and friendly cop Rip keep looking for Danny. But when contact is finally made, Christy still hasn't learned his lesson and Danny pays another cruel price. Taken from imdb.

The Most Wonderful Time of The Year

 Jennifer Cullen (Brooke Burns) is a single, working mom who has become somewhat of a Scrooge when it comes to the Holiday season. Even her six-year-old son Brian is having trouble believing in Santa Claus. When Jen’s Uncle Ralph (Henry Winkler), a retired police officer, comes to visit for Christmas, he brings along a new friend, a nomad and Jack-of-all-trades named Morgan Derby (Warren Christie). The two met on a flight, and Morgan’s plans to continue on to Denver are canceled when he finds out the city is completely snowed in. Jen is wary of the stranger, but at Ralph’s request, agrees to let him stay the night. She warms up to Morgan, especially when she sees how he interacts with Brian. Uncle Ralph approves of Morgan, too, but Jen’s boyfriend Richard isn’t nearly as receptive.


Meanwhile, Morgan has started to really like Jen, but if she can’t manage to make Christmas about anything more than business, Morgan will be on his way to Denver, and she’ll have missed the opportunity that was right in front of her. Uncle Ralph has done what he can to keep Morgan around, but it’s going to take something more than that to get him penciled into Jen’s long-term plans. Jen just needs to learn “how to do Christmas,” and it turns out Morgan is the perfect one to teach her. Taken from Hallmark.

The Nativity Story

 This is a conflation of the stories of the birth of Jesus found in biblical accounts by Matthew and Luke. Taken from imdb.

The Santa Clause

Divorcee Scott Calvin is disgusted to learn that his ex and her husband have tried - and failed - to break it easy to their 6-year-old son Charlie that Santa isn't real. On Christmas Eve, Scott reads The Night Before Christmas... then receives an unexpected visitor on his roof. When he's startled by Scott's calling out and falls, the Santa impersonator disappears, leaving only an 8-reindeer sleigh and a suit with instructions to put it on if he's involved in an accident. Scott does, and is transported around the town dropping gifts through chimneys until he's taken to the North Pole and informed by a group who claim they're elves that he is now Santa. Charlie is proud of his dad's new job, though Scott's convinced it's a dream. Until his hair turns white, his beard refuses to stay shaved, he gains weight inexplicably, even for his sudden love of junk food... Now he's accepted it, there's just one problem: how to keep it secret from his disbelieving family? Taken from imdb.

A Charlie Brown Christmas

When Charlie Brown complains about the overwhelming materialism that he sees amongst everyone during the Christmas season, Lucy suggests that he become director of the school Christmas paegent. Charlie Brown accepts, but it proves to be a frustrating struggle. When an attempt to restore the proper spirit with a forlorn little fir Christmas tree fails, he needs Linus' help to learn what the real meaning of Christmas is. Taken from imdb.

What are some of your favorite Christmas movies?

~Haley

Sugar Cookies

The other day Josh and I made some sugar cookies. This is the second year we've made them, and I think it's kind of becoming a tradition. :) He likes to ice them, then I go and decorate. We have a lot of fun together! :)

                                     

Which is your favorite?

~Haley

My New Christmas Look

It's December 1, so I thought I would get my new blog look up. :) Yesterday Lindsay totally redid my blog as I sat by, saying if I liked something, wanted it different, etc... She did a great job. Now I have a picture header, bigger posting area, new background, snow effect, a Christmas blog button (go grab one!), and I have my Christmas playlist up, also. :) I'm still trying to get my sidebar stuff back up, but besides that it's all done and I'm loving it! :) Really loving it.

What do you think?

Last weekend I spent decorating the house. We got the Christmas tree out and decorated it Sunday night. Decorating the Christmas tree is my favorite part of  Thanksgiving weekend. This year wasn't as much fun, though, because I did about half of it by myself. Doing it by yourself takes all the fun out of it! Really. Whenever I picture a Christmas tree being decorated, at least half the family's doing it together with Christmas music playing and they're laughing and having a great time. I guess that's what I think of because that's usually how it is for us. I guess it can't be like that every year. Lindsay helped me put the lights on (believe me when I say, Lindsay and me puttng lights up is a funny thing to watch and I already dread having to take that tangled mess down), but then she had some sewing to do. Josh helped put the ornaments on at first, but then he got bored and left. *sigh* Then Mom came towards the end and helped me finish up.

We've had Christmas music playing a lot since November 26. ;) I'm one of those people who can't wait to start listening to it and have to listen to a couple of cd's really early. For me, the breaking point came on September 2. It was cold outside, me and Josh were making soup, and Mom and Lindsay were shopping (they're more strict about waiting, obviously not like me ;). I couldn't help myself.  But after that I waited, like everyone else, until November 26. ;) Actually, no, I didn't. I started playing it around the 20th. The way I look at it, it's a once a year thing, so why not start a little early?

For me, this truly is the most wonderful time of the year (I love that song)! I wait all year for it, and it's here again!

~Haley