Saturday, December 27, 2008

Merry Christmas!!

I hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas!! Sorry for such a late post, but we have been busy...and of course one of us is SICK!! My poor oldest came downstairs after being put to bed Christmas Eve and complained of a headache and his throat hurting. Sure enough, he had a low grade fever. He felt awful Christmas day (poor guy!) and was unable to spend the night with his grandpa as planned. He was still feeling bad the Friday after Christmas, so I broke down and took him to the doc fearing strep throat. It was not, but it is a viral infection, so there is nothing we can do, and he is very contagious. Good thing Santa brought us an XBOX for Christmas so we have something to do while sitting at home!

I planned on putting up a few photos, but they all got downloaded to the external drive, and I am too tired to hook it up and edit right now. I will put some up this week, promise.

Now I am off to bed after a busy day of tearing down the Christmas stuff and rearranging the living room!!

Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and looking forward to a happy 2009!

Tuesday, December 23, 2008

Christmas Traditions


As the holiday approaches, quite quickly I might add, and I am stuck here in Midwestern HELL with all the ice, freezing rain and freezing temperatures I thought I would share a few traditions that we do here at the Enderle household.


Trade the old for the new - We go thou all the toys in the playroom and their rooms and get rid of toys they don't play with anymore. If they are still in good condition, we put them all in a box for Santa to take with him to give out to kids that need them


Pajama Elf - We have an elf deliver new Christmas pajamas to our door every Christmas Eve. Then they have nice, new clean jammies on for Christmas morning pictures! =)


Feed the Reindeer - We sprinkle some Cheerios, granola and raisins in the driveway so that the reindeer can have a snack while Santa is visiting.


Elf on the Shelf - This is new one for us this year, but I love it!! The elf is delivered to us by Santa to keep an eye on the boys. He flies back to Santa every night and give him a report. Come Christmas, we lay the box out and Santa takes Bob the Elf with him and will mail him to us again next Christmas.


Christmas Eve Dinner - My daddy's hamburgers on the grill. That's right, no matter what the weather, Gregg is out grilling some delicious homemade hamburger that was my dad's recipe. We have homemade fries too!


Christmas Lights Tour - We have yet to do this one this year. We all get in our PJ's, load up in the car with a thermos of hot chocolate and take off to the nearest neighborhood that our local paper advertised for the best lights! The kids love this. And they THINK they are staying up SO LATE because we are out in the dark...but it gets dark at 6pm =)


I think this is it. I have SO many more I would like to do, just never organized enough or have enough time.


What do you and your family do around the holidays? Leave me a comment or email me, I'd love to hear what you do! I may even try to add it to our list of holiday traditions!!


B

Sunday, December 21, 2008

Isn't he CUTE!!!


I just LOVE this age!! He is 4 and oh so cute. He was singing too! Last year, he just stood there with his hands in his pockets. This year, he was singing. I just love that he goes around the house singing Christmas songs all the time too! He is our singer....and our baby.



Just enjoying family this weekend. We had a Christmas Party with our good friends Matt and Jen yesterday, and a birthday party for one of Jayden's friends that night. Then we watched the DALLAS game, OMG!! If you know me, you know I love football. And to my Texas friends, yes I was cheering on the Cowboys. I can not believe that game!!! It was a shame they lost on the last game of the stadium =( Anyway... Sunday we are just chillin' at home. Watching more football and eating homemade chicken and noodles....mummmm. Considering it is like 10 degrees outside, some warm noodles is a good meal for today.

I am glad we are on Christmas break. I am looking forward to sleeping in, hanging with the kids and making MORE cookies. YUM!!!

Hope you all are having a wonderful weekend.

Friday, December 19, 2008

...and the stocking where hung by the chimney with care...


Christmas at the lake.

We had our Christmas party/gift exchange with my husbands family last weekend. This is the party I said I really don't remember much of, because I was hopped up on cold medicine all weekend. Seriously...that is not like me, but ALL the details are blurry. I know I sat in the recliner a lot! =)

From what I remember, it was a wonderful weekend. After my oldest had a basketball game on Saturday, we headed down, spent the night, opened presents in the morning, and had some delicious cinnamon rolls (thanks Brian) and watched the Colts. It was a great weekend. I do, however, remember my gift, a Kitchen-Aid mixer. You know, one of the BIG daddy's!! It was on my list for the second year in a row, so my in-laws caved and got me one. I am now expected to cook meals, breads, pies, cookies etc. for all of them! =)

Hope you all have a good weekend. Check back soon. My youngest had his Christmas program last Friday, and he looked SOOO cute!!!

Thursday, December 18, 2008

My day yesterday in the ice storm


Yep, boys and girls, that is my car STUCK in our front yard. See how the tire tracks just keep SLIDING to the left!! I was trying to take my first grader to the bus stop around 10am due to the 2 hour delay yesterday. Gregg said "It'll be fine, just put it in 4-wheel drive!" SURE!!! =) We just kept sliding and sliding until I yanked on the E brake to stop. All the while my oldest is screaming in the back seat "Mom, I don't WANT to go to school today!" So, I ran in, put my boots on, and starting walking. Luckily, one of our nice neighbors picked my oldest up and took him to the bus stop so he could go to school. Later, after it thawed out a bit, the car went down the drive just fine so I could pick him up.

I just LOVE Indiana weather...NOT!! Oh WHY did I move from Texas back to HERE!! I can hear my Texas friends laughing all the out here in the snow and ice......{SIGH}

Hope you all are having a good day. Stay tuned I may have more ice photos to come, it is coming our way again. Angie, you picked a GREAT time to escape to a warmer place, so JEALOUS girl!!



Picture of my skating rink...aka my driveway.

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

SOOO SORRY!!

I have been SOOO SICK!! I had the WORST cold EVER!! I haven't been that down in a LONG time!! We had my youngest Christmas program Friday night, my oldest had a basketball game on Saturday then we headed to my father-in-laws lake house for Christmas exchange. I'd love to tell you ALL about it, but all the details are fuzzy. I was SOO hoped up on cold medicine, I'm not even sure I was there! =) I'll will post some pics soon of the above event, promise.

And if you get down with a cold, I recommend taking THIS:


They come it a TON of different flavors, and I TRULY felt a LOT better after drinking just one. (thanks Lisa) I am a firm believer in these, and plan on having them in my house at all times this winter.

Check back soon for some pics from the weekend!

Thursday, December 11, 2008

It's here, It's here!!



The boys where SO excited!! A mystery gift from Santa? Really? We opened it, and inside one box was another box with the Santa shop seal on it!! WOW!! An elf, what is the elf for? We sat down and read the book...."he FLIES TO SANTA EVERY NIGHT!! OH NO we better be good, huh mom?" We named our elf BOB (original, I know! The kids picked it) and the next morning they came RACING down the stairs..."Did he move, did he move? Where is he?" I LOVE IT!!

My oldest is VERY concerned about this elf spying on us. He came downstairs last night after being in bed for a half hour, upset because he is afraid the elf is telling Santa bad things about him!!! They are SO going to be MAD at me when they get older! =)

To get your own Elf on the shelf, click HERE. It comes in a wonderful keepsake box with the OFFICIAL Santa shop stamp on it. Very real. Makes for a great gift too!





Happy holidays!!

Tuesday, December 9, 2008

Favorite things

OK, I'm not as good at this as my friend Angie from Angelica Grace Designs, but I do have a few favorite things that I would like to share. Angie always has some AWESOME finds, and great products...I'll do my best =)










LOVE IT!! They have something for everyone. Recycled newspaper bags, stainless steel wallets, paper bag vases and toy shadowboxes (just to name a few) I love it!! I want to buy it all. Check them out!







I love this magazine. They have some of the best family tradition, crafts, advise and more. I truly look forward to getting this in the mail each month. And so does my 6 year old. He looks through it and marks the pages of the stuff he wants to buy/craft or do. Too cute.





Love this site. Use it ALL THE TIME to cook for my family. I've gotten some great meals off of this site, try it!

Hope you enjoy some of these things as much as I have. Have a great day.

Monday, December 8, 2008

Need a laugh?

I don't usually participate in the whole FORWARDING email thing. I actually can't stand to get most of them myself. But when one comes along that I laugh OUT LOUD, I have to share. Everyone needs a laugh! Got these from a girlfriend last week (thanks Kristi!) so I thought I'd share my laughter.













Happy Monday!

Sunday, December 7, 2008

The view from my couch


As I sit on my couch last night sipping my hot tea (WISHING I could snap my fingers and have a Starbucks salted carmel hot chocolate) after a long day of cookie baking and pre-making snacks for football Sunday, I decided I love my Christmas decorations. And almost every one of them have a meaning behind it. So I thought I would share. Follow along the photo if you'd like.

In the very front, bottom of the photo is our round table with a tablecloth over it that my mother in law made me. (table is also from my in-laws house). It also matches the tree skirt (not in the photo) that she made Gregg and I when we first got married. Sitting on top of that table is a basket full of greenery and poinsettias. This was made by my father many years ago. It is from my families very first Christmas tree. When my parent got rid of it, dad made me and my sisters a basket full of our first Christmas tree.

On top of the TV cabinet is a little lighted tree. This tree my mother made. She makes these as gifts. Next to the lighted tree is a nativity scene. This nativity scene is so cute!! They are little children. This came from my grandmother. Behind it is a poinsettia and greenery. This came from my Aunt Bernice's house after she died.

On the table with the lamp, there is two picture frames. One holds a picture of Gregg and I with my parents on one of my dads last Christmas'. The other holds Gregg and I's first Christmas as a married couple. Even the lamp is a favorite heirloom. I have a matching set of these that used to be in my parents room for many years.

The stockings hanging on the stairs are made by me at a moms club craft night when I lived in Ft. Worth Texas.

It makes me sad to think all the people I love that made or gave me these wonderful gifts are in heaven now (Except my mom and Gregg thank goodness). But I am also thankful that I have all these wonderful memories to look at during the holidays while I enjoy the view from my couch.


Boys making cookies

Friday, December 5, 2008

LOVE IT!


Peppermint Mocha Twist
LOVE IT
My wonderful friend, Angie over at Angelica Grace Designs mentioned this a few blogs ago, and I have been dreaming of one since. Now, I am NOT a Starbucks junkie....in fact this may be my 5th Starbucks coffee I have purchased ever...and there is LOTS more to come. I LOVE it!! So sweet and good. Mmmmmm...I think I could have another. Of course, no one warned me to order it non-fat....good grief. I went on the Starbucks website so I would get the correct name, and it shows the calories, fat etc. on their website....not recommended. But it is OH SO GOOD!
Thanks Angie for opening up a WHOLE new addiction for me =)




This is it!


This was the photo I was trying to get the other morning...but was too slow. My oldest was putting on his shoes in the living room and yelled "MOMMY MOMMY come see this! WOW! You should go take a picture of THAT!" So I grabbed my camera and ran.


...THIS is a beautiful sunrise...right out my back door....
On my way out. The little one says he is back on track, so we are off to preschool, then I am out to do some more Christmas shopping. Half priced books, I LOVE that store!! =)
Have a blessed day!
B

Thursday, December 4, 2008

Are you KIDDING ME!

More sickness in the Enderle household. My littlest got up with almost a 103 degree fever!! AHHH.... He is resting now, but we may have a doctor visit in our future.

So, how do you like the new website? Anyone have any trouble? Please leave me a comment or email me on your opinions, I'd love to hear them!! I'm so excited about this new site. It just looks so much more professional, put together, and so much easier to order from.

Give me some feedback!! Let me know what you think!!

B

Wednesday, December 3, 2008

It's here, It's here!!

Big Thank you to Karen at Modern Image for helping with all the HTML mumbo jumbo, I am so LOST when it comes to that !! Thank you!!
I love it, and I hope you do too!!! If you are a past customer and either don't see your gallery anymore or can't get into your gallery, please email me at brendaenderle@hotmail.com
Not to worry, I still have your prints and you can still order, I just may not have got your gallery up yet.
Let me know what you think! Leave me a comment, please!
Thanks
B

Dontcha hate it when...


..your stomach is turning inside out? My sickness yesterday was a stomach bug and it was not fun. I think that is the first time EVAH that I haven't eaten for a whole day...it was awful.


I seem to be better this morning thou, although I am still afraid to eat, I think I'll hold off until lunch =) I am off to volunteer in my son's first grade classroom today. I hope I don't puke while I'm in there...how embarrassing =)


I know I promised a new web site, and it is coming soon. Ran into a few technical difficulties and I'm waiting on my IT people to email me back. But I hope to have it up in a day or two.


Stay tuned...


B

Tuesday, December 2, 2008

Sickness and snow...


That's right...I caught the sickness. Not as bad as the kids, I hope, but none the less, I am NOT 100%. The little one and I are home today hanging out. My oldest got on the bus this morning. Although, he tried to fight it because he said his bed was just to comfy and cozy to get out of...I know EXACTLY what he means.


So, all you get today is a picture of my backyard, with a little bit of snow....from my window. Hey, it did cause me to clean the window so I could take the shot. Yeah, I think my chores around the house are done for the day now =)

Monday, December 1, 2008

I just LOVE the holidays!


We had a wonderful holiday filled with family and friends! We headed to my aunts as we do every year to eat with all my cousins on Thursday. Then headed to the lake house to hang with my husbands family on the holiday. Friday, we had a great party at my sister-in-laws for my husbands family. It was a reason to celebrate, there was family and friends in town that we haven't seen in a while. So, what better reason is there to set up the studio and take some family shots. Love these.









Then we had our Christmas party with my family at our house on Saturday. This was so much fun! We do the silly gift exchange, and steal each others presents. Then we sit and play games ALL NIGHT. If you haven't played it yet, you need to add this to your collection if you love to play games. APPLES TO APPLES....my family LOVES this game. It is so fun. Then we played a music game called RIFF , and it was neat to found out what music everyone was an expert in. Then around 11pm we started Catch Phrase...LOVE this game. This is a tradition at our party. We have played this game at our Christmas Party since the game came out...love it! Photos below are of my mom and sister. My mom isn't the BEST at this game, but she sure was entertaining =) Lots of giggles =)



This is my baby niece...too cute!

So, that was my weekend. Filled with lots of family and friends. Now, I am stuck at home with two sick kids =( My oldest got sick last night (no fever thou) and my 4 year old has a horrible cough...and it is SNOWING!! I'm going to go out and take some shot of the snow in a little bit...maybe. =) I'm trying to get motivated to get leave my warm cozy home just for a few photos =)
Hope you all had a wonderful holiday!