Oh Christmas Tree and Our Family

This past weekend we finally found a day that all our kids would be together so we could go get our Christmas tree. (It was Saturday on the way to my parents’ home for our Christmas with the Sensenig clan) So we left for Esbanshades in Lititz for our tree. This year we had a gift card for the store so we could get a better tree than normal. We chose our tree in record time because of the budget freedom and the fact that they only had about a dozen trees left. So we got our tree and had a great time walking around admiring the Christmas decorations in the store. Afterward we arrived at my parents’ home for an excellent Christmas celebration. We ate, slept, played games, slept, eat, talked and laughed… We stayed late and enjoyed what is probably the last Christmas ever at my childhood home on Pine Hill Rd.

We set our tree up in our living room Sunday afternoon and over the next day or two got the decorations on. (I think we might be done decorating at this writing) Since we celebrate the larger Sensenig Christmas the Saturday before Christmas we have a very long celebration season this year. It seems we just got done with it and yet we still look forward to it next Saturday. Fun!

Below are a few pictures from our day.

 

 

Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!

Imagine, sitting at a stop light, on your way back from shopping, and snow begins to fall before your eyes! The first snow fall! (That you have seen, at least).

Yesterday, December 4th, my mom and I were out Christmas shopping and shoe shopping when on our way back my mom said, "Look, see the snow?"

And sure enough there was little snow flakes flying through the winter air. The the snow began to fall faster, and more snow fell.

But the first sign of winter faded from our eyes as the red light turned yellow, then green. We had to leave that beautiful fluffy precipitation behind us as we drove off. Either the snow stopped, or we could no longer see it since they were falling so slow and we were driving fast.

Later when we got home, we saw that there was some flakes falling from the sky. Joy said, "The snow doesn't count unless it lands."

I agree with her, but that still doesn't stop that excitement off seeing snow fly through the air, proof for the cold air.

Oh the weather outside is frightful,
But the fire is so delightful,
And since we've no place to go,
Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!

This is a picture of the snow last year. I am hoping the snow doesn't fall this much, but just enough to go sledding and to be cooped up inside with hot chocolate or coffee in hand, by the fire place.

Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!

2010 Calorie Houses, Better know as Candy Houses!

Karla and Margaret in the designing stage

Sarah with her "Park"

Vinson and his "Mansion"

Erin's "Gift"

Joy's "Flower Planter"

Margaret's "Sledding Hill"

Grandma Landis' "Cottage"

"Karla's Kottage"

Geoff's "Candy!"

Yoda, McDonalds and my girl...

Another unique quote from my one of my kids as she and I passed a nearby McDonald's sign advertising the fact that they open at 1 AM Black Friday morning. The sign read "OPEN 1 AM". But what my daughter read was "Open, I am." Her comment, as she reflected on the odd wording declaring that they are open, had something to do with the possibility that Yoda lettered the sign at our McDonald's… Gotta love my girl! Daddy

college applications

A bit of Sensenig family humor...

Joy: "Do I have to apply to go to HACC?"
Mom: "You are already a student there."

Another quote got us laughing much harder, but public humiliation will be spared.

Peanut Butter Popcorn

Peanut Butter Popcorn is a recipe I discovered this summer online. My family loves it and so has everyone else so far. It seriously takes about 15 minutes, start to finish, and most of that time is for the popcorn to pop. It's great to have a recipe like this on hand (or memorized, like I have by now), one that takes much less effort and expense than enjoyment it brings.

2 bags of microwave popcorn, popped
1/2 cup butter
3/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup peanut butter
20 large marshmallows

Pour popcorn into a large bowl. In a glass bowl, combine the other ingredients. Microwave at 1 minute intervals, stirring between each time, until the mixture is melted and smooth. Pour the melted mixture over the popcorn, and stir quickly to coat the corn before it cools.

For fun, add peanuts. I've also thought about M&Ms, but I'm not sure if they would melt from the warm mixture (chocolate chips do, I've tried!).

Anniversary trip!

The last week of October Karla and I went to Pasadena, Maryland for ten days to celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary.

We rented a cottage and made day trips to a few close-by locations.

We visited Annapolis three days and saw some historic sites there.

We also visited the US Navel Academy in Annapolis and took a walking tour there, although I think it should have been called a sprinting tour, the guide was tall and athletic and I had a hard time keeping up with him let alone Karla with her short legs…!

One day it rained all day so we stayed at the cottage and watched movies and played cards.

We drove about 1-1/2 hours one day to St. Michaels, a quaint bay town that has many little shops and also a Maritime Museum.

On our drive home that evening we were blessed to catch a wonderful sunset at a bay-side park.

A crane that was not too bashful, it only flew away when Karla started talking to it to get it to fly.

Another park at sunset.

Our back yard at night with the moon rising.

This was our back yard view from the cottage.

Saturday afternoon we took a short half-day trip back to Lancaster for Joy’s Tennis banquet. Sunday we traveled to Solid Rock Church for their meeting. We thought it was funny that we actually were earlier for church on vacation than we are when we are at home. We arrived fifteen minutes before ten for their service but found out that that was the first week they switched to two services and we were an hour late! But we came back for the 11:15 meeting and heard Kurt Allen preach an excellent message. Monday we edited pictures and Tuesday we packed to come home. We had a wonderful vacation and appreciate all the gifts that made it possible. Thanks especially to our kids for the early party and the gifts! We are amazed at Gods faithfulness over the past 25 years and look forward to see what he has planned for the next 25!