December 18th, 2014 - #TBT

Throwin' it Back A Week Before Christmas

HELLO!! Christmas is almost here!! I finally got myself in gear today and got the last of my presents and gift wrap. 

So, tonight I will begin the wrapping process!

I will share with you my tree and gift wrap theme as soon as the tree is up an decorated - which I'm hoping will be tonight.

I got to see Kelsey's Christmas play today - she was so cute as an elf, as she performed for the parents today!!  She was an elf with an attitude.  The show was adorable and she even had a few lines in it.  

Kelsey - - Christmas Show Elf

Christmas "To Do's": Day 18: Home-made Gifts 

What do you do with a week left before Christmas? Well, finished the last minute shopping, wrap presents, put up your tree and oh, yeah, get those hand-made, home-made gifts done!

Gianna decided to make her own hot cocoa mix for her teachers.  I thought this was absolutely adorable!!  I helped out by picking up the necessary ingredients, including some adorable mason jars from the craft store.

She mixed and measured away and this is the end result:

Home-made gifts are not only enjoyable to create, but they are also the inexpensive way to go - especially for kids.  

My kids love making their own gifts for people - family members, teachers, friends.  I think it's a great way to encourage them to use their creativity and express originality for the special people in their lives.

This year Kelsey made handmade cards for each member of our family.  She decorated the fronts with images of the specific interests of each person and wrote something original inside each card.  

Kids are really so inventive - all they need sometimes is a little encouragement!

Would love to hear about the home-made gifts you have given to your loved ones!

Kelseys first Christmas 2006 (Kelsey: 2 months old, Gianna: 2 years old)

Did you remember that today is also Throwback Thursday?  Tanya's got it covered with her first time snorkeling in Maui!
Don't for get to check it out - CLICK HERE.

Well folks, that's a "wrap" for today (a little Christmas humor).  See ya tomorrow for Foodie Friday!!

-E

Helpin' Out Wherever 
We Can

So folks, it's only one week until Christmas!
I'm soooo excited!! 

It's my very favorite time of the year and then we have Dave B. who semi jokes around and counts down to Boxing Day instead! Silly Boy!

Before I go into anything about today... 
I've just got to catch you up on the a day we had yesterday! 

Sure I had a lot of running around to do, but what's new there?!

Well, from the Mud Slides... 
To Goats Wandering in the Streets, from Sloppy Stables to the Vegan Vittles, the Twinkling Boats to the Dancing Babes, and finally Reuniting a Lost Kitty so that he can be home for the holidays... Whew!

The day seemed to have started off on a usual note, but there was nothing usual about it!

Since it had rained & all riding was off limits, we had headed out to just one stables instead of two. On the drive over, we hit quite a bit of traffic, passing an overturned truck facing oncoming traffic and the car it smashed into I thought that this must've been the cause of all the slow going. But it wasn't...there was a big 'ol MUD SLIDE on the freeway, and luckily the freeway was back open, though quite dirty! LOL
Getting to the stables we had to watch out for goats in the middle of the road, that had escaped a local farm! That was a real HOOT!   

What a Muddy Mess!

After visiting the horses... 
Cosette and I went to the BIGGEST Vegan grocery store on Earth! 
Which I guess we are lucky enough to kinda live near, although it's still close to an hour away from us! 
I had one specific item in mind to pick up (vegan butterscotch chips for making Haystacks). 

Anyhoo...there is no way in the world that we can EVER walk out of there with only one item!!! Always dropping dough ($$$) in that store...
Maybe it's a good thing they aren't any closer! LOL

We arrived back at the house... 
Just in the nick of time to pick up Dominic, and then start heading out to the 106th Annual Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade! 
Jet, Andrew, and Chaplin were meeting us there!

Getting to Newport Beach on schedule to catch the Fireworks that opened the Parade, and then taking the ferry over to Balboa Island to watch the Festive Boats Float by, and to stroll around the island and gaze at the Beautifully Decorated Award winning homes! 

While strolling and gazing... 
We saw a wandering meowing cat, and a just few steps later spotted a sign for a missing cat... 
Lou was his name and the poor thing was lost!
(Sorry no picture of the kitty.)

The flyer had number to call or text with any information, so I quickly got on the phone and sent a text to the owner letting them know where we saw their kitty. 
The owner was very appreciative and said that they were heading over! I gave explicit instructions as to where we saw 'Lou' go...he had headed down a private pier and went onto a boat! LOL

Around 20-30 minutes later... 
I received a call from a nearly speechless woman, who couldn't thank me enough. She was soooo happy to get her cat back, and had already lost all hope (thinking that he was dead). This warmed our hearts and I was so glad to help reunite the kitty with his family!

We are just a bunch of silly girls!

Once we left Newport Beach, our night was still not even close to being over...we still had to go to Target (which took forever), and still had things to do once we got home!

So, I'm glad that I don't have anywhere to be today until early this afternoon!

And as you know... 
That today is Thursday and here on Travelin' Cousins that ALWAYS means a Throwback Thursday story to entertain you with! 

This week is my turn and I've decided to tell you about my first time (ever) Snorkeling which took place at Molokini in Maui! Click HERE for the story!

And don't forget to meet us back here tomorrow for another Fantastic Foodie Friday when Elisa takes the reins and tantalizes our taste buds with her restaurant of choice!!

See ya on the flip side,
-T