Old Favorite New Memory

I have not made it to an Nevada City Victorian Christmas in years. I am so excited me & my sister Rainy are going this year!! Just us sisters we will meet in the city and enjoy a old time favorite event. I am also excited to replace my pickle ornament, mine broke in our move. Do you know the story on the pickle ornament?
The Christmas pickle is not an actual pickle, it is simply a Christmas ornament that is shaped like a pickle. The ornament is hidden on a family's Christmas tree on Christmas Eve. On Christmas morning, all of the children in the house take turns looking for the pickle ornament and the child who finds the Christmas pickle receives an extra present for his or her good work.


This is what my old one looked like I got it when I was 16 in Grass Valley

 Today, parents love this tradition because it encourages children to take the time to appreciate all of the beautiful ornaments on the Christmas tree. Instead of simply rushing to open their presents, they spend time talking about the unique history of all the holiday decorations. (courtesy of Bing info).
I have a few things written down that I want to do, attend, & experience again quickly, I can not say "Bucket List" because a bucket list is for things you have NEVER done. I do have a few of those as well but oddly enough those aren't as important to me to accomplish as the ones that I have done before but it has been a while....like the Nevada City event, the trips over to S.F and Monterey's candy cane lane to mention a few this time of year.
The reconnecting with my siblings has been a major blessings and I am cherishing having sister time, we are very similiar in our sense of humor so it is a hoot doing things together. I try and not think of what life would have been like if we were raised together being so close in age and stuff but focus on the memories we have made. We lost 22 yrs of our lives together (thanks mom NOT) but we have  more memories to establish and our children are close that is a HUGE rebuilding of our heritage/family history. I will post photos from our adventure after we attend :]

Winter jam 2012

we attended the Winter Jam West Coast event saturday evening. we went last year also. The East Coast has had this event held for 17 years then they finally brought it to the West. We are thankful that it is brought to this side of the country it is a super spiritual event with some great bands. Toby Mac was the headliner this year and he did a great show. If you listen to Christian music than you will understand how much these artists give to us daily with their music. Any American Idol fans? Yep Jason Castro the dude with the dreads was there as well along with Jaime Grace, Chris August, Side Walk Prophets, RED & a few others that I just went blank remembering. I didn't even try to bring my crappy camera and I left the cell phone in the car on purpose. We didn't go with a group this time due to my health, we got a late start and stayed in an area that would be easy for me to get back and forth to the bathrooms. Jillian got her shirt picked out early and I passed on getting one at all which isn't my normal.  But regardless of not feeling normal me, the hubs, and Jillian had a nice family evening with no stress & lots of worshipping and good music.

Amy's Baby Shower

We did some major family events this weekend....This is one of them. We attended my niece Amy's baby shower out of town. we made it a mini Vaca, with 2 nights at Circus Circus in Reno, & then Amy's daughter Natalie had an 80's skate party for her 10th birthday. I am hoping to get more pictures from the others.

Settling in for some shower fun 11-10-12

Maz & Jaxon

Amy with her 3 daughters

Me, Jaxon, & Beemz. He adored her
& she couldn't
get enough baby love, she is going
to be such a
good big sister.

Jillian showing Jaxon the view from the 14th floor
as the snow was falling

Drive up to Reno on Friday

The dog circus act I am still mad at
my crappy camera so these were off the
phone