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 :]

Pondering ~In-Laws

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The rules are really easy:

1. Grab the Pondering with a Purpose Badge (in my sidebar)

2. Look at the week's prompt

3. Post something on your blog that relates to the prompt - it can be a story, a poem, a picture -- anything you want it to be.

4. Come back here and add the URL from your post to the linky list below.

5. Go check out the other bloggers who have added their links to the list.

6. AND most of all.... Have fun!

This Week's prompt: In-Laws

Do you love your in-laws? Do your in-laws love you?
As the holidays approach I realize this is a great thing to talk about... we all have them... either Mothers or Fathers in Law, Sisters or Brothers in Law, Sons or Daughters in law.... no matter how isolated we are .... unless we are only children who never married ... there is an in-law in your life! So tell me....  do you love them and do they love you back?

Holy Merry Christmas Brenda this is a whopper!!! I am going to skip MIL or FIL well actually my FIL is pro me & I do believe he loves me for what I have done for his son & for the hard worker I am, plus he might not tell me but he does tell his son I am quite the looker...no I didn't say hooker that would be his sons term for me plus other extremely mean things which brings me to my current BIL from my husband....HE HATES Me absolutely HATES ( he is a women hater) he has voiced numerous times which got back to us that I tore his family apart. It took me 6 years of abusive remarks from him at family gatherings that when I asked to be stood up for I was told to ignore him that was just the way he was and it was perfectly fine in his mothers home to disrespect me in front of everyone, I was suppose to just take it. We have only attend 2 current events with him present in the last 7 yrs.  I am sorry but if one of my sons was talking to a guest in my home the way he did they would be told to leave and possibly slap in the face.
I adore, admire, & praise the Lord for my SIL (my youngest bro wife) what she has had to go thru in our family woowee I would have ran for the hills, my mom is a horrible person but my SIL still opens her home to her as stressful as going thru a hurricane during the visits she does it, might not like it, but she does it. 
oh before I go to far my oldest sister.... her husband is a pretty nice guy, I like him alot!!! I have no idea his opinion of me yep 29 yrs & I am not sure yikes huh? It is hard being the black sheep in the family. BUT his mom my sisters MIL is the BEST MIL I have EVER seen or heard of I LOVE her & am so glad my sister has her (again because our mom was a nightmare) funny thing I knew my sisters MIL years before she did, it was thru foster families I met her & she worked at the jr high I was going to and then few yrs. later my sister transferred colleges to the town I was living in and met her future husband in college, small world.

 My son-in-law.... I treat with love & respect and do not over step in their relationship, I try to see both sides and I think because of that he loves me. I know what it is like to have an in law that no matter what??? they just do not like you, so I say if it isn't me then it is YOU and you can either get over yourself or we can just not sit next to each other at the family event oh and PLEASE do not ever feel the need to pretend because I am NOT into fake if you do not like me so be it but do not pour it on for the others I don't need that and I WILL not do it in return if I do not like you then I do not pretend to. My mom always said when we were growing up if so-& so thinks I am going to eat her food & sit in her home while she bad mouths me she can think again!!! I was not raised to turn the other cheek wish I could but some things are hard to change and for some reason that one made sense....

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

Daughter Cheer

         My girls ... 17 years a part in age, but very near my heart always!

My Favorite Veteran & Hero

In honor of Veterans Day I want to share a photo of my baby brother and my hero...I love you Kurt!!! Remember those who have given their lives for our freedoms and for those who continue to live in hostile lands fighting for our Country and the freedom of everyone everywhere.  Thank you to ALL military families!!