Spreaders

A while back when we were packing up to move from TX, I posted a blog about hoarding and purging.  Most of you know that I am a purger and will gladly get rid of almost anything that goes unused for a while.  This also means that I don't really collect anything because most collectibles go unused and just have to be dusted (which is one of my least favorite chores.)  I do however have 1 item that I do collect and most of you probably don't know about it.  I collect spreaders!  This is kind of a new thing for me- I've only been collecting them for somewhere around 7 years.  They don't have to be meaningful, I just have to like them.  For all these years, they've just been stored in their boxes not being used or seen.  Then one day last year, Mom and I went to Harry and David on one of our shopping days.  I found these adorable spreader blocks and knew that I would soon be able to display my spreaders.  My kitchen window in our new house is the perfect spot for my display.  Earlier this fall, I had fruit, baseball, and lighthouse spreaders out.  Since Thanksgiving, I have had my Christmas spreaders out.  As I unpacked more and more Christmas boxes, I soon realized that I had way more Christmas spreaders than I thought- I now have 20!!  I guess I've just been buying and storing them without having the whole collection together.  So here's a picture of my window right now.  Aren't the spreader blocks just the cutest things ever!?!  I may have to get more as my collection grows!

And my collection IS growing.  My friend Shelly just bought me some red chile pepper spreaders for Christmas.  The snowman plate and snowman/snowglobe spreader are also from her.  Kristi, do you see my Christmas moose spreaders in the middle block?  Oh my goodness!  I just realized that I have at least one other snowglobe spreader that isn't out.  I must find it!

OK- this blog is way too long to just be about spreaders.  Sorry- I like them and wanted to share this little collection with you.  So what do you collect?

Titus loves Christmas

Titus is a very VERY curious dog.  He must completely sniff out anything new that he hasn't seen before.  Our Christmas boxes are no exception.  We haven't really decorated for several years, so when we started unpacking Christmas stuff, Titus was in heaven.  I think he sniffed every single ornament and I caught him sniffing ornaments on the tree last night.  Here are some pictures from our tree decorating night last week.

He MUST be right in the middle of the action!

 

 

One year ago...

It's so hard to believe that I lost my sweet Daddy one year ago today.  It's been a rough day already and this whole year has been really emotional.  Even the happy memories bring tears, but I thought I would share some of my favorite pictures today...

Daddy's little girl

Such a patient teacher

He let us walk all over him

 

Buddies

My all-time favorite.  We look so innocent!

Friday nights were campouts in the living room

He LOVED trains (and any toy for that matter)

One of the only wedding pictures I have where he is smiling.  He was very emotional that day!

He loved Titus too!

We all miss him terribly

Decking the halls

We had such a busy weekend.  There was baking, crafting, cleaning, decorating, ball playing, tree trimming (not the Christmas tree), shopping, partying, and very little sleeping.

Chocolate covered marshmallows

Banana pudding

Cheese balls- aka "cheesy balls of joy"

A little tree trimming

Resting from playing ball too much

Decorating dilemma- we have a big ugly safe in our fireplace that can be covered by a picture but not by my pretty new wreath

Decorating solution- buy a $6 tablecloth from Big Lots and hope nobody asks why it's hanging from the fireplace (it really does look better in person!)

A few of you have been asking for some house pictures, so here are a few.  I'll take more when other rooms are more complete.  Please ignore the fact that there are no curtains in any rooms and no pictures on the walls- we'll get there eventually!
Guest room

Living room- still lacks coffee table and end tables (and curtains, and pictures...)

Fireplace room- we don't know what else to call it

Have I mentioned the views from the back side of the house?

It's December!

I just can't believe it's already December.  We had a wonderful Thanksgiving in NM full of yummy food, lots of shopping, football, family and friends.  Somehow I didn't manage to take any pictures :(  Now we're in our last week of classes and finals are next week.  Our first semester at ACU has been crazy and stressful but great at the same time. 
Now it feels like the holidays are in full swing.  We have holiday events planned for the next 4 days while I'm still trying to find time to decorate our home.  We are hosting Christmas at our house for the first time this year (since we finally have a house big enough!)  I'm so excited!  We have space for a decent size tree and a real mantle and fireplace to hang stockings from!  I promise I'll post some pictures next week- don't give up on me!