Just A Little Christmas Fun!

Jayden decorating inside...




...and out!






There are a few homes in our neighborhood that really go all out with decorating, but this house tops them all!

The fire truck on the left in the picture above was passing by and stopped to look!

The homeowner said that a pilot stopped by once and told him that he had seen the house while coming in for a landing at LaGuardia Airport and had to come see it up close!





Lawn displays!


Rooftop displays!


Gigantic displays!


Miniature displays!



This house has it all! Religious and commercial, this homeowner has covered all bases!





Jayden was amazed walking around and taking it all in!




All donations go to the support of St. Mary's, it's a facility for children with special needs.
Our youngest daughter, Ellie, works as both a nurses' aide and a teachers' aide in a classroom at this hospital.



And because I promised Jayden LAST CHRISTMAS that I would post about his little 'elf on the shelf' finally here's a few pictures this Christmas of Jayden's personal elf who spies on him and reports back to Santa Claus:





Each night he flies to Santa's workshop, and by morning he is back again, finding a new place to set himself down:







Jayden has fun each morning searching for his little 'Charlie Dickens'.




Can you spot him?



Jayden never has any trouble. Even when 'the elf on the shelf' is hanging over a curtain rod...




...or has tucked himself into a chick on the kitchen windowsill...


...or has set himself atop a candle.


'Hope you are all enjoying you're own Christmas fun!

Wise Words

Dr. Ira Byock (an advocate of the seriously ill and their families) has written a book called 'The Four Things That Matter Most' and in it he sites four phrases that he feels can improve any relationships we have in life:

1. "Please forgive me."

2. "I forgive you."

3. "Thank you."

4. "I love you."


And in working in 'end of life' care he has reclaimed 'good-bye' to it's traditional 'God be with you'. He says it is a Blessing we can all use, whether we are parting from someone for an hour, a day, or at the end of a lifetime.

I found that so touching.

Team Ra-Ras Kicks Breast Cancer

Disney ~ Day 5 ~ Epcot

Mia called her Mommy before heading out for the day:





First thing we spotted when we got inside Epcot was this:

(Look very, very close, up at those windows. Can you see them?)

I'd hate to be those workers!





It was fun to see the little cousins enjoying this time together:








First time for Mia on Soaring and she loved it!



After a few more rides we headed over to the lands.




In Mexico...




...we got to enjoy a mariachi band!




And Jayden and Mia enjoyed the little boat ride!




And in Italy...


...we enjoyed watching this juggler!




Morocco is my most favorite!




I love to shop for perfume in France. I came out of the shop empty-handed but all was not lost because I found something better! Ray was outside enjoying this daring performance!

This guy was amazing!

While in Norway we had lunch with the Princesses!








Mia loves it but Jayden says this is his last year of dining with the Princesses! I can't say I blame him.


He really is a good sport though!


Mia enjoyed taking part in a little parade around the restaurant:





While at Epcot we spotted Marcy! Er, I mean Mary Poppins!





After a long day we headed back to our hotel to enjoy some views from our balcony:




After enjoying another beautiful sunset, Ray and I headed over to Victoria Falls Lounge...



...to enjoy a few of these:



Tomorrow: "Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party" (and Ray & I take another trip back to Epcot to enjoy the food and wine-tasting)!