Back to Wonderland with a side of French Fries-New 3/15Mix up culture w/fun

[PracPerfPatricia]

I've been neglecting my PTR but I'm going to do an update tonight of my "Paris/DLP" shrine...

I loved Lincoln Logs when I was a kid! I think I will have to get that someday!

It's a lot of fun...very fun... I highly recommend it...

I love your Thanksgiving photo, very cute.

I love your Holiday decorations. My mom started collecting snowmen when I was younger and let's just say....she has A LOT of them. I think we lost count when she reached over 150. I should take a picture of them for you. She says she loves them because even though they are all snowmen they each have their very own personality.

I loved lincoln logs growing up, our family cat was even named Lincoln after them. I must find my very own Wilderness Lodge!

Snow men or people to be PC all do have their own personality...wow...I don't have nearly that many...I get mine the day after Christmas...

I love that you had a cat named Lincoln...My pets aren't getting along right now at all...Macintosh keeps chasing Cosette and she keeps hissing at him but then she taunts him...trust me...she really does...I think they have holiday stress...I'm going to rename them Crazy thing 1 and Crazy thing 2...

Okay I just adore the Wilderness Lodge lincoln logs....awesome!!

I also have a hidden love for snowmen and often I acquire one or two different snowman each year!

I'm excited to see how your French Fridays go along with what French gifts are going to be left under the tree!! And yes your trip is right around the corner...WOW...you'll be in France before you know it!!!!!

I know I have to post my very technologically savy count down paper chain for Paris......97 days from today...

French gifts are just around the corner...

Beautiful Christmas decorating! I love the Magic across the mirror and all your snowmen. Personally, I like the feather boa as snow with your village.

The Lincoln Log Wilderness Lodge is too cool! Connor would get such a kick out of that!

LOL...I think I'm just going to leave the boa... I love my snow people...

Connor would get a kick out of the LLWL...David does...he is jonesing to rebuild it though too...

Unfortunately Macintosh got a big kick out of it too......he decided to nab and eat the Mickey......we found little Mickey bits all throughout the room...

 

[PracPerfPatricia]

still have to dig them out.....

but glad you are feeling better and the roof will be fixed soon! Love the start of your Holiday decorating! I think the feather boa should stay...

Can't wait for the French Fridays to start too.

J~

ok I'll still be here when you dig em out...

Thanks-we're getting the tree on Friday or Saturday...to cut down or to just buy pre-cut that is the question......I have a wierd self imposed tradition of not doing the tree till a week or less before...

French Fridays are going to start in ernest after Christmas...but we're gathering stuff and ideas...

I LOVE your Thanksgiving photo & the WL made from lincoln logs. That is SO cool! You are right, too, that those 105 days will fly by. I have a countdown at home that I have been neglecting- I checked it last night & it said 57 days- I'm already down to 39. Time goes by super-fast at this time of year!
I noticed that cow painting in the background of one of your photos & it looks JUST like the paintings hanging in craftsteak at the MGM Grand at Foxwoods in CT. John has been dying to get one! Where did you get yours?

Thanks...wow its under 100 days now...so you must be getting close to under a month...

So you noticed our cow did you...we actually got her somewhere in North Carolina next to this awesome southern restaurant...I will have to look up the paperwork...but I remember the food in that restaurant was fabulous (except the sweet tea...I don't get the whole sweet tea concept...) I got a big kick out of her...

I've been a really bad Disser having been off for about three weeks! So now I'm catching up (again!)

So sorry about the books, I would have been if I walked in on that. Glad they are already working on fixing the roof. We also have my books just about everywhere and DH just shakes his head everytime a new one is added.

Love the Thanksgiving photo - frame worthy!!

Can't believe it is only three months until Paris...I've never been anywhere, so I can't wait to hear all about it.

I know you were all busy doing your lights... but if it makes you feel better I've been sort of a bad diser too...we can have tee shirts made up...

I'm really looking forward to Paris...

Hi, Patricia!

I, too have been a bad Diser - and I was devastated for you that your beloved books were damaged!

Did you know that they are re-issuing All of the Betsey-Tacy's in hardback? I've asked Santa to bring them....we will see....

Keep your chin up with the roofers!

Jaime

We'll get you a bad Diser tee shirt too Jaime...

The roofers actually turned out to be really good guys......now we have to file the home owner's claim for the inside of the room......good times...

Ooo...new reissues of B&T????...I'm going to have to high tail it over to B & N and check that out...Thanks for that nugget...

Hey P... I was behind a bit (again!) but I'm back up to date. I so love that Lincoln Logs Wilderness Lodge and had the same thought when I saw your "snow" feather boa..... I think its perfect!

Well you know...I can now spin my boa snow as being environmentally conscious and repurposing old things and what not...

 

[PracPerfPatricia]

I think a trip to the NW is a great family vacation....



Rabbit might surprise you. I have a hard time believing the E's still "really" believe at 9 and 10 but boy they do a good job of faking it. Which I appreciate. I also appreciate big siblings who roll with it!

Of course Jeff's jingling bells about 1 hour after they are down probably doesn't hurt their belief system either!

Yeah...I think a whole Seattle...Victoria...Vancouver thing would be fabulous...

Rabbit is trying to make his mind up...I think he believes but is just starting to question some of the more specific details...

Oooo...love the bell jingling...

CUTE snowmen and I think the boa adds some fun flair! From one red-walled house to another, I agree with you -- the color really does enhance things. We have a lot of black distressed furniture, and we found the red really staged it well... Great art work I see!

How exciting, Disney Paris! It will be here before you know it. You will get your house back, too. That will come!

Looking forward to more fun photos! AND WLV is very very cool!!!

I'm hoping my snowmen bring me good luck for a White Christmas here in SE PA...

Red is very life affirming don't you think...

That room will be better than ever when we redo it...I'm totally over my pity party about all of that...(just a sad thought for a couple of the books...)

PARIS...

Even Chelsea is still faking it at our house and she is 12. I can't imagine that she still believes in the 7th grade (I have heard the discussions among middle school students), but she plays right along with it all. I suspect she thinks the loot would be lessened if she let on.

...that's exactly what I did when I was a kid...I faked it for a bit because I was afraid the loot would lessen...bless her (and my) greedy little heart...I know exactly where she is coming from...

That is so cute.

Joe is a server administrator, working primarily with VMWare. The company he works for (that I used to), was a small Minnesota company, but was bought out in 2008 by Thomson Reuters, which is HQ'ed in NYC. His boss has told him (years ago), that he could work from anywhere...and he truly can. He works from home 2 days a week. Chances of them letting him go are VERY slim because he is the only person who knows how to do what he does - which is vital to the company...so.... they are in the process of training in someone else due to the HUGE risk factor of all that, but... if the house sells, he'll be able to stay.

Ideally, he would transfer to the Thomson Reuters in NYC though, pay raise + local. Even if that doesn't work, he'll probably be able to eventually find a job in NYC due to his experience and knowledge.



Love your decorations! And glad to hear it, along with the girls night, has been lifting your spirits about everything.



Yes! We'd defiantly have to meet up - even if we just visit this year, we'll have to figure something out!

I've never heard of the Betsy/Tacy books...and I'm not sure I've even heard of Deep Valley! Is it a real place? You've got me curious now... I was big on local authors when I was in high school, so I'm surprised I never read these!

Ahhh...http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Betsy-Tacy says Deep Valley, MN was based on Mankato, MN, which is only about 1.5 hours from my house. It's a nice area...COLD THOUGH! But we do get lots and lots of snow...

I just might have to check these books out! I've been looking for a new read.

It's great that Joe has a career that isn't location based...that can be hard if you aren't happy with your location or if you ever what to move...but it sounds like he has a lot of flexibility...

Dis Meets....

Check out B & T...maybe start with the older ones first...(High School...they have a lot of charm...very feel good, delightful reads...I read them when I was a kid but I go back to them for a comfort read...-something a bit "Meet Me in St. Louis" about them...

 

[Flossbolna]

Check out B & T...maybe start with the older ones first...(High School...they have a lot of charm...very feel good, delightful reads...I read them when I was a kid but I go back to them for a comfort read...-something a bit "Meet Me in St. Louis" about them...

I just checked out those books and they sound lovely, will add them to my Amazon wish list!It reminds me very much of a series of childrens books here in Germany called Nesthäckchen (which means little hook in the nest, a nickname for the youngest kid in the family). I adored them when I was small, but unfortunately they aren't translated into English.

 

[PracPerfPatricia]

I just checked out those books and they sound lovely, will add them to my Amazon wish list!It reminds me very much of a series of childrens books here in Germany called Nesthäckchen (which means little hook in the nest, a nickname for the youngest kid in the family). I adored them when I was small, but unfortunately they aren't translated into English.

I think you will find them quite charming......Interestingly, the second book in high school, "Betsy in Spite of Herself" takes place in during Betsy's second year in high school and she goes to visit her friend Tib who has moved to Milwaukee, for her Christmas holiday. Tib's family are all from Germany/Austria and they celebrate Christmas in a very German/Austrian way. I was totally fascinated with it when I was younger...it seemed so exotic and interesting to me...

They are all good-they start when Betsy is 5, then 8, 10 , 12....then the 4 high school books starat when she is 14, 15, 16, 17 ("Heaven to Betsy") and then there is a book of her doing a "grand tour" 22 (?) of Europe-lots of Germany, and then the 10th book she gets married in....

Wow I wish I could read German as fluently as you read English...I can read a bit of French...I could probably make it through bits of a magazine or a very simple child's book...and by simple I mean S.i.m.p.l.e....

 

[eandesmom]

Yeah...I think a whole Seattle...Victoria...Vancouver thing would be fabulous...

Rabbit is trying to make his mind up...I think he believes but is just starting to question some of the more specific details...

Oooo...love the bell jingling...


Check out B & T...maybe start with the older ones first...(High School...they have a lot of charm...very feel good, delightful reads...I read them when I was a kid but I go back to them for a comfort read...-something a bit "Meet Me in St. Louis" about them...[/SIZE][/COLOR]

I think you will find them quite charming......Interestingly, the second book in high school, "Betsy in Spite of Herself" takes place in during Betsy's second year in high school and she goes to visit her friend Tib who has moved to Milwaukee, for her Christmas holiday. Tib's family are all from Germany/Austria and they celebrate Christmas in a very German/Austrian way. I was totally fascinated with it when I was younger...it seemed so exotic and interesting to me...

They are all good-they start when Betsy is 5, then 8, 10 , 12....then the 4 high school books starat when she is 14, 15, 16, 17 ("Heaven to Betsy") and then there is a book of her doing a "grand tour" 22 (?) of Europe-lots of Germany, and then the 10th book she gets married in....

Wow I wish I could read German as fluently as you read English...I can read a bit of French...I could probably make it through bits of a magazine or a very simple child's book...and by simple I mean S.i.m.p.l.e....

Oh the Betsy and Tib books!

I LOVED those! I wish I had the full set, I'd read them now.

Bell Jingling has definitely bought us some time, I highly recommend it!

 

[Flossbolna]

I think you will find them quite charming......Interestingly, the second book in high school, "Betsy in Spite of Herself" takes place in during Betsy's second year in high school and she goes to visit her friend Tib who has moved to Milwaukee, for her Christmas holiday. Tib's family are all from Germany/Austria and they celebrate Christmas in a very German/Austrian way. I was totally fascinated with it when I was younger...it seemed so exotic and interesting to me...

They are all good-they start when Betsy is 5, then 8, 10 , 12....then the 4 high school books starat when she is 14, 15, 16, 17 ("Heaven to Betsy") and then there is a book of her doing a "grand tour" 22 (?) of Europe-lots of Germany, and then the 10th book she gets married in....

Wow I wish I could read German as fluently as you read English...I can read a bit of French...I could probably make it through bits of a magazine or a very simple child's book...and by simple I mean S.i.m.p.l.e....

This sounds great, maybe that might even be some nice reading material for our trip, Katharina might be interested in that as well and we were trying to take books we both wanted to read!

Regarding reading a foreign language: just get started and keep practicing! Once you realized that you don't have to understand every word to understand the story you will realize how many words you pick up thanks to reading. I started reading English books when I visited my aunt in California for the first time when I was 15 - I just had had English at school for three years. I got nearly the whole series of Anne of Green Gables when I was there. And then I just kept going. I wasn't really good at speaking or writing until I went to London to do a Masters degree (and consequently picked up an English boyfriend), but I was already reading Jane Austen! Actually those Nicholas books I wrote about are great for starting to read French!

 

[MEK]

Are you enjoying the snow as much as I am?????? I'm going out to take some pictures. It has never, ever snowed this much before Christmas. I must get some proof!

 

[Charleston Princess]

I have serious snow envy here in Georgia!

 

[mickeysmyboy]

I have serious snow envy here in Georgia!

I have warmth envy!! I keep praying it will be at around 75 next month at WDW!!!

We got about 27 inches with HUGE drifts from the wind!!!!!

 

[PracPerfPatricia]

Oh the Betsy and Tib books!

I LOVED those! I wish I had the full set, I'd read them now.

Bell Jingling has definitely bought us some time, I highly recommend it!

Aren't they darling......I'm thinking about treating myself to some of the new releases this week when I'm finishing shopping...

ah...bell jingling...do you remember how they would go shopping each year for ornaments...

This sounds great, maybe that might even be some nice reading material for our trip, Katharina might be interested in that as well and we were trying to take books we both wanted to read!

Regarding reading a foreign language: just get started and keep practicing! Once you realized that you don't have to understand every word to understand the story you will realize how many words you pick up thanks to reading. I started reading English books when I visited my aunt in California for the first time when I was 15 - I just had had English at school for three years. I got nearly the whole series of Anne of Green Gables when I was there. And then I just kept going. I wasn't really good at speaking or writing until I went to London to do a Masters degree (and consequently picked up an English boyfriend), but I was already reading Jane Austen! Actually those Nicholas books I wrote about are great for starting to read French!

Hmmm...London, an English boyfriend and Jane Austen...that all sounds quite romantic...

I am going to get the Nicholas book and I think I wlll get it in both English and a copy in French if I can......Emily is studying it in school so I can also ask her...we should actually practice some conversation...I probably have more vocabulary but her grammar and accent is fresher since she is currently studying...

 

[PracPerfPatricia]

Are you enjoying the snow as much as I am?????? I'm going out to take some pictures. It has never, ever snowed this much before Christmas. I must get some proof!

Oh yes......It makes you feel all Christmasy doesn't it??? I actually got a couple photos of the kids I was going to post tonight but Emily has the camera downstairs at her "party" more on that below...

I have serious snow envy here in Georgia!

I have to say it really is nice this time of year...it takes a little bit of the sting out of my Disney Christmas envy...

I have warmth envy!! I keep praying it will be at around 75 next month at WDW!!!

We got about 27 inches with HUGE drifts from the wind!!!!!

We probably have about a foot and a half...It is really pretty cold...how much snow do you get on Long Island?...do you get more-like Connecticut...or Northern NY state...or more like NYC and Philadelphia?

 

[PracPerfPatricia]

I am Dising sitting in my bed with David watching the Incredibles on ABC Family, Eric is across doing work in the office and I can hear Emily's party going on downstairs...

Eric goes down every 1/2 hour or so to "get a cup of coffee" ie keep tabs on whats going on...

this was supposed to be a Martha Stewart like cookie baking, tree decorating (yes I was going to let them decorate my tree...) Christmas movie watching kind of party...

instead...

I think they are eating the cookie dough raw, I don't think the tree is getting decorated (which is probably for the best) and they are watching some creepy horror movie...I can hear them shrieking...I think the guys like watching horror movies because the girls tend to scream and then need to "snuggle" It is a strange thing to see my baby girl snuggling with her "boyfriend" when I have photos of her not too long ago sitting on Santa's lap...

Don't get me wrong...these are really nice kids, Em is 15...her "boyfriend" is absolutely adorable...really nice kid...as are all of her friends...plus I want her friends here...I like them to be able to hang out here and at other nice, safe houses...

it's just a little wierd...plus she has my camera down there so I can't post my snow photos or my French "countdown" shrine photos...

ah well tomorrow for sure...

I still have David...

 

[eandesmom]

I am Dising sitting in my bed with David watching the Incredibles on ABC Family, Eric is across doing work in the office and I can hear Emily's party going on downstairs...

Eric goes down every 1/2 hour or so to "get a cup of coffee" ie keep tabs on whats going on...

this was supposed to be a Martha Stewart like cookie baking, tree decorating (yes I was going to let them decorate my tree...) Christmas movie watching kind of party...

instead...

I think they are eating the cookie dough raw, I don't think the tree is getting decorated (which is probably for the best) and they are watching some creepy horror movie...I can hear them shrieking...I think the guys like watching horror movies because the girls tend to scream and then need to "snuggle" It is a strange thing to see my baby girl snuggling with her "boyfriend" when I have photos of her not too long ago sitting on Santa's lap...

Don't get me wrong...these are really nice kids, Em is 15...her "boyfriend" is absolutely adorable...really nice kid...as are all of her friends...plus I want her friends here...I like them to be able to hang out here and at other nice, safe houses...

it's just a little wierd...plus she has my camera down there so I can't post my snow photos or my French "countdown" shrine photos...

ah well tomorrow for sure...

I still have David...

Ok part of me is at the party description and the other part wants to give you a

It's a hard yet joyful thing to watch them grow like that. But weird. I so get the weird!

Looking forward to seeing the shrine!

 

[brookelizabeth]

Ooooh, watching children grow up is hard, isn't it? I think I've had it hard these past 2 years with Henry, I know it will only get to be more emotional when I'm in your boat - the child to pre-teen to teen just flies right on by....my nephew is right on the brink - he still enjoys "childish" things, but is too cool for other things...sigh!

 

[mickeysmyboy]

We probably have about a foot and a half...It is really pretty cold...how much snow do you get on Long Island?...do you get more-like Connecticut...or Northern NY state...or more like NYC and Philadelphia?

We normally get shafted when it comes to snow! Because of the ocean temps, normally above freezing, the snow tends to come down in rain or ice around here. But every once in while, like this weekend, a storm skirts the cost just right and we get dumped on!!

I am Dising sitting in my bed with David watching the Incredibles on ABC Family, Eric is across doing work in the office and I can hear Emily's party going on downstairs...

Eric goes down every 1/2 hour or so to "get a cup of coffee" ie keep tabs on whats going on...

this was supposed to be a Martha Stewart like cookie baking, tree decorating (yes I was going to let them decorate my tree...) Christmas movie watching kind of party...

instead...

I think they are eating the cookie dough raw, I don't think the tree is getting decorated (which is probably for the best) and they are watching some creepy horror movie...I can hear them shrieking...I think the guys like watching horror movies because the girls tend to scream and then need to "snuggle" It is a strange thing to see my baby girl snuggling with her "boyfriend" when I have photos of her not too long ago sitting on Santa's lap...

Don't get me wrong...these are really nice kids, Em is 15...her "boyfriend" is absolutely adorable...really nice kid...as are all of her friends...plus I want her friends here...I like them to be able to hang out here and at other nice, safe houses...

it's just a little wierd...plus she has my camera down there so I can't post my snow photos or my French "countdown" shrine photos...

ah well tomorrow for sure...

I still have David...

Awwwww! Sometimes the kiddos growing up stinks!!! I hate it sometimes! It's amazing how fast it happens!!!

 

[PracPerfPatricia]

Ok part of me is at the party description and the other part wants to give you a

It's a hard yet joyful thing to watch them grow like that. But weird. I so get the weird!

Looking forward to seeing the shrine!

Hey Cynthia,

I sort of had the same reaction...I'll take the hug... and yet it was kind of funny...

Em and I talked about it and she thinks a girls only cookie party/exchange next year would be fun...apparently the boys like to watch the horror movies with the girls because they are scared too but the girls scream louder and grab on to them-the boys...so there you have it...

It is wierd but I also tell myself I'm really lucky because I have a great kids...and as much as it would be nice to keep them little they are growing as is intended...and that it wonderful in a way too...

Ooooh, watching children grow up is hard, isn't it? I think I've had it hard these past 2 years with Henry, I know it will only get to be more emotional when I'm in your boat - the child to pre-teen to teen just flies right on by....my nephew is right on the brink - he still enjoys "childish" things, but is too cool for other things...sigh!

It is hard so even when you get tired or frustrated about something try to remember those little times don't last for ever...but every stage has cool things to look forward to...so don't be too sad...

We normally get shafted when it comes to snow! Because of the ocean temps, normally above freezing, the snow tends to come down in rain or ice around here. But every once in while, like this weekend, a storm skirts the cost just right and we get dumped on!!



Awwwww! Sometimes the kiddos growing up stinks!!! I hate it sometimes! It's amazing how fast it happens!!!

Freezing Rain is not fun at all... I hope you enjoyed the snow a little bit....

Yeah the kiddos growing up is a bit much at times...it does happen really fast...sometimes you don't see it in the moment but then you look and think...wow...where did that time go...

 

[DisMomAmy]

Hello!

Just checking in - trying to get caught up on my DISing.

I hope you had a nice Christmas - your decorations look great - love the snowmen!

 

[wigdoutdismom]

Hi Patricia!
Just wanted to let you know that the play-date is at my house!
The trippie has begun!

 

[mousescrapper]

just stopping by to say HI too...

saw your post on Amy's PTR...hope your PTR doesn't "close" again...

J~