A Christmas Carol

We took the boys to the Overture Center for a CTM matinee performance of A Christmas Carol.

We all loved it, and it had a great twist at the end.
If you are looking for something to do with your family, in the Madison area, it's a must.

They look pretty dapper.

A Few Days of Steve

S getting some love from Sam.  They both couldn't be happier.

Guess what he wants for Christmas?!

S took this picture of his new shoes - bucks- which he loves.

He is a very stylish kid.

S with his rainbow art piece.

He lost a front tooth this morning.  He told me he hopes the tooth fairy brings him $5.

"What if the tooth fairy looks at the tooth and goes "Oh, impressive!"

The kid kills me!  But five bucks... dream on.

Christmas Tour of the Governor's Mansion

Yesterday we toured the Wisconsin Executive Residence in Maple Bluff.
It was about 24 degrees with a wind, and we waited about 30 minutes.
I had been to the residence about 30 years ago, but B and the boys had never been.
Now I want to find out how to be a docent here.

Built in 1920 for the Johnson Family, the current residence are Governor Scott
and First Lady Tonette Walker.

J and S on the Mendota Lake side. What a beautiful view, state capitol and all. You might notice white at the shore line... that's ice forming!

I love the iron fence.

One of the urns and lions outside the home.

The garland wraps around the entire staircase.

The Ladies' Room, very feminine.

The dining room had hand painted silk wall coverings,
and a a rug with woodland violets on it, which is the state flower.

China by Lenox, crystal stemware by Mikasa and sterling by Tiffany.

The large tree in the reception room, decorated as a Tribute to the Troops.

The Drawing Room had lots of light and plaid. It was my favorite.
The UW-Whitewater Reed Trio played.

The Library, with a tree decorated in the Glow of Christmas Past, in recognition of the significance of Wisconsin's role in the Civil War. The boys liked this room best... it had weapons.

The end of our tour, the Sun Room. It was very colorful and whimsical.
A delight for children.

There is still time to enjoy a tour.
Wednesday, December 14 from 1-2
Thursday, December 15 from noon to 2
Saturday, December 17 from noon to 2
Although there is no charge to tour the mansion, Governor Walker requests you bring a canned good as a donation to Second Harvest Food Bank.

Christmas Brunch

Dining Room Tree, all decked in German glass ornaments

The party favor, pineapple, with tags from No Fuss Fabulous.

Music Room

Living Room, ready for guests, complete with a roaring fire. One guest said that my house summed me up in a good way. I guess that's better than in a bad way!

Some of the food... twelve ladies came to enjoy the day... all stay at home moms from school. We started at 9 am and the last guest left just before 2. I guess that makes it a success! I think this may become a tradition.

The salad my mom always made.

The Best Title for an Article - EVER

Philly Magazine recently ran an article called Main Line Mothers are Raising Bratty, Spoiled Rotten Daughters: Insecure Parents are Showering their Children with Lavish Gifts and creating totally un-dateable women.

It is not just in Philadelphia either. There are many young ladies I see that I hope my boys never date. I, also, tell the boys not to date a picky eater. Life's too short to deal with that malarkey.

Check out the article here .

Tis the Season

Yesterday I spent two hours redoing a Christmas garland, taking off the lights, in which only half of them worked, removing all the wired on ornaments, and starting over. I had gone to Hobby Lobby and bought the green balls and picks to add to the red balls I already had. After two hours I get to the last grouping... and run out of picks. Sonofa.... I race to Madison, back to Hobby Lobby, and get to the pick area...sonofa... they are sold out. I think I may have cried out loud.

Cleaning Out

My father has asked my sister and I to clean out the basement in the house he and Mom lived in since 1976. We have been at it for months, doing a little at a time. It has been fun seeing all the things that were part of our childhood. Fisher Price people, the Santa face that hung in the kitchen (that Mom would point at when we were being naughty... point taken). I have found transferware plates and platters, jars of buttons, papers from grade school. Yesterday I found a box of tiny small ornaments, on the cover was the handwriting of my Great-Grandmother "glass ornaments from Judy". What do I keep? Do I keep the box? I am torn between sentimentality and practicality. My sister in more the practical, I end up with the memories.