OUR "Twelve" Days of Christmas in California

One week of visiting
Two passengers traveling
Three and 1/2 hour drive from SLO to LA
Four separate airports
Five of us ate at Shawn's On Main
Six nights of little sleep
Seven hour flight delay going back home
Eight California towns reached (SLO, Marg.,MB, Cambria, Atown, W.Hills, S. Clarita, Burb.)
Nine golf clubs, a driver and two bags handed down by Grandpa
Ten people for Christmas day
Eleven friends we saw

Twelve seagulls flying over head down by the rock

Holiday Delight With Lights Galore

For anyone who is in the St. Louis area, you may want to check this festive house out in person. It is at the corner of Hawkins and New Sugar Creek Rd off of HWY 30. Andrew heard about it on the radio, as callers called in talking about this particular house. We went for a drive and checked out how spectacular this all really was. At first we thought to look for a house with a lot of lawn decorations and lights and something over the top...but as we were driving around we ended up seeing a bunch of homes with decorations and sort of "over the top".

Some homes were well decorated and others just standard white lights outlining the roof and windows. A trend for 2006 I did see was using blue lights more this year. I think these homes may be related to homes celebrating Hanukkah? There was a nice home with 3 separate shades of blue lights set up, and a Star of David light flashing on the porch.

We finally reached the house we heard about from the radio and it was very obvious this was correct house. It was covered in decorations and lights, not a foot of grass was spared!

Here are some photos we took of this house. It was on the boarder line of tacky. There was every inch of their front, back and side yards covered in decorated themed sections. The house is so elaborate and attracts people to look around that they even set up a walk way to follow around and see every little bit of tackiness displayed proudly by this house. I was amazed at all of the time, effort, and love put into this as a holiday tradition for the community to look forward to each year.This blow-up Santa fishing reminds me of Morro Bay. It was my personal favorite.
Classic Hip Santa, riding a bike instead of a sleigh.
Being in St. Louis, MO, they have to support the RAMS with a giant blow-up Rams player. Also in the back ground was a golly set up with the holiday lights.
A big smile came to us when was saw Homer there! Had to take a photo opp with him!
Another favorite section was in their back yard, these snowmen are all set up on a small hill and the lights are layed out on the ground spelling out "Let it snow". The photo does not do this justice, it was much more prettier in person all lite up.

Here is an overview of the house, they decorated their entire property with holiday stuff!
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This Santa sitting on the train I believe is one of the families original lawn decorations, which I thought added a beautiful bit of history to their massive collection of holiday decorations. Over all this house is very impressive and enjoyable to walk along the walk way together looking at every little detail. Happy Holidays and a New Year of Happiness!

Stand under some mistletoe and have a Merry Kissmas!

Beautiful Snow White

Here are some photos I took of our first snow fall for the winter season here in Missouri. People have said the snow has come early this year, and usually starts snowing in the later part of December, in St. Louis. Last Wednesday (Nov 30) was a warm sunny day at 68 degrees, with weather reports of a snow storm coming Thursday and Friday. It was hard to imagine snow, back when it was nice weather just a day before. Thursday morning started out with rain and slush, and then by 2pm the rain was changing to freezing rain, and snow accumulating on the ground. The freezing rain was like little pellets of hard snow hitting us as my coworkers and I were outside trying to scrape the ice off of our cars. Driving home I was a little tough with the rain/snow on the ground, it was a little slushy to drive through. Friday was easier to drive in, and the roads were more cleared up by snow plows and the snow had stopped falling.

Friday was filled with breath taking moments. To see the grounds all blanked with snow, it was beautiful.

Here is a photo I took of a Robin bird eating some berries that are in the tree.

Friday morning I had to go into work, and Andrew's office was closed, he had the day off, so he helped shovel snow from behind my car. Here is a photo I took of him before I drove off to work.


Then there were cars parked at my work Friday with ice cycles on the bumpers, I took a photo of one of the cars parked near my car.


The snow was all melting from the sun and then freezing back to become ice trees. Saturday morning I was out in Des Peres, MO, and took this photo of some ice trees where the sun is shinning through the branches.





When I got home there were ice cycles on the carport, so I took photos of those too.




I want to take a photo of a bunny in the snow, but have not had the chance. There are bunnies that live outside and hop around, and I think they would make a nice photo against a snowy backdrop.