Santa & His Elves Cocoa Party

I love having parties! 

We invited our neighbors kids over this morning for a little cocoa party to bring them

 Christmas cheer before Christmas Day. These kids are adorable!

 Freckles has been babysitting them for this last year. 

We wanted to make it a special time for them.

 We decorated the table all fancy with Santa mugs and elves

 (who were on there best behavior today)

 and wintery things.

 We added English Christmas Poppers and paper crowns..

.Snow donuts, cocoa, chocolate chips, sprinkles and marshmallows to top it off.

It was fun...Even though they only lasted an hour...

But it was a fun, festive hour.

Finally...

What a blessing to finally get a bunch of rain. If you didn't know...California was hit with a very bad dry drought spell. Everything was dying, it had been hot and the reservoirs were dried up. Any little bit of rain we got many months ago only lasted a day and was not enough to water or fill up anything. It was getting to where we couldn't use as much water to wet the grass and stuff. The Lord is good...It has been pouring cats and dogs for a couple days now...Just what we have desperately needed around here. It has also cooled down, yet we have had to endure high humidity which makes you feel warm and as if you were in a sauna. It has been nice...Listening to the rain on the rooftop, coming down, snuggled up in some cozy slippers and an afghan, sipping a nice cup of chai tea with marshmallows on top in a Santa mug. Yeah...Now that's what I'm talkin' about!!!

I know some people dread the rain...Not me....It has been so nice. Reminds me so much of back home, in Washington. Sure it rains and snows there, but boy is it beautiful and green there. I miss it quite a bit at times. I miss having snow every year. I loved watching my kids play out in the snow and have a snow ball fight or build snowmen....Or to open our mouth and let the snowflakes fall tight in. Well anyway. The rain is a good thing around these parts. Now it's time to deck the halls and start the baking and making.

Morning Stuff

Nothing like a hot cup of sea salted caramel cocoa in a Christmas mug on a rainy morning. Starting my day off with this and finishing up the packing of our house. Just two more days until the move. I am so tired...I realized I am sort of like a closet hoarder.
But you would be proud to know I got rid of a ton of junk ... Stuff....
And was able to bless people in my community with our old clothes and other things through
Freecycle and donating stuff to our favorite Thrift Shops.

Speaking of Thrift Shops...I found this little Santa...The cutest one I have seen in a long time...He was just 50. cents. You bet I scooped him up, lickety split. He is about to be packed away though.
 Poor dear.

I even put out a little sparkly Christmas tree just for a day with presents in my entryway. So there you go...Our last Christmas in this home...in a day....And no, we did not open the gifts early...Even though this girl wants to see it all like, right now. Ha...Sorry sweet Freckles
 your going to have to wait 12 more days.

Twelve more days?
I can't believe it. Before we know it,
it's going to be New Years...
2013...
Akkk. Time is sure flying.
See you here in a couple days.
have a fantastic remainder of this week.

So Long Little Gnome..

Remember last week I introduced you to our little house guest, Cedric the Gnome a few posts down? Well, he is off to his next destination after a week visiting us in California. It was pretty quiet around here since we have been up to our ears with packing for our move. Unfortunately Cedric didn't get to see a lot of our state.. He had the chance to visit our little busy elves. It was a short visit with those guy's though, I couldn't send Cedric off to his new destination after being with my mischevious elves...Cedric has to be a good gnome for his future hosts, the last thing they need is some naughty gnome getting into their things or playing pranks on them.
 
He also met up with the Great Father Christmas himself before leaving. He told St. Nick what he wished for Christmas, since he will be just in time to his new hosts home to spend Christmas with them. I hope he gets what he asked for. He has been quite a good Gnome after all.

And one last kiss from his little friend who happened to have a little crush on him...
Notice how pink Cedric's cheeks are. I think he's blushing Ha Ha Ha.

So glad we had him here though his stay was short yet, sweet.
He was a very pleasant guest indeed.
Hope you having a great week so far. I am off to pack more boxes.
Yippee

Frolicking Freckles Christmas on Etsy...

Yup...In the midst of packing up the house, cleaning,
 doing laundry, home schooling, sorting and taking care of my family...
I managed to list some vintage Christmas things in my Etsy Shop...
Frolicking Freckles Vintage Funk & Junk.
       
Stop on by, take a look, spread the word. Great vintage
 Christmas finds at great prices.
***
Happy Shopping

Santa's Taking A Long Winters Nap

I have been packing this week...As I was out in the garage, I decided to go through all my boxes that were already out there, just to make sure what I wanted to keep and what I needed to get rid of. I am so proud of myself for tossing out a bunch of crap stuff. I had to do a bit of rearranging in my Christmas boxes as well....Making sure they were all snug as a bug. I snapped a couple pictures of just a taste of my vintage Christmas collection. And just a few of my Santa's...One last look before my Santa's take a long Winters nap. Yup...These guy's won't be seeing Christmas this year.
 
They will be packed away since we will sort of be homeless for the holidays. We won't have a home to put up our very own tree, string the lights and deck the halls. Nope, we will be spending it at my mom's this year. Which I  am sure will be lovely, yet it is bitter sweet to me and my dear Mr. Darling and our children.
 
Farewell Santa...
Just for this Christmas, we will see you next year.
XOXO