Ah!

Christmas Eve

Christmas Day

Family!!!!!!!

Almost there.....

Three days and counting! Family arrives tomorrow, kids get out of school tomorrow. Craziness! We are running around finishing up things, cleaning, baking etc. We can't wait. My son is SO EXCITED! Despite the fact that he is 12, he can't wait. For family. For Christmas. For our annual football game on Christmas day.

Thank you all, for following, for reading, for supporting.

In case I am not back, wishing you all a very Merry Christmas!

Enjoy. Be safe. Have fun.

Everything!

So, we sit here watching videos from Christmas's past! My 12 yr old son as a 16 month old. Those chubby cheeks, the eyes, the hand that goes up so he can step over the train tracks. My now 16 yr old daughter as a 4 1/2 yr old. Jumping up into the camera, laughing, doing that "artistic flip of the hair", no teeth. Then there is my mother in law, who passed away in March. Tears sprung to my eyes. This will be our first Christmas without her. Talk about emotional - going from the tears from laughing so hard at my son (bearing his teeth at the camera, about 1 inch away) to tears for my mother in law. What a ride. I am so happy my husband has this thing about video taping everything.

Anyway. We went to look at the lights at Wheaton Regional park on Sunday with my sister and her family.  The lights are soooo amazing. Such fun.

 Ah, family!

 My sister and daughter.

This is my favorite! My 2 yr old niece!

The dolphin.

Love this shot!

Veranda.

Family! 

Kids

The dragon, and sunflower

Gingerbread Houses

Such fun this past Sunday!

Merry, Merry!

Peaceful!

Or something like it. Spent the weekend being home! Kids needed the break and some family time. Did some baking, finished getting ALL of Christmas up. Did some shopping and some wrapping. All of my cards are out. Did some serious baking! Daughter needed some mom time, so I/we baked. Dozens. The house smells good. Spent today, Sunday, finishing the baking. Made risotto for lunch all week - love risotto. Made Barefoot Contessa's Parm. Chicken with Lemon Vinagrette! My husband is so happy. Kids loved it. 

I didn't go to a few parties this weekend, but that is ok. (if you were one of the invitors, I am sorry)  

We are watching National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation and laughing, lots and out loud. Feels good to be a family. 

Being home and being a family is good!

I hope your weekend was peaceful!

Happiness today!

Went to the mall last night to do shopping!

Kids, hubby and all.

Got a fair chunk done. :)

Back and feet hurt.

Surprisingly, it was not the Christmas shoppers that were a pain, but rather all the 

TEENAGERS that were everywhere. Seriously.

Wish that the Post Office was open on Sundays - I will never get stuff packed 

up in time today. Sigh.

Going to bake up a storm today! 

Makes the house smell so good!

Makes us all so happy. :)

Hoping you have a happy Saturday!

Katie and her love of Star Wars

I came across this story today. Many of you may have seen/heard it already. This struck a cord with me having just been through a year's worth of bullying/harassment with my son. The support and inspiration brings tears to my eyes! Such a great story. Katie, you rock!

The Force is with you, Katie!

(couldn't get a picture!)

Wear your Star Wars clothes tomorrow, Dec. 10th in support of this wonderful girl!

Tonight

Just sittin' here, enjoying a glass of wine and doing my Christmas cards. Love that!

Baby, it's cold outside!

I mean cold. Windy and cold. Now if it would only snow. :)  I am getting evil looks right now. But I do love the snow. Last winter, apart from losing power during Snowapocolypse, was wonderful!!! I do have a sneaky feeling that we won't see much snow this winter.

We decorated this weekend! It was awesome. My daughter did the outside lights - she used scotch tape on the bushes to make sure that the lines of color were straight......can you say OCD? Really, she did a great job. And the best part was that we did it while hubby was at work! He came home at 11:30 on Saturday night and the house and outside lights were DONE! All we had to do yesterday was the tree! I love Christmas decorations. The house looks so wonderful. The train went up this afternoon (around the tree)

As many of you know, my muse has taken the holidays off. I tried to call her yesterday ~ sat at the desk, played, moved things, looked at catalogues ~ nothing, nada, nunca! Oh well. Hopefully she is having a wonderful holiday and comes back rested, tan and ready to go. (sip that margarita for me toooo!)

I must away, the steaks on the grill need to be flipped! Love my grill! :)

Have a great dinner!

Challenge of Color! Reveal!

Ok! Here we go...

Here is the color grouping that I received.

Peach Frappe

Raspberry Cream

Pink Sunrise

Amethyst Gem

Now, interestingly, when I got these I was stumped.  Especially since the other part of my challenge was to use what was on hand, no purchasing.  Par for the course, I needed to look at the colors, play with my beads, move things around, open/close things, sit and stare for awhile before inspiration hit. I thought about using wire, but that didn't feel right. I strung, re-strung, added, and took away before I was happy. 

When Erin was putting this together, I was unsure as to whether or not I would be able to play because of my back surgery. She was wonderful and sent me colors and said that I could play if I was up to it. Thank you Erin, for your support and kind words and letting me play! I love a challenge!

So, without further ado, I present

Pink Sunrise

I spent alot of time trying to figure out how to end/start the satin ribbon. 

On my beautiful model. 

I love the little dangly. :)

I used coral Swarovski pearls, amethyst Swarovski crystals, brass chain, brass beads, and Cr. Copper Swarovski crystals. 

Now, Swarovski's are expensive but they feel oh, so good on. Nice and solid, comfortable.

 (Admission: I love sparkly things and tend to buy Swarovski's when I go to the bead store, 

whether or not I need them)

I think I got the majority of the colors and the feel, they ended up going together so well! 

Thank you for taking the time to stop here and look! :)

There are so many amazingly talented folks playing along. Please, please go and visit their blogs, admire their amazing creations, and comment.

Alice Peterson

Amy Freeland

Beth McCord

Brandi Hussey

Cary Scholes

Catherine Pruitt

Cindy Wimmer

Claire Maunsell

Cory Tompkins

Courtney Breul

Cristi Clothier

Cynthia Riggs

Emanda Johnson

Holly Westfall

Janea McDonald

Jeannie Dukic

Jennifer Cameron

Judy Campbell

Karyn White

Keirsten Giles

Kelly Morgan

Kristie Roeder

Kristin Stevens

Lisa Godfrey

Lisa Tracy

Lori Anderson

Mallory Hoffman

Marie Voyer-Cramp

Mary McGraw

Nicole Keller

Nicole Valentine

Paige Maxim

Patty Gasparino

Rebecca Anderson

Renate Stark-Krammer

Rita Parra

Shannon Chomanczuk

Sheila Summers

Stefanie Teufel

Yelisa Rojas