Monday, December 31, 2007

Goodbye 2007, Hello 2008

Where has the time gone? So much has happened this past year, yet it only seems that the year just started a few months ago. Reflecting back....I thought I would just post some memorable pictures.


Tuesday, December 25, 2007

Merry Christmas

Yesterday was by far the BEST EVER Christmas Eve that I have had in over 5 years. The reason? My daughter and her family spent the day with us. To some of you, that may not be a big deal, but when your relationship has been strained to the point where you haven't spoken in 5 years, this it IS a big deal.

I love my daughter so much, more than words can convey. I've missed her, and I'm glad we are mending our relationship.

Today, my son and his family, and my brother and his new bride and her brother come over. That will make it a total of 9 people today.

I love my family. They are the world to me. Oh, and shhhh, but the word has been put out that there will be another grandchild before November. It's a wonderful season indeed.

Merry Christmas everyone.

Saturday, December 22, 2007

I still believe in Santa Claus...

A friend posted this and it's too good not to share.

I remember my first Christmas adventure with Grandma...I was just a kid.

I remember tearing across town on my bike to visit her on the day my big sister dropped the bomb: "There is no Santa Claus," she jeered. "Even dummies know that!"

My Grandma was not the gushy kind, never had been. I fled to her that day because I knew she would be straight with me. I knew Grandma always told the truth, and I knew that the truth always went down a whole lot easier when swallowed with one of her 'world-famous' cinnamon buns. I knew they were world-famous, because Grandma said so. It had to be true!!!!!!

Grandma was home, and the buns were still warm. Between bites, I told her everything. She was ready for me. "No Santa Claus?" She snorted..."Ridiculous!
Don't believe it. That rumor has been going around for years, and it makes me
mad, plain mad!! Now, put on your coat, and let's go."

"Go? Go where, Grandma?" I asked. I hadn't even finished my second 'world-famous' cinnamon bun. "Where" turned out to be Kerby's General Store, the one store in town that had a little bit of just about everything. As we walked through its doors,
Grandma handed me ten dollars.

That was a bundle in those days. "Take this money," she said, "and buy something for someone who needs it. I'll wait for you in the car." Then she turned and walked out of Kerby's. I was only eight years old.

I'd often gone shopping with my mother, but NEVER had I shopped for anything all by myself. The store seemed big and crowded, full of people scrambling to finish their Christmas shopping.

For a few moments I just stood there, confused, clutching that ten-dollar bill, wondering what to buy, and who on earth to buy it for. I thought of everybody I knew: my family, my friends, my neighbors, the kids at school, and the people who went to my church.

I was just about thought out, when I suddenly thought of Bobby Decker. He was a kid with bad breath and messy hair, and he sat right behind me in Mrs. Pollock's grade-two class.

Bobby Decker didn't have a coat.

I knew that because he never went out to recess during the winter. His mother always wrote a note, telling the teacher that he had a cough, but all we kids knew that Bobby Decker didn't have a cough; he just didn't have a good warm coat.

I fingered the ten-dollar bill with growing excitement. I would buy Bobby Decker a coat! I settled on a red corduroy one that had a hood to it. It looked real warm, and he would like that.

"Is this a Christmas present for someone?" the lady behind the counter asked kindly, as I laid my ten dollars down. "Yes, ma'am," I replied shyly. "It's for Bobby."
The nice lady smiled at me, as I told her about how Bobby really needed a good warm winter coat. I didn't get any change, but she put the coat in a bag, smiled again and
wished me a Merry Christmas.

That evening, Grandma helped me wrap the coat (a little tag fell out of the coat, and Grandma tucked it in her Bible) in Christmas paper and ribbons and wrote, "To Bobby, From Santa Claus" on it. Grandma said that Santa ALWAYS insisted on secrecy!

Then she drove me over to Bobby Decker's house, explaining as we went that I was now and forever officially, one of Santa's helpers. Grandma parked down the street from Bobby's house, and she and I crept noiselessly and hid in the bushes by his front walk. Then Grandma gave me a nudge. "All right, Santa Claus," she whispered,"get going." I took a deep breath, dashed for his front door, threw the present down
on his step, pounded his door and flew back to the safety of the bushes and Grandma.

Together we waited breathlessly in the darkness for the front door to open!!!! Finally it did, and there stood Bobby.

Well...

Fifty years haven't dimmed the thrill of those moments spent shivering, beside my Grandma, in Bobby Decker's bushes. That night, I realized that those awful rumors about Santa Claus were just what Grandma said they were: 'ridiculous'! Santa WAS alive and well, and WE were on HIS team!!!

I STILL have Grandma's Bible, with the coat tag tucked inside: $29.95.

May you always have LOVE to share, HEALTH to spare and FRIENDS that care...And may you always believe in the magic of Santa Claus!

Author Unknown

Sunday, December 16, 2007

The Day Santa Came...

Who is in my living room?

You're young, you have kids. What do you do when you can't afford to take the kids to go see Santa? You make a new plan. You improvise. That is exactly what the kids did...they improvised, with the help of Grandpa of course.

I go to Walgreen's and buy this Santa outfit for $14.99, hoping that it will do the trick. Ok, so it's a bit cheezy, but what the heck. We're improving here, remember?

We go to the kids house yesterday for the BIG VISIT, and Duane decides it's time to go to
Walgreen's to pick up my pictures, (wink). He makes his departure, and Sheena calls Vincent into the bathroom to 'do his hair'. Duane sneeks back in, and goes into one of the bedrooms to do his 'magical transformation'. Next thing I hear is him calling out with a touch of panic to his voice. I go into the bedroom, and there he stands, with knickers. LOL I guess the makers of the costume had 5'6" guys in mind when they designed these things, not 6'3" guys. So, once again, we make a new plan, and we improvised. Thank goodness the top was long. He runs out to the living room, and quickly sits, candy canes in hand, and waits. Vincent makes his way out to the living room, and just couldn't beleive his eyes.

SANTA WAS SITTING IN HIS LIVING ROOM.

Santa calls him up to his lap, and the pictures begin. Lighting isn't good, but what the heck. I guess every photographer has an off
day. I know I sure did. The pictures turn out ok, with a little adjusting here and there....they are passible.
Kaydence had a GREAT time with Santa. At one point, she reached up and did the unthinkable....yep...the beard almost came off.
Below is a GREAT shot of all the kids by their tree...it was a GREAT day afterall.

Monday, December 10, 2007

The Grandkids...

I have a couple new pictures of the grandkids and thought that I would share.

I took this one of Alixandra when she was here last week. We had a great time scrapping and making Christmas cards. I feel that in time, she will be published as her work is really cute for a 14 year old. I'm going to have to take a few photo's and post them. She's turning into a very beautiful young woman. My daughter has done a wonderful job in raising her.

Here are a few of my son's kids. Vincent and Kaydence are truly brother/sister. She adores her big brother as he adores his little sister. She's only 7 months here, and look at her...don't you just want to reach out and pinch them cheeks? LOL

He's got the most cutest dimples ever.

I love all three grandkids.....

Saturday, December 08, 2007

Thank you Rusty Pickle..

The mail came yesterday, and boy did I ever get a surprise!! Look at what I got from Rusty Pickle. I had taken some pictures of Lance when he was here at my LSS, Once Upon A Time, and sent them to Casey, (who happens to be a Rusty Pickle Chef) and look what they sent me. Could these papers get any yummier? Yes...wait until you see their Valentine line. OMG...it just keeps getting better and better. Now you know why I think Rusty Pickle is the BEST EVER line of paper out there. Their stuff is amazing!!

Thank you Casey and the rest of the crew at Rusty Pickle!!