We are blessed!

I spent most of yesterday shopping with my friend at the after Christmas sales.

It sounds crazy, I know.

But it really was a blast, and it wasn't the mob scene I thought it might be!

We

had

FUN!

Anyway, here's a few pics from Christmas Day.

My holiday table~

My family~

My youngest, trying to get my grandson to smile...

my son-in-law, grampie and d, and tired boy!

He had a party with his other grandparents the night before...

Middle daughter and her boyfriend, holding sweet girl

My oldest, and her husband holding his favorite niece

My friend, Teresa

in the background listening to

Grampy and D's deep discussion!

My brother and sister-in-law, here from Arizona.

My sweet mom wasn't able to make it here this year,

but we were able to share dinner, and a visit later in the day, at her house.

*

I bought these fun tool Christmas lights at an after Christmas sale last year for my Dad.

They were to decorate his workshop. I never did get to give them to him.

I lit them all season in his memory.

We sure miss you, Dad...

and my favorite photo....precious Olivia.

Gifts in abundance...Thank you Jesus.

Hope your Christmas was filled with precious memories!

* Merry * Christmas *

 Joy to the World, the Lord is come!

Let earth receive her King;

Let every heart prepare Him room,

And Heaven and nature sing.

And Heaven and nature sing.

And Heaven, and Heaven, and nature sing.
*
 Christmas Blessings to you and yours!

early christmas gift!

I was so delighted to find this

in my mailbox yesterday!

I.love.it!

I won this unique necklace in Gypsy Brocante's Vintage Black Friday giveaway!

I had thought that I might give it to one of my daughters for Christmas,

but I don't think I can part with it!

Check out her blog, then visit her etsy shops,

Gypsy Brocante & Vintageology

I can't thank you enough, Jill!

Merry Christmas!

You made my Christmas

 even

  merrier!

i've been blind sided :)

After school this afternoon,

and before a school committee meeting tonight,

the principal (my friend, Sue) and I (the other Sue) went to see

the movie,

The Blind Side.

If you want a movie that renews your faith in humanity,

this is the one to see!

I  .   loved  .  this  .  movie   !  

I'll buy it when it comes out on video DVD,

and I'll watch it again and again!

Click here to view the trailer:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJ3kwMq18-8

What a great story!

Seasonal delights

Last week began

with a

schoolwide

field trip

to

 at the beautiful

Hanover Theater

 in

Worcester, MA.

http://www.thehanovertheatre.org/

One of our recent graduates performed in the ballet.

It was so fun to see her

and

such a festive way

to start off

the

month

of 

December!

We had a few students who were completely star-struck! :)

*

Mid -week I enjoyed our first * snow day * of the school year.

Then,

I ended the week enjoying

at the DCU Center.

click here to view trailer

I was given four complimentary tickets

from a generous parent

of one of my students!

My best friend,

my youngest daughter,

and her best friend

enjoyed VIP passes

which included great seats,

refreshments,

(and a private bathroom

no waiting in long lines!)

during intermission!

Cirque du Soleil

was simply a

phenomenal

show!

Oh yeah.

SO

FUN

&

We*felt*special!

Thank you, E.'s Mom! 

It was awesome!

*

Today,

the Patriot's won. :)

(Middle daughter's boyfriend got tickets to today's game for her birthday!)

We had a beautiful and peaceful light snowfall this afternoon.

And oldest is stopping by soon, on her way home from work.

I'm thinking I'll make some plans to have some fun with the working girl!

I'm counting my blessings,

 and looking forward

to what the new week has in store!

May it bring

and peace to you and yours...

seeing stars

I was home today.       
*first*snow*day *of *the *year *
So...

Olivia and I hung out while her mom was at work,

playing peek-a-boo, tickle monster, and dancing to

"Santa Claus is Coming to Town."

But,

while she was napping,

I tried to refresh my memory

and make a few moravian or swedish or german???
stars.
It seemed a lot easier when I made them in the past.

They came out so much more polished.
I'm thinking it must be the paper I used.

I wonder what paper is best for making

Christmas stars

(That's what I'll call them.)

any suggestions?

winter wonderland

Last night I added a few strands of pearls

 (long pearl necklaces I found at the thrift store)

to our Christmas tree.

I'll add a few more, I think.
I like it.

We awoke this morning to find a winter wonderland!

So sunny and beautiful!

In the afternoon, my friend, Holly and I

attended a wreath~making workshop.

(Her nephew had won two tickets and didn't want them. )

Imagine!

And Holly invited (lucky) me!

I had to pay a few dollars for

the

little

bird,

but I think it's just what my wreath needed!

Oh,

yes,

it's

looking

 more and more

 like

Christmas,

isn't

it

?

Christmas shopping at home

Sweet girl's mom hosted a purse/pocketbook party

last night.  So I volunteered to bake cupcakes.  Of

course, loving a theme like I do, I had to

add my own pocketbook cupcake toppers!

Cute. Fun. Yummy.

And, I did pick up a few Christmas gifts.

Sure beats fighting the crowds at the mall!

deck the halls!

It's

beginning

to

look

a

little

like

Christmas

around

 here!

*

*

*

The tree is up.

*

My nativity set adorns the mantle,

*

and another is set up for Dayton and Olivia.

There's a fire in the fireplace,
*

There's snowmen and snowflake soaps in the bathroom...

*

*

and a couple of seasonal bathtub friends...

*

*

and,

 at a recent

thrift shop visit,

I

found

this

nativity

candle holder.

It

is

a

beautiful

reminder

to

my family

and

me

of

the

real

reason

 for

Christmas.

*

"For unto you is born this day

in the city of David

a

Savior,

which

is

 Christ

the

Lord."

LUKE 2:11

*

I hope you'll stop by again

to

see

what else this

"work in progress"

has

been

up

to.

This is only the beginning!

I'm so happy to share the JOY  with you!

Special thanks to

Tracey

at

Notes from a Cottage Industry

for hosting this

Virtual Holiday Home Tour!

Hers is one of my all time favorite blogs!

She is an inspiring and creative woman and

I think she runs on the same batteries as the

Eveready bunny!

Thank you, Tracey,

and thank you

 to all of you

who came by.

Don't be a stranger.  Leave a comment and I'll stop by and say hello.

*

*

*

"...and so I'm offering this simple phrase to kids from one to ninty two...

although it's been said

many times,

many ways,

Merry

Christmas

to

   you!"

a little birdie...

I want to make this centerpiece,

marthastewart.com

but with white, shades of green, and pink.
Oooohhh! I love it!

ushering in the holiday season...

For Thanksgiving dinner,

my daughter,

Crystal,

set a lovely table,

roasted her first holiday turkey,

(to perfection, YUM!)

and served it to her grateful family!

She included traditional family favorites

 and a few new recipes of her own.

Everything tasted incredible!

And, no one,  I'm sure, appreciated it more than me!

I've been making Thanksgiving Dinner

for more years than I can count!

I took over for my Mom, and I'm happy to

pass the torch to a new generation!

I really feel like I'm taking a mini vacation!

Thank you, Crystal and Kenny!

Kenny's facebook entry this morning said,

"fat and happy  big ups to the wifey!"

I guess that says it all!

Now,

let

the

countdown

to

Christmas

begin!

 PS  Special thanks to Julie for my very first blog award!

I'll be sharing the sparkle...

 stay

 tuned!

counting my blessings...

When I count my blessings

I always include you,

my blogger friends.

Happy Thanksgiving!

let it snow!

Look what I found at the local thrift shop just in time for

Vintage Black Friday!

Isn't this the best top hat?

Made right here in the USA!

AND

I can't wait to pop it right on the head of a

wonderful,

classic

snowman!

Things I'll Need:

SNOW!

A carrot (nose)

2 sticks (arms)

2 large rocks (eyes)

6 small rocks (mouth)

A top hat (check!),

and

a scarf.

OK, I'm not really in that much of a hurry for snow,

but,

when it comes...

I'll

be

ready!

happy birthday to daughter #2!

Happy Birthday, Bethanie!

My "middle daughter"

(Sweet Olivia's mom)

turned

25

yesterday!

 

I pray,my sweet girl,

 that you will

 live

life

to

the

 fullest,

seeking the Lord

always

to

follow

 His

perfect

plan

for

you.

Glad your day was happy and full of delightful surprises!

I love you always,

Mom

ever heard of a hedge apple?

Jan @bobbypinsboardwalk is having a cool giveaway!

Go to this link to check it out!

http://wwwbobbypinsboardwalk.blogspot.com/2009/11/hedgeapple-giveaway.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Bobbypinsboardwalk+%28bobbypinsboardwalk%29

Good luck! (to me)! hehe!

sweet girl is one!

Happy Birthday!

Yes, Sweet Girl is One!

She and her mom live with us,

so, together, we

hosted a

BIG

birthday

BASH!

The theme was

 "Olivia the Pig"

from the books

by Ian Falconer

"The OLIVIA stories describe

the antics of a very active piglet

who tests her mother's patience

by belting out songs,

drawing on walls,

dancing,

 and ...

well...

acting like a kid."

So I made piggy cupcakes,

 frou froued a bit with some boas and

 

 polka dots...

Olivia~style!

She got lots of presents!

I think this was her favorite.

She ate a little cake, of course!...

...and seemed to enjoy every minute of the party!

Happy Birthday, Sweet Olivia.

May you always know

how much

you

are

loved.

xxoo