This day...

...may peace attend your way.

Merry Christmas!

 

Small baby...

 ...great love.

A light snow is falling as I write these words.  The turkey is in the oven. I am enjoying my first cup of morning coffee.  It is quiet and peaceful and I feel blessed.  All the packages are tucked under the tree awaiting my boisterous and energetic family's arrival in a few hours.  I'm smiling as I recall last night's church Christmas pageant.  Olivia (age 4) was an angel (actually, she he reminded me of one of the Herdman kids from The Best Christmas Pageant Ever!) and Dayton (5) was an innkeeper.  He managed to make everyone laugh after he said his one line.  One of the highlights of the season to me, is the candlelight singing after the children perform.  The church is darkened and one by one the candles are lit until the whole place is basked in the "Savior's light." 

    Happy Birthday, Jesus.   

Gloria in excelsis deo!

and

Christmas Blessings to you, my friends!

 

pinterest

google images

I've been AWOL and missed you!  

But I'll be back.

*

Wishing you a blessed Easter Day!

He is risen!

bundle up!

Baby, it's cold outside!

What are you doing to keep Jack Frost at bay?

a new year dawns

time flies

 pinterest

This is the beginning of a new day.
God has given me this day to use as I will.
I can waste it or use it for good.
What I do today is important, because
I am exchanging a day of my life for it.
When tomorrow comes,
this day will be gone forever,
leaving in its place something
that I have traded for it.
I want it to be gain, not loss;
good not evil; success not failure;
in order that I shall not regret
the price I paid for it.
Author Unknown

* 
Christmas weaves a magic wand over this world,

and behold,

everything is softer and more beautiful.

* 
Norman Vincent Peale

 pinterest

 Wishing you a

a heart overflowing with gratitude

and a Thanksgiving Day filled with love.

Blessings!

happy birthday, princess olivia!

Last Saturday we celebrated Olivia's 3rd birthday  

with a Woodland Fairy Princess party.

The menu included:

Tomato/Mozzarella "Toadstool" Appetizers

Chips and Dip

"Butterfly" Sandwiches

Mimi's Potato Salad

GG's Peanut Butter Squares

Auntie Crystal's Fruit Wands

Mama's Rice Krispie Wands

"Fairy Berry Juice"

Gramma's Funfetti Fairy Cake 

and Fairy Cupcakes (Liv helped decorate!)

& Neopolitan Ice Cream

oh, and Pixie Stix. :)

Aunt Mary Jane brought pink sugar cookies with sprinkles too.

The party was lots of fun and Olivia received many wonderful gifts from
her royal family and friends.  They, of course, were fit for a queen princess! 
Every time I see her she's wearing a different ensemble.
I think she had three costume changes at the party! :)
And everyone, I mean everyone, enjoyed the fairy wings! teehee!

Happy Birthday, sweet girl! 

You will always be a princess to "Biddy" and me.

Happy Veteran's Day

                                                          

                                  Dad~ holding Crystal~a few years ago...

 Dad was in the Navy during the Korean Conflict.  

My brother, Brian, joined the Marines the summer he graduated from high school

 

 To all our veterans...

Thank you.

three weddings, two baby showers, and a field trip, oh my!

We were without power for 5 days last week after an October snow storm.
So it's time for an update...

Lydia & Zach * 9/10/11

  Allison & Ben * 9/30/11

Kaitlyn & Paul * 10/08/11

Jackie's Baby Girl (Aleena) Shower (10/9) w/ Liv & Dayton "helping"

  Mary Beth's Baby Boy (Noah) Shower (10/22)

Dayton & Liv & several others "helped" at this shower too!

 

  Field Trip to Mystic Aquarium in Connecticut

Grades K to 4

11/04/11

Looks like God painted the Clownfish by hand.

 Octopus up close and personal!

I'm always awestruck by the imagination and creativity of God when I see all the creatures He's made!

 

Beluga Whale~amazing!

Next week, Olivia's Fairy Princess Birthday Party!

Stay tuned!

My PROJECT

The Nutrition Curriculum Project 

I'm working on for the class I took this summer 

must be postmarked by October 28th.  

It's my "due date!."

I have been thinking about little else for the past few weeks!

It has been an interesting journey and I've learned SO MUCH!

 But I'm anxious for the weight of  it to be lifted.  

I just can't wait for "this baby" to be done and delivered!

oh, dear, oh deer!

Have you ever 

wished

you had'nt left 

your telephoto lens 

at home?

happy birthday, dayton!

The first part of September is a very busy time of the year for me. 

The new school year begins.  

( I teach first grade.)  

Sunday School begins,

(I'm the Sunday School Superintendent.)

And my grandson, Dayton celebrates his birthday!

This year he turned 4 on September 3rd !

 The theme of this year's party was

I helped his mom by carving a
watermelon shark...

                                                  and making "sushi" appetizers...(not that tasty, but cute!)

 Sponge Bob and Nemo 

( Dayton's two Grandpas)

made an appearance!

 

And the birthday boy gave it all he had to blow out his candles! ;) 

{Next year somebody remind me that buttercream frosting

melts on the way to the party 

when it's early September and the temperature is 80 degrees !!}

Happy Birthday, sweet boy!

I love you all to pieces!

smooch, smooch!

:)

fairie tale

My granddaughter, Olivia, believes she is a princess...(and indeed, so do I!)

She adores wearing princess dresses and princess shoes

and, of course, a crown!

 * 

So, while enjoying some time by the campfire awhile back,

 

I made this fairy princess crown.

 

Now she keeps asking for wings! :)

 *

  So her mom and I are planning a fairy princess birthday party in November.

Olivia doesn't know I already picked up several pairs of wings at the dollar store the other day.

("Gotta get 'em while the gettin's good," my Mom would say! )

Olivia's mom knows I love to plan a party with a fun theme; so she indulges me.

Oh, it's going to be so much fun!

*

Do you have a childhood birthday party that you remember as your favorite?

Batten down the hatches...

This is the calm before the storm.

We're getting HEAVY RAIN and the winds are beginning to pick up.   

The power has flickered a couple of times which is a bit unnerving, 

but my kids are all safe at home, I've got LOTS of candles, 

we're dry and safe, so, right now it's a bit exciting!

Hopefully there will be minimal damage here in New England

and it will be a quiet (except for the thunder!) day at home.

*

Have I not commanded you? 

Be strong and courageous. 

Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, 

for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."

                                                                      

Joshua 1:9

I just found out my middle daughter does have to work today.

I covet your prayers for Bethanie's safety.  

*

We've been flocked!

 We woke up this morning to fifty flamingos in our front yard!

*

To raise $$$ for sports programs 

the local booster club 

will "flock" any house in town

for a cash donation. 

 *

{Thanks Crystal and Kenny!} :)

 *

When the woman came to 

pick up the flock she said, 

"This is probably the only house in town 

where the flamingos actually look good!"  

*

pink door

pink flamingos 

*

 That is a compliment, right?  

*

 Did you notice the ducks checking out the flock?

*

Now it's our turn to do the "flocking!"

happy birthday!

My daughter, Jade,

 

and her friend Holly,

celebrated their birthdays together 

with a very fancy black and white birthday party.

 I made the cake

 and babysat the grandkids.

Looking forward to seeing pictures 

of their lavish affair!

*

Happy 23rd, Jade 

Love you.

*

Summer’s popsicle

 And a pool to eat it by.

 

What more do you need?

                    ~ Neal Ross Attison

Josh Groban Concert

Last week a friend gave me 2 tickets to the Josh Groban Concert.  

Thanks Aaron! :) 

So Andy and I drove to Lowell to take the T to TD Garden in Boston.

It was a wonderful concert.  

Josh Groban has a phenomenal voice 

and I loved his interaction with the audience.

 He asked the audience at the beginning of the show to text him questions.

One girl asked "Will you sing with my sister?"

 This is what happened~

I don't know who she is, 

but she was fantastic!

Of course, "You Raise Me Up" was the final encore and highlight.

A nice way to spend an evening...

What was the last concert you attended?