A Few More Christmas Handmades



Wrist warmers I made for Britta.
This is the first pair I've made and definitely not the last.



Neck Scarf I made for Lindsay Ann
I got to use a really cool designer yarn made by Rasti 
and a button from my vintage collection my Mom gave me.


I also knitted a snake and sewed a reversible Batman/Superman cape
for Aidan but neglected to get pictures of them.

Christmas Eve 2010

Kendall and Lacey



Lacey, Me and Kendall

Lacey, Leslie, Me and Kendall

Jan, David and Lincoln
The Host and Hostess Extrodinare

Take Away
Jan always has a gift for each of the kids usually it is a festive necklace
this year she gave these adorable wood cutouts.


Jan and Lincoln have hosted Christmas Eve dinner for many years, my family has participated for the last 17 years.  For many years the girls would go up the day before Christmas Eve and Jan would plan an activity for them.  Over the years they have made ornaments, gingerbread houses, miniature Christmas trees and even personalized Christmas dishes.  Many of these items were used as the centerpieces for the dinner.  As a mother of young children this spend the night gave me the opportunity to tie up loose ends and finishing wrapping gifts.  This event has been a special blessing to our family and I thank Jan and Lincoln for doing this and being dedicated to making it a family tradition. I feel that tradition is part of how we define ourselves and how we find our place in a disposable world, without it we flit from one thing to another without connection, without commitment. I was a little sad this year because for the first time in those 17 years not all my girls came.  It reminded me of how many of my families traditions went by the wayside after the death of my Grandparents, everybody went their separate ways, the connective glue was gone.  It's hard to see things change, but as we all know change is inevitable, so all we can do is pray that the change ahead will be good and tradition will still be a priority.

I DID IT!

Grades are posted!

I got a 4.0 for the 5 classes I took this semester!

I ended up with an overall average of 3.95.

I have completed my degree!

I am a college graduate!!

Grad School!

             I am very pleased and proud to announce that

Lindsay Ann has been accepted to the

            University of Georgia Graduate/Specialist Program

and will begin attending in January!!



Lindsay Ann is 26!

The Signature Quilt I gave to Lindsay Ann for her birthday.  I made the twin sized quilt top to celebrate Lindsay Ann's graduation from high school in 2003.  I had most of her friends and family sign it. Continuing the theme of completion, mainly completing my college degree, I decided I also wanted to finish up some other important unfinished projects this year, so I had Britta and Lindsay Ann's quilt tops quilted.  I am thrilled to have come far enough along in my new life to finally be able to afford to have this done.  I realize I already presented Lindsay Ann with the quilt top in 2003 and hope she will see the gift in me finally being able to have this quilted for her.  The re-gifting so to speak of this quilt has brought to light a great life lesson in the signatures on the quilt.  Many of the people who signed the quilt are still friends, some have become family, some have faded and a few are no longer with us.  It's amazing how much life can change in 7 years.
Life is a blessing and this quilt reminds us that change is a constant part of it!

Handmade Christmas!



Personalized Coffee Collars. 
I knitted them and Kendall hand embroidered the initials and snowflake.




Inside the cup is a package of hot chocolate and a peppermint lollipop.
I think Kendall's friends are going to love these!

Handmade Christmas!
One of my favorite things!

 



Christmas Decorating

Our real tree before it is decorated



Finish product mostly due to Kendall's decorating skills; it is so beautiful and so much bigger than last years!



Fireplace decorated with greenery and stockings. Chair holding beloved pillows made by me dear friend Lenny. This is the first year Eric's stocking is hanging with the girls; I made it for his Christmas gift last year.


A Great Day!


The girls and I had so much fun today.  We started with a trip to the knitting store to stock up on yarn for some Christmas projects.  Then we headed to the tree stand I went to last year to buy a Christmas tree.  This year we were able to buy a much bigger tree and the girls were so excited about this.  Last year we had a heck of a time putting our tiny tree in the tree stand.  I was not looking forward to that again this year, especially with a much bigger tree.  I mentioned this to the tree guy and he set me up with the most amazing stand.  You just set the tree's drilled based on to the pin of the stand and it's perfect.  I have to say this is the best $15 I have spent in a while! On the way home from getting the tree we stopped in Publix for our weekly shopping and it was sample day!  We tried mulled cider, ice cream, shrimp cocktail and a few other treats.  We bought some of the cider and the ice cream which is seasonal special made by Publix, it is called Santa's White Christmas is amazing, you have to buy some, it is coffee flavored but different then the usual coffee, it has a creamy taste with chocolate slivers.  When we got home we decorated, ate dinner and put the train up under the tree to finish off a great day!  I love days like this, when I get to spend time dedicated to family!!  

My Latest Creation!

Thanksgiving!

"Enter his gates with THANKSGIVING and his courts with praise; GIVE THANKS to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good and his love endures for ever; his faithfulness continues through all generations."  Psalm  100:4-5

I have so much to be thankful for! 

Great Gifts!

It's the gift giving season, so finding that perfect gift is on everyones mind. Don't you love it when you give a gift that someone really enjoys and not just for a little while but for a long time. 

My Mom (Marmee as my children call her), gave Lindsay Ann a Cricut when she graduated from college.  Check out this website to see all the really cool things it can do. http://www.cricut.com/.

Knowing that Lindsay Ann was going to be a school teacher, my Mom searched for something that would really aid Lindsay Ann in her new job; and boy did she find something good! Lindsay Ann has used this Cricut for everything from setting up her very first classroom, continuing to keep her classroom fresh and fun, and she has even used it at home for  hosting parties for herself and special friends.  I know Lindsay Ann loves this gift and I am sure she thinks of my Mom every time she uses it.






Britta...in the beginning!!



Lindsay Ann and Britta



Britta and Daddy



Britta and I



Grandma and Papa with Britta

Marmee and Britta



Uncle Ward and Britta

 

Teresa, Linda and I



11-11-10 Britta is 21!

Cookie Cake Kendall made for Britta

Kendall, Britta, Leslie, Lacey and Aidan

Me and Britta holding the quilt I made her to celebrate her 21st birthday

Britta seeing the quilt for the first time

Britta opening her gift from Kendall

Sweet Aidan and Lacey

 

Kendall, Britta, Lacey and Aidan



Signature on the quilt

Behind the Wheel!

Kendall passed her drivers license exam today!  I'm so proud of her! Teaching my children to drive is one of my least favorite jobs as a parent. The thought of putting them in a vehicle that allows so much freedom but but also has the potential to cause so much harm, has never been easy for me and now it's even worse with me being in the insurance industry. With this in mind, It took a little longer than she probably wanted for her to get the time behind the wheel that enabled her to be ready for the test.  On the plus side, I am a good parallel parking instructor and Kendall was a very good student! I even let her take the van for a spin on her own when we got home (needless to say, I was praying fervently the whole time)!

Congratulations Kendall!!

P.S. If Kendall could have a new car to drive with her new drivers license this would be it!

Wait Until Dark

The Holly Theater in Dahlonega, Georgia

http://www.hollytheater.com/

 Britta had her first stage role in the play "Wait Until Dark."  It has been playing on the weekends during the month of October. We surprised her today by going to see the play; she had no idea we were coming.  When the play was over the actors came out on stage to bow and that is when she discovered that we were there; her reaction was priceless! The play was very good.  Afterwards we went to Shenanigans and had some tasty snacks.  We finished our lovely afternoon with a piece of fudge.  I had pumpkin pie flavored fudge that was incredible.

Lacey and Kendall in front of the marquis advertising the play

Britta and I outside the theater after the performance.

 

Lacey, Britta and Kendall
If you look closely you can see  Britta's picture
in the top left corner of the advertisment behind them.



Stage Setting.




Playbill



Peach Pit!

Peach Pit Basket

I was meeting with one of my clients one day and we got off on the subject of the state he was from; he was from Ohio.  This reminded me of the Junior Achievement Conference I went to when I was a senior in high school.  Each representative had to create a swap that represented their state.  I remembered that the kids from Ohio gave out buckeyes.  When I told the client this he told me that he carved little baskets out of peach pits and gave them to his friends and relatives when he went home for a visit. I have always had a fascination for miniature items, so I asked him to bring one by for me to see the next time he was in town.  A few weeks later I was working in the McDonough office and I received a text picture from our office manger.  It took me a few minutes to figure out what it was, when I did, I was so excited.   The client had brought a peach pit basket for everyone in our office!  Isn't it adorable.

Nationwide Pumpkin

Kendall was so sweet and painted this little pumpkin with the Nationwide logo for me so I could decorated my desk at work. Needless to say my co-workers were a little envious!

Never To Old For Face Paint!

Kendall is 17!!

It is so hard for me to believe that Kendall is 17! She has always been a precious child and is still this way as a teen. I feel very blessed that I was chosen to be her Mom.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY KENDALL!!

Apprehensive!

This coming week I will be starting back to school. It is my last semester before I graduate. I am mildly apprehensive because instead of taking 4 classes, like I have in the past, I will be taking 5 along with working full time. I am afraid that I will be overwhelmed and stressed to the max. I know that God will help me through this and it will all be over in 16 weeks. I really want to finish up on a good note, so I am promising myself that I will continue to spend time with God, go to the gym, and to stay on top of my school assignments. I feel very blessed to have had the opportunity to go to college and finish my degree. I really appreciate the support of my family, friends and co-workers who serve as my cheerleading team. It will be these thoughts that I will hold on to as I make my way to the finish line.

"Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and day out." Robert Collier

First Day of School 2010

First day of school 2010.

Kendall is a junior and Lacey is a sophomore.

Britta is a junior at North Georgia.

Lindsay Ann has started her second year of teaching

It is all passing by so quickly!

Of course we have to have the silly picture!

Family and Ormond Beach

We went to Ormand Beach, Florida to visit Aunt Eileen and Brent, family from the Hallberg side. Eileen was married to Marty's brother Ward and Brent is their son. Unfortunately Ward passed away in 2007 from skin cancer. The girls had not seen them in 5 years and I had not seen them in 7, so this visit was long over due! Aunt Eileen is a really fun person and Brent is precious, he reminds me so much of his Dad, we had such a good time!!

Brent skim boarding, his skill is amazing
Bikini Babes

Aunt Eileen and Brent

Riding the waves

Kendall, Eileen and Lacey

Cousins