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!