Today is my nephew Marty's 40th birthday. If an occasion like that isn't a kick in your mortality, nothing is. Anyway, his mother gave the party for him today. This one is the PG version, he is having another adult party at Kirby's down in Delano this evening. It was nice to visit with him and his mother who we don't get to see that often anymore.
Here are some pictures taken Christmas morning here at home. The Blomberg's came over for Christmas Brunch after which we opened presents. Wyatt enjoyed opening his packages a lot, and he liked what he got. Of course the clothing was tossed aside quickly. Once again, we are so blessed to have the kids so close by.
We had Ray's family over last night for dinner and celebrate Christmas. For a while we weren't sure if it was even going to happen. People kept cancelling out with conflicts. In the end, everyone who could make it had a great time. We had supper with chicken and noodles, vegetable soup and hoagie sandwiches. Donna provided cake and sugar cookies for dessert. Too much was eaten by every one. 
I have made ten of these cards in different colors and patterns. They are being sent to our immediate family. The photo of Ray and me was taken in October for our church directory. We actually really like the picture, and splurged and had it touched up so we looked better than we do in real life. 
Nicole dressed the kids in red when she brought them over and asked me to take some pictures of them. This was easier said than done today. Wyatt was cheesy smiles and Andrea was headed out of the picture every time she had an opportunity. I managed to get on Nicole like and she is going to order cards with it. I remember now why I always thought it was hard to photograph children.
Andrea took her first steps today. I knew it was going to happen very shortly. She had been doing everything needed, but hadn't taken her first step. Luckily for her mother, she did it while Nicole was here. Of course everyone is making a big fuss over her and she is eating up all the attention.
I went out to dinner with my friends that I worked with at INTRUST last night. We go out every year at Christmas and always go to Olive Garden to eat. It is tradition after all. Diane, Toni, JoEtta, Sharon and Joyce are always a lot of fun to be with. We catch up on all the news, eat too much and sometimes get too loud. However, we have never been asked to leave, so we must be fairly well behaved. I am very blessed to have all my women friends, they enrich my life so very much.
Actually, there are two teeth in there now. The first tooth came through about a month ago, but it took this long for it to get big enough to be seen. Andrea wouldn't let me put my finger in her mouth to feel it unless it was to chew on it. Now all Andrea needs is a top tooth and she will be able to eat pizza.
Here are three cards from the Basic Grey card set that will be done on Sunday at Scrapbook Garden. I am not teaching the class, but I asked for the instructions and I am glad I did. The class is set up as winter cards, but I was able to change the sentiments on ten of the twelve cards to Christmas. I don't know if the class is full or not, but I would encourage anyone to take the class if they want to do some hand made Christmas cards.
This is my downstairs tree
This is the little upstairs tree
Some years the squirrels go about getting ready for winter very calmly. Other years, it is like they have gone crazy and are in a panic. This seems to be one of the panic years. We have seen as many as a dozen congregating around one tree doing some sort of rodent convention. I looked out on the patio this morning to see these too climbing up and own on the posts. They didn't run off when I took their photos. Ray and I like watching the squirrels and we don't even mind feeding them along with the birds in the winter. This strange behavior is just more to enjoy watching.
Here we all are gathered around the table for Thanksgiving Dinner. We had a great meal this year. The original plan was not to overdo it with the food selections. Jackie and Nicole stuck to the plan pretty well, but I kept adding to the menu. There was more than necessary left to put in the refrigerator, but not too much. It was a great day spent with family.
Andrea is now going up the stairs by herself. It took me by surprise, luckily Ray was home and told me when she was about a third of the way up. She is fast about it too and very pleased with herself. I don't have the security of knowing that she will stay in the basement now. My baby is turning into a little girl.
I just finished this card to celebrate the retirement of one of Ray's co-workers Phyllis. I hope she enjoys retired life as much as I have. I used Basic Grey Indian Summer paper, American Crafts ribbon and Prima Flowers. The colors are so warm and pretty. The design is from a sketch in the November Cardmaker magazine. I love that magazine, it keeps me going when I am stuck for an idea for a card.
This time I am going way back to 1951. This is me, my brother Jeff and my sister Chris. Chris was about three months old, Jeff was two and I was four. I don't know what Jeff got that year, but that set of dishes beside me was totally neat. They were blue and white plastic. I played with those until they disintegrated. If I remember correctly, the box in front was plastic glasseware to go with the dishes. I was Suzy Home Maker for sure.
This is a mini album I will be doing a class on at Scrapbook Garden in December. The album uses envelopes, folders and cards by Teresa Collins. The book is bound using the Zutter Bind it All. The album isn't difficult. The hard part for me was finding and scanning in the pictures. I chose the story of my parents and our family up until I was about twelve years old. All the photos are black and white and really fits the mood of the album. I am not going to journal the album until after the class. I will print more of the old photos and put them in the envelopes. I plan to give it to a family member for Christmas.
