And the Stockings were hung by the Fireplace with Care...

What can I say it is the Night before Christmas ...I am surrounded by my son and daughter and holding close to my heart my beautiful granddaughter, Lil Orchid. If you remember Dec 6 we attended a Santa Breakfast and Craft Fair. Lil Orchid visited Santa, he told her that he wanted Big cookies, Lots of Cookies. She ran back to Mom Mom and said that Santa wanted Big Cookies, Big as MamMaw. SHE REMEMBERED. (check out the photo of her preparing Santa and the Reindeer's snack.) Uncle N helped her place the Precious Moments (Vietnamese) Angel on the tree top, and She hung her Stocking for Santa to fill. It was a grand Christmas Eve.

Rockin Around the Christmas Tree....

Got a lot of running today, got the car back after handing over.42 cents short of $500. !
(again I will not say Bah Humbug) I guess we'll have roast hotdogs instead of Turkey, just kidding, I think.

Having the first of relatives in tonight, so we'll eat and party with the little ones. YeYe and Great Great (my Mom and stepdad) drove in last night.

My son gets in from Grad School on the 24th, he got through 1st semester with all "A's" what a great Christmas gift!
My sister from TN drives in also on the 24th, and will be joined by my oldest sister on the 25th. Hopefully my youngest brother will drive in with his kids on the 26th.

Jack Frost Nipping at Your Nose...

Okay, let me get this over with...it's so Freakin' COLD. Okay that didn't really help, so I'll just tell you about my day. Started out good, that is the car started after a bitter cold night. Doing last minute errands..picking up milk, cheese and buns at one store then moving to the next for printer ink. But the car had other plans...yep!...it wouldn't keep running, and I was totally amazed that Christmas Spirit was out there ...a young lady and her daughter jumped out to help give us a jump...that didn't work and two gentlemen stopped to help (I believe it was because she was thin and blonde)(but I don't care, they tried to help) We always carry quilts and blankets in the car, so my daughter bundled lil Orchid up and walked over to a Store. I walked to a garage, they weren't equiped to help but that young guy sure tried (His momma should be proud). Anyway after 3 1/2 hours and a tow truck ride home, we are without a car and a solution. (I'm not gonna say Bah Humbug).

So take a look at Lil Orchid opening some of her Advent Blocks on different days. Each piece adds to a Santa Scene to play with.

Sorry no sewing today. Did hear from a Lil Princess in sunny Florida that received a package from us Saturday. Happy Holidays Cutie!! and your Welcome B.

Hark, the Herald Angels sing...

We are all involved in the hustle and bustle of the holiday, whether we want to or not. Can't get to the store without the crazy Christmas drivers, can't shop for neccessities without the crazy Christmas shoppers. So we bundled up, faced the bitter cold and treated ourselves at a local Church hosting a Santa's Breakfast. There really wasn't a breakfast, donuts and kool-aid, but that's okay, what they did have was a great puppet show with lots of Live Christmas music. Lil Orchid was, pardon the expression, in seventh Heaven. LOL Check out my Lil Orchid Angel !

Sold this adoreable outfit, the buyer really did a great job of matching the bow, upcycled denim outfit and the leg warmers. What a lucky little Princess, she'll be able to wear this anytime, winter or summer.

Let It Snow, Let It Snow...

Well it was more ICE than snow. Boo Hoo! and Yuck!! So we stayed inside and worked feverishly. Then settled in for a long winter's nap ;)

Check out some of the "GREAT" Custom made, Personalized WHAZATs we made that some Lucky people (Preschool to College) are getting for Christmas.

the weather outside is frightful..

My prayers go out to all those effected by the weather and outages. (I hope our friends in New York are okay) It is bitter cold here with wind gusts, but I am thankful that we still have our electricity.

We stayed inside finishing the Christmas tree and Then decided to take pictures of Lil Orchid for our Christmas cards.

12 more days

This morning we prepared to attend a service for my Aunt (89 yrs old) who passed away. She was one of the people that never seemed to age while growing up. She also was talented and they displayed her quilts and handiwork along with photos of her & family. She was an incredible women and will be missed.

Lil Orchid got to open another date on her Advent Calendar which gives her a different item to make a Santa display. She will ask me all day when is it time to open another box.

This evening was a special Christmas Party through an adoption group, we always have fun eating, playing and waiting for Santa to arrive. This year when he called out her name she jumped up to see him. She took great care of her friend, Samantha (9 mos younger) .

On the way home we stopped in town at the old train station for a few photos.

MamMaw, my tree's broke

We are finally getting the house in the Spirit of Christmas, with decorations that is. This is turning out to be an incredable month all because of the greatest Joy in our House. Lil Orchid is the perfect age and understanding for the season. We have watched the Christmas shows, meet Santa and are seeing the beautiful lights outdoors when we are driving. So I decided I would attempt on bring the tree down from storage even if it is in bits and pieces. Lil Orchid was so patient and stayed in the living room while I began to surround her with piles of branches from the tree. My last load I saw her sad little face and pouting lip and asked her what's the matter. She looked around and said MamMaw, my trees broke (through the eyes of a two year old). I tried not to chuckle and explained it wasn't broke but we had to built our tree first. She was so pleased when it was up and placed her two candy canes on the same limb while exclaiming, "Santa coming tonight".

Back in the Saddle Again!

Okay, Hello dear friends.
I have given little updates on my past blog dates 11/27, 12/1 and 12/6. I didn't write much because my daughter wrote an overview on 12/4 for me. So hopefully I'll get back in the groove and blog more often. Everyone please be good to yourself during this Holiday season and take care.

saturday

Today was a Craft Show and Santa Breakfast in town. My daughter and I were both under the weather. Check out all our goodies that we have been working on. Lil Orchid and I had lots of fun visiting Santa and meeting lots of new folks.

Where's Grandma Monica?

Since my Mom has been either too miserable because of the pain from her knee, sick with this nasty virus that's been going around, taking care of extended family business, worrying about my sick Grandpa (aka her step-dad) and also worrying about my Grandma who's trying to take care of him, taking care of Lil Orchid at night so I can work, taking care of Lil Orchid during the day so I can work my other job also, trying to catch up on sewing and making things not only for Etsy but a few shows coming up and lots not forget that we have entered the Holiday season filled with stress and lots of fun parties :) So that's why my Mom has been absent, absent minded is more my thought (ha,ha).
She will post soon and tell about the great Thanksgiving we had, my Baby Brother being home for the holiday and our trip to get our family picture taken(which will be sent with our Christmas cards that we haven't even began to address), about helping me search for the perfect preschool Lil Orchid will attend (since around here they can't start until they turn 3), the wonderful pumpkin soup I make every year and how my Aunts devoured more than half of the 5 gallons I made this year, my best friend (aka my Mom's other son) visit over the holidays, my Cousins visit (aka her niece and nephews), our mad dash this month to renew my 171-H since I just realized it hasn't expired for the future Lil Ladybug and that way we won't fall under the I-800 Hague paperwork (praying it will all fall into place like all of Lil Ladybugs's adoption has). And all the other random adventures of our life together as a family. So I leave you with a few random photos from the month of November, K took the last 2 all by herself, they aren't her best work but they say alot :)

K playing in the sink

K's plate after eating most of her Thanksgiving dinner

This is her FP Little People who she calls her Uncle N

So until again when my Mom fails to update her journal for almost an entire month, I bid you adieu

Lil' Orchids MomMom or Grandma Monica's ever wonderful Daughter

Also did you see the awesome avatar I made of our family that is on the sidebar. I was surprised at how well it depicted us.

Monday

We have been working very hard on the Handmade items for YOU! mini WHZATS, Orchid Babee's (vintage style Church Baby's), more Hair Bows, Hats and Headbands, and lots of Leg Warmers, Crawlers or Wrist Warmers.