~ a year in the blogworld

This was my Happy New Year 2009 post, and it was actually my very first blog post, ever! I got a new laptop last year for Christmas and starting blogging shortly after. It's been a fun ride... I've read many a humorous post, been inpired by DIY ideas, given support and been supported, and gotten to know a few of you better and think of you as friends. Looking back... my most commented on posts were ones of support, and that says a lot about all of you! Thanks my blogfriends!
Happy 2K10 to all!
Have a fun and safe evening. Let's all make the most of what life has to offer this year, and continue to inspire each other!

the best present is always the unexpected...

On Christmas Eve we ran to Target for a few last minute stocking stuffers, and while picking up the small sized items on our list, we ran across a strategically placed toy on one of the end-caps. We have no young children in the family at the moment, the youngest being 22 years old, but we do have 6 dogs amongst the 3 families. My daughter convinced me there was fun to be had with this battery operated pig, and for the $10 cost I said "oookaay". Here is the unwrapped toy nicknamed "PigPig" Well... PigPig did prove to be quite entertaining and well worth the $10. He snorts and grunts and rocks back and forth. We couldn't actually let the dogs play with it because of "federal safety guidelines" and all, it really wasn't dog-safety approved (too many edible small parts I'm sure). But we couldn't help ourselves (sorry PETA) and we did torment the pups a bit for our own entertainment...

No... Westin didn't quite get the pig, although he gave it his best effort and came very close!

He gave up after that and decided it was nap time... or... is he pondering his next attack?

our family Christmas

the girls
home from Christmas Eve church service

lovin' on the baby

Christmas Eve dinner
and cupcakes for dessert!

Christmas morning... everyone is ready to see what Santa brought!
a few gifts for our grandbaby too!

Jax's first Christmas with the family!

and there you have it...
a loving family that I am blessed to be a part of,
that's what Christmas memories are made of!

makin' a list and checkin' it twice...

... no, not to find out who's been naughty, just to make sure I'm ready for the end of the week's celebrations. My gift shopping is 99% done, and the wrapping should be done this evening,
that's the plan anyway. Then I can straighten up and clean, oh boy!
There is baking to be done, lots of cookies, yum!

And a few errands to be run...
we're off to Total Wine this afternoon to stock up for entertaining

and yes, I'll make sure there's plenty of white for our
"White Christmas" here in Atlanta!

Gotta get goin'... much to be done, the family will all be home by Wednesday, hooray!

our '09 Christmas card

photos from my niece's 10-31-09 wedding
and if you couldn't tell...

yes... we all had a fabulous time!

Merry Christmas to you and yours!

Handmade tree skirt... it's finished!

I actually started this Christmas craft last year, and made the flannel and satin skirt, and then got sidetracked like I often do. This year I brought it back out and adorned it with felt characters! A Mr. and Mrs. Snowman my son-in-law and daughter, and a little boy snowman my soon-to-be-born grandbaby!

I also added their name on a puff of snow and a few bedazzled Christmas trees. And then, to make it the perfect fit for my daughter's family, I added their two Jack Russells to the scene. I found a few photos of the pups, Westin and Tessa, and Grad Girl and I just cut away until we had our two felt look alikes.

Here are the pups relaxing with Grandpa. How did we do? Good look alikes?
The big picture

And... under my tree to see how it will look.
A quick photo and now it's neatly bagged and ready for gift giving!
Merry Christmas to the Hamiltons!

sharing this Christmas craft
with you on Holiday Linky Friday
Merry Christmas to all!

Tour of Homes... twas the night before Christmas

Our stockings were hung by the chimney with care...

in hopes that St Nicholas soon would be there.

...the children were nestled all snug in their beds

while visions of sugarplums danced in their heads.

We heard him exclaim as he drove out of sight...

Merry Christmas to all
and to all a good night!

a tree party!

Ohhhh... Christmas tree

how lovely are your branches!
a Christmas Tree party hosted by Thirfty Decor Chick

hope your Christmas is merry and bright!

crafting time!

I've accomplished quite a bit while recuperating at home these past 9 days. It's amazing how much you can do sitting up in bed! First, I addressed and wrote out all my Christmas cards. I've also addressed all the shower invitations for grandbaby's shower in January. I've done a bit of online shopping, for Christmas and the shower. And I've crafted... hand sewing the appliques to go on my daughter's tree skirt, with the help of Grad Girl. My other daughter Kristin also helped by using her fabulous new embroidery machine to embroider their name. A group project in the end! I actually made the tree skirt last year but never had the time to decorate it ( a procrastinator project perhaps?!).

I can't show you the finished product, that's a surprise for Kelly! But here's a sneak peek...

Yes, they're just pinned on for now. I'm going to blanket stitch around all the figures, hopefully tomorrow?! I'll post again when it's all done and ready for Kelly to put under her tree.

She's gonna love it!