Day 360 [Friendly Competition]

The day after Christmas we had some friends over for a visit.

Chris and Stanley are two of Michel's childhood friends.

When they get together they revert back to those boyhood days and play video games.

It's cut throat, smack talking, competitive play!

We are talking serious business!

It's always a good laugh for Laura and I to take in this boyish sight.

Good times!

Day 359 [For REAL]

As I was about to post this picture as Day 360, I started to realize that my calculation was off! 

I went back and realized my mistake dates back to day 187....if you look, you will not find day 187!  I went from 186 to 188...so I've been off since July!

Anyway....

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!

Today's post is about the BEST gift!

This is a gift that was not purchased in a store for me, rather a gift that came way of my Mother's china cabinet.  My Mom's Mother, my Grandma Severson, passed away when I was 10 years old.  I have very fond memories of the short time I was able to know her. 

One of my most vivid memories is of the day, not long before her passing, that she bought out a tea cup in her kitchen, showed it to me and said that it was mine.  Her Mother had given it to her on her 9th birthday (i don't recall if is was purchased new for my Grandmother or not)  and she wanted me, her eldest Granddaughter, to have this tea cup.  Her hope was that one day I would pass it down to my Granddaughter.

She told me that she would give the tea cup to my Mother to keep for me until I was grown.

It has remained in my Mother's china cabinet since that day, 30 years ago.

I have requested my tea cup many times since I have been married, but left sad and frustrated when I was told not until I had a china cabinet to house it in.

Since I have no need for nor plans to purchase said cabinet, I've been left without my beloved tea cup.

I requested the cup at Thanksgiving but left empty handed.

Last night, during gift exchange with my family, there was one box that was unmarked.  My Mom said it was for me, but it was not a present.  Confused and intrigued, it was the first item I opened. 

Inside was a note from my Mother, which brought me to tears, explaining why she had kept the cup for so long, due to her being very close to her Mother and having a hard time letting go.  She was sorry for keeping it from me for so long. 

This was by far the most touching and best gift I received last night.

I will be soon looking for a case for my tea cup so I can safely display it in my house.



Day 359 [Peace Be With You]

On this Eve of the birth of Jesus, I wish you a Joyous Day.

Day 358 [Ho! Ho! Ho!]

I have been looking for some fun little treat to make up for Christmas, like I did for Thanksgiving, and was coming up empty handed.  That all ended yesterday when I was looking at a friend's photo album on Facebook of her cookie party.  When I saw these little guys I knew I had to make them! 

How stinkin cute are they!?!?

SO easy too!  Nutter Butter cookie, tube of white frosting (for the 'glue'), pretzel antlers, chocolate chip eyes and an M&M nose.

Bailey and I worked together on these and had them done in about 10 minutes.

Fast, easy and CUTE!

I plan to package a few up for my nephewn to take home tonight to leave out for Santa. 

Day 357 [Classy Dining]

After a long day of shopping...I did all the holiday food and present shopping today!

Nothing like waiting until the last minute.

Michel took me out for dinner.

He wanted to go someplace different then our usual choices, so he chose the roadhouse in the next town over.  They have good food and the environment is very casual.

So casual in fact, there are peanuts on the bare wood floors.

I looked down during dinner and saw under our table the sight of this reciept, fork and peanuts.

I, quite honestly, couldn't have created a better picture to capture the place!

Since my camera goes everywhere I do, I pulled it out and got to snapping! 

Day 356 [Sugar Rush]

Today I picked up my little buddy and spent the day with him.

We baked and decorated cookies.

He did his fair share of finger licking the frosting off his digits.

We talked and talked, played SpongeBob Monopoly, had lunch, shopped for Legos and then said goodbye.

It was a fantastic day with my buddy!

Day 355 [Dreamy]

It's not quite as good as I was hoping for, but with practice I'll get it right.

I love the dreamy effect of the twinkle lights out of focus. 

Day 354 [Pretties]

I'm working on two albums for a client.

She has two kids, a boy and a girl.

I've been moving right along with what she's requested for their books and today I was so happy with this layout I made for her daughter.  I added some stickles to the center of this flower and glossy accented the rest of it.  I'm looking forward to see how it looks tomorrow after it's dried overnight.



Day 353 [Tree Debris]

This picture sums up the aftermath of the wind storm we had last night.

We have had a lot of windy/stormy nights this winter, but last night's was one of the worst!

It gusted winds all night, no rain, just wind.

The noise kept me from getting a good night's sleep...which makes for a grumpy lady in the morning.

We were a bit shocked by all the tree debris, missing for sale signs from their posts, and downed fence panels around the neighborhood.

Thankfully we never lost power!  We live a stones throw to the lake, according to all the patrons in Starbucks this morning, who live on or around the lake, we are lucky.  There were several trees laying on power lines on the roads around the lake and no power was to be had.

Day 352 [Sofa Effect]

Same sofa, different kid, different day, same effect! 

This boy was tuckered out this evening and fell asleep while watching the Jingle Ball on TV.

I do find it endearing, even as a teenager, there's still that sweet innocence when they sleep.

Day 351 [Sleepy Doll Baby]

Little Morgan came by for a visit today while her mommy had an appointment.

She had fallen asleep on the way over, so her mommy told me she may take a snooze if I set her up on the sofa.  After snacking on her orange and playing for a bit, I set her and her dolly up on the sofa with Nick Jr. on the TV.  5 minutes later, this was the scene. 

I love her little girl hands, her bright eyed baby doll and how peacefully she slept there, just like that!

Day 350 [Running Crew]

We've been at it for over four months and I'm so proud of the fact that we've stuck with it!

It's not easy some nights...with the cold, wet and dark, but we push on and get a run in.

We average 3-4 nights a week.



Day 349 [U-G-L-Y]

Took this one on my way home from a quick trip to Costco and the bank.

It was one ugly errand run.

The weather has been unruly at best since November.

We had high winds, loads of rain, thunder and lightening last night.

I was awoken by the sound of debris hitting the house then laid awake fearing the tall fir tree in the neighbors yard would end up in my house.  Thankfully we woke up with everything in it's place.

The rain was gone by run time tonight, just the wind remained and that left for a rather slow run into the wind. 

Day 348 [Peek-A-Boo]

It was a low key Monday filled with Lifetime movies and laundry.

I rather enjoyed the downtime and quiet, while my boys were at school and work.

With all the activities the season brings, it's nice to take time to be still for a day.

Day 347 [Friendship]

Today I went over to my friend's house to scrapbook.

It's been a while...too long, since we last got together.

We had lots and lots to catch up on.

creativity, sharing, chatting and friendship.

That's all the makings for a good day.