December Memory Book

Last year Michele made me a December memory book. She makes the books using paper, card stock, envelopes, almost anything she has laying around then paints watermark backgrounds. Her artistic talents are amazing.

Each day starting the 1st of December and ending December 25th you memorialize what you did - like writing in a diary or a journal. It would have been so much simpler doing this last year when Violet was living here. But the procrastinator in me put it off. This year I felt so darn guilty that I vowed to complete it.

Ta-Da! It got a bit easier towards the end of the book with so much Christmas stuff going on. Every other day I was pic stitching pictures together so I could run to CVS and print them off in small size to fit the book. I'd ask her for another book but I think the stress would curl me up in a ball with a blanket in the closet. But it has given me inspiration to complete the Grandma book she made me when Violet was born.

Funny Christmas Card

My friend Krista is a big dog lover and she sent me this Christmas card.

For all you dog lovers this has to be one of the funniest things I've ever seen. Makes you think twice about that new puppy for Christmas!

Merry Christmas

Ah Christmas! That one day of the year when all chaos breaks out in my house. I spent all morning preparing dinner and waiting for everyone to show up. But this time I was prepared or so I thought. The turkey was done this year but once again the dressing didn't seem to want to cook all the way through inside the turkey. So pulling from my Food Network brain, I quickly sliced the uncooked dressing, threw it in a skillet to finish cooking, then dropped it in a crock pot to keep warm.

I don't really have enough room in my house for everyone to sit at the table. Karen and Michele were lucky and grabbed a seat at the table or maybe it was Karen who grabbed the seat with Violet and Michele had no other place to sit.

Michael can eat any place so he just grabbed a TV tray...

As did Teresa and Brad.

There was a little relaxation after dinner - Dad enjoying the rest of his tea...

And Bruce and Courtney finishing off their glass of wine - before the unwrapping of presents.

Violet was so excited to open presents but after getting her chap stick (empty I might add) she needed Courtney's help in opening her gifts.

Melissa tried to keep Violet away from all the gifts before everyone got there. She uses the excuse that the gift is for Ashley. You can imagine how excited Violet was when she finally got to give Ashley her gift and, of course, help her open it.

Violet enjoyed passing out gifts to everyone else.

She even got brave enough and sat by Great Grandpa while he opened his.

Later we all sat around just taking a breather and enjoying the gifts received.

Why do I feel like the person at the party with the lamp shade on their head? But Christmas 2014 is over. I think I'll wait a few days before planning Christmas 2015.

Oh, I almost forgot, my favorite gift of all - artwork from Violet.

Christmas Eve

With all our busy schedules and Jamie having to work on Christmas, we decided to get together on Christmas Eve and open a few presents. Violet was so excited when she woke up from her nap and saw all the presents under the tree. It was a little hard making her wait for everyone else to show up before she started tearing into all her gifts.

I was so focused on getting pretty Christmas paper I didn't think that maybe this foil wrapping paper might be a little hard for Violet to tear apart.

But she managed quite nicely and was so excited to see her new food to play with in her kitchen.

Violet took time to show Melissa and Ashley her new dishes.

And pose for a selfie with me and Uncle Michael. This is a little blurry because she wanted to wrap her arms around our necks. By the time we figured that out Violet was done posing for pictures.

Michael is showing off his ugly Christmas sweater.

Melissa and Jamie are wondering how they're going to coordinate Jamie's work schedule with the arrival of Santa.

Michael and Ashley are wondering how they're going to fit in all the extended family visits on Christmas day.

And me, I'm wondering where I'm going to find the time to fix dinner for 12 people.

Violet couldn't wait for Michael to put together her basketball hoop before dunking the ball.

This is Jamie's friend Josh. He and Jamie are technically working at Lone Jack tonight. With the help of their electronic devices they were able to come by for the evening. I don't think Josh expected to be the one to put together Violet's new car.

In the end it's all about Violet. And this was just Christmas Eve. Who knows what Santa will bring Violet tomorrow. Looks like Jamie and Melissa are going to have to finish their basement so Violet has room for all her toys.

The Night Before Christmas Eve

One more day before the craziness of Christmas starts.

I'm sitting here enjoying my tree and wondering if I have everything I need for Christmas dinner and praying I don't have to fight the last minute shoppers at the grocery store.

Each year I try to personalize a stocking for the kids. I'm not much of an Etsy person but I decided to go to their site for ideas. I found the cutest ornaments - a snowman head with rosy pink cheeks and knitted stocking caps.

Each cap has some type of decoration - cards for Michael for the casino where he works, shopping for Melissa (because they don't make anything for "stressed out mother"), a fire truck for Jamie,and nurse hat for Ashley. I didn't get one for Violet. She got a little plastic Minnie Mouse which, I might add, she already found and has taken home. It's funny that at her age a $1.00 toy could make her so happy. I hope she can hide it from Lola!

Photo Christmas Cards

With each passing year, photo Christmas cards are becoming more popular.

Even Michael has gotten into the photo trend - although if it weren't for Ashley I don't think he would send out cards.

I didn't want to do the same thing I did last year (a group family photo). I thought of using our group selfie from Disney but Violet has changed so much since then. I also didn't want to appear lonely and pathetic or conceited and smug with just a photo of myself. So I opted for a picture of myself with separate pictures of Michael and Ashley and Jamie, Melissa and Violet (the puppies on are the back of the card).

Melissa has been sending photo Christmas cards for several years. No matter how hard I plan I can't beat the cuteness of Violet being front and center on the card. In fact I'm starting to think of ideas for next year's Christmas card now. If I wasn't afraid of all the push back from my kids and their busy schedules, I'd plan a professional picture. Maybe a good idea will hit me before the hustle and bustle of next year's Christmas card rush.

Living Room Afghan

I wanted an afghan for my living room and couldn't decide what colors or style to make. I'm getting a bit tired of the stripes although that's what most afghans are.

Then I saw this candle I have sitting on my mantle which gave me my colors.

And decided to make a granny square type afghan using this pattern.

This is the result. It's very rich looking and goes well with my color scheme in the living room. It's a little heavy due to the amount of yarn needed but will be a welcome addition when the snow begins to fall.

Christmas Cookies

Baking is not my strong suit but when I get my Christmas shopping done early I get bored and decide to make Christmas cookies. It's easier to make my list of different types of cookies than it is to actually get in the kitchen and start baking.

I thought I'd make things easy on myself and make a "no bake" cookie. These are not as easy to make as you might think. I followed the recipe and brought my sugar, corn syrup and evaporated milk to a boil. You're supposed to let that boil for about 3 minutes. After a minute and a half the mixture started to bubble up and boil over so I frantically transferred it to another pan. Then I continued boiling. But the cookies were nothing but a gooey mess. This is the mixture after I scraped it all off the wax paper thinking I could salvage it. I began searching the internet on what I did wrong. I found out if you don't cook the stuff long enough it won't set up. If you cook it too long you could break a tooth. Not wanting to be outdone by a cookie I tried again.

Second batch was a success. This is a coconut pecan praline no bake cookie. I also made red velvet cookies, chocolate covered cherry cookies, cream cheese sugar cookies, pumpkin rolls, oatmeal raisin cookies and jam filled snowball cookies. My hands have been in dishwater so much the past two days cleaning up cookie mess I've even chipped my nails.

Dashing Through the Snow

Well it looks like someone is enjoying the first snowfall.

Looks she even has on a coat, hat and mittens. I wonder how she got outside without her blankie!

Then I noticed this picture of Violet shoveling the sidewalk. If she needs extra money she's always welcome to come shovel my driveway!

First Snowfall

Today is the day most people in the Midwest dread - the first snowfall.

I thought by listening to the weather forecast and seeing salt and sand on the streets last night that today's roads would be treacherous. I took this picture this morning around 8:00. There was still light snow falling from the sky. Now it's 1:30 and it's almost melted. I have heard that the day the first snow falls where you can see your footprint is the number of snowfalls for that winter. Well today is the 18th which, if this were true, means there's only 17 more snowfalls until Spring. Take that Punxsutawany Phil!

Violet Visits with Santa

Christmas is such a joyous time of the year for kids. Especially when they go to the store to see Santa. But what age do kids start to enjoy this?

It certainly isn't 21 months. Violet started crying as soon as the family in front of us finished their visit with Santa. At least Santa was a good sport about it and allowed Melissa to sit in his chair while he tried to sneak in behind for a picture.

Violet and Her Gingerbread House

What's Christmas without making your very own gingerbread house.

Melissa bought a kit for Violet to create her own gingerbread house. Although can you actually call it creating when everything is neatly packaged in one box?

I think the results speak for themselves. Sure is a good thing Jamie is as creative as he is. Otherwise Violet would have ate all the ingredients and the box would be on display.

88 Years Young

Eighty-eight years young...isn't that what they say to old people on their birthday so as not to offend them? Dad celebrated his 88th birthday at Harrah's. We started out playing slots and both of us walked away winners. Then we headed over to the buffet.

Family, birthday cards, gift cards, casino coupons, cookies, pocket calendar...what more could you ask for.



I should have snuck in the back of this picture. Then we could have had four generations. Good idea for a Christmas picture.



Teresa wanted an updated picture of her and Violet. I believe the last one was taken when Violet was 6 months old. Violet gets a little selective when it comes to taking her picture. If she doesn't want you in the picture she'll definitely let you know.

So Teresa kind of snuck up on her while Jamie was doing a bit of entertaining. Happy Birthday Dad! Only 364 more days until 89.