pop . . . fizz . . . clink . . .

New Year's Eve calls for champagne and little champagne cage chairs . . . they make wonderful little ornaments. 

2014 has been interesting to say the least . . . as it comes to an end I find myself looking forward to the new year for no other reason than I like new beginnings.  I like the start of a new school year . . . I like to open that first blank page of a new journal . . . I like the feeling that each and every day is a new beginning.  A new year just makes me reflect a little more than usual.  As I start 2015, I think I am more myself than I have been in a long time.  It is a good feeling!

Happy New Year!

see how they grow . . .

The kids gave me this board to measure the kids' heights . . . personalized with their hand prints and Jordan's footprint.  They said his little had came out looking like a blob . . . so they went with his foot print instead.  The little hearts are their actual heights and are made with their thumb prints.  What a cute way to watch how they grow. 

put your beer here . . .

I love giving Christmas gifts that we make.  Richard made a few of these wood six-pack holders at the last minute.  The turned out great.  Looks like he is going to have to make some more . . . everyone loved them and wants one.

Merry Christmas . . .

skeleton & elf . . . Christmas Eve

Skeleton & Elf . . . part IV

Ninja Turtle ornaments . . . .

Simple ornament idea that I saw on Pinterest.  Luke and Jacob each wanted a set. 

They are both Ninja Turtle fans from way back.

Shabby Charlotte Doll . . . Gigi

I haven't made many dolls lately . . . this one was a special order for one of my coworkers.  She is giving it to her daughter for Christmas.  I miss making these Shabby little dolls . . . I need to use some of my Winter Break to get some more made.

Gigi is a feisty little doll with a big heart.  She likes candy and the color pink . . . although she also likes Dodger Blue.  She loves to be creative and make things.  She carries a little pad and pencil in her bag just in case she gets in the mood to draw . . . and does she ever like to tell stories.  She also has a little bell in her bag . . . just a little jingle to make her smile.   Gigi likes gymnastics and karate and is especially proud of the yellow belt she had earned.   Gigi can be a little quiet, but watch out if she sees someone treating someone else badly . . . that is when that big heart goes to work and she will stand up for anyone being picked on. 

This little doll wears a special necklace . . . it is to remind her how much she is loved by her family.  She may be little . . . But they love her in a big way! 

Skeleton & Elf . . . Part III

little things . . .

I stitched up some rice warmers last night,  They are great this time of year when it's cold . . . just 2 minutes in the microwave.  I always like to have a few extra gifts on hand . . . 

Grandma's old box that she used to keep gift tags in.  I can't remember how I ended up with this box.  I think Mom had it and she was going to toss it out . . . of course I had to keep it.  

This sticker came on a Christmas card at work . . . do you know one?

A little extra decoration on my nail the night we decorated ornaments at Brent & Ashley's . . . SMILE!

My new ornament . . . Richard spotted it in a store last week.  It looks great on my pink tree!

Trying on hats and snapping selfies . . . just one of those things we do.  

I like the silly side of this man. 

"Keep your Christmas-heart 

open all the year round. "

~Jessica Archmint

Skeleton & Elf . . . Part II

They are still at it . . . 

"I just like to smile - smiling's my favorite."

~ Buddy the Elf

It's beginning to look a lot like a birthday . . .

Happy Birthday to one of the greatest bosses ever!

This year's birthday decorations . . . 

We like to surprise him with something on his birthday . . . You can look here and here to see a couple of his other birthdays.

Christmas Ornaments

"The perfect Christmas tree? 

All Christmas trees are perfect!" 
~ Charles N. Barnard

It has been a few years since I have decorated our tree with our old collection of ornaments.  This year after listening to the kids . . . and thinking about Charlotte - I thought it would be fun to use them again.  So last night we decorated the tree with Charlotte.  I forgot how much "fun" it is to decorate a tree with a two year old.  I think the bottom portion that she decorated is the best part of the tree.

When the boys were little they always had to hang these two ornaments together, with the reindeer pitching to Santa.  It is great how these simple little ornaments bring back memories.

One of Luke's first ornaments . . . when he was quite small and we called him "Roo".

One year there was a necklace hanging on this ornament - that Richard hid on the tree for me to find.  

On of my favorites.   There are actually six of these.  The first Christmas Richard and I were married we were living in Orlando, Florida.  We had only been married about three months.  He was in the Navy and we went out and bought a beautiful big Christmas tree . . . but had very few ornaments.  We threw a tree decorating party with all of his friends in the Navy.  (They had to bring an ornament to come to the party.)  What a fun party that was.  We had guys who bought us ornaments.  One guy went to White Castle - and got a free ornament with his hamburger.  Another young man stole an ornament off one of the trees on base.  Then there was this kit of little "Peanuts" characters that someone bought.  The kit came with glitter paint.  It still makes me smile to think of those young sailors in my living room drinking beer and painting little plastic Snoopy ornaments.  

Jacob's little socks from his first Christmas . . . 

We have quite a few Disney ornaments . . . 

Luke was a big fan of Mickey Mouse when he was little.

A count cross stitched ornament that I made years ago. 

 I believe I made quite a few of these for gifts.

The ornaments that the boys made in school are special of course.  

They were always so excited for us to open them and to hang them on the tree.

This is an Avon ornament that was a gift to Luke from my Great Aunt Myrt.  This was another one that Luke and Jake liked to hang on the tree each year.  

My Grandma had a collection of Campbell Soup ornaments.  I believe the collection was split up when she passed away . . . so everyone got a little piece of her collection.

Claus Construction - a gift to Richard one year . . . 

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles . . . just as popular today and they were when my sons were young.  It is hard to believe those four masked turtles are still around and going strong. 

This is the first ornament Luke had to put on the tree.  It plugs into the string of lights so the inside actually lights up.  He laughed when he pulled it out of the ornament box . . . He had Charlotte help him hang it on the tree this year.  

Just a few of my favorite ornaments . . .  I found a few that need some repairs, which I will do before I pack them away.  I am also going to split them up . . . so each of the boys have the ones that belong to them.  It did my heart good to break out all those old sentimental ornaments.  It also did my heart good to watch Charlotte decorate the bottom of the tree.  It may not be a perfectly decorated tree . . . but it is beautiful and symbolizes what Christmas is all about to me.