Christmas Day 2010

It was a good day.
Morning with kids.
Coffee with friends.
Narnia movie with kids and friends.
Snacks and games.
A heart full of gratefulness!

Christmas Eve my mom joined us - I miss my dad - how hard for my mom it must be!  Nathan wasn't with us in the evening because he was on day 5 of being sick and was still feeling wretched and we didn't dare expose my mom to it.

Looking forward to my nephews wedding this week and celebrating New years with friends.  God is Good and I do look forward to what He has for us in 2011, KNOWING that HE will walk us through it just like HE did in 2010!

Spontaneous Fun!

My friends (and my patient husband) are so good to me!  I'm one of those that is always coming up with plans for fun!  I told them they'll miss me when I'm gone - but - even when I die there will be a spontaneous party!  (Some call them memorials - I call them parties!)

I had been blog hopping and ran across my friend Leslie's blog where she had posted pics of their evening going up to Stanley Park in Vancouver BC.  Marla had come by for coffee I ran the plan past her - she called Dan - we asked Randy - and it was all systems go!!

First they came for a bowl of chicken and wild rice soup with parmesan cheese buns, and then we were off!

 I was teasing Dan and Marla that I had to take this pic because it was a picture of them in 20 years..................Dan cooking, Marla crocheting..................

You can walk through the area all set up with displays for free and there is a train you can ride for a fee, but it was all sold out. You can also buy packages that include dinner at The Old Spaghetti Factory and the train - we might do this next year!

We had fun and laughed alot! I brought the glasses that Grandiflora had been selling that turn Christmas lights into snowflakes and snowmen - great fun!  Here are Marla and I in our glasses.

This picture was taken through the snowflakes................

......................and this one through the snowmen.

 I had brought some French Vanilla Cafe' in a carafe and freshly made Sugar Cookies - or "frosting lifters" as I affectionately call them!

As we drank our coffee and ate our cookies we took a loop around the park and looked at the city lights and then headed home.

If we go again we decided it would be fun to go about 4pm when it's getting dark, before the crowds, and then go for dinner afterwards. It was a fun evening....................thanks friends for being "game"!

A project finally done.............

Do you remember this post?

Well, I finally did something with those little crystal lite containers!
First I started gluing, shrinky dinking, and punching!

Then I made a batch of cranberry/orange/almond biscotti drizzled w/white choc!

Then I placed the biscotti in the finished canisters and took them to work for each gal I work with!

It was pretty fun!! I felt so Martha Stewart like!  I loved doing the shrinky dinks tags on the front- what a fun flash from the past!

Can't wait for another day in the ol' craft room/office. Next project, start getting those pictures put in my Daily December album and finish up a project I'm making for a couple of my BFF's! (shhhhh, don't tell - it's a surprise!)

TOLO night.............

Saturday evening was Tolo in Lynden - does anyone know what that word means, or is it an acronym?  All I know is it means lots of planning, shopping, primping, etc, is involved.

We didn't have anyone to do Emily's hair, so she was just going to do it herself (she had a great attitude about it).  I felt bad for her, but hair is not my gift!  I was praying that God would provide or help me figure out what to do - I mean - hair is the icing on the cake - so to speak :-).  About 3:30 that afternoon my friend Katie's name popped in my head - she's not a hairstylist but is awesome at "updos".  I called her and she said - absolutely!!  (See - God cares about the details!)So we hopped in the van and headed over.

When we got home the girls started arriving.  Everyone met at our house for pics (mine are horribly blurry - someday I'll get a real camera).

Here's the whole gang - sorry it's so blurry - it's the only one I have.

Here's Em and her date........

Then we served them dinner (my friend Susan came to help - her help was SO appreciated!!). (Notice how the boys sat at their own table ?!?!?!)

Before they headed out the door I got a quick pic with my daughter.  I am looking tired and yuk - I was a little exhausted after the dinner for 25 the night before and then turning around and making dinner for the Tolo group................

The kids came back after the dance and watched a movie, so I was up until 3am.  Needless to say - we skipped church and slept in! 

One dinner down.............

...............and two more to go this month.

BFF Marla came about 1 yesterday and helped me finish up cooking.  BFF Kathi came and helped me set tables on Thurs, and Dan and Randy helped plate and serve.  Everything went very smoothly and people seemed to enjoy themselves AND the food!

Here's a few pics from the evening.

Randy, Dan and Marla busy at it

The Lynden Christian Choir came with a "Carol O Gram"

Dessert time for the crew - don't they look dapper in their Chef jackets?

Things went very smoothly and once again our faithful friends helped us pull off a successful dinner.  Tonight - dinner for Em's Tolo Group, about 14.  Then a rehearsal dinner for my nephew on the 30th.

A busy evening

Tuesday evening I had a few friends over to work on projects.  Usually we scrapbook but this year we all had different things to work on. 

Kathi was putting pictures onto canvases......................

Jodi was addressing Christmas card envelopes.........................

Stacy too, was working away on Christmas cards.......................

I was sewing - again - isn't that fun?  I've used my machine more in the last couple weeks than I have in the last couple years!  I have enjoyed it!

I was getting ready for a dinner we're hosting at our home tonight.

 I made 25 of these to have on hand.  Stole the idea from Pottery barn.

Small group this time - only 20 :-).  I'm going to be chained to the kitchen today, so I will try to remember to take pics of the tables and food.

A family pic!

On Thanksgiving I gathered the grumbling fam together for a pic! (they aren't really thrilled with family picture moments - they just humor me!)

It was a beautiful snowy day and I had all my kids together!  What could be better than this?!?!  Nathan is looking fabulous, Brandon was home from college (with his no-shave November look) and looking handsome, Emily -beautiful as usual, and Randy and I - well - just looking a little older and VERY blessed and thankful!

We had Thanksgiving dinner at Randy's parents.  Randy's mom is such a great hostess and has quite a large brood to feed (she feeds us one Sunday a month with no help - amazing lady!).  This year we had to move to the garage to get us all together!

Dad even donned an apron - I love it!

Mom orchestrating the feast.......................

Half of the family at this table................................

....the other half at this table!

Nathan with G'pa and G'ma

It was a blessing to be with the family!  We were missing Darren (who will be home from Afghanistan in 2 weeks! and Kristin who had to work), but my heart was very full being with family!

Thought I'd better post Thanksgiving pics before we get too "deep" into the Christmas festivities!