Needles and Pens

I'm sure there'll be lots of Christmas morning photos for the "messy" theme this week, but I just couldn't resist. This is just about as messy as it gets! Oh, wait... I was wrong. My daughter just showed me this picture of her bedroom. THIS is as messy as it gets! Good grief... Better late than never... join the Photo Hunt !

Over the river and through the woods 'Twas the Night Before Christmas But what are you saying, really? All I want for Christmas is a par-a-keet A Christmas morning visitor

“A man came, sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify about the light, so that everyone might believe through him. He himself was not the light, but he came to testify about the light. The true light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.” ~ John 1:6-9 “I have come as a light into the world, so that everyone who believes in me should not remain in darkness.” ~ John 12:46 Join the Photo Hunt

Yesterday I finished this second Folded Star ornament, for my in-laws. With one last rice bag made this morning, and the last of the cookie baking in progress, I'm officially finished with my homemade gifts. Time to give it up, put away the sewing machine and cookie sheets, and hit the stores for the rest. We ventured out last night for a few things, and I'd say we're about half done now. With five days to go, we're actually ahead of schedule! lol (Though a family get-together this weekend will cut into potential last-minute shopping time, so we'd really better get a move on!) All in all, things are coming together, and I'm finally looking forward to Christmas!

...I've managed to make a few gifts this year. Not nearly what I had planned a few weeks ago, but I guess that's not so unusual. Better to focus on what I have accomplished than what I haven't. I made this Folded Star Ornament for my mom and dad. I've been saving this pattern for years, and finally got around to trying it out. Even though I had the wrong size of styrofoam balls, it turned out pretty nice! I hope to make another for my in-laws... how many days do I have left? I made these rice bags for my son's teacher, bus driver, and our mail lady, all of whom I thought might need some tension relief at the end of their day. Here are the rice bags, all ready to wrap up with how-to instructions. I'll also include a small container of cookies in their packages. One thing I have done this month is lots of baking! So that's all for my homemade gifts this year. This, and lots and lots of cookies! My oldest son and I broke down and finally did some Christmas s...

The "Simple Gifts of Christmas" program was a big success! No one forgot their lines, all the costumes fit, and the kids (and the audience) had a great time. I'm sorry I didn't get a better picture, but with the low lighting and the huge group of kids, this was the best I could do: Best of all, after the program... carmel apples! See the little bits of "camel fuzz" all over his shirt? I'll be vacuuming that stuff from my house for weeks... lol

This week's Photo Hunt theme is "small," and Rainbow, the betta fish, is the small est member of our household. Don't mind the hungry look on the cat's face. She really just likes to drink fish-flavored water, when no one is looking. I usually shoo her away when she attempts this, but I couldn't resist taking this shot before sending her off to find her own water bowl.

Whew! All of the camel costumes are done. See? They really weren't too complicated, but making eleven of anything can be tedious. Needless to say, I'm relieved! Here's Tim, modeling his costume. We still need to get a tan shirt and pants to match... ... and a side view, with a backpack "hump" underneath... I'm sure we won't feel the full "camel" effect until we get together in a big group, with all of the donkeys and sheep. I'll have to get a picture on Sunday. But for now, I'm pretty much camelled out! ;o)

Today, they're twenty and eighteen years old...

This week's project is to make eleven camel costumes for the 3rd and 4th graders in our church Christmas program. It's an easy enough costume, really. Just a little poncho with a hood attached, so I should have no problem getting them done in time for the program this Sunday. I hope. Today I'm attaching the ears to the hoods, and for the life of me, I couldn't picture just where a camel's ears were placed on his head. So I was happy to find some great pictures at Fohn.net's " Camel Pictures and Facts " website. (If you ever want to know more about camels, this is a great resource!) Hopefully I'll make some progress today, and have a photo of the actual costume to share soon. Then I can move on to other things, like making and shopping for Christmas gifts. I have a whole two weeks yet... right?

I've read it, and yes, it's LONG, which is the Photo Hunt theme for this week. Another "long" thing -- lines at the stores and in traffic at noon, on a Saturday, two weeks before Christmas. What was I thinking??? Glad to be back home, safe and sound. Now I think I'll find a good book to curl up with for the afternoon. ;o)

This week's Photo Hunt theme is RED. (Finally, a good use for that bright red carpet in our spare bedroom. lol)

Just a few photos shot this morning, after yesterday's big storm -- almost two feet of new snow!

As of yesterday, at 3:51 p.m., my next-to-youngest is officially a teen. Emily and five of her friends celebrated with a sleepover, involving very little sleep, but lots of singing, eating, Guitar Hero, and just general goofing around. She had probably the least attractive birthday cake I've ever made -- a Chocolate-Covered OREO Cookie Cake -- but was it ever tasty! The day was made extra-special by her big sister and the small-ensemble high school choir, who visited Emily's middle school choir class and surprised her with these gorgeous roses. The high school choir has been rehearsing a song for the upcoming holiday concert with the middle school choir, so Emily didn't suspect a thing when they showed up. But when they started singing "happy birthday" and each handing her a rose, she was definitely surprised. What a great memory for her... I'm so happy that after years of sibling rivalry, my girls are growing so close. And with this being the second consecut...