Matt, Shut Your Mouth...

Christmas here is always up in the air. We are never really sure when it will come. We usually have at least 2 Christmases.

These are the boys. Mike, Matt, and Tim. Mike is my Step-grandson, This was his first time to spend the Christmas day/weekend. (week before the real one) The Boys come down and We eat, open gifts, make cookies and other treats, and just generally have fun. Lots of fun.

This year was different, all three at one time and all teenagers. whooo goodness.. Hubby and I had girls. I know girls. I know what most girls like.. Boys are a whole different thing, and teen boys are even more fun. Lot of eating, drinking, game system playing.. laughing, and goofing. Yep they will keep a grandmother young. In the photo above we tried to get a nice pic of the boys and grandma Karen.. aka: GK (snicker) after 10 attempts, we just gave up. The last photo was good.. but my eyes were closed, so this was the best one.

Gift opening on Christmas Day. Hubby was all excited and laughing. The dogs, Rosey (laying) and Sissy were excited about all the paper ripping and the oohs and aahs. Rosey is kind of nervous by nature, and was concerned that we were hurting her daddy. LOL so she eventually left for her crate till all the noise was done and we were eating.

One of my favorite times this year. Christmas Eve Service. I was in the drama this year. It was so much fun. I was a little hesitant as my memorizing skills are a bit rusty. Thank goodness I was given a fun and small part. Plenty of time to check which lines came next so I wouldn't trip anyone up by saying something off the wall.. LOL it was so much fun. The evening ended with candle lighting and singing of Silent night and Joy to the World. Lots of Joy and celebrating.

Hubby calls me Christmas Karen. It is truly my favorite time of year. I love everything about it. Especially the family and friends we get to spend time with. I can't wait for Christmas to come.

For now, I'm ready for Spring.. how about you?

Favorite Christmas Decorations...

This Santa and Mrs. Claus are very special to me. I got them on my honeymoon in 1983. Santa for hubby and Mrs. Clause for me. I have to laugh, I got them at a gas station/convenience store/gift shop. Forwards, you locals will recognize that name. We had gone up to Standish to squirrel hunt. These are always the first decorations placed on the tree.

This decoration was hand painted by a lady that we met on our 10th wedding anniversary. We decided to spend the weekend touring the east side of the state. We spent the night in Port Huron and found this at a Flea-market the next morning.

This beautiful Santa was painted by my dear friend Connie. She is so talented. She has painted and sold wood crafts for year. It's funny how we both painted many Santas among other things and never thought to keep any of them for ourselves.

This is another very special ornament. It's not the original. When my Sister-in law had my dad's Christmas things a few things were misplaced. I found this at a flea-market a few years ago. It is an exact replica of the reindeer ornament my Dad had for years before us kids came along. The red has worn off his nose, but I know who he is. A special memory of my childhood.

This is one the recent additions of my most precious and favorite Christmas decorations.

Don made this Santa, sleigh, and reindeer for me a few years ago. I kept them in Ky. when we stayed the winters there. I brought it home to Michigan 2 years ago. I just love it. so much work detail, and love went into it.

I hope you are putting out some decorations with great memories and stories. Make sure you share a few of them with your family.

More Christmas Favorites

More Christmas Favorites...

The Church in the photos above has always been part of my Christmas. It belonged to my parents. It's been around longer then I have. It is kind of beat up.. the bottom is missing and the light is gone.. (I did find a new light so I can light it at night now) It lived with my sister-in law for a couple of years, but it found it's way back to me. It goes up every year.

The best part of the scene now whether with the crystal nativity set (a gift from Marsha, one of my day care kids of the 90's) or by itself; is Santa Worshipping the Baby Jesus. (I got this In Frankenmuth at Bronner's Christmas Wonderland. (http://www.bronners.com/?tag=LG10&keyword=bronners)

Husband suggested that I remove the baby Jesus in our larger Nativity display so I could put a light in it. It sits in the living room in a kind of dark corner. I reminded him that Jesus is the Star of Christmas.. Without the Baby there is no Christmas.. Remove Jesus to put up a light.. He is the Light of the world.. I suggested some clear lights be added to the Creche next year. I love that guy.

Happy Yule Ya'll

I love Santa, I took a tole painting class in the 1990's. This is my favorite Santa. I painted a few others along with a sled. Most I gave away for gifts. This one sits out every year. I love his beard.

WOW, another Christmas almost upon us. I can't believe how fast the time has gone since Thanksgiving.

I finally finished decorating the house. I got the decorations out Last week. I love to decorate EVERYTHING.. I even take down a lot of the decor and put up decoration.

I know, my husband says he same thing.. Crazy woman.

This year it took me a week to put the tree up. The other decorations went up quickly. I didn't do my usual "Whole house" thing, but I did do up the living room and a bit of the kitchen. I even tossed a Santa in the bathroom. I haven't put out the special Christmas hand towel yet, but I think that's all that I need to do. I'll wait till we have guests. Toothpaste wiped all over it would simply ruin the whole aura of Joy.

I thought I would show you a few of my favorite decorations. I love each one. I can just about tell you where every decoration on the tree came from. They all hold special memories. I have boxes of them that won't fit on our 4 ft. tree. I think I finally talked husband into letting me get a 6.5 ft. one after Christmas if I can find one that will fit in our very limited space, and it's on sale for an excellent price.

You already saw my favorite Santa ( of the ones I painted) . Below you will see one of my favorite gifts/ornaments. I got it from one of my Day Care Mom's. Mackenzie and Aaron's mom to be exact. All the kids knew Miss Karen had a vacation home in Ky. I think this ornament is perfect. It hung on our Ky. tree for the 10 + yrs. we spent our Christmas' there..

I share a few more of my favorites tomorrow..

Black Friday and Special Gifts...

A Typical Black Friday Crowd

If you have read any of my recent posts on Facebook you will see that I did most of my Black Friday Christmas shopping from my dinning room; in my Jammie's, and Online.

I loved it. No pushing. No shoving. No cussing. No rude arrogant tirades at defenseless cashiers. No standing in line for 45 minutes to find out the person in front of me got the last one.

It was fabulous. I loved it.

I did go out to the store late in the afternoon.

It was wonderful. I found parking near the front of the stores. I could actually walk down the aisles without being in fear for my life. I even bought a few items. Some of them were on sale too.

I don't mind tooting my own horn on occasion. I got some great deals. There will be some smiley faces on Christmas at our house. That's a good thing.

I returned home this evening to check out my email

(in case some email alert on a special item should be in the inbox.)

Having found nothing special I decided to peruse through my wall feed on facebook. I see a lot of interesting comments there. Today was the usual, game requests, prayer requests, even a friend request. Funny comments about lots of stuff.

Then I saw this posted :

Just set the manger up under the Christmas tree. my daughter just offered baby Jesus some microwave popcorn. :)

How precious is that? I was so busy today trying to find just the right gifts. I was so proud of myself. Then I read that post.

I was again reminded that Christmas is not about the Sales, the great gift finds, or how much money I saved. (though that is a good thing, being all wise with my money and staying on budget.)

I was again reminded that the best Gift, The first gift of the Season, came over 2000 years ago. That gift was Jesus. I need to offer Him a gift. That little girl was offering that little baby in the manger something that was hers. Something special to her.

So today as I mark the gifts I purchased off my list, and calculate where I am according to my Christmas budget, I'm going to remember to offer myself as a gift to Jesus. He can have anything I've got.

You may be asking why...

Because He gave all of Himself for me...

Happy Black Friday, Happy Shopping, and Merry Christmas!!!

Today I Am Thankful ...

Today I am Thankful...

I am Thankful for a God who loves me,

cares for me, sings over me, knows my needs and then

supplies Just what I need when I need it.

I am Thankful for My Family; all of them; Each one.

I am Thankful for the Friends that God has placed in my life.

Each one special in their own way.

Some that have become part of our family.

I am Thankful for the little things that happen each day.

I am thankful for smiles, kind words, and music.

I am thankful for hugs and kisses from my husband,

hugs from my kids and grand kids,

hugs from my friends.

I'm especially thankful for dog kisses.

I am thankful for the sounds and smells of fall, cheers at football games,

campfires and smores.

the taste of Cold Apple Cider and Warm donuts.

I am Thankful for the Sparkling white diamonds of snow in the winter, and the promise of life to come as the earth renews itself

I am thankful for the bright colors of the trees and flowers in Spring,

The smell of fresh dirt

and For the sound of rain gently falling on our roof.

I am Thankful for the hot days of summer,

BBQ grills, hot dogs, and ice cream.

I am thankful for this journey called life,

I am thankful for the smooth roads that I have traveled.

I'm thankful for the rough ground

where my character has been tested

and where I have been made a better person.

I'm thankful for the long nights of weeping

for they were, as promised, followed by Joy in the morning.

I am thankful for so many things

that there aren't enough pages to write them on.

Today I am Thankfully Rejoicing for it all...

The Pie That Almost Wasn't...

whew, the Pie is done..

No small feat today. Usually Pie's are one of my good things. I can make homemade crust, but I don't. I like the Pillsbury "roll it out yourself" pie crusts. I had one in the freezer.

If you read my last post you will see a few comments about what not to do when making a pie to take for Thanksgiving dinner.

Above you will see the pie.. The pie crust didn't roll out right; and the pan was to big.

I re-rolled the top crust.. uh my only comment about the bottom is crust is this.. "I just hope it stays on the bottom and the pie will come off the pan without a scraper".

Another Note you may want to make, if you take a Pie to your dinner..

"Cinnamon sugar sprinkled on Top will cover a multitude of sins"

And it's mighty Tasty too...

Happy Thanksgiving !!!