Wow, got so far behind again. Like everyone else, I've been juggling lots of balls. But first let me say how adorable the Remy bag is!! Love it! And then, the camera bag. You've got to be kidding me. You are amazing!!!!
Hi Lois! Glad to see you back... Thank you for all the compliments!
As far as the AG dolls, I love that you and your girls enjoy them and have such a bonding experience with them. Also, it's great that you are teaching your girls the value of staying young at heart...way to go, Mom!!
I never paid much attention to them, but wish I had. I love them now, but can't really afford to buy them for the granddaughters since I have four of them and I can't ever stop at one of anything. But thanks for sharing your lovely collection.
Thanks Lois... I agree, there is so much more than what's at the surface when you enjoy a collecting hobby with your children... There is a bonding that occurs, and it tends to forge a relationship that spans further than the collecting itself.
I appreciate that you enjoyed seeing our collection, I always hate sharing it, because I am so afraid that people will think it's so excessive - and it probably is - but I often feel that once I explain how everything came about, a little here and a little there, most people understand.
If it's something you are truly interested in collecting for your grand daughters - what if you instituted a specific age where the each received one? Like at age 7 or something like that? That way it would break up the expense for you, and it would give the younger ones something to look forward to... Then maybe one outfit for Birthday or Christmas? I dunno, just trying to help out... I know they are so expensive. There is also the annual MCM sale... I've been known to go occasionally - if I do go again, I would be happy to let you know - they often have dolls for $35 each. Usually it's only specific dolls - but they are genuine AG dolls. This sale takes place in Wisconsin every July.
Let me know if you are interested, and I'd be happy to keep you posted.
No pressure... Just trying to help you find a way to make it work, if it's something you'd truly like to do for them.
I love the idea of an ugly sweater day and I think you are absolutely correct in thinking they want to wear them and this is a good excuse. I have a couple of ugly sweaters I could donate to the cause for next year, but they would probably be too big for your girls, who, btw, are so adorable! What great pics of the two of them together!
LOL, I appreciate the offer for an ugly sweater donation - they'd probably take you up on it, too big or not... They are obsessed with finding the ugliest sweater they can for next year.
We got a little snow. Maybe 2 inches. I was hoping for a little more, but this is better than nothing. Glad you did okay with driving to and from work. I had to go out in it also, but had no problems. We don't get the drifting you get, which really helps.
I hope the snow gave you a white Christmas.
Our son who lives in Florida arrived on Friday and later that evening our son and DIL who live 2 1/2 hours away arrived. We will celebrate Christmas today with them as son and DIL have to go back to Toledo late this afternoon. Other son will be here until New Years day. Then we will leave for Virginia to have Christmas with our 2 daughters and their families on Jan 4. I'm really looking forward to that. Christmas with the grandkids is just so magical!
I am so happy for you that you will have a holiday surrounded by family and grandkids - it does sound magical. That is one of my biggest fears - once the girls go off on their own, that they won't come home for the hoidays and we'll be all alone...
So sorry you're not feeling well. It's the pits to be sick when you have so much to do and people visiting. I know what you mean about the man voice. That's the first sign for me that I'm getting sick. I sound like my DH! Hope you get better really soon and enjoy your Christmas party today!
I am starting to feel better - thankfully! I sound like crap, but I feel OK. I'll take what I can get right now.
I have not gotten to sew at all since our boys have been here, but will get back to it later today. I'm at the point where I'm doing the lining on the Rapunzel dress. The hard part of applying the trim and putting in the zipper is done. It's looking pretty good. I found the most adorable little play shoes that are the same color as the dress and have little heels. She's going to love them!
That sounds so cute! I bet she will love them! Glad the hard part is done, I hope you are able to finish it up in time.
Well, this will probably be it before Christmas, so I'd like to wish you and your family and everyone else on this thread a very Merry Christmas and a blessed New Year!
Merry Christmas to you and your family Lois.
Sorry for the delay again in posting. So much to do before Christmas. Thank you so much for your nice comments about my bag and making things for others!
I love all your bags, but this camera bag is sooooo awesome! Fabulous idea.
Your daughters in their "ugly" outfits look sooo cute!
Since I may be busy sewing last minute items, I will wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas!
No worries! I loved your bag - I think it was magnificant and such a great gift.
Thanks for the compliments on my new camera bag and the girls' outfits - they were so fun. And I love taking pictures of them when they are being silly.
Merry Christmas to you and your family, as well.
D, before things get too busy, I just wanted to wish you and your beautiful family a very Merry Christmas.
Thank you Kathy... I hope you and Mark and the rest of the family have a very Merry Christmas, as well.
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Another crazy day for us yesterday...
We had to be out the door by 8:30am to be to our destination by 11:30am...
Yes, a 3 hour drive to start off our morning...
We stopped at the 2 hour mark to pick up my brother...
Then another hour on the road.
Every year, the Sunday before Christmas - like clockwork - is my Mom's family Christmas... It starts off with 10:00 Mass said for my Grandfather and Mom, and follows with a Christmas noon meal at which ever location can meet our needs that year... This year is was a local dining facility - but we have been known to rent out the Legion, VFW, Golf Course... It's always catered - our family is just too large to accomodate any other way. Santa always comes after our meal to hand out gifts (each family brings a gift of their own for their own kids, we don't do a name exchange anymore).
My mom is sthe 2nd oldest of 11 children... Each one of those children had no less than 6 of their own children (except for my mom - she only had the 2 of us)... Those would all be my immediate cousins... There is well over 70 of us. Now, most of us are married and have started families of our own... You can see how it gets to be a bit confusing... I know all of my immediate cousins - we all grew up together... I know most of their spouses - but their kids... It's a lost cause.
Sooo... To help out with that... Everyone gets a name tag that denotes their lineage... So, in Large bold letters, it states the person's name... then below that, it gives their parent's name and their grandparent's name... So, you know who everyone belongs to. LOL I know it sounds impersonal - but it's super helpful, so when little Johnny is running all over - you can just read who he belongs to.
Anyways... It's lots of fun - but very exhausting!
Yesterday, we did not go to Mass, it just didn't work with our plans... We would have had to leave at 7am to get there on time, and that gets to be a very long day on the road for us...
We had a great time though, and I really enjoyed visiting with all of my cousins that could make it and my aunts and uncles - since we live so far away - I don't get to see them all very often.
My girls received an amazing gift from my God-mother... Who is my mom's oldest sister... I wanted to share it here, because it is sewing related. She made them, probably one of the most amazing gifts anyone could ever make for someone... A quilt.
I was so shocked and amazed... Here is this amazing woman, whom we rarely get to see - and she made such a wonderful thing for them. I always think of a quilt as someone personally wrapping you in a hug when you cuddle up with it... I was nearly in tears. And the girls were so excited.
Here's my aunt with the girls and their quilts - not the best picture, but..
Once we were finished there... We headed towards home - stopping at my Dad's to do Christmas with him and drop my brother off for the weekend. We exchanged gifts with them and visited for a couple of hours...
Here's V with my brother... Both of them still wearing their name tags - LOL
Then, we were on the road again, headed for home... The girls wrapped up in their quilts - exhausted.
Once we stopped for dinner (Jimmy Johns) and gas... We arrived home at about 7pm... It's a very long day of driving for us...
The girls also got another cool gift from one of my other aunts - who is like a grandmother to them... These really cool Puzzle Lamps... So, they sat down on the floor to try and put them together when we got home... They were getting frustrated, so Josh decided to help...
All in all, it was a great day! I really miss my extended family these days, and it is my dream, once the girls are off on their own, that maybe we'll be able to sell our house and move closer to home. We will see.
I must get going... I have lots of prep work to do for food over the next couple of days.
I wish each and every one of you a very...
And I hope you all get to share the day with your family and those who are dear to you.
D~
Not sure why he can't control himself from eating ears?
We had a great one too...but now that the last of our house guests left this morning, I am ready to CRASH!!! 
