~~ A Celebration of Life-long friendship ~~ Sew Sweet 16 ~~ Now N' Thens 3/11

[Hardheadedwoman]

Merry Christmas, D! I've loved following along your adventures this year and wish you and your family a wonderful holiday season and new year!

Lissette

 

[DMGeurts]

I just wanted to stop by and wish you all a Merry Christmas!

We had a wonderful day yesterday, I was so lucky to be able to spend it with the people I care about the most!

Josh was being a little goofy and brave yesterday afternoon... I am really not sure how this happened? But I assure you - we were both completely sober. So... When Josh wakes on Christmas morning with a killer backache...

To be quite honest... This picture makes me really... Hmmmm... Proud? Two years ago - there is NO WAY this could have ever happened. And I don't look too bad up there. LOL

We had a nice dinner last night... Lasagna... When Gus and Alli got here after spending a few hours with his family, Gus helped me assemble the lasagna. I am pretty sure, when he offered his help, he didn't think I would take him up on it... But I did, and dinner turned out great!

After, we opened gifts... My favorite gifts (among many) were this awesome book totally and completely made by Victoria... I am talking, she has been working on this for months (she said she started it in Juen )... She said she completely ripped apart a binder, covered it and sewed it together, she bound the pages inside herself, she printed all of the pictures from this last trip and put them in there for me, and last (but certainly not least), she stitched out all the writing on the front with my Rocketeer! I need to say something about that last part, because as someone who does a crap-ton of hand applique work, if someone requests that I do words by hand guiding, I flat out tell them it's too hard and I won't do it. Which it is - it's very, very hard. She did all of the words on the front by hand... It had to have taken her WEEKS! To say that this gift means so much to me, is an understatement, I KNOW how much work went into it for her, and it is now one of my most prized posessions!

My other most-meaningful gift came from Gus... I told him, several weeks ago that I didn't want a gift from him, but if he felt the need to give me a gift, I wanted it to be home-made. Gus is very good with words, and he has written Alli some of the most beautiful letters I have ever read. So, for Christmas, he wrote me the most touching letter I have ever received - to be honest, I had to fight back the tears. If this boy was adoptable, I would adopt him in a heartbeat... I was so thankful to have him here last night to spend Christmas with us. His letter will go into my sewing room (where everything of importance to me goes), and it will be displayed in a prominent location... It is something I will chearish forever.

So, anyways... I was so thankful to have all 4 of my kids here for Christmas - it couldn't have been a more meaningful night.

I hope all of you enjoy your Christmas surrounded by family and friends.

Merry Christmas!

D~

 

[Terkina]

What a lovely gift you got from V

 

[MEK]

 

[nowellsl]

Merry Christmas to you and your family! The book from V is fantastic, what a thoughtful gift!

 

[THiiNKTiiNKx0]

What a beautiful gift V made you! I know you're very proud of it (rightfully so)

Glad you had such a wonderful Christmas. Merry Christmas !

 

[lovegrumpy]

Merry Christmas!!!!!

 

[spiritsim]

Merry Christmas! my comp is actting up so I am off again. But I have to say those counter top push ups were amazing!!

 

[nolacindy]

Merry belated Christmas!!! What a great adventure book, V did an awesome job. i'm thinking that Gus is a keeper, gifts from the heart are the best.

It did turn out to be a quiet day, we went to friends for breakfast and presents and then dropped Gerald at work. This is terrible but my favorite thing I got this year was a new can opener from by BFF!

 

[DisneyLuver2013]

Just stopping by to wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas!!

This picture made me smile:

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The present in the bottom left hand corner made me laugh/smile! (The present to Victoria from Max) That is just too precious! The reason why it made me smile so much is because we have two cats, and we will give them presents on Christmas and sometimes they will "give" us presents as well! LOL Goes to show just how important pets are!

Anyway, tell Victoria that the Adventure book turned out wonderfully! You can tell she spent a lot of time and hard work on it!

Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas!​

​

​

 

[DMGeurts]

Sorry it's been a day or two since I've stopped by... Thank you so much everyone for your Christmas wishes. They mean a lot to me!

I need to so a real update here soon... It's getting harder and harder to do updates because our pictures are in so many locations - it's so much easier when it's just me doing the photos. So, I am going to try for an update today or tomorrow.

Just a quick IRL update...

Allison has been sick - there's been a nasty flu going around school... She came home from work sick on Tuesday... And I woke up with it yesterday. It's not so awful that I can't function (for the most part), but my throat hurts so bad when I swallow and my ears are quite sore. Alli is better, so hopefully I am not too far behind.

Yesterday, we had to run out and get the girls' new phones from BMT all hooked up to our plan... Surprisingly, it was easy and painless... and didn't cost us a thing - which was nice. We were even able to upgrade plans, and save $$ - bonus. Plus the girls now have data... Which doesn't thrill me, but to be honest, even without having data, everyone has free wifi now - so they had data most places we went anyways. Sadly, V's phone is not working at all - she can't send/receive calls or texts... So, I think we need to go back into the store today to get that all figured out. Hopefully it will be less busy.

Josh has been hard at work on the house too... He has been working on taping/mudding the new closet, the door is installed. He has also installed the door leading to the basement. He just has the trim to get done - which we've already purchased, it just needs to be installed. I think I need to pick out a new paint color for our kitchen accent wall very soon here - I should probably research what color I want to go with the red... Not even a clue?

That's about all... Alli works today... Josh is going to brave the cold/snow and smoke some meat - I am very excited about this - it's been a while.

I hope you all had an amazing Christmas!

D~

 

[Terkina]

I hope you all get well soon. It's not fun being sick.

 

[DisneyLuver2013]

The flu has been hitting our area really hard! It's been really bad this year. Hope you all get to feeling better soon!

 

[solana131]

Hi D
So glad you had a great Christmas, Victoria did a wonderful job with your Adventure Book!
I loved the picture of Josh lifting you.....He is strong like HeeMan

Just wanted to let you know, my Mom has a red accent wall in her kitchen and she has a.....clay colored.....for lack of better description on the other walls. It looks great together. But sage green would look great too, and maybe even a light light yellow....I think Lowes has a paint website that you can test out colors together. Maybe it is Benjamin Moore.....can't remember, but I played with it a lot when we were thinking of building a house instead of buying, good luck!

 

[Clio]

I'm glad you had a great Christmas. Victoria did a wonderful job on your adventure book. Sorry Alli and you are sick. the flu's been bad around here, too.
We went to my niece's for Christmas. There were about 20 of us and isn't the whole family. It was a good day just sitting around talking and enjoying family. I did leave and my salad dressings in her refridgerator. I'll have to them on Wednesday when I go over my mom's.
Have a great weekend.
Liz

 

[Sweetly]

So glad you had a nice Christmas. V did a beautiful job on your Adventure Book. Gus is a keeper. How nice of him to write you s letter.
We had some excitement for Christmas. My brothers house had an electrical fire that started in his attic Christmas Eve. We are truly thankful that it was not a total loss, and no one was hurt. We made the best of the situation and enjoyed our Christmas. Oh, and the last thing that happened. I need a new car. Was hoping mine would last till at least spring.
Have a wonderful day!
Have to admit, I'm a little excited for an update.

 

[sewmess]

I know you've seen my meager FB post and know I live, but I'm back here!!

Glad your holidays were great and Josh seems super busy around the house.

Love the Adventure Book.

I'll try to be around some more.

 

[DMGeurts]

I hope you all get well soon. It's not fun being sick.

Thank you Lillian... I am getting there.

The flu has been hitting our area really hard! It's been really bad this year. Hope you all get to feeling better soon!

Here too... I think we are finally on the mend though. I hope.

Hi D
So glad you had a great Christmas, Victoria did a wonderful job with your Adventure Book!
I loved the picture of Josh lifting you.....He is strong like HeeMan

Just wanted to let you know, my Mom has a red accent wall in her kitchen and she has a.....clay colored.....for lack of better description on the other walls. It looks great together. But sage green would look great too, and maybe even a light light yellow....I think Lowes has a paint website that you can test out colors together. Maybe it is Benjamin Moore.....can't remember, but I played with it a lot when we were thinking of building a house instead of buying, good luck!

Thanks! Yes, I love my adventure book! It's awesome! Yah - that has to be one of my favorite pictures of us, for sure!

I am thinking either clay or possibly a sand color? The bathroom connected to the kitchen is a sand color - so I am a little worried it will be weird if I go with a very similar color? But then I was thinking - I might do a brown accent wall in that bathroom anyways - so if I did that, it might not be as weird? Not sure? I need to do something soon, Josh is patching all the walls in the kitchen while he is doing the closet - so I have HUGE white spots everywhere. LOL

I'm glad you had a great Christmas. Victoria did a wonderful job on your adventure book. Sorry Alli and you are sick. the flu's been bad around here, too.
We went to my niece's for Christmas. There were about 20 of us and isn't the whole family. It was a good day just sitting around talking and enjoying family. I did leave and my salad dressings in her refridgerator. I'll have to them on Wednesday when I go over my mom's.
Have a great weekend.
Liz

Thanks Liz... I love it.

Yah - Alli is better and I am about 80% there...

It sounds like you had a wonderful Christmas too. Now, don't forget to grab those dressings.

So glad you had a nice Christmas. V did a beautiful job on your Adventure Book. Gus is a keeper. How nice of him to write you s letter.
We had some excitement for Christmas. My brothers house had an electrical fire that started in his attic Christmas Eve. We are truly thankful that it was not a total loss, and no one was hurt. We made the best of the situation and enjoyed our Christmas. Oh, and the last thing that happened. I need a new car. Was hoping mine would last till at least spring.
Have a wonderful day!
Have to admit, I'm a little excited for an update.

Thanks - yah - that Adventure Book is awesome! Such a great idea!

Yah - I loved Gus' letter, it really moved me.

Oh no!!! HOw awful and scary!!! So relieved to hear no one was hurt, but still, I am sure they were scared! I know I would be!

Bummer about needing a new car... I sure hope you are able to find something good that will make it worth while having to get it earlier than intended.

Hehehe... Yes, I know I am way overdue for an update... I spent yesterday morning uploading. I work at Target today... So, tomorrow it's a priority.

I know you've seen my meager FB post and know I live, but I'm back here!!

Glad your holidays were great and Josh seems super busy around the house.

Love the Adventure Book.

I'll try to be around some more.

Hi Ruth!!! Very happy to see you here!!! Thankful for FB, because I know you are around. Glad to have you back here though. I hope your holiday was wonderful?

Yes, I am keeping Josh busy... Still a lot of work to do, but it's coming together slowly.

Thanks for stopping by, it's great to see you!

**********************************************************

I am starting to feel better. Thankfully. This wasn't as bad as the sickness I had back in October, it was enough to make me feel sorry for myself for a few days - but not enough to keep me in bed. I would say that I am about 80% better... I work at Target today, and I am planning on going in - if that's any indication.

We had a nice weekend. Josh was able to get a lot accomplished. Even though it probably doesn't look that way - the things he was doing were pretty piddly work... Second coats of mudding/taping/sanding sort of thing. And yesterday was the day of extention jams for our windows/doors. He even managed to get one of my kitchen windows fully trimmed. We ~ahem~ He is making progress.

Today is kind of a big day for me... I took off of working out Thurs/Fri last week + I took my normal weekend off. So, today I am back to working out... I am looking forward to it. Today is also Day 1 of my first Whole30... My very first hurdle was the moment I woke up this morning... No creamer/sugar in my coffee... Do I drink it black? Or do I give it up all together. For the moment, I've opted to drink it black... And I am still alive. I figure - after a few days of choking it down black, it might be easier to give up all together? Or maybe I'll learn to love it this way? After all, it's only 30 days, right? Anyways... For lunch today, I have Whole30 compliant leftovers to eat, and same for dinner. After work today, I plan to stop at the grocery store to pick up a few things to get me through to my big Sam's Club trip this weekend. I am very excited to get going on this Whole30 - I have heard so many great and eye opening things that happen while a person is on it - not only visual, but (more importantly) HEALTH WISE too... I am anxious to see what my body has in store for me.

So, if anyone is interested in joining me on this Whole30 adventure... Here's the link to their website so you can find out more about it... www.whole30.com I've also created a private Facebook group... Post here or send me a PM, I'd be happy to add you there. The more the merrier... And the more people we have doing it, the more support we will have... It's definitely something that's more fun to do as a group.

I will keep you all updated as to how it's going for me here and on my blog. I've heard there are some rocky days and some good days. Thankfully - I've been prepping for this for a few weeks, so I am praying it will be a bit easier?

Otherwise... Nothing new or exciting here.

I spent my morning yesterday uploading pictures for this TR from all of my different devices - so they are all on Photobucket awaiting my updates. I plan to do 1 or 2 tomorrow, and hipefully make a huge dent in updates here over the course of the week - since I am off work in my sewing room all this week, I will be looking for things to occupy my time.

I hope you all had a lovely holiday! I've missed you all!

D~

 

[OregonMomToWDW]

It sounds like you had a great Christmas. Your kids are really sweet. I am glad you are on the mend.

I love the picture of you on Josh's shoulders. Even if his back did hurt, I doubt he would have owned up to that one.

Day 1 of Whole 30 - breakfast is complete. It was ok. I am going to try to go by our meat market on way home. It is just on the complete other end of town.

Marissa got off to California just fine. She is a little disappointed that they will only have 6 hours of free time in Disneyland on one of the busiest times of year, but I reminded her that there are others that don't get to spend any time in Disneyland and she has been twice already, so she shouldn't have that need to do everything. So, she will try to see Aladdin the Musical, but they may be out of the FP slip things they hand out in the morning. She wants to do ToT and California Screamin'. I hope she has a good time.

Have a great day today.

 

[Terkina]

I'm glad to hear that Josh got a lot accomplished this weekend. It's nice with everything that is done.

Today we bought our flight tickets from Oakland to Seattle and back home from New York to Tromsø. We haven't bought our tickets from Tromsø to Oakland yet. We will do that the next few days. I don't think the prices will go down further on the date we want to fly. Suddenly our trip became very real.