Happy New Year!!

As we ring in the New Year it is a time to reflect on the past year.



This year has been many things to me; hard, wonderful, and special for many reasons. It's been a hard year, but definately worth it!

Between my surgery, losing my job, and then finally finding a job, I can't say that I would change a thing!

Next month we will celebrate 1 year (11 months today) since my open-heart surgery, and I am so thankful for all the blessings and prayers that came our way.


I also am so grateful and thankful of my family, and Rich's family. My Mom and Dad for all their support this past year, and all their help when we needed it most! My Grandma for her help and support, My sister for being our phone call person last January who kept everyone updated when we couldn't and Rich's parents for their willingness to send Dad here to stay with my boys so Rich could be with me at the hospital as much as possible for 2 weeks. I know I gave everyone quite a scare, but without everyone it wouldn't have been possible! And while I will probably repeat some of this next month when we celebrate I can never thank all of you enough!

And of course my wonderful husband, who was so wonderful this past year. He let me whine, complain and be miserable, but in the end pushed me to eat and walk to get back to 110% in "record" time! Surprising not only me, but my drs also!

As we ring in the new year, with new beginnings let's all reflect on what this past year has meant to us and what we are thankful for! Family, Friends and Our Health. Things that are most important!

I hope everyone has a very blessed new year!

Say Good-Bye

The next time we see Steak & Patty, it will be on our dinner plates! We loaded them up yesterday afternoon and off they went to the butcher's. They went on the trailer without a problem and we should have the meat back in about 2 weeks.

Yesterday I also did this:

and this:

We had some bags and stuff to burn and I like to play in fire so I got to burn it.

Then we ran some errands, got dinner, came home, I read and went to bed. It was a pretty uneventful day. No sewing:(

Giveaway - LAST DAY!

I just found this great blog with this awesome giveaway. Anyways, Daisy Quilts is having her drawing for the giveway tomorrow so make sure you head over there to sign up!

I also signed up for her Pay It Forward so be looking for that soon too!

Wallets

I made THESE great little wallets for my mom and Bethany for Christmas in orage (sorry no picture) but then my Grandma said she would like one, and Anne liked them too. Mind you I still have not made one for myself. Well, if I was going to make three I might as well make one for Alice and Sue too. Since they are coming over on New Year's to celebrate with Rich's family. So I made 8. What the helk, right - they are so easy and simple and fit a credit card/license/gift card. Perfect!! The funky green paisly is mine!

And I finally got the binding on J's quilt done. Poor kid! It is only 6 months after his birthday, but I think it looks great on his bed and I know he will love it. He hasn't seen it on his bed yet, he's at mom's for the weekend so this will be a nice surprise for him tomorrow.

I guess Rich and I are going to run into town to get Ham for New Years and some other things. Hopefully it won't be too crazy. Then home to dinner and snuggle up on the couch to read while he plays Xbox. I finished "The Road" for my Book Awards Challenge, which was very good. I didn't like his "All The Pretty Horses" so I was kind of skeptical about reading "The Road". The end was sad, but the whole story really makes us realize how lucky we are to have all that we have. I started "The Heretic's Daughter" by Kathleen Kent. It is a fiction based on the Salem Witch Trials. Hopefully it will be good, and I only started it because it was a library book. My mom and dad got me "The Shack" for Christmas so that will be up next!

I have the flu so I am off to take some more Tylenol; even though I don't think it is helping break my fever.

It Was....

Isn't he wonderful!

T opening birthdau presents

Matt and Bethany

J

Mom with her cool rooster apron

Fes and Anne

My Love

A Ruthless Game of Monopoly!

Mom & Dad

The Cake (14 candles)

Me & My Boys

HELP ME!!!

What a wonderful evening it was!

I hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas!

As we settle in for the holiday, I just want to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas!

Made by J

Tonight will be making food to take to work and dinner for tomorrow night. I do have to work tomorrow so we will be staying home, just Rich and I :). The boys go to their mom's and Fes (BIL) will be going to his GF. Tomorrow is Christmas with my parents, grandma, uncle and brother, but not my sister. She will be at her in-laws.

I hope everyone has a very Merry Christmas, and has a safe and enjoyable holiday!

Made by my Great-Grandma when I was born

Christmas Meme

Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate? Definately Hot Chocolate

Does Santa wrap presents or set them under the tree? When I was a kid Santa wrapped, but Santa here doesn't wrap (because he used to be a white boy who can't wrap!)

Colored lights on tree or white? Till this year both, this year white

When do you put your decorations up? Usually about 2 weeks before Christmas

What is your favorite holiday dish (excluding dessert)? Umm...I don't know.

When and how did you learn the truth about Santa? I don't remember, honestly, I really don't remember.

Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? No, NEVER - we were never allowed too!

How do you decorate your Christmas tree? Lots of lights and lots of ornaments. Most of the ornaments are mine from growing up, but we have some from Rich's mom, and the boys collection is getting bigger.

Can you ice skate? Ummm...my niece who broke her leg ice skating takes after me - so that would be no!

Do you remember your favorite gift? My first Cabbage Patch Doll.

What’s the most important thing about the Holidays for you? Being with family

What is your favorite Holiday Dessert? Mom's cheesecake tart things and Spritz cookies!

What is your favorite tradition? We are starting a new tradition this year (staying home) so I will let you know! We used to do Christmas Eve with my whole family but this year we are staying home.

Which do you prefer, Giving or Receiving? Giving

What is your favorite Christmas Song? I like Feliz Navidad and Deck the Halls.

Candy Canes! Yuck or Yum? Yuck, I don't like anything mint.

Ever regifted a Christmas present? Actually no, but I have thought about it.

I wonder what it could be???

And J is dying! to tell me!

You may also be asking where I have been? Well, busy. Last week J had a Christmas band concert on Wednesday. He plays the French Horn. The 5th grade band was good, the 6th grade was horrible and the 7th grade was good.

Then on Friday night Rich and I conquered our Christmas shopping. It is done!! YEAH!! We split up, I took J, he took T and we went forth and conquered! It only took me about 3 hours, but then again I am a "slower" shopper than he is. Plus I also took the harder/more stuff to get. I got everything wrapped (except Mom's) between then and today.

I finished Bethany's bag yesterday and then last night J and the neighbor, Amber, ran the bell for the salvation army. I grocery shopped while they rang!

Today I made 3 batches of Christmas cookies; sugar cookies, spritz and more cream cheese cookies. I may have to make another batch of Spritz next weekend; T was eating them almost as fast as I was baking them. I got a crock pot of stew going, it will be Christmas dinner. My crock pot doesn't hold enough stew for everyone so I have to make two pots of it.

Tomorrow will be basketball practice, blood test and haircuts for the boys in the morning. Finish up the cream cheese cookies and clean the house. Then I just have to finish mom's gift and I will be done! Oh, but I also have to make the other pot of stew and Corn Dip for work on Thursday. We (dispatch) is bringing in some food for those of us that have to work. I also work Tuesday through Friday this week, and Rich works Monday through Thursday.

TJ is on his way over and I am going to snuggle up with a good book and some blog reading. It is really cold here. The wind is blowing and our gas heater is having a slightly hard time keeping up. It is normally 73 in here, but the wind is blowing so hard and its dropped so fast that it is not keeping up. We may actually have to turn the furnace back up for the night.

Off to read, and blog read!!

Edited to add:

Check out this great! giveaway

Christmas Choir Concert

Tonight was the Christmas Choir concert for the boys. Unfortunately T stayed home today with a bit of a stomach bug so he was not able to go and perform at the concert. The 7th grade girls and boys sing seperatly because they are teaching them fundamentals etc so that is why there are no girls in the pictures of 7th grade. And the video is only half a song because I thought it was going to last longer and I didn't want to put a video that long on here. Oh well!

They all did a great job and sounded wonderful!

8th grade choir

7th grade boys

J

J with Grandpa & Grandma

Does this mean I am growing up?

...I hope not!!!

And Mom, you can laugh because I know you will!!

I am standing in the kitchen today making cookies.

Mind you, I am not the cook, Rich does 90% of the cooking. Works for us...But I am the cookie maker (along with J) so I am making some Christmas cookies. I was making shortbread first:

I'm standing there with flour all over my hands and certainly don't want to wipe my hands on my shirt or pants, because of the obvious reason and all of a sudden this one thought just pops into my head. "Apron" Ok, so I guess this is why women wear aprons. Yeah, I know, I'm brilliant! But it has always been one of those things that I just don't think about. Till today, because not only was I baking, but decorating the tree, and laundry and you the picture.

So what do I do? I think "Okay, I know there is one that Rich's mom gave me when we moved in 7 (yes 7) years ago in the pantry somewhere. So yes, I admit that I hunted it up and put it on. (mom, are you laughing??) I was!

I baked two kinds of cookies: shortbread and German butter cookies. And got the dough ready for Cream Cheese Christmas Cookies. Now I have never made any of these types of cookies, but if the creem cheese ones taste as good as the dough when they are done they may become a favorite! The dough is wonderful. My favorites are Spritz, but these are definately in the running!

While I was baking today I decorated the Christmas Tree. It is short, just about 6 foot and it is pretty nicely shaped. Since I am pretty much the only one who cares, we went with short and nice, rather than tall and with a large bare spot. Plus then I didn't need help. So I turned this:

Into this:

With my tree skirt underneath:

I personally would like more lights, but I didn't have any more and it's fine the way it is. The boys had already expressed their desire to NOT have to help decorate this year, so it was just me! In another post I will probably highlight some of the special ornaments that we have on our tree, but maybe not today. I would really like to get caught up on my blog readings since I haven't really been able to in a week or so! Next week is the last week before vacation and it will be just as crazy! We have 2 concerts, (why can't band and choir be on the same night???) and 4-H along with basketball practice. Hopefully there won't be too much homework!

Lastly a quick shout out to Jacquie for the awesome fabric that I won from her "Guess the number of trees giveaway!" It came yesterday and I love it! Thanks so much Jacqui!!!

Booking Through Thursday

1. Do you get to read as much as you WANT to read?

Of course not, when is there ever enough time to settle down with a good book. I love to read and read every chance I get. I take a book with me most places, never know when you are going to get stuck at a light or something like that!

2. If you had (magically) more time to read–what would you read? Something educational? Classic? Comfort Reading? Escapism? Magazines?

If I had more time to read I would read more classics, and just more of everything. I read a wide variety of genres and would continue to do so. I am not much of a sci-fi or magazine person, but anything is pretty much fair game.

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I know I haven't been around much, been busy trying to get some Christmas stuff done and trying to get some stuff done in general. And just enjoying some general down time. Sometimes you just need to do that!

But I do have some Christmas shopping done, and part of my mom's gift made. Mary's box is off to her, and I hope she likes it all!

The boys have been super busy with after school activities. J is working on some band stuff and he joined an after-school book club (my non-reader, how funny). T has had basketball try-outs. Of course there is the usual homework and after school chores. Next week is the choir and band concerts and the last week of school before Winter Break. I think they are excited for the break (at least J is).

I am going to spend this weekend putting my sewing away for the holidays so we can put up our tree, just one more thing to make before I do that! Better get going on it! LOL!.

And HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my princess Jessi! I love you!

My Saturday...

Today is my Saturday. Since we work the weekends we consider the last day we work our Friday, making this my saturday. It's quiet here, except the dishwasher is running, and I have gotten some sewing done! YEAH!! The kids and Rich will be home in less than an hour and I am soaking up my last 1/3 hour of quiet! It is kinda nice to be off in the middle of the week, I really haven't minded working the weekends like I thought I would. The time goes fast, but I am sure this will change come summer when all the extra activities switch into high gear. It's not like I can really do anything outside now, its either raining or snowing!

This is what was happening when I came home from work on Sunday in my neighbors field!

Combining Corn!

And these are what I have been working on today. I have made 3 little table runners. Yes, the bindings need sewn down, but that is for later tonight or tomorrow. One is for Mary, one is for mom, and one is for Grandma.

I also have the bindings to sewn of my tree skirt and J's quilt so I think tomorrow will be binding day. I will just gather it all, my needle and thread, sit in front of the TV and sew bindings down. That sounds like a plan, then maybe I will get them done. I hate bindings, which I have mentioned before.

But I am loving our gas heater! It makes the house pretty warm. It is 73 in here now, and our floors are nice and toasty. I am able to wear just a t-shirt, sweatshirt, and jeans. I don't even have to wear socks really! (usually its a long sleeve shirt, sweatshirt, jeans (sweats), and thick socks plus a quilt!) I admit I am still drinking my hot chocolate, but not as many cups and that will never change anyway!

I also am excited to announce that I won a book blog giveaway!! The Social Frog gave away "Hundred Dollar Holidays" and I won! Very excited and can't wait to receive the book! Rich and I are not into spending thousands of dollars on holidays. Mainly because its not worth it, and our kids pretty much have everything they need. Don't get me wrong, my kids are NOT spoiled by any means, but they work for what they have. So this book should be interesting to see what it says about keeping costs down!

Currently I am reading Revelation by Bill Napier. I am only about 50 pages into it, but it seems pretty good. It reminds me of Clive Cussler and his NUMA files books. So if there is not too much riske stuff in it, I will pass it on to T when I am done. He loves Clive Cussler and I think has read every one that is out!

And in other news, Basketball tryouts start next week. And we will probably make the team so it will be practices after school, then games after the new year. Also J needs to start running again to get ready for track season. We have choir concerts coming up and a band concert. Then the kids are off for two weeks during the holidays. And hopefully we won't get too much snow in the coming weeks!

Hope everyone is having a great day!

A Vicious Game....

Sorry happens to be my favorite game so of course I had to play! And yes, it was vicious, we were having a great time sending people back and knocking each other back to start!

Last night we went down to my In-Laws and spent a few hours down there. We had leftovers since they ate earlier and just hung out. Rich's niece's Abby and Emily came home with us (they live by Columbus) and we just got back from meeting their mom halfway. The kids all had a great time and it was nice to spend some time with Dad, Alice and Uncle Dave.

Abby and Emmy

My Love!

PS: Check out that quilt behind Rich (the yellow one) - not one I made, but I like it!

SNOW!!!

Monday night it started snowing, and didn't stop till sometime last night. When I went to work on Tuesday morning there was just a light dusting of snow, not much at all. But it was coming down. As the day progressed it got heavier and was the perfect snow for snowballs! I know, the guys threw some at us in dispatch yesterday! When I got out of work at 7 p there was easily 3 inches of snow, and this is what I woke up to this morning. Doesn't it look so pretty?

Monday night was the Cross Country banquet, it was nice, a potluck and it was great to see everyone again. J earned a medal for the Jr High boys winning the district, and TJ won a special award for being such a dedicated freshman. As coach said "He came out of nowhere and just blew us away". He also lettered as a freshman, which is pretty impressive, since you have to be on the the varsity team for 50% of the races. He was on varsity for all but 1, which he didn't race.

J

TJ

And this is how we have been keeping our heating costs down:

I mentioned we have a gas well on our property and we finally got our gas heater hooked up in our basement and got it going. It is keeping the lower two levels in the 68-72 range, but the upstairs is still a little cold. We were having problems figuring out how high/low to run it to keep it going and to keep the house warm. But I think we got it now. Its not necessarily hot in here, but it keeps the furnace from running which is what we wanted.

Otherwise I have been working. Today is my Friday. I am off tomorrow, Friday and Saturday. I plan to spend most of the day tomorrow sewing. We are going to Rich's dads when he gets off work and then Friday we will be home with the kids. Saturday Rich works and I will be home cleaning and sewing. I haven't done anything since last week and I need to get some stuff done!

Hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving!

WOOOOHOOOO!!!!!! WE BEAT MICHIGAN!!! (sorry all you Michigan fans out there!)

I unfortunately did not get to watch THE GAME, because I was at work, but I heard it was a good game.


Yesterday Rich hooked up the gas wall heater in the basement. We have a gas well on our property so we ran a line to the house and bought a small wall unit. It did a great job heating the floors and when I went to bed it was about 73 according to the thermostat. They also cleaned stalls and then watched the game. It was nice and toasty in here when I got home!

After I got home from work last night my parents came over and we had dinner. My brother came over too, and they guys watched football while us ladies chatted. Dinner consisted of pizza, veggies, chips and cookies. J made cookies yesterday (he is not a football fan) so he made these. Can you read them??

He tried hard and they say "The Ohio State" "O" and "Go Bucks Win". And Mom took this picture of the 4 of us. Rich was whinning that he didn't want his picture taken, but you can't say no to mom, right?

Nothing happening in the sewing world, been working and don't have off till Thursday. Today was a little stressful at work since I started answering 911 calls. Kinda scary when that phone goes off since it is LOUD and sounds like a siren! But I did it and didn't completely freeze!

Right now I am reading Inkspell, and enjoying it. It is at Teen book and a friend recommended it to me. It's about this guy who can read things out of books, like characters when he reads aloud and he read out a villan many years ago and now they want him to do more.

Tomorrow is the cross country banquet and I will have some more pictures then, otherwise, nothing happening. Off to blog read, and then read some more and bed! Tomorrow I work 5a to 3 p again!