Merry Christmas Everyone,

How can it be that it is already Christmas Eve?

Last minute shopping is out of the way and all of the gifts are wrapped.

With one pie baked and one still to go; I'm running behind on this task.

The floor still needs vaccumed, the pets are alseep, I think I will kick these shoes off my feet. Ahh, I love freeing my toes.

We've already had the first snow of the season here and it's practically all melted.

Here I sit in the middle of Kansas and the temp outside is 44 degrees.

Such a strange year of weather we've had.

It almost frightens me how mild it has been;

what with winter yet to really set in.

I pray you all will have a very Merry Christmas and that you will remember

"The Reason for the Season".

And if you do not believe in the christ child do believe this:

He believes in you!

I challlenge you to create wonderful loving memories over these next few days

and to remember to call those loved ones far away.

Cameras charged - Ready, Set, Go!!

*

God Jul

Joyeux Noel

Feliz Navidad

Happy Yuletide

Happy Holidays

Merry Keshmish

Mele Kalikimaka

Maligayang Pasko!

Buone Feste Natalizie

Merry Christmas

to all of you

wonderful

people.

Be Happy, Be Healthy, Be Safe,

Tess

Merry Christmas!

Woo Hoo, I'm online again.

My new HP Pavilion Slimline is up and running thanks to my dear sweet hubby. I've so much more room on my desk now. This tower is just half the size my Dell tower was. I kept the old monitor because I like it and the printer. We still have to connect to the printer. It's an HP too so hopefully it will work just fine. Once I get used to the new keyboard I'll be doing great. I've missed you all and pray you all had a fabulous Christmas.

Be Happy, Be Healthy, Be Safe,

Tess

Day 3~ LAst Christmas Party for 2009 and B-Days

Good Sunday,

It's been another good day, and a long one. Today we met after church for a big Family Christmas Gathering at my moms place. With a new home and a new husband it was a lot of fun. We had not realized but today's visit was Bobbie's first visit to her grandma's new home. Of course she loved it. We had chicken roll-ups, cream of chicken & sour cream sauce, egg noodles, green beans, peas, a salad and a vegetable tray. My youngest also made her famous cheese ball, yummy. After a good meal we watched the kids open their gifts and then sent them to another room to play while the adults played the gift exchange game. It is lots of fun and there were several gifts exchanging hands this year. It was my brother James girlfriends first time to play the game and she caught on right away. Don't be shy, uou see something you want, take it! LOL! Once the game was over pretty much everyone had what they had spied and wanted most.

Above is Henry showing off the quilt mom made him for Christmas. She managed to work on it when he wasn't home so he did not know. She did not have the binding on before Christmas but gave it to him anyway. He got to watch her finish it off. He's a BIG K-Sate Fan... My mom is a KU fan. LOL!! They say opposites attract. :) We think she did a great job with the quilt.

My mom started collecting the Cape Cod collection of glassware from Avon many years ago as a single mother. Of course she never acquired the whole collection before they discontinued it. When we were helping them move we managed to take imnventory of what she has. Chuck and I found several pieces on E-Bay for her and that is the big surprise, OMGosh, look here. We love shocking her... :)

These two are cousins, they live in the same town and yet somehow hardly ever get to see each other. Raven received a book with a double heart. The heart said "best friends" and was actually two necklaces. Once I explained to her what it was, the meaning and that she would wear one and give the other to her best friend she said "I understand" and promptly went over to her cousin and said this. "Angel, you are my best friend, I want you to have this". We explained to Angel and she accepted it. They gave me such a lump in my throat. These two have been such good friends since babies. They are 6 months apart in age is all. Raven is my granddaughter and Angel is my niece.

We then celebrated Billie's birthday,which was yesterday and Henry's birthday which is this Tuesday with a big birthday cake and cards. Soo much food and fun, I am exhausted. I had no time for anything crafty or artsy today, unless making the chicken roll-ups counts. LOL!

Tomorrow is the start of a new week. For many vacations are over and it's back to work, back to the same old routine. Strive to make it a special day/week and to smile and laugh often. It is a new beginning, make the most of it. Things have been not so good at my work. I plan to make the best of it this week and to remember that only I control my attitude; and do just that.

Be Happy, Be Healthy, Be Yourself,

Tess

2010 Day 2 - Journal Cover Complete

The end of Day 2 and what a fun day it has been. Today is my youngest daughters 28th birthday. I just cannot believe she is 28. In my mind she is still 24, 25 maybe (and sometimes 7 or 12 or 16, depending on the reminiscing), but not 28. We met her and my son-in-law at IHOP for brunch. Yummy food and wonderful conversation. She bought herself an IPOD Touch with her Christmas money and had to show me all she had put on it. Fun little gadget. Now it's on hubby's wish list for his birthday. Luckily I have all year to save for it as his birthday is in December! LOL After brunch which was really more like lunch time. We end to the OA Winter Banquet. They had the K-State Union Rec Center open to the OA members and we had fun bowling and hubby played pool with another scout leader and a few of the youth. It was fun watching all of the activities. It ended with a wonderful catered buffet supper. And it started snowing when it was time to leave. So we got to drive home in the dark with snow falling. It was very pretty. Another wonderful day and I even had time to finish my January Journal cover.

I cut my face out of a picture and gave myself luscious full lips (stolen from a model in a magazine). I've always felt my lips are too thin. I love how I changed them here. I am sure I will recognize this journal years from now just by the cover. You may recognize the little party hat as one of my ATC's. I liked the reminder that each new day, new month, new year and new decade is part of a puzzle and we are all an important part of that puzzle. I hope to fill it this month with many of the thoughts written around the cover as a border. New Ideas, new dreams, new techniques, new memories, etc., etc...

Tomorrow is my family's big Christmas gathering at my mom's house. We will have about 14 people at mom's with a gift exchange, games and food. There will bw siblings, nieces, nephews, cousins, grandchildren and even a great grandchild. Yes, my mom is a great grandma. We called our great "granny" and now my granddaughter calls my mom "granny". I love it, and she doesn't mind at all! Fun! Fun! Hopefully the snow doesn't cause travel problems. My oldest brother is the farthest away and still only has a 1 hour drive. The streets and roads are pretty clear now since we've had sun the past few days and the roads crew did a really good job cleaning up the Christmas snow storm.

You all have a great night,

Be Happy, Be Healthy, Be Yourself,

Tess