Merry Christmas Everyone!

I hope you all had a fabulous day! We went to my parents' home and came back yesterday. Since we had to come back the day of Christmas, mom chose to cook Christmas dinner the day before. This was great cause we had leftovers while we were there, but when we got home there was nothing for dinner. I picked up Chinese. I totally felt like Ralphie from A Christmas Story! We just needed a crazy relative to give my son a pink bunny costume!

Everyone was pleased with their haul and it was nice to see my family. We do have a couple of returns (hubby's George Foreman grill had a big crack in the top when we took it out of the box, and my pj's don't fit) but otherwise most everything went over well. There are some cards to spend, and my aunt who passed away recently left each of us a little money. I almost hated to take it cause I know my other aunts could use it but I also know there was no arguing about it. So now I will think of something cool to get with it that I wouldn't have bought myself otherwise.

So what did Santa get you for Christmas? I got a new rice cooker (my other one was disgusting because we used it so much), an ice cream maker attachment for my Kitchen Aid mixer, some pj's, slippers, boots, and a cute set of measuring cups in the image of Matroykshka dolls. How cute are these?

I hope Santa was kind to you all and that your holidays are wonderful. I hope to get back in the sewing room tomorrow. I'm currently working on post Christmas laundry and taking down some Christmas decorations, then I'm off to pick up a black printer cartridge so I can print the return paperwork for the grill. Pretty sad when you don't even have enough ink in your printer to send something back!
Happy Holidays!

Off For the Holidays!

And we're off to my parents to spend Christmas. Hopefully when I get back I will be more than motivated to get back into my quilting. I'm doing my best to OD on crochet right now so that I'm sick of it and will want something different to do when I get back. My plan is to work diligently to finish my Carpenter Wheel quilt so I have something for my bed!
Hope you all have a wonderful Christmas!

I Want a Colonoscopy for Christmas!

Now, doesn't that just have a ring to it? And no, I'm not talking about me. I'm talking about hubby. We spent the whole morning at the hospital while he had a colonoscopy. His older brother had an appointment at 12:00. Lots of preventative testing being done since the brother who is my age had the big C diagnosis. I have to admit that I knew there would be a little humor with the measures taken prior to the procedure (I'll leave it to your imagination what they make you go through to clear everything out!), but I didn't know he would be quite so loopy coming out of the anesthesia. At first he couldn't put words together and only one of  his eyes was open. That part was a little scary cause I've never seen him like that. Then as his speech slowly got a little better he got downright silly! At one point he looked up at me and said, "My wife has a purse just like that." I thought he was kidding, but undoubtedly his vision was still blurry and he thought I was the nurse!  After he finally became coherent, he asked when the doctor was coming by. I told him he had already been by and he had actually talked to him (although his speech was hardly clear!). After a long morning, the doctor told us he did remove a tiny polyp but he wasn't worried; he has had similar polyps removed himself. It was sent to pathology to be safe. My brother in law should be finishing up his procedure as we speak so hopefully he got similar results!

No, I Have Not Disappeared...

Today was our last performance of Madeline's Christmas so one crazy aspect of my current life will now change! I am still in the crazy Christmas mode and still haven't finished my shopping! I have a few things coming in on Tuesday from Amazon, but they may not be the last. I have a few things I'm sewing/crocheting and hope to finish. I also just found out that my mother has the flu. Poor mom! All medicated up and feeling cruddy. Hopefully she'll be better and we can visit for Christmas. I plan on getting some sewing done tomorrow if I can possibly help it!

On a more somber note, I wanted to take a moment to send out my prayers to the families of the victims in Connecticut. I believe that the media has got to stop sensationalizing the killers in these situations or this is not going to stop. Our thoughts and prayers should be concentrated on those that were left behind, not on the person who tried to make a name for themselves by performing such a horrifying act of violence. I found myself in tears as I read the names and ages of the victims this evening. Those children were my son's age. I just can't fathom it, can't put my head around it at all. I just pray that those left behind find some comfort from all the love and thoughts that are sent their way during what can only be the most trying moment in the life a parent, a husband, a wife, a loved one.

Christmas Stress Countdown...

Are you finished with your shopping? Me? Uh, no. Not even close. I've got some things for my daughter but nothing for my son yet, and one thing for hubby. ARRGGGHHH! I don't like being this behind! I haven't even sent out Christmas cards yet! Every year I plan on doing the picture Christmas cards and it never pans out. The closest I've come is sticking a picture of the kids in with the cards. But the elves have still been busy.
Some acrobatics with a stuffed duck...

Hanging out with a snowman...Jingles is a little scared of heights.

They got in a bit of trouble for feeding the snake candy...one had to write lines while the other rubbed his tummy to make him feel better.

And today they were found in my kitchen yucking it up from some joke cards they brought with them.

Do you have an elf on the shelf at your house? Do they like jokes? (Need something to stretch things out?) Check out these great printable joke cards.
Gotta do some shopping today but hopefully will get some sewing done as well!

Sew Mama Said There Was a Winner...

Let's DO this thing! So the winner of the Nest panel is...

who is...

 KellyS said...

I follow you through your RSS feed. Thanks for the giveaway! Nest is one of my favorites!!

Congratulations to Kelly! I am emailing you this morning Kelly!
Thanks everyone for playing!

WiP Wedn..., What? It's Thursday?

(Don't forget to check out my last minute giveaway for the Sew Mama Sew Giveaway Day here!)

It has been VERY hectic around my household lately. The play I'm in (Madeline's Christmas) opens this weekend so it is tech week. That means I have practice almost every night this week (off today, thank goodness cause I'm EXHAUSTED!). I have actually gotten a bit of sewing done, though not nearly what I should have. So let's take a look at the week so far, shall we?
Block number 8 (?? I think) for Carpenter's Wheel...

I did a last minute revamp to my son's Diddy Kong Halloween costume to turn it into a costume for the organ grinder's monkey in the play...

the elves have been VERY busy...

and my daughter got to walk in the local Christmas parade Sunday as one of the Madeline girls for the theater because not all of the girls could be there. She had a blast. She has walked as a Girl Scout before and always enjoys giving out candy to the kids. She's actually giving some to her brother and my neighbor's daughter here.

When we got back to the theater, she was goofing around with one of the other costumes.

Does this mean she would be Madolph or Rudeline?

Giveaway Day... A Little Late but Jumping In!

Things have been so insane around here and I missed getting in on the beginning but I just thought I'd tag on at the end. How's that? What's being given away? Well, this panel:

It's Nest by Valori Wells. Here are closeups of the birds.

Sorry I cut the bottom off in the picture but I promise it's there. The panel is approximately 12"x 44". 

I will probably add a little something extra, I'm just trying to squeeze in under the deadline! Interested in winning?

1.  Just leave a comment below for a chance to win. Need some ideas? I do too. I have an 11 year old girl and a 6 year old boy....any Christmas ideas?
2. if you're a follower leave a second comment for another chance to win.

OOPS! Forgot to add, make sure you are not a NO-REPLY BLOGGER or I can't get in touch with you. If you are or think you are, make sure you leave your email address in the comment so I can reach you!

THIS GIVEAWAY IS CLOSED.

This giveaway will close Friday evening, December 7th. I will draw a name and post it ASAP Saturday. We have two shows for Madeline's Christmas that day so don't freak out if you don't see it right away! I may just need a moment to calm down!

Good luck!

Elf Invasion

Well, it's that time again! The elves are back so I thought I'd let you in on their escapades. They actually came back a little early (hubby's hiding place was not that great!) but I didn't think to post those pictures. Yesterday they were found hanging out with some of the nutcrackers in my daughter's collection.

One appeared to be "carried away" by the Rat King...

while the other appeared to have accepted a piggy back ride from the drummer.
They had been hanging in the stairway garland the other day but my son sent them off with a letter to Santa so they stayed gone a few days.