Mish Mash...It's a long one...

Just a quick post to say hello and share a few photos of what's been happening lately! Just like you, we are busily preparing for Christmas and so excited that it's only one week away!

Here's some piccys from Thanksgiving.

This is James making his famous mashed-potatoes. Have I mentioned that I am the lucky wife of a man who cooks? He shops for food and prepares dinner every night. Thank goodness he enjoys cooking! I DON'T. This shot is James wearing my very sexy apron (why do I have this when I don't cook....good question!) and saying, "You better not take my picture and you better NOT post this on your blog!" Oops.

On Thanksgiving my Andrew turned two. I can hardly believe he turned TWO! It is amazing how fast these two years have flown. Andrew is a delightful, sweet, active and smart little guy and I am so blessed to be his Mama. He said, "Mama" for the first time the day after his birthday, which of course melted my heart. He has been saying "Ennee" (Emily), "car," "tain" (train), "dink" (drink) and lots of other words for quite some time. So to hear him say my name for the first time was very sweet. :)

We celebrated his birthday next door at my inlaws' on Thanksgiving. Isn't this reaction so TWO?? Got him to wear his cowboy hat with the boots for a few minutes because his grandpa had HIS cowboy hat on! A guy can never have too many cars!

Mama and her Big Boy...

My two girls in the middle with brown hair, their cousins with the blonde hair and a NEW cousin, Garah, who is gorgeous and had the girls mesmerized.

We gave Andrew this huge fire truck toy that makes noises and has lots of fun details. We captured the VERRRRRY excited reactions.

Andrew and my youngest sister, Laura Joy, have birthdays within days of one another so we often have a combined family party.

I have no idea what they were reacting to in this photo but isn't this hillarious?

Some sweet pics of Raychie (Andrew's there but wouldn't sit still) working on an impromptu craft project which turned into a modern-art-looking family tree!

We had a lovely visit with our nephews and neices. Here's Emily and Nathan playing the piano.My sister, Ray, with little Aubrey.

Rachel and Summer...we hardly saw them the whole visit, they were so happy to play together! "Summer has MAKEUP," Rachel said. Very impressive.

Last Sunday was our church Christmas program. Emily was Mary this year! That's her on the right, kneeling down. She was relieved that they changed it so she didn't have to hold Joseph's hand. ;) She asked us the week before, "So since Jesus is the main thing of Christmas but in our play, he's just a doll, doesn't that make me the star of the show?" Good heavens....Rachel was an angel (quite appropriate!). That's her second to the left between the taller girl and her blond, curly cousin, Brenna.

"The stars in the sky...""Look down where he lay..." And lastly, I want to show you that I actually HAVE been making things! I made these ivory-embroidery-on-ivory-linen bookmarks for my aunt to give her friends for Christmas. Each one was slightly different and had the recipient's inital and a vintage embroidery motif on the top and bottom.

And here is a little "sneak-peek" at some gifties for a few of my friends. Can you guess what they are?

Well that's it! I am sooo looking forward to tomorrow being over because both Emily and James have a 3-week Christmas vacation. We have lots of plans....going to the mountains, playing in the snow, cleaning out the garage so we can actually park cars in there, making curtains for windows that still don't have proper coverings and just RESTING.

I hope you are having a wonderful week and enjoying getting ready for Christmas. If I don't talk to you before then, I hope you have a lovely Christmas full of precious memories.

Hugs,

Cheryl