Of Christmas Past

A late Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to everyone.

  

I can't say this first Christmas back was what we thought it would be.  First of all, we were hoping for a white Christmas after three years of missing it.  Secondly, both of us were sick in bed on Christmas day.  We finally felt good enough to get up about 4 p.m. and got together with the family to open gifts.  We had to postpone Christmas dinner to the next day which didn't really work because the entire family caught the bug, one or two of us at a time.  We didn't even get together and play games once during the holidays.  Enough whining though. It was still great to be with family for Christmas. 

Because we don't have stockings to hang on the fireplace mantel so much anymore, I decided to change it up a bit.  I promise it looked prettier than this picture shows, especially at night with the votives and candles lit.

I loved my new little wool felted Christmas tree and the snowmen.

I loved my old collection of carved Santas too.  

The only gift I made this year was this big Idaho-shaped rice crispy treat I made for Russell.  That's kind of sad, isn't it; maybe even pathetic.  

Anyway, in spite of not quite being the Christmas we anticipated, I'm pretty sure we'll remember it for a few years to come.

  

Ghoul's Night Out

Before Halloween gets too far behind us, I need to post some pics of a fun party we had.  Rebecca, Kim, and I wanted to have get-together before Kim had the new baby.  (By the way, he was born last Friday, 11/11/11.  His name is Reed and he is such a cutie.)

It was just going to be a small gathering, but we kept thinking of fun people to invite and before we knew it, it turned into a pretty big bash,or should I say monster mash, and we still weren't able to invite all the fun people that we know.

We warned them all that some of the goings on might be shared, so here goes...

Our first two guests arrived in time to help us get things ready.  Whew!

Kim dressed as a pregnant cat.

Rebecca was a triumphant sumo wrestler.  

"Pat" showed up

as did the ever helpful Red Riding Hood.

Along came 2 witches and a nun,

another cute witch, and a sister wife, the pregnant cat again, 

and a blast from the past "70's Chick."

A Southeast Asian farm worker with a very thick accent, who seemed to be a little suspicious at the time this picture was taken, was a great addition to the party,

as was this impressive Hula team.

Cruella D'evil's twin sister, a posed and poised party-goer, and a witch with hat problems showed up too.

The Cat in the Hat, an Angry Bird and a Cowgirl got in line for eats and treats.

We then went to the Batt cave for games.

Everyone tried Lucy's lip trick.

Little Red Riding Hood and the Hippie had a head stand contest.

The hippie won.  Red Riding Hood's thought it was her age that impeded her but maybe it was just the cape.

We danced to Thriller.  M J would have been proud of this side of the room.

But this side?  Not so much.

The Great Pumpkin danced in to start the gift sharing.  There were some amazing gifts.

Lady Luck was with Liz.  She not only got the two-day-old pizza....

but the live mice as well.

Ramona took home the pig foot/back scratcher/possible Sunday dinner,

but not before Cassie had a turn.

Mandy left early so she was the recipient of this:

(a bag of giant marshmallows aka Ghost Poop)

That 70's chick took the mice home for her pet snake, but she had to fight the cat for them.

Sister Jeffs got the giant tub of cheese puffs.  The children will be so happy.

And Mom finally got the tatoo she has always wanted.

We had a great time.  Thanks everybody!

Cutest Trick-or-Treater

 Wanna see the cutest trick-or-treater that came by this year?

About 30 seconds after arriving he decided to be a Cowboy Stripper.

He wanted to play in his box we keep in the family room.  I guess he found the cowboy costume a little inhibiting as he crawls in and out.

We did get him to pose for a second with the hat and chaps still on.

Grandpa had to try the hat.

Hope you all had a fun Halloween!

WAAAAAHHHHH!

Did you want to see how my flowers looked Monday afternoon?

Okay, I'll show you.

Do you want to see how they look now?

I guess I can't complain.  It was a really great fall.  I just wasn't quite prepared for the devastation.