Happy New Year

Let me start with a New Year's video from my family and me!

And if that wasn't enough fun, here are a couple of photos to make your day!


When my dad passed away 14 years ago, we realized we had very few pics of him. Because he was always behind the camera rather than in front. And while we have many, many memories of him, sometimes you just want to remember by seeing a photo.
So I made a vow to never let that happen to my family. And to make sure that my grandsons would remember the fun they had with their great grandmother, Papa James and myself, along with everyone else.
One of the best gifts my DH got me a few years ago was a Flip Video. If you are not familiar with this check out "The Flip" on Google. It is a small video camera that does a nice job, can fit in your pocket and at the end of the day, simply plugs into your computer for a simple download.
I want to wish you and your families a VERY Happy New Year. I pray this next year brings you peace and joy and lots of stitching!
Thank you for being my online friends. Each of you are very precious to me!

Did you have a good Christmas?

Hope you did! I know I sure did!
I went to my daughter's house on Christmas Eve to share Christmas with them and brought my grandsons back with me for this week to celebrate New Year's Eve with them along with my husband and mother.
Here is a video of my grandsons on Christmas Eve:



My mom, James and I went in and got each one of the kids a big gift. We got my oldest, Trent, a Legos Harry Potter Mansion set and the youngest, Craig, a Big Foot the Monster animated toy.
Here are some before, during and after photos:



They really liked their gifts. We woke up at 7:30am to find the oldest in his room. He had completed 7 of the 10 levels for the Legos Mansion and was on the 3rd instruction book (out of 3!). We asked if he had slept and he assured us he did, but who knows how early he got up!
The Big Foot monster was enjoyed by all. If you haven't seen it, type in "Big Foot the Monster" on Google and watch the video. Then imagine that it is twice as funny because it is!
This year was particularly special to me. My daughter's family got a new house this year and she has her own living area (they live with her husband's family). She has a fireplace and lots of space to decorate.
I brought down ALL of my holiday stitching, from Christmas through Valentine's Day through Easter and on through the Fourth of July, Halloween and Thanksgiving. I also brought a framed sampler I had made for her in 2000 that I had been waiting to have her have in her own home.
You can see some of the stitching in the photos (the little bears and the stockings). She also received all of my stitched ornaments, some of which were made from friends that are no longer with us (and with whom my daughter grew up around).
It was quite fulfilling to pass along my stitching while I am still around to see her enjoy it.
I pray this next year brings all of you plenty of great needles, patterns, fabric and threads and that all little froggies that would get in the way of your stitching stay away.
I wish you happiness and peace and all the good things life has for you.
I thank you for your friendship and support. You all are the best!

Merry Christmas (and I am back!)

Let me start by saying thank you to Meari! Her little e-mail reminded me I have neglected by blogging friends. Not only have I not kept up to date on blogging I haven't kept up to date on reading your blogs. I promise to do better on both accounts.
Work has been really busy. I have taken on more responsibility and by the time I get off, I just want to lounge in the chair and not do much of anything. Not even stitching, so I have none to show you.
My husband and I did get away (despite hurdling some obstacles) to Austin to a comic book convention. Yes I said comic book convention. My DH collects them and we had planned the trip awhile back.
This was not my first convention with him, but was the best one yet. If you are into people watching, this is the place to people watch. People in costumes, old actors and actresses from television and movies. We met the original Batman and Robin (Adam West and Burt Ward). James had his pic taken with them both and also in the Batmobile. Ghostbusters were there also along with many others.
There was one guy who I think really thought he was Batman was there also. He had a better costume than the original. When he left, he got into a 1969 black Corvette with the Batman logo and all the bells and whistles on the car. Clearly he wasn't married because a wife would say "you spent how much on the costume and car?!!!"
It was really good to get away with my husband.
My grandsons are good and are coming here next week. I will pick them up Christmas Eve and bring them here on Christmas Day to stay a week with us.
I do have a funny story about my youngest, Craig. He had a solo (he is 6) for the Christmas musical. He was supposed to sing the first part of Rudolph and then back off the microphone (and he doesn't need a microphone anyway he is so loud). But he sang and never left the mic. He was dressed in a tux and a top hat. His gestures and singing had the audience in tears. But the best part was the end.
After he finished singing, when the rest of the kids were leaving the stage, he bowed and said "thank you. I will be performing all week. Be sure to try the buffet".
What a hoot!
You might remember (or not it was so long ago) my last post that I had stitched something for a fellow staff member who was expecting a baby. Well she had that sweet baby girl last Sunday. So we have a new addition to our office!
We have kept pretty much low key this holiday. In fact we have already exchanged our gifts to each other. I got a mini notepad from James and James got a digital drawing pad from me. Mom got her favorite button down nightgowns from us and a new television from my sister & her family.
It's hard to keep presents from each other when they come in via Fedex, UPS, etc. I love online ordering. And we don't have a tree to put them under anyway.
James and I did manage to go to the company Christmas party last Sunday. Here is a picture of us:

And with this picture, I will leave you with a wish and a promise. A wish for you to have a very Merry Christmas and a promise that I will keep up with you all more in the coming year. You all are such blessings to me!