Christmas Baking

Making Christmas cookies is an event planned by the girls, or maybe mostly by Jodie. I think she figures out all the ingredience and then assigns people to bring them. We meet at my sister Julie's house and the mixing and baking begins.

My niece Jodie and Amber

       Julie                                                                                  Nicole

 These are Nutmeg Cookie Logs, one of my favorites. My mom always used to make them.

 Lots of yummy Christmas cookies were made today!

Laura's Bridal Shower

Our friends Laura and Jeremy are getting married in December. Betsy and I planned a shower for our church friends to attend. Since it's a winter wedding we went with a snow theme. Betsy had this blue tablecloth that was absolutely perfect.

 Party Favors

 Getting ready to play Bridal Bingo

 PRESENTS!

 Everyone brought a recipe and Betsy put

them in this recipe book for Laura.

Char was working on the rehearsal bouquet as Laura opened her gifts. People use gift bags now, so there aren't many ribbons. However, Char did a great job with what she had and made a beautiful bouguet!

 Cindy and Laura

Brayden is 9 Months Old

Brayden is now 9 months old. Time just zips right by and he is no longer a little baby.

 He has always loved reading books.

Christmas Ship Preparation

It's once again time to prepare for the Lions Christmas Ship that goes up into the Canadian Islands and some US islands at Christmas. This year I needed to make about 100 hats as they will be distributed at one of the larger islands. Looks like I just dumped them in a pile and took a quick picture. What a mess! There really are over 100 hats here.

 We once again gather in Don's garage to bag up the treat bags for the kids. This is a sampling of the stuffed animals the kids get. So cute and fun!

 The individual bags are packed with treats galore...

and then put in bigger bags, labeled for each island, and put in the truck. They are now ready to be loaded on the Christmas Ship.

Thanksgiving 2012

I always make breakfast rolls for holiday mornings.

 The table is ready...

 and the food is ready.

 Amanda (Jennie's friend), Jennie, Dennis, Will, Brayden, Amber, Jerad, Julie adn Ron

 Brayden found it was lots of fun to play with the balls in the hallway. He loves to crawl through them and in the hallway they stay closer together. Much more fun!!

 Ron's brother Dennis has been wanting to bring some of his pictures from the Viet Nam War to show the girls. I'm not sure if they were more impressed with the pictures or the old slide projector and screen. I do know they were very glad that he shared his memories of the past.

Leaf Clean Up

We love the big  maple tree at our river property when it gives us nice shade in the summer. However, come Fall it is nothing but work.

 It took Skeet, Jan, Ron and I several hours to get the leaves all raked up.

Whew, what a job!

 We did get a couple sets of the "Garden Claws" and they worked so well. While Jan and I raked, the boys picked up big bunches of leaves to put in the back of the truck. When the truck was full they took it to the compost pile and then we started all over again.

 Almost finished

 Another project on the new lot for this trip. Ron is putting in a little fill and getting ready to put some boards down before we spread the new gravel.

 Skeet and Ron are putting new gutters on the garden shed. This should keep the mud from splashing up on the bottom.