Did everyone survive???

The Hustle & Bustle of Christmas that is?
While we have some time honored traditions we have had to adjust a few things this year due to having a DIL as well as a Grandson added to the festivities.
Christmas Eve we traditionally opened our Ornaments, I buy the kids one or two each year for their trees. I also get an item of clothing that is the same for everyone. In the past it was matching sweaters from Lands End, Union Suits from the Sock Company, one year I sewed matching boxer style shorts from an amazing vintage looking flannel. Then we try to get a group photo of everyone wearing their gifts. This year Tim & Britt had a Christmas Party to attend with her parents while we babysat Gavin & Jessica was heading to Gabes so the Long John photo didn't happen. Maybe next year!

Now my kids have usually let us sleep in past 7 at least however this year Harley woke me up before 7 after feeding & medicating all the pets Sahara woke up and wanted to open gifts well I couldn't say no so after only 5 hrs sleep we started Christmas.
Thankfully Jess & Gabe bought me a Starbucks Gift assortment so I had plenty of coffee to keep me going.

Gavin & Aunt Jessica









Tyler with his ornie

Sahara with her Ornie


Grandpa home with the Sushi & Sashimi making Gavin laugh


Brittany & Gavin Christmas Morning before she left for work



Great-Grandpa Art Rasmussen, Grandpa Larry Rasmussen, Gavin, Dad Tim


However you may celebrate, whichever traditions you hold dear I pray you had a BLESSED Christmas!

Blessings 2 U Friends

A little gun shy right now

First I want to thank everyone who is praying for Gavin, for all of you who have written notes of encouragement regarding the possible relocation, and those who have emailed & called your kindness and love these last few weeks has been the glue that held me together. Cheryl in Texas please check your email and the group board I can't reach you.

My desktop is finally up and working again and I have been able to reload my contacts/photos & music so far the last two days. I haven't completely reloaded everything and am a little gun shy to do so for fear I might have the thing crash again.


Christmas Crafts day was a much needed time to get a few items done for gifts. I don't know about you but I enjoy creating things, I enjoy giving them to my friends & family too! I finished up a gift exchange with Yvonne in Indiana and got it mailed off this morning during our Tornado Watch. I would show you a couple of the things I sent her but I don't want to spoil the surprise!

I also finished stitching the dates on the backs of the kids ornaments (I purchased at The Barn) last night but I know Brittany reads this occasionally and I don't want to spoil that surprise either. I am almost finished with a little thing I hope to have up on Etsy so I can show you that soon.

The 2nd Annual Hookers Christmas Party is this Saturday & I am so excited, I have Jonny's gift all bagged up since Thanksgiving. I have to write out the cards for the girls and maybe a little gift too.

Well back to cleaning...my husband is due home around midnight! :-)

Blessings 2 U Friends!

Someone emailed & asked about little Caylee Anthony and yes they do think they found that precious little girls body just a block or so from her Grandparents home, such a shame.

What a difference a day makes!

Too much going on the last 5 days to post all at once so I will start with photo's from Game 1 of the World Series between the Rays & the Phillies. We sent all four of them to the Game as their Christmas Gift.




Opening Ceremony & Back Street Boys singing the national anthem on the big screen in back

Phillies fans sure wear weird outfits!

Gabe strangling their mascot...reminds me of the alien guys on Sesame Street.

Gabe, Jess, Tim & Brittany after the game

Jess & Brittany with Brian Littrell of The Backstreet Boys


I will add our Photos from Thursday nights game a little later as they are on another computer...


Blessings 2 U Friends

THE WORLD SERIES STARTS TONIGHT....GO RAYS!

We were fortunate enough to be drawn in the pre-sales ticket drawing for World Series Tickets, Games 1 & 2 Monday morning.
So we decided this would be our Christmas gift for the family this year.
Tim, Jess, Brittany & Gabe (we found out he was still around remember) are attending tonight's game while I babysit Gavin.
Watch for them on the third-base line behind the Corona Beach Bar.

Larry told the to take pictures so they can enjoy the game again Christmas morning!
Tomorrow night Larry & I will be going with Sahara & Tyler.

GO RAYS!!!
From Worst to First!

Ahhh the smell of Autumn in the Air

Well at least cooler air this morning....all the doors & windows are wide open again
Sounds of birds from all around our home are dancing in on the breeze.

It has been a doozy of a few days here since my last post. After getting all 'psyched' up to start back on the road of disciplined money management we came home to find Casper had gotten into the trash...not only had gotten into it but ate the leftover pork ribs from Sunday night and GOD only knows what else. So looking like a little pot bellied pig he waddled around in the discomfort of his gluttony for the rest of the night.

The next morning he 'lost' his breakfast and a few undigested rib bones...still his belly looked a bit swollen. So we kept an eye on him (of course Dr. Mac is Closed on Thursdays) through out the day and while he was still moving around he was uncomfortable & bloated. Finally about 5 I decided we should get him in somewhere to have an xray & blood work done to make sure there wasn't an obstruction or his kidney stones weren't causing another infection.

Thankfully my walking buddy works for a wonderful Vet nearby & they got me in at the last second...ran some tests, did a couple xrays and gave him some meds. There is no visible obstruction from the bones he ate, the stones seem to be all in his bladder again (from what we could see through the engorged stomach) however bloodwork showed possible pancreatitis, we are watching him over the next 48 hours to see if anything changes. I did manage to get these few Cards done to preview next months Cards & Tags class

Hopefully I can finish the other 30 sometime today.

Saturday is my BIG yearly Croptoberfest here at the house so today is cleaning & moving furniture day so I can finish setting up the tables & chairs for all the ladies. Larry was making scones, Pumpkin Caramel Scones & White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Scones, last night & the house smelled wonderful when Brittany came to pick up Gavin oh yeah I forgot to mention he had to be dropped off at the Vet while we were there....lol The girls at the desk looked at me funny when I came out with his car seat, they didn't see Brit come in, I told them we were here so long I gave birth. :-) Not to mention another $330 dent in that emergency fund that we didn't get set back up after all the other emergencies this year....
Please say a prayer that everything Casper ate passes quickly and there is no pancreatitis, I want to make sure all the ladies have a great time & not have to worry about the dog tomorrow. We have so much planned with hourly door prizes, gifts, food, and fun things to make during the day.

Heres hoping you have a SPECTACULAR FALL DAY where ever you live!

Blessings 2 U Friends

Another weekend GONE ...custom baby onesies

I had a long list of 'to do's' this weekend but they didn't seem to get done!

Saturday afternoon/evening was spent watching Gavin,
here is the famous BOO BOO lip he has been making for a month now.

Don't recall ever seeing a one month old making boo boo lips!

He was happier outside but we don't have a stroller so we made our own
REDNECK STROLLER


Sunday while everyone was watching The Bears play the Buc's or The Rays (yes I like sports but I would rather be doing something else) I ran to JOAnn fabrics & found cute little onesies and iron ons to make for Gavin.

SPOILER ALERT BRITTANY & TIM DON'T LOOK





Seriously Brittany look away now!!


After washing & drying the the onesies


They need to be placed on a hard surface so I used the cutting board

Then I dry pressed the location the iron on will go

Placed the decal in the center of the onesie & pressed for about 80 seconds pressing firmly

LAST CHANCE TO LOOK AWAY BRITTANY!!




working at the Top Shop in High School really paid off didn't it?


I am not showing you the other 3 because I KNOW my DIL did not look away....she listens as well as my kids do!


Now I am sewing together a little ditty I hope to have listed on Etsy tonight or tomorrow...correction I am making salad for dinner then finishing the little ditty!

Blessings 2 U friends!