Does this ever happen to you?

Christmas Eve at Deda's...
we really wanted a group pic of the little ones,
just one would be great-
we don't get everyone together very often...

After coaxing all of them into the same general area
we thought the rest would be a breeze,
quick and painless
we thought we had it made...
Should it be so challenging
to get everyone's attention at the same time?

Of course, there is always the animated one...
teasing us, making us think we were almost there,
and also one (or two, or three) who could care less...

All of our clapping and snapping and dancing around
did nothing to convince them to all look our way and smile...
especially not all at the same time. 
They were really making us work for it...

Maybe even better than snapping the perfect picture,
was watching their comical faces entertain us
as we waited patiently for group cooperation,
which was not to be had...

At this point, we can tell that it's not going to happen,
not like we thought, anyway...
let's throw a "big kid" into the act and see what happens...

We aren't making perfect pictures,
but we are making perfect memories...

Thanks kids, maybe next year.
Happy Holidays!

Sometimes...

sometimes when you go to nienie's you
get to play on the computer...

and sometimes there are two computers so you
don't have to share...

and sometimes the room is messy, because
nienie was busy playing too...

and sometimes you get tired of the computer
and have to move on to nienie's iphone:-)...

and sometimes marley thinks maybe you will take a
break soon and play with her in the backyard...

...and sometimes you just give up and take a nap!

I've been busy...

Remember this?

I finally stitched the last stitch in it yesterday...I'm so happy with how it turned out...

Here's a peek at the back...fabric is by Sweetwater...

I loved Sweetwater papers when they printed them for scrapbooking...and they produce awesome fabrics, as well...their graphics/patterns remind me of "down-home", comfy-ness (I'm sure that's probably not a real word)

Here's the spot it was made for, beside the bed in my bedroom...

Now, I need to get to work on the one for the other side table. I'm using the same fabrics, but a different pattern...so, more to come!

Now, I want to re-paint my furniture...Hmmmmm...
which color should I choose?

Some finished projects...

As I mentioned in this post, I have several projects in different states of completion....I was happy to get a few things finished today...

I'm trying to use up as many leftover fabric scraps as I can and it's been fun to make some small projects to practice my machine quilting on...I normally like to do all of my quilting by hand, it's just something that is very relaxing for me in the evenings when I'm too tired to do anything else...

I made a couple (with several more waiting to be finished!) of small potholders, mug rugs, or whatever you want to call them...

They coordinate with the table runner I made in this post, and they are just the right size to leave on the counter for my hot tea or sonic drink!...

Now, I'm off to finish my next project, more on that tomorrow.

"Yeah" for snow days...

Yummy Cupcakes from Pinterest...

I had so much fun making these cupcakes, the recipe and directions are from here...I used the recipe as a guide, mixing up the brownie mix and the strawberry cake mix exactly as stated on the  back of the mixes...

It was very helpful to use my small cookie scoop from Pampered Chef for the brownie mix, one scoop was just right...and it kept me from dripping cake mix all over the pan (which I usually do!)

After filling the bottoms with brownie mix, I added two scoops of the strawberry cake mix...the recipe states that it will make 48 cupcakes, I must have filled mine a little fuller because my batch only made 36...

Having less of the brownie mix helped the cupcakes bake evenly, normally the brownies would take a bit longer to bake than just plain strawberry cupcakes...

Here they are, ready to go in the oven...please don't judge me by the looks of my old, stained, cupcake pan:)

And, boy oh boy! they smelled divine...

I added some frosting after they cooled and sprinkled some cute little red candy lips on top that I found at Hobby Lobby...

I definitely will be making these again, they were so, so yummy.

a Valentine surprise...

I get to see my grandson's tomorrow! They made the trip to Deda's house for the weekend so I'm heading that way tomorrow to spend the day with them. Since I won't be with them on Valentine's Day I decided to put together a little "heart" treat to take to them. That way I won't have to mail it to them:)



I've had a box of multi-colored DVD envelopes for quite a while, I just knew I would find a good use for them some day...Here's what I put together...I cut a piece of card stock a teeny bit smaller than the envelope...

...slipped the card stock into a sandwich baggie...added some M&M's to cover the top...flipped the envelope over to the back side...

press gently to get the air out of the baggie...seal the baggie...fold the top edge over snugly--tape down the edges...fold over the side in the same way and adhere with more tape...

Flip it back over to view the front, carefully slide it into the envelope...seal the edge of the envelope with more tape...

Voila! isn't that a cute presentation:)

I put their card on the back and secured the two together with some twine...can't wait to give it to them tomorrow:)

Happy early Valentine's Day!

a little spoiled....

She spent the day at the doggie spa....she loves the doggie spa....she has friends to play with....she's petted and pampered....she was treated to a blueberry facial.... and a special red bow for Valentine's Day. She follows her groomer around all day, even when she is working on other pups, Marley likes to be in the middle of all the action. They adore her, too.

She is always so shiny and bright.... and thinks she is "somebody"!....she is always excited to get back home after being away all day....after she prances around the house to make sure all of her toys are still where she left them, she settles in for the evening....getting pampered can be hard work for such a sweet girl:)

It's time....

It's time to finish up some of my WIPS (works in progress). 
I have a problem with beginning new projects and getting them half done--and then getting excited about another new project--and starting the new one before I finish the previous one.
So, here is a 2011 project that was almost done, then put aside while various holiday projects needed to be completed. I finished it up last night and wore it to school today.

I love the colors, I'll be able to wear it with several different outfits. And, since I'm always colder than my students, it keeps me warm and toasty without listening to them whine about turning down the thermostat! If I get too warm, it's easy to remove...a win, win situation.

Next up to be completed, my quilt top for my bedside table.