WEEK-END AND CHRISTMAS HAPPENINGS

I decided to steal a few minutes out of this busy day and write a quick (hopefully) post about our week-end.  It was such a good one.  It started on Friday when my sister Diane came over to sew with me.  She brought her machine and set it up in my kitchen and we ran back and forth to the ironing board that was between us, haha.  She wanted a little help if she got stuck on the shirt she was making for her grandson, as she has never made one before and I have made COUNTLESS shirts of this type.  However, what neither one of us was counting on, was how LONG it has been since I have lol...However, we EVENTUALLY got our sewing done...Here are the blouses I made for my two youngest grand daughter's Capri and Donatella, and the shirt that I made for their brother JD.  I made one for Jeffie this morning, and now this afternoon I will make my final one for little Cody.  The fabic is adorable and they have come out quite cute (and fit pretty well too) but I am not sure what I was thinking.  I thought I was behind before and now I must REALLY get moving...haha 

The finished products

How darling are they?

Tella looks like her Aunt Melly here...

Love this one

Then on Sat. we drove down to San Diego to celebrate Capri's 6th birthday which is tomorrow.  I honestly can't believe this sweet little girl is 6 years old already.  How I love her.  Her imagination is wonderful, and she is soo sweet and loving.  At her birthday party (which was packed with little girls) she was opening her presents and said, "Raise your hand if you want to help me by opening one too!" haha  Needless to say she got countless offers and she proceded to pass her presents around for others to open for her.  It was either the most generous thing I have ever seen a little one do before, or she was soo anxious to get the gifts open and see what was inside that she figured this was the quickest way to see what was inside all those presents..lol  Either way, it was certainly unique, which sums up this little sweetie completely.  Here are some pics from her special day.

The birthday girl

Her cake...the frosting was made from marshmellows....different, and very yummy

Her daddy lighting her candles

Pretty Lindsey

Shy, sweet little Jeffie

JD.  His little cheeks were soo red from all the jumping in the bouncer...didn't help that it was 80 degree's on Sat...go figure.

Capri with her new doll

I got the girls black legging pants and boots to go with their Christmas blouses.  We tried Tella's on as I wasn't sure anything was going to fit right.  Here she is showing off her boots.  Everything fit perfectly...YAY!

My cuties in the bouncer

After the party Jeff & I and my oldest son Joe and two of his kids, Lindsey & Jeffie headed a little bit further down into San Diego to have dinner with Joe's grandmother on his natural father's side.  What a wonderful story this is.  She is a WONDERFUL, loving woman who has always kept in touch with me.  Joe has met her a few times, but through choices that were his to make he has never had much of a relationship with her much to her GREAT sadness.  Joe recently decided to change this ~ thus the dinner.  What a wonderful time we had.  They made a delicious dinner and we chatted and visited the evening away.  Both his grandmother and an aunt (whose house it was) were in tears a couple of times.  We all also met a couple of his cousins for the first time.  I believe God has kept His hand on this situation for years and worked out all the details as only He can.  These women are also Christians and we actually spent some time in prayer together as well.  How happy I am that this evening happened, and that these relationships might now grow.  Everything IS possible with God.

Joe with his grandmother ~ she just kept hugging him and patting him etc. through the whole night....soo sweet

She met her great grandson Jeffie for the first time.  = )

Grandma with Joe & two of her 5 great grandchildren ~ Leah was home with the baby who had a BAD cold...next time for sure.

Joe with his cousins Serena & Paul....such nice kids

With his grandmother & his Aunt Diana

And then yesterday found Jeff & I after church TRYING to get all of our ourside lights and decorations both up AND working.  What a chore this has ended up being, haha...My WONDERFUL WONDERFUL

husband really can be a saint sometimes.  I am not sure why all of this is soo important to me this year.  I can honestly tell you it usually isn't.  I have tried to analyze it but I am not really sure.  We have had one thing after another on our lights.  One strand would go out and then the other.  He would put one up and two days later take it down and replace it.  I bought some BEAUTIFUL wise men for our little planter out front and I wanted them illuminated so that you could see them.  Oh my, what we went through to get them this way.  By yestereday afternoon (late) there were no more lights at a couple of the stores I went to and we couldn't find a fuse anywhere.  He pressed on...Finally, in the total dark he was lighting the last decoration and it was FINALLY complete.  How pretty it is.  Standing there looking at it all last night I just wanted to cry and again I am not sure why.  Maybe it is just the year we had.  Or maybe it is the new house and wanting it so to feel like home.  Or maybe I am just a silly woman, but how I thank God for the man I am married to who pressed on and on even though I KNOW he would have much rather been watching football but knew it was important to me for whatever reason at all.

The full view came out a little dark...but you get the idea

A lttle closer ~ see our Christmas tree there in the corner?

The wise men

I have a really busy week AGAIN lying ahead of me.  I am not done shopping and I haven't wrapped a thing, I've baking I want to do, my hair needs doing and so do my nails (and I haven't forgot...I've another shirt to make yet this afteroon) so I guess I will get busy again for now.  I hope to take a pic of my pretty outside decorations and then post this right after and then maybe visit a little with all of you.  Hope this finds you all busy making memories for this season we are in, and again, may we all keep our eye's on Him. 

Tonight as Jeff & I were sitting and having our dinner, we suddenly heard singing and looking out front we had a street full of carolers...I can't tell you how wonderful it was....I thought of you Janette and your post this morning.  I don't think in the 25 years I lived at our old house we EVER had carolers come to our house.  I think next year I'll join them.   = )

How precious are they?

Side note:  I didn't get the shirt made...tomorrow morning for sure...