"grand(s) party"

The past couple of years.. I have had a little Christmas party just for the "kids".. both the big ones and the little ones. I'm not sure how long we can keep this idea going, Abi being in real school now makes these kinds of things harder to do. But, this year, Sadie "snuck" her out of school so we could have our special day. I had a few projects for Abi... one, being catch up my Christmas calendar....

And the second.. help me finish decorating our tree....

As we have done in the past... a special lunch and presents.. but that comes after the "adventure"..

We did this last year too... made a run over to Stonewall Kitchens where the Moms got to shop for items while I entertained the grands....

It's a fun trip for Kass and Sadie, because running households.. they don't spend money of this sort on themselves.. and I think it's always nice to have special things to cook with at the holidays... they picked out all kinds of fancy sauces and some special mixes... and it's a Christmas gift that they can choose for themselves... though if I did pick things out, you can hardly go wrong...

The doggie  bed that I "won" at the auction was a big hit!!!!

Now its time for early presents and some spoiling... (candy before lunch!!!)

Because I like them so much and have quite a wonderful collection.. I have made a point of getting the grands their own Christmas ornament each year. And hopefully, when they are all grown and have their own trees, they will have their collection to place on it. What's fun is I try and find something that they're interested in and as they grown and interests change so will the ornaments.... Probably not the most exciting present to get right now, but one day I think they will appreciate them.

I was also able to find one of my favorite Christmas books which is now out of print. The book is the Night before Christmas.. which is easy to find, but the one I really wanted them both to have is the one illustrated by Tasha Tudor.... I found two in very nice shape and so they each have a copy....

The Mommies got ornaments too....

Then we had a nice lunch... took a walk about the farm.. (with the temps in the 40's!!!) and just had a wonderful time all together.... I do hope I can keep this going for awhile.. but I know how busy kids get when they get older, so we'll just do the best we can...

no snow...

so I have come to a decision about the little red sleigh... and that is to sell it. We bought it, obviously to go sleighing in, but I have only used it a couple of times, and find it to be too small for both myself and for Duke. Which is too bad, because I like the looks of it. However, it just has sat under the lean too for the longest time and I would rather move it on and perhaps find one more to my liking. 

I wasn't sure if anyone would buy it, but thinking it's Christmas time, and it's red... it would have a better chance of being bought... and so it has been. I think the lady who bought it is going to use it for sleighing, I hope so.. I hate to see these old beauties just sitting in the weather as someone's decoration... but, that's not my choice to  make...

I will admit, I felt a little sad to see it loaded in the back of the truck and taken away. I remember how excited I was to bring it home, but again, if I'm not going to use it, I don't want it sitting around... taking up space and just being underfoot.... so, the monies will be tucked away and I will look for another sleigh that will suit out needs. I still have the little box sleigh to use this winter... but if I find that one perfect sleigh, that one might go too.  Best wishes little red sleigh.. hope you have a happy new home

well, this event has been on the "to do list" for a few years... The speedway does this huge Christmas light show and Ed has always wanted to go and check it out. So, we grabbed Kass, Nate and Reagan... and headed over to see what exactly this was all about. We certainly weren't the only ones... the lines were long!!!! and this is just the first weekend they are open.

I wasn't exactly sure what to expect... but I will say it was AWESOME. You do it by car and get to drive around the whole speedway (including some parts no the race track) and it is just full of all these wonderful display of lights. Many of them are moving. And there were all kinds of themes... Santa's of course.. and race cars of course.. but also small villages, and manger scenes and I just thought it was very well done and well worth the trip out there.

It was hard to get good photos.. so I didn't have too many that came out, but Reagan thought it was very neat and I would go another year.....

On another note... the weather has been so very odd.... no snow, and really almost warm most days... I beginning to think there will be no white Christmas for us.... and sometimes, it's hard to feel the spirit with this warmth...... the winter will come, I'm sure.. but I would like a little white for Christmas ... and sleighing!!!!

parties...

Tis the season for parties.... and one that I always look forward to is Dave's office party. He is so fun and usually picks some pretty nice restaurants to treat us all to. He also includes all of the family which makes it really nice. This year was Chineese and since we had Abi with us, she got to come along too and see Reagan.

We had a good crowd of family and friends, and a really good meal to boot.

The next party on the list was the dog club Christmas party... which, again, is always a good time. This year we rented a hall and that was a good idea on behave of the club. It was bright and warm, and they allowed us to do some decorating.... dog themed of course!!!

We had our annual auction.. where members bring in mystery  gifts, that are bidded on... then we use the proceeds for some community project. You don't always know what you're bidding on... though often a clue is provided to help. It's great fun and sometimes it can get almost out of control. I am a careful bidder... I don't really like not knowing what I'm after, so I am good about keeping to my limit

Nice turnout of the club membership

We also decided to have the meal catered and then we provided desserts. This too turned out to be a very good idea... sometimes with pot luck (though I really do like them).. you get too much of one thing and not enough of another. With having the meal catered we got a good solid supper and then the desserts were amazing....

Getting ready for the auction..

Wayne, once again was the auctioneer... he is really funny and does seem to have a way of getting those bids up nice and high...I attempted a few things... but had not luck...

However, there was one item that I was pretty sure of ... and actually have been looking for.... a doggie cot!!! Since we changed the living around the doggies don't have anything to "get up on" and I thought a cot would be nice for them. There was one in the auction... I might have paid a little more than it would have costed somewhere else.. but I get to go home with it.. and I know the doggies will love it. So.. success for me.... and the holiday season is in full swing...

small town celebration....

The celebrations have begun... and one of the firsts being the Christmas parade that is always held in the home town. It is such fun to watch the parade line up and gives us a pre view of what we get to see. There's nothing like a small town parade... everyone is welcomed and some of the floats and things that people come up with are really quite wonderful Reagan is "into" Peanuts now, so he was pretty excited to see this float coming to the line up.

Rudolph  is one of my favorites, so I like this float

We all wanted to see the parade from the town center, so we got all the kids bundled up...Catie and little Bruce getting ready to go...

Reagan, while waiting for the rest of us to get ready, became the official greeter of the street. I was kind of surprised that this chap didn't scare him.... but "he" didn't....

I brought Logan with us.. this is her first parade... and it's a good one to start with. Though she isn't the kind of puppy that will be bothered by any of this. Everyone looks to see "what" dog I will bring...People are used to seeing me with puppies in training, and often they remember puppies of the past and ask how they are doing.... 

I'm impressed with some of the floats.. people go all out... this little gingerbread house was really a good one.

Baby Logan thought the parade was just fine, she really enjoyed all the attention she got!!!! First parade is definitely considered a success...

And the guest of honor... Santa..... 

After the parade it's nice to head back to Kassy and Nate's.... the evening was getting cold, so the fire felt good. Reagan was happy to get warmed up....

We always make this a pot luck affair, and there was plenty of food, friends and good conversation. I have to say, these kinds of things are what Christmas means to me. I just love being all together and having good times like this

Looks like a little boy is getting tired and time for bed... it's been a busy day and evening....

Some cuddle time with Meme and Beepa is a good way to close the day..... 

I'm glad this is just the first of many fun things to do.... because the time goes by much too fast....but I'm doing well keeping with enjoying each and everything

it's going to fly by.....

So, now that December is officially here, I have begun to get ready for the season. Which as I well know, is going to speed by in the blink of an eye. The shelf above the wood stove is a perfect place for my manger set and I love seeing it back there once again.

I'm glad we got that digging project done a few days ago, because sure enough, the weather is beginning to turn and we even got a dusting of snow today. It looks so pretty, I love the first snows..... the house is cozy, the decorations bring a happy feeling ... and I'm happily working on a few Christmas projects.... 

Christmas will be fun with the grands and all the special events that are about to happen... but I am going to take quiet moments to enjoy and think about all the good things that I have been blessed with.