Yikes!

So last night I put on a pair of jeans I hadn't worn since before Christmas. Yikes! They're really tight! How can that happen in just a week or two? UGH!!! Ok. So now to avoid the cookies and candy and pies and all this other stuff! My mother-in-law arrived here in Ohio yesterday with her car loaded with goodies. I guess since she didn't have any of the kids or grandkids at her house in PA, she spent all her time baking! Oh, boy. So I'll start my chant: I will not gain any more weight! I will not gain any more weight! I will not gain any more weight!

And starting Jan. 2nd, my new chant will be: I will lose weight! I will lose weight! I will lose weight!

Ok, off to eat more junk . . . dum de dum dum . . .

We made it!

We made the trip to Ohio in 16 1/2 hours (not the planned 14 hours but close!). So now we are in northeast Ohio and it's snowing like crazy! My sweet 2 year old granddaughter keeps wanting to go outside. So we go out for a few minutes and come back in to warm up. But she wants to go right back out. It's too cute!

So far I've learned a couple of things since we left Mississippi yesterday:
1. If I had half the determination to stay away from food that a 2 year old can have to keep from going to sleep, I'd never have to diet.
2. In the time it takes one grammy to put on a pair of pants, a 2 year old can inspect everything on the bathroom counter, empty out a suitcase, and throw Dora in the toilet! Amazing!

But I'm having great fun enjoying her. (And, yes, Brittney I'm making sure she eats healthy food.) Of course, she also has to eat a few of great grandma's cookies, too.

Anyway, I have pictures to post of some journals I made for Christmas presents but since my sis-in-law doesn't have wireless, I haven't managed to get my laptop hooked up to her internet yet. So that may have to wait till I get back home.

Hope everyone had a blessed Christmas!

Our family

This is a little blurry but getting this many people still at one time is no small feat! On the left is our oldest daughter, Andrea, her husband, Paul and their son, Gavin. Then me in the front. Behind me are Liz and Lee, our oldest son and his girlfriend. To the right of me is our daughter, Brittney and her little girl, Jolie, her husband, Aaron is behind her. On the right in front is our youngest, Crystal and behind her, my husband, Richard. We're missing our middle child (and youngest son), Nathan and his wife, Candace. Maybe next year we can get them all there! 

 

Brittney, Jolie, and Aaron

Liz and Lee

Paul, Gavin, and Andrea

It's here!

Wow, what a great evening with family, presents, and tons of food! We had a wonderful time at my parent's house eating chili and lots of other goodies! Then the chaos begins - opening presents! Four of our children were there, our oldest, Andrea and her husband and their son, Gavin; our oldest son, Lee and his girlfriend; our daughter, Brittney and her husband and their daughter, Jolie; and our youngest, Crystal. And that's just our kids! Then there was my brother and his wife and five kids. And my sister and her husband were there, also. PLUS Mom and Dad. That's LOTS of people in one room opening presents at one time! What fun! It was awesome. There is nothing sweeter in the world than having a sweet little grandson and granddaughter give you hugs and kisses and say, "Meh Ki-mah!" (That's Jolie's translation for "merry Christmas". Gavin's is definitely more clear, but just as sweet!)

So, hope you all have a blessed holiday. I know many of us are struggling with economic difficulty. But I know that no matter what happens, my Lord is still on His throne and still interceding for me with the Father. I can come boldly before Him and make my petitions, my difficulties, my challenges, my sorrows, my needs known. And He listens. And He loves. And He answers! God bless and Merry Christmas!

2 Days to Christmas!

Tomorrow is Christmas Eve! We had a really busy day Sunday with the childrens' musical at church in the morning, Jolie's birthday party Sun afternoon (my adorable granddaughter) and the adult program Sun night at church! Mon. I ran errands and bought the last of the Christmas groceries and a few little happies. Tue. I did laundry and started cooking for Christmas and went to my dear friend, Beth's house to visit with her family for a while. So today is my marathon day! I'm wrapping everything and finishing a couple of little projects for my kiddos and finishing the baking. I'm always running around like a crazy woman on Christmas Eve trying to finish everything. (No comments, please!) So I've purposefully planned to NOT  be busy Thursday. We'll see what happens! LOL!

Yikes! It's almost here!

Wow, Christmas is only a week away! Baking and shopping and planning! Oh, my! And I'm also planning for January kits and pages and cards - oh, I'm tired now!

So anyway, if you are interested in giving any input to what you would love to see in a card, page, or album kit, let me know! Looking for ideas - to go with all those other ideas that are keeping me awake at night! Heehee!

So, anyway . . . here's a card I have in my etsy shop. It's from a Martha Stewart kit. These turn out absolutely beautiful! But just a word about the kits - the pictures don't always match up with what comes in them. (I think it was the bird kits that didn't match.) So if you are anal and your project has to match the picture - don't buy these card kits! Just sayin' . . .

CRAZY DAY!

Wow! What a busy, crazy day! But, with the exception of the one gift that didn't come in, lamb gifts are all bought, bagged, tagged, and delivered!  Woohoo! So tomorrow is full of getting orders filled and baking sweet granddaughter's birthday cake for party on Sunday. She will be terrific two!  And she wants a Mickey Mouse cake! Well, her mom wants her to have a Mickey Mouse cake. Guess that qualifies!

But for now, gotta get some shut eye! Toodles!

To-do-list!

Baby it's cold outside! And I have managed to sit here till almost noon on the computer! AAHHHHH! I have too much to do to be sitting here.

Ok, so here is my to-do list for today:

• Laundry done! (if you consider one load started and one load in dryer 'done') lol!
• Work on orders I have to fill by this weekend - half done!
  
• Pick up my parents when they get back in town - didn't have to do (woohoo!)
• List more in etsy shop - done!
• Figure out what I still need to buy for Christmas - too depressing. Definitely not done!
• More laundry (does it ever end?)
• Get Christmas cards done (why do always procrastinate on this one?)
• Figure out how I'm going to deliver all the lamb gifts to the Wingard home while my car is still in the shop! (ugh) - DONE!!!

Ok. So getting off of here and getting after this list!

Etsy shop

Hey, I finally have some items listed in my Etsy shop! I'll be listing more over the next few days!
Check it out!  http://www.etsy.com/shop/matildyjanedesigns

Today was a great day at the Belhaven Market. Then hubby, youngest dear daughter, and I went to a Christmas party. Los Papis played featuring the most awesome keyboard player ever - my sweet hubby! It was an interesting night. Elvis, Michael Jackson, and Jesus all in the same room! Elvis, also known as Shea Arender, was the host of this party. Michael, also known as Emilio (?not sure of spelling), was a guest. And Jesus is the really cool bongo player with Los Papis. Now, to bed so I can wake up in time to get to church in the morning!

Mini Journals

Pics of some mini journals I altered this week.

Betty's Gourmet Delights by BettysGourmetDelight on Etsy

Betty's Gourmet Delights by BettysGourmetDelight on Etsy: "BettysGourmetDelight.etsy.com"

The best homemade pepper jelly I've ever had! YUM!!! And my daughter LOVES her salsa!

12 tags

I'm loving these Tim Holtz tags!  And learning some new techniques, too!  Can't wait to try them!

Christmas Tree Book

This is the little Christmas tree book I made last week.  Had fits trying to get these pics uploaded!  As usual, the pics are all clickable if you want a larger view! Thanks for looking!

Santa Hat book

This is the little Santa Hat book I made this week.  All of the brims and the ball at the end of the hat are covered in white felt. I added bells to some pages and each page has a different ribbon or fiber around the brim and the ball. Really turned out cute!  The pictures are all clickable for a bigger view!

Market This Sat!

Hey! I will be at the market this Sat from 8:00-2:00. Come see me! I have a couple of really cute new shaped books. Haven't gotten the pics made yet but plan to get them done and post them tomorrow. One is a Santa hat shape. The other is a Christmas tree shape. Would love feedback when I get the pics posted!

Here is the link to the market bulletin with all the vendors that will be there!  It's gonna be packed!
http://www.greaterbelhaven.com/themarket/WhatsFresh_000.php