Snow Storm, etc.

Mid-morning Christmas day it started snowing and we ended up with about 5 inches of snow.  It was beautiful, cold and windy and we just hibernated most of the weekend.  We had a wonderful Christmas with Amy and Sophie and loved Sophie's first Christmas.  Our son and his family didn't make it down though and the weather kept us from going there, so we are still waiting to have Christmas with them.

This is Sophie's first sled ride.  She loved the snow as long as she didn't have to get in it or get it on her!

Christmas morning......

Serving tea to Pooh at her new table and chairs

 Helping granddaddy (with Santa's help) put together the race track.

 I love my Dora bag!

More tea!

She didn't know what to make of opening gifts at first, but learned quickly!

We're anxiously now awaiting the second round with the other granddaughters!

I don't think I ever posted pictures of the finished Bella's Mittens - they are a gift, but haven't been given yet.

 I love the long mittens, so warm. Since I had a little extra time and and a little extra yarn, I found a pattern for a warm headband/ earwarmer and finished this to add to the mittens. It was a quick knit but turned out cute.

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas, a nice relaxing week, and then a Happy New Year!

Merry Christmas Eve

This has been a blessed year for our family.  My son's ship returned last night after a six month cruise safe and sound and we hope to see he and his family soon (we were hoping for Christmas, but the Navy didn't cooperate!)  We are just grateful he is home and with his wife and children!  We miss them, but hopefully will see them soon.

And... you know about this little angel Amy received this year. 

August 16th, 2010. China.

December 24, 2010, Virginia

We are so thankful she is home, celebrating her first Christmas and learning about the baby Jesus.  As an adoptive mother myself, adoption is near and dear to my heart and I always had a soft heart for the orphan, but after going to China, meeting Sophie and all the other beautiful children in our travel group, my heart just breaks for all the children still over there and in many other countries, needing a home and a family.  For all the families still waiting for their referral and for all the children so desperately needing to get to you - you are in my thoughts and prayers.

Lots of Firsts

Since Sophie came home in August she is having lots of firsts and it is so fun watching her excitement . First was Halloween and she fell in love with pumpkins.  She had real pumpkins, stuffed pumpkins, books about pumpkins and loved them!  When the Christmas decorating started we didn't know how she would do but  she loves everything - the tree, lights, decorated houses, stores, etc.  Two favorites quickly became snowmen and Santa. I'm sure she had no idea who or what Santa was but loved him on TV, cartoons, pictures, ads, and her stuffed Santa.  Last weekend her Mom asked me to go along to let her see him at the mall.  We had no high expectations that she would ever go sit in his lap.  She is still very wary of strangers and we all know that Santa is just no ordinary stranger!  He is a little intimidating to even the bravest little ones.  She did so great!  She waved at him, didn't cry and was willing to go up to see him, but there is where she drew the line.  She clung to Mama for dear life!  We were really proud of her though and Amy says she might even try again.  We didn't try to force the issue we were so glad just to get a picture with her in the same vicinity as Santa so if she doesn't do it this year that's okay!  She continued to wave at him and be excited everytime we walked back by so it wasn't too traumatizing I guess.

Another first - baking Christmas cookies.  Amy, Jon & I always made Christmas cookies when they were kids, I've made cookies with the other granddaughters and so we have to keep it going with Sophie.  We kept it very simple this year.  I have a Santa face that I usually make but knew that her attention span would be very short and we wanted her to experience as much of the process as possible before we lost her.  Another good first memory!

This week has been a blur!  I had a stomach virus on Tuesday night and missed work Wednesday.  We had snow Thursday and our Christmas luncheon at work was Friday. It was all crazy! I finished the Bella mittens (they are drying) last night.  They were my only Christmas knitting and they were an afterthought so I'm glad I was able to finish them.  (Pictures maybe tomorrow)  I really like these long mittens and might make some more.  I'm finished shopping (except for a couple of things I thought of today), but still have done no wrapping.  I've got to get to that.  I've also got to make a menu and shopping list for food.

Our son Jon is due back from his deployment on Thursday and we're waiting to see when they will be able to come down so times are still a little up in the air, but I want to get ready anyway!  Next weekend is Christmas - can you believe it?

What I have been doing!

My cross-stitching is finished!

 and hung with all the other stockings I've cross-stitched over the years.

 Bella's Mittens are in progress and I'm loving working on these!

Saroyan is still on the needles and has taken somewhat a back seat to the mittens, but I'll get back to it.


 And I've done a little decorating.........

This little guy I fought for yesterday playing dirty Santa at the cookie exchange. Isn't he cute?

This has been a very busy weekend and I can't believe I have to go back to work tomorrow!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

This weekend it feels like the Christmas season began.  Saturday morning was the annual Christmas cookie exchange/brunch/secret Santa that a group of friends has every year.  We have a wonderful brunch then play dirty Santa with presents, then exchange cookies.  We happen to all work together but enjoy this time away from work and it is a great way to get Christmas started.

When I got home I finished decorating the tree and DH got our outside lights up and then we had snow, so ready or not - Christmas is coming!

First Snow

First snow of the year and first snow for Sophie (that we have seen her experience at least).  Yesterday started out as a beautiful winter day, but by early afternoon it had started to snow.  I really thought it would melt as it fell, and it did on the roads but we actually got about an inch of light, wet, fluffy snow.

Sophie started out very tentative, although she had been very interested watching it from the house.  Her mom didn't bring her boots so we didn't venture off the sidewalk, but she loved it.  Maybe next time there will be enough for her first snowman! 

After we came inside, my other granddaughters called from Norfolk and it had started snowing there and they were so excited.  Hope they had enough to enjoy it!

I have to share this - before we went out into the snow, Sophie and I were in our bedroom and she opened a drawer where I have old scarves, gloves, and hats.  She loved it.  She tried on many and settled on these

Her mom says she is an accessories girl!  The top picture shows her touching the snow (which led to going outside).