Quilt

James's aunt Toots is big int quilting and asked my mother in law if I'd be interested in a quilt for Ryan. Marge said she wasn't sure but when she asked me, my answer was "OF COURSE!" I don't care how many blankets I have, there is nothing like a handmade blanket! I'm actually using one that Marge made for James years and years ago and LOVE it. Anyway, she got the quilt finished and mailed it to us; I just have to show you all! She had enough scraps left over that she even quilted a pillow sham to match!! I was so excited to get it! Literally brought tears to my eyes! She used green with multi colored dots as the background, different colors of brown and then she picked fabric that respresented "us"; baseball - I love baseball and she has a grandson that plays minor league ball that they travel around watching, dogs - this one doesn't need any explaination, sand/sand castles - they live in Florida and safari animals - those are my favorites and our living room is decorated with elephants, zebras, elephants. I love how much thought, effort and LOVE was put into this quilt!

It's beginning to look a LOT like Christmas...

James and I have now finished 'decking the halls' and putting all of our Christmas stuff out in the house. I'm so excited about it! I was out of town last year so we didn't put a tree up and the closer it got to Christmas, the more depressed I got not having a tree up. We went all out this year; 2 trees in the living room! I don't have pictures of all of the decorations but I took pics of the main things and thought I'd share. (The picture of the nativity is one of James's - he managed to get one of the blue LED lights pointed right on the baby Jesus and it made such a cool effect!) Also, James kind of likes nutcrackers...

Keegan's 18th Birthday!

Ok, so as if it wasn't hard enough for me to accept that Hannah turned 16 in October, now her brother goes and turns 18 (on December 9th)! What in the heck are these kids thinking? A better question is: Where does the time go?? I seriously remember the day that he was born! - we'd waited so long for him; those were the longest 9 months of our lives, I think! He is stubborn and bull-headed but I LOVE the person that he has become! His momma has done an excellent job! Happy Birthday, Keeg!!

I found the idea for this card in a magazine from the UK (http://www.originpublishing.co.uk/magazine.asp?id=24)called Beautiful Cards. I LOVE this magazine. I'd like to take credit for this one, but, well, I can't. Marge stepped in to make the pocket for me and before I knew it, she had the whole card finished! =) Isn't it adorable?! In case you can't tell, it is a gift card holder too! Love it! Keegan is into Japanese culture, so James and I spent time looking on the internet for the perfect "Engrish" message to put inside the card and this is what we came up with: "It is in the giving of a birthday to a year you become one year older. Happy Birthday of you!" He will love it =)