Cross stitch.

I made these little snowmen ornaments for Jim to give to his guys at work.

I FINALLY finished Jason's wolf for Christmas. I worked on it off and on for 2 years. Jim found an excellent frame and matting for it. If you click on it to enlarge it, it may show the detail better.

Ransom letter

We wanted James to come home for Christmas but he has an aversion to driving. Valerie tried to tempt him to come home by holding some of his gifts hostage. The price was a trip home. I guess we will have to mail the rest to him (or charge him storage-hehehe).

Open house at work

It was hard to get a picture of the llama as it kept wanting to move a lot.
Valerie getting her hand painted (candy cane design) instead of her face.

Jim doing the "child's identification" packet. (fingerprint, pictures, etc. in case a child becomes missing)

There was an open house for the families of WalMart at Jim's place of work (warehouse). We went and got free balloons (standard policy wherever there are kids), door prizes, pizza, donuts, and a petting zoo.

December's Memories

He looks like he is enjoying this way too much!

Jason's Birthday ~ Christmas Eve

Gifts and cash for computer. Of coarse Victoria is not far away. We try to celebrate Jason's birthday early since Christms eve is a bit busy. This year's celebration date was Dec 3rd.

Sheri and Valerie decorated the cake.

Christmas Cookies

These went into the freezer.

These pictures are all backwards--sorry. Valerie and I spent 4 1/2 hours baking cookies the other day including clean up time. :) We've only done this about 3 Christmas seasons. We froze the bulk of them to pull them out as we eat the ones in the cookie bowl.

Doris sampling the end results.Lemon Squares before the powder sugar topping.

We kept a few of each kind out to eat.

Getting ready

Mixing the dough

Finding toys for Victoria

Here Victoria is loving Val's bear.

Toys for Victoria

Since we haven't had little ones around our house for a looooong time, we had to be resourceful. We ran the mouse through the dishwasher so she could chew on it

Valerie's "underwear"

This is the hoop skirt Val made with a sheet and pvc pipe--(or is it pcv???). Any way, it took her and her father long enough to figure how to connect it properly for a skirt.

Funny new face!!!

Victoria has discovered a new face. We think maybe she is feeling her new teeth on the inside of her mouth. She now has 4 of them--teeth, not mouths. Hehehe! It cracks us up every time she does this.

Visiting Grandpa at work

Victoria is giving (see the co-operation) Grandpa a thank you for his help in siding their house--a computer--actually the box description. The gift was at the house waiting for him to get home from work.

Happy Thanksgiving???

Valerie likes to decorate other people, too. Mine is from college. The material was from the Harvest Home material draped around the altar at PVBI. Sis. Anna Smith made the colonial outfit. Jim's jacket is from Dave and Cheryl Sickler's wedding. The wig is Valerie's idea (batting!!) We only wore them for the picture.

Where is my Mommy?

Valerie got a play wig on clearance. Jason thought it would entertain Victoria, but what an expression!

Diamonds in nature

A diamond has formed on the left side of this bucket of rainwater. Cool, huh?

Bowling at James'

Rewarding ourselves after bowling. Jeff and James at the far table. Kristen and Chris Ewing at the middle table. Jim and Valerie at the closest table. Lolly behind the camera. :)
Everyone watching scores...hoping the machine registers more than you just saw fall. Ha. Actually we watched the animated "cartoons" inbetween pin sets.

Valerie watching her latest roll.

James' friends Chris and Kristen Ewing joined us making it even more enjoyable. Chris bowled and his wife cheered him on (and everyone else, too.)

Lolly letting go. Please, not the gutter again. :(

James ready for action. So do the computer games help your aim???

Jeff has his own style.

Chris Ewing waiting the "hit".

James by his car. He is hiding the dent caused by a recent deer hit. (No, he didn't kill the deer.)

Ladies were inside

Traveling buddies carrying on a conversation.

Peeking over the chair.

Checking on the guys and the progress.

Victoria liked walking around with Valerie. Great freedom to explore.

Replacing melted siding

We went over to Jason and Sheri's to help with the siding replacement where the fire had melted it.
Be careful, guys.

Jim and Jason putting siding on and Jeff helping on the ground.

Jeff helping out on the ground.

The ladder was heavy and hard to balance. Jim and Jeff placing it just right.

Jim tearing off the old melted siding.

Part of the rubble they tore off.