CHRISTMAS is Coming!!

My Santas are DONE!!!

This is the one  I am keeping and then I have one all painted and packed in the truck to take HOME for Christmas! Our family has a tradition! Doesn't EVERY family have at least ONE?

On Christmas morning as many family members as possible gather at my sister's home for breakfast and then we do a Chinese Christmas Tree gift exchange! This is SUCH a fun thing to do and we spend a lot of time and thought on the gifts we take! I have taken different things over the years but for the last several my 'gift' has been a Santa painting. I paint a new one every year - 'NEW'  as in taken from a card or gift box and/or bag - and then painted up on canvas in oils.

I barely finished this one in time!!

As soon as we had our morning coffee yesterday I was out there putting on the final glaze.

My palette had seen better days but it served its purpose until the very end!

I lay out the paint when I start a new picture and then FREEZE it (by placing a palette paper on top, folding it in quarters and placing it in a freezer bag) in between painting sessions.

We spent today in Quadville and I admit it was hard to say goodbye to these precious babies!!

We realize what a blessing it is to be a part of their lives - especially since we have been there for them from 'the beginning!'

Louis Dean was determined to spend some 'Quality Time' with each one of the babies today - 

knowing it will be nearly a week before he holds them again.

Little Logan - who SMILES as big as she can every single time you say 'PRETTY!' - is usually most comfortable sitting BESIDE her Granddad where she can see what is going on.

However......Louis Dean has convinced her to be a 'Shoulder Baby' as well!!

He does have a way with these quads!!

He held them all during the course of this day! For EXTENDED lengths of time!!

SH! Don't tell Amber how much we spoil the babies!!!

How can we RESIST??

In between feedings, diaper changes, laundry and tummy time I wrapped presents, made Popcorn Crunch....

.....and worked on the quads Christmas gift!

A denim play mat for their tummy time.

All I have left to do on it is the 'quilting.' I will 'stitch in the ditch' along the denim squares.

I will do my best to get this done in time for Christmas!

Harrison and I had a BALL today as I made some weird mouth 'music/noise' and he laughed and laughed until he had TEARS!!! And so did I!!! We had so much fun together!

I usually put the TV on to the 'Toddler Tunes' and then sing/dance/entertain them.

Sometimes it works - and sometimes I am a total DUD!!

The thrill of it all!!! You never know when you will be a STAR in their eyes!

As I write - Louis Dean AND Lucy are both sound asleep - AND SNORING!!

The truck is all packed, the camper is clean and everything on our 'To Do' list has been DONE!!!

All that's left is for me to pack up my laptop and turn in myself.

3:30 am comes early!

He wants to be on the road by 4:00!

That's fine with me because I will be snuggled up in the back seat!

I promised him we can stop for breakfast at Sam's Cafe  in Fairfield, Texas.

They have a buffet Louis Dean dearly loves!!!

It will make a nice break in the drive home since it is half way or so!

And I AM anxious to get 'home.'

I want to see my other four grandchildren and my oldest two children.

AND my MOTHER and SISTER!

It's a wonderful thing to be able to live in TWO worlds!

I am so grateful God has worked out all the details of our lives that we can DO this!!

And by the way!! Have you noticed my new Christmas Blog look??

Part of it I did MYSELF!!

The header my talented daughter, Amber, did FOR me!!

She is a professional writer and you can check out her blog - which includes a tidbit where the quads were mentioned in Houston Modern Luxury where she was a senior editor before quads 'BQ' and is now a freelance writer and a regular contributor editor HERE!!!

I guess it's time for me to sign off and go to sleep!!

Catch you all later!!!