Christmas at Home..first time in 6 years!

We have been in a strange state for the past few months. We know that another work assignment was coming and we are waiting, and waiting and waiting. So...with Steve having vacation we made a quick decision and decided to fly home for Christmas to spend time with kids, grand kids and parents. Here I am posting some fun times from that 3 week visit. Enjoy!

 We decided one fun thing to do was take the North Polar Express train ride. It is the "Heber Creeper" transformed into a copy of the Polar Express. To prepare I had the grand kids read the book and watch the movie. Next, the kids got to wear their PJ's and then Elves served cookies and hot chocolate and of course Santa boarded the train and gave all the kids a "silver bell". It was really cold so we had to dress for the occasion. Old trains don't have alot of heat. I bought all the grand kids a special Christmas blanket and we all had coats. gloves, hats etc... A very fun evening. The next four pictures are from that event. As well as the above picture.

The next group of photos are from Christmas Day! Christmas morning and then after we got together at Michael's, opened presents and had a nice ham dinner. Wonderful day and time with the family!

Christmas Eve..the stocking were hung by the TV with care...Santa sack and all.

Grandma and Grandpa's stockings

First to go

Grandpa always helping Andrew. He never put him down.

Yep..Tyson's favorite Thomas the Train. Grandma just can't resist getting him Thomas.

Off to Mike's house. Madi all dressed up in the outfit Grandma gave her. She is total girl!

 Grandma decided that with kids ages 5, 4 and 3 that getting them all the same things with just a few special items designed for them individually was the best idea. So, here they all got remote control cars. They also got Leapsters and cameras.

Leapster

 I even found a remote control car for baby Andrew, it was really cute.

Next for the adults, some fun presents and of course CASH. I found these little boxes in Doha that are a secret to open them so Steve and I hid cash in them and said when you get it open you get what's inside.  Below is them trying. Mike was first and unfortunately I did not get his picture. However, once Emily and Ashley saw what was inside they worked harder.

 Brian working at it

 Emily saw what Mike got and was trying hard to get it next

Ash did it... hooray! All I can say is Christmas is better with kids, young and old!

Halloween Fun!

Ok, I know I am behind on blogging and I have Paris pictures and summer family pictures to post but I could not resist being a "bragging grandma" so... indulge me and look at these fun and darling pictures!

 Happy Halloween! 

Holiday Mini Card Exchange

These are my latest creations. I designed them from a new stamp set called "You Are Loved" in the new Holiday Mini catalog. It is a versatile set.Enjoy! 

Fancy Card Swap Hop Goes Simply Soft

Hello stampin' friends!  You have just landed here from Michelle's Great Paper Chase where you saw Marlene Caravello's swap card.  I truly hope you are enjoying seeing cards we swapped at Convention in Salt Lake City.

The rules for the swap I participated in said to feature a new stamp set found in the 2011-2012 Idea Book and Catalog, so I thought I would use a new hostess set called Simply Soft.  If you love flowers you will need to be hosting your own stamp party to earn this set for FREE.  Trust me it's gorgeous.  I paired it with the colors Concord Crush, Wisteria Wonder (a new In Color), Lucky Limeade (another new In Color), Whisper White, and a touch of Chocolate Chip. 

 

The best part about my swap cards is this--my cute husband wanted to help, so he added all the bling.  You should have been there to hear him call out "we need more jewels!"

The time has come for you to continue on the blog and visit Julie B's Stampin' Space.  She is going to share with you something cool.

Happy hoppin', Kaylene

Sewing with SU! Fabric.....

Stampin' Up! is now selling packages of Designer Fabric in the form of three coordinated fat quarter fabrics. The fat quarters are 18 X 27 so larger than most fat quarters. I love it! Here is what I have been up to lately.

Nine patch design



Hot Pads with  the Deck the Halls Fabric



Trivet

Newest Stampin' Up! Stamped Cards

These are the cards I made and submitted for our quarterly card exchange. The set I had to work with is called "Open Sea" in the Summer Mini Catalog. All supplies are Stampin' Up!.

Tables are Turned It's Grandpa's Turn

In most cases, besides summer vacation, sometime during the year, I Grandma, is the one that gets to go home and see the kids and grandkids while Grandpa has to stay and work. However, this time the tables were turned. He had a business trip to Houston so took the opportunity to take a week of vacation and fly to Utah to see the kids and grandkids. It happened to be Easter weekend so they made the most of it. Here are a few of my favorite photos and moments of that weekend! Enjoy!

Grandpa had jet lag and Andrew needed his nap. So cute!

Grandpa with Tyson and Andrew outside in front of the condo. Poor Andrew did not stand a chance with the sun in his eyes.

Easter Morning ready for church. Grandpa with Madi and Max all dressed in their Easter outfits.
Now the fun begins...the Easter Egg Hunt begins.

Madi and Max examing the loot!

Tyson getting just one more egg!

Love this shot! Grandpa with the all the grandkids!

Utah, Grandkids Andrew Baby Blessing

Nothing more tender than a Father after giving his Son a Baby Blessing. Need I say more?!

Andrew just chillin after the baby blessing. We had a small get together after with some snacks and cake he just could not stay awake for "his own party".

Don't you love the arms? This is one of his favorite sleeping positions.

Brian, Tyson, Ashley and Andrew. Offical family photo of the event. This is my version of just the three of them. Hey what did I miss..he awakes! The other grankids....this is the best I could do it is blurred because of movement , non-stop movement may I add. Tyson Here is what the "boys" do...wrestle. And this is what the girl does...pose. This is a reinactment of younger days. Its a family inside joke. When the kids were about 5 and 3 we took an extended family photo in my parents back yard. Mike felt the need to grab Ashley like this for the photo. Years later here it is again! Personally I love it!This is the four generations. My Father, Me, Ashley, Andrew and My Mother Now as a good grandma would do she would try the night before she leaves to get a photo with her grandsons. Somehow the kids did NOT buy into this thought. We try again Tyosn only wanted to show is "Thomas Engine, I believe this is Hero " and Andrew was responding to my voice. So we try again once last time. This is the best we get so we end here!