Christmas all year long!

   I have always said that I wished Christmas could last all year long. Well, this morning I got so excited when my daughter Lauren came home from work with a car full of beautifully wrapped Christmas packages. Actually they didn't have any thing in them, but they were taking down their displays and Lauren expressed how much I would love to have them ( if they were just going to throw them anyway ), since I keep my Christmas decorations up till at least the middle of January. They just thought it was funny but not me, I was so excited. You should see the tree now, it doesn't look bare at all! The only down side was trying to explain them to my 4 year old granddaughter. She just kept saying "Nana, what's in those presents?" We went downstairs and wrapped package for Lauren's birthday and that seemed to take her mind off of it! They are just decorations! 
Two reasons why I leave Christmas up that long, first is Lauren's birthday is in January and she has always asked that we would keep them up for her party. The second reason is...no one really wants to take it all down so...I don't complain. It kind of helps me to work on my Christmas presents for next year.
   The book that some dear friends sent me this Christmas, goes right along with my theme tonight, it is called ...SNOWMEN ALL YEAR by Caralyn and Mark Buehner. It was such a cute children's book, and I am glad to know, that I am not the only one who would like the season to last all year long! :) 

"Christmas - that magic blanket that wraps itself about us, that something so intangible that it is like a fragrance.  It may weave a spell of nostalgia.  Christmas may be a day of feasting, or of prayer, but always it will be a day of remembrance - a day in which we think of everything we have ever loved. " ~Augusta E. Rundel

"Whatever you believe with feeling becomes your reality."  ~ Brian Tracy

"I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year." - Copy to Clipboard
  --  Charles Dickens

Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow!

Well, today was a full day of sewing, sewing and sewing! I know exactly how those elves feel at the North Pole! :) I only have the gifts for the girls ( granddaughters ) to go, of course I am creating them first. Not sure why I can't just follow a pattern, but I find it much more challenging, to create something new ...that no one else has ever made! I made a couple of owl purses, some nesting puppies and monsters, plus a baby and blankets and dolls with blankets...not very big, and definitely not expensive... but made with LOTS of love. I will try and get some photos of them up soon.

After dinner we all went to downtown Bellevue, and stood outside to watch SNOWFLAKE LANE. It starts exactly at 7:00 p.m. each evening, and there were a ton of people there. I mean bodies were just smashed all together, everyone trying to see over each other's head. I like people... but that was almost too much for me :). Angie and Jenny, got to sit on Dad and Poppa's shoulders, so they had the best seats in town. First the toy soldiers come walking down the street, playing their drums and dancing. Then the snow starts, or is suppose too. The snow was so lite this year that you had to look hard to find it ( that was disappointing ). Then there were Sugar Plum fairies, Rudolph, and even a Christmas Mouse walking around and talking to all the children.
It was just fun, having everyone together, and doing something Christmasy.

So here is my story for the night!
One of my Christmas books that I love is this one...

Here is a brief summary... In the Mitford Snowmen, everyone's favorite characters are filled with holiday spirit. And when a swirling snowfall brings them to Main Street for a snowman building contest, the spirit of competition comes alive as well. Will Father Tim and Uncle Billy's creation win the prize in Mitford's First Annual Snowman Jubilee? Will Percy and J.C. steal the show? And what's that wondrous smell of chocolate in the air? So, come . And let the little town with the big heart bring Christmas joy in this special holiday story.

A few years ago, Hallmark was selling ornaments and gifts that were designed after this book, each year I place my snowman ornament on the tree, I think of this neat little story. Hope you too enjoy it!

"This, the spirit of Christmas, that forever and ever endures. May it leave its richest blessing in the hearts of you and yours."   ~ Unknown

"The best of all gifts around any Christmas tree is the presence of a happy family all wrapped up in each other. "  ~ Burton Hillis