the children are nestled all snug in their beds.......Have a blessed Christmas!

As I write, the children are still up and playing Rock Band 2....er....at least their parents are! We are enjoying the festive time with them.....today for breakfast we made doughnuts.... and they kept out a few doughnut holes for Santa. Then DS1 made Turkey Gumbo for supper...while the Professor made his enchiladas for tomorrows Mexican fiesta dinner. DD is en route with her family and mom in law....so we will have a full house for the next couple of days. I wish I could say we have finished everything I had planned...but no... I still have a Christmas gift to hem... and will need to wrap all for the kids. But not too worry.... my pies are baked...and candy and the house smells good. Wish you all a joyful Christmas....I will try to blog this after the kids have been put on their pallets for the evening. So I can post at least one picture.

(DD and her hubby as the elf and his reindeer)

Okay we have had some silly traditions In our home...but ever since I was a kid, we always received Christmas eve pajamas...and of course , it all started when my parents were gifted with a movie camera.... My mom was so proud of it...she immediately began photo-ing...the family on Christmas morning. Now we had about 9 kids at the time...I think I was about 10. And we waited for the film to be developed....and my folks purchased a projector...I think we even popped popcorn to watch our home movies! My mother was horrified after the first 3 minute reel....to see girls in boys pajamas..and vise versa, and some missing bottoms...and a patch here and there...so she made a decision that every Christmas we would get new pajamas on Christmas eve so there would be no more ruined home movies. Unfortunately we discovered the next Christmas that some of the bedwetters.... would have to wait until the morning to put theirs on! And a tradition is born. OVer the years.... my own family adopted this tradition...and we began to collect the odd Christmas hat.... or two...and before we knew it... we now have a rubbermaid tub full of hats...which everyone rummages through to decide which hat will be perfect for that particular Christmas. It changes every year and as the grandkids have emerged onto the scene...we now let each choose for themself....the kids always have to see who can go through the tub first in order to get the best pick ..... had to share the extended family hat photos!

Our designer ....in her bobblety hat......

And Pobbs and Elisiepie styling for the camera.....

right:Ryno, The Wee ONe and the other grandma, and DS in law

left: DS1 and Pobbs in yet another of his hat choices

. DS had to sport his College Alma mater hat...but then so did the Professor.The children decorated crowns to wear at Christmas breakfast.... and also note that DS has on his very own Nelson Mandela bar bQ apron. That was a hit from our Africa stash stuff. I had to prove that I was so good I didn't even open my gift for the SSCS swap early...and have documented the fact pictorially. I can only say that I was blown away by my swap partner. Those pictures will be posted in the next couple of days. Lynn from Australia was my partnet...and I was truly gifted way beyond my expectations! Will post, when company is all gone. We had 11 people in the house...and it was wonderful!!!! It will be hard to go back to just us..... again. When everyone leaves. It has been such a fun time. The grandkids woke us up about 5:15 AM and by 8 we had eaten breakfast and the kids were all playing happily. The grandbabies all had matching Pajamas this year...and all the girls had team shirts and the guys matching ones as well....a bit cheesy...but again lots of fun. I trust you all had a blessed Holiday with loads of fun. I did get a bit of sewing in...finished a quilt top that my daughter did... forgot to photograph.???? and a dear little table topper...then worked on DDin laws quilt....she did one of her own on the machine...and so enjoyed the process. Have a few more to get to, and more churning away in my head! Its almost new years...and I'd really like to knock out a few more UFO's. More ...later.... maybe much later!

Little Rabbits.... Las Noches de las Luminarias and a luittle finished quilt.....

I finished this sweet paper doll quilt for a friend. It turned out cute. I must admit I could hardly wait to start it...as the colors just spoke to me. There are hidden pockets to hold the clothes.... located around the quilt.






Then these wonderful glass sculptures.....

My sister and I took one night off from working...and went to see Las Noches de las Luminarias..... at the Sybill Harrington Botanical Gardens. It was such a treat....all the luminaries lit up the cactus grounds and they had spotlighted Glass sculptures .... live music. If you ever get a chance to go.... absolutely wonderful.

While staying in Phoenix this past week.... at a Marriott hotel...I found out that these little rabbits used to live on the land...so when the hotel was finished being built....they returned. They are all over the place...and very cute. This little boy was so intent on sneaking up on them..... but they let him get super close before hopping away. My family is coming...soon....as in 2 days.... yippee. So may not get much done before then. Still have a little baking to get done. Hope you all have a blessed Christmas. I sure am blessed being able to spend it with the family who is going to be able to come. I have been oh so good...and not opened my gift.....from Australia.... for the SSCS swap....but every time I walk past the tree I have to stop and think of the wonderful lady who sent it to me.

When life gives you scraps.... you make orphans! Orphans complete....so two more 2 Ufo's too!

I am off to Phoenix tomorrow, to work for my sister at a conference out there...no time to play, but with lots of sitting in airports...I decided to take some orphan strips..... the messy pile in the top photo, and began sewing them together similar to the many fat quarter lap quilts I have seen. But I had a few extra squares...so they became a little block strip near the outer border....but still had more strips....so made another lap quilt. These together are about the size of a queen...and I did have two names in our family exchange...so they are off to Pennsylvania for the Family Christmas party. I will be spending my time in the airports wisely sewing down the bindings. I am so pleased.... two Orphan UFO's..... kind of like a two for one! HAd to include a photo or two of the Princess and the Wee One from Thanksgiving..... we did so have a good time...but I forgot to have backup power..for my camera and missed some good shots! And My SSCS swap has been received in the Netherlands.... so here is what she will be opening on Christmas Day. All the little goodies are inside this huge stocking.... can't share the contents until after Christmas. Don't you love the cool wood carved bowl from Africa in the background? I keep Bread or fruit in it...depending on the need at the moment. And the candy thermometer I use to make Christmas candy....in this case ....Pralines. Yummmy. Still have some baking to do...but almost caught up with where I wanted to be at this time. The professor and I put up our outside lights ...all our little iron trees...and the blowup snowman. So I feel like that is complete...except for the greenery lining the driveway. The Professor says we need to put some lights in the back yard...for the kids.... we will have 4 of our grandkids here for Christmas. Good times ahead. Hope you all had a great weekend...and a good week to come.

These are a few of my favorite things..... last Christmas in South Africa

I had to share a picture of a little girls baby quilt, I just did for one of the local girls.It is hard to see the water stipple behind the turtles, which she had already hand quilted. Then added a little flower border. It surely is a sweet little quilt.

As I began to decorate the outside of the house...just the front porch so far.... I began to ponder....on what things I enjoyed putting out year after year...and why some things stayed in the boxes.... year after year. I guess it is that some have stronger memories about some things than others. As I put up the tree ornamnents....and for years I have traditionally used shaped ornaments.... some from my folks tree, others I discovered at thrift stores..or after Christmas sales. Some of these have absolutely no value...except in my memories..of the kids hanging them up...or the walnut shaped ones that we found still in the Neiman Marcus box..at the Goodwill store..which my youngest had called Neiman Marcus, ( we kind of taught him that so he wouldn't blurt out we had bought his older siblings something at Goodwill... so he just always said it came from Neiman's...the little guy was too young to read!) Or the Waterford ornaments I bought to remember my trip to Ireland, or the bowling mouse, my oldest chose as his ornament one year to buy for the Christmas tree. I just can 't seem to let them stay in the box. It certainly has been fun taking them out of their boxes... as this is the first time in 4 Christmases we had our own things to hang on the tree. I am so looking forward to having the children and Grandkids here, good times are ahead. ONe of the

traditions that began several years ago...were the "Ball Wars". I had purchased DS 1's College alma mater Christmas ornament...and also had DH and DD's alma mater. Well the kids came home...and suddenly the balls began to move around the tree. Every time someone walked through the living room, they would shift their alma maters ball to the top and shift all others down below. We need to add two new balls this year...but DD has suggesested, we go by BCS rankings...so her school will be on top! We'll see when they all arrive what happens! I had to post this photo of me sitting in a taxi in South Africa, this was a bakki taxi, basically a little pickup with seating for four or more in the back of the camper part. I rode through the parking lot with these lovely ladies. That is what I was doing in South Africa last Christmas! Had to include a front picture of the vehicle...for your enjoyment. Note the wire holding the hood shut! Good times. Happy sewing to you. I have another quilt to get out tomorrow, and one to finish before I go to Phoenix next week. I get to work with my sister at a Conference...so it should be fun. Have a good one. Hope to post again before I fly out.