Done.....I think

The presents are wrapped and under the tree............I love bows!!! They make the package....big loopy bows!!!
Sadly, I ran out of white icing, so yellow will have to do...........they will still taste great!
T. loves homemade fudge and last year I was determined to learn how to make the old fashioned kind.............only made one batch this year as he is wrestling and doesn't need to be too tempted.
E. and J. requested the cake balls...............fun to make...........really!
These jam prints are requested by all our friends....will take them to Christmas Eve dinner.....
J. and T. fussing over who gets to lick the cake bowl...................
Making cake balls..................


Dancing to Christmas music in the kitchen.................

COLD!!!

You can't see or hear the wind in these pine trees, but believe me it's a great sound. We ran the trail this morning and it was 18 degrees, but the wind chill made it feel like 10 below..........very cold for here............J helped me clean house afterwards and then we went and rented tons of movies...........we attempted to go to Barnes and Noble, but it was too crazy to even drive there so we will hit it up early in the morning. E. stopped in to change clothes and then back out again.........first time she has been home in 3 days...............I told her she had to sleep in her own bed tonight.

Ornaments

All the ornaments have meaning on our tree..........this one is obvious!
Each year I give the kids an ornament...............E. has always wanted an old pick up, plus it reminds us of Grandpa Sanders......
I got this ornament at one of my wedding showers............E. wants it when she grows up.
Cowboy boots and star fish reflect some of our summer trips.............
My Uncle in Texas gave us this Texas styled star for the top of our tree.....
The number 6 Lacrosse player in our house put his ornament at the top of the tree.....to rule all the other ornaments.............


There is sunshine coming in on the porch............who cares if it is 30 some odd degrees........we haven't seen sun in weeks!!!!

QUIET!!!!

The boys all went to the UVA Basketball game and Em is in her room with a friend...........you would never know they are home except for a few giggles here and there...............It is amazing how much room and air and space the boys take up!!!!!! They fill the whole house with energy and noise and television sounds...........always television sounds..............and eating........constant eating..........I love them all, but really enjoy when they are all away......getting out their energy......I can hear the rain outside, a few birds and my wind chimes............I am going to go take a bath and NOBODY will charge in needing something................I am going to have a thought in my head and not lose it or have it interrupted.................I will get ready for a Christmas party in peace!!!! It's just down the street...........maybe I'll go and then sneak back home for an hour alone.........there will be tons of people and nobody will notice......Before Chris left he did make the concoctions above..........with 5 sticks of butter..............I made fudge this morning for T. and Christmas cookies yesterday...........we are starting the food fest!!

Home and Recovering

I posted about my sweet friend Susan and her cancer surgery and then found this picture today of us a few years ago at a Brad Paisley concert with our girls..............got an email update today from Susan and she is home, sore, but glad to be there.

It's Official!

T's letter came today from VMI................he has an "offer of appointment".......

Happy News!

My sweet friend Susan has breast cancer. Today she went in for a double mastectomy. We prayed together on Monday and we cried too. Her youngest son has downs syndrome, but the oldest two know exactly what is going on. I haven't been right since we got the news.....Her daughter Emmaline is a senior and I adore that child like you can't believe. I have really hurt for her and Susan and just the unknown. Emmaline just called me and the surgery went well and the lymph nodes are negative!!! I am so happy! Now I feel like I can celebrate Christmas!