Happy Birthday, Dear Amy ~Best Wishes for a Wonderful Day

Birthday Cheers to our First Born Daughter, Amy.

We wish you a coming year of love, happiness, health, and prosperity.

Today is a special day, indeed.

This day, her birthday, made us parents,

a role that not everyone is lucky enough to fulfill.

You had quite a year of adventure,

and we were honored to be a part of it...

whether in person,

or catching glimpses from a distance.

You have gracefully worn may hats...

wife and mother, daughter and sister, 

friend, coworker, and neighbor.

I am sharing a collection of photos

that I have saved over the year.

So long for now...can’t wait to see you again.

Have a great Birthday

and an awesome year ahead.

Take care,

~Mom and Dad

Was Santa Good to You? My Family and Friends, They Spoil Me

It is time to pack away the last of our Christmas Decor

and find the perfect spot for our Gifts.

I so appreciate that my family and friends

spent time and effort to select something just for me.

This new Santa came all the way from a

Bedford Fields Boutique in New Hampshire to join the

Santa Smoker that traveled from the Christmas Markets in Germany,

and the Santa that traveled from Okinawa.

They do make a good looking trio.

The first package that arrived at our door was a box,

with two pots of soil, covered with the Spanish Moss.

With water, sunshine, and some tender loving care,

Amaryllis leaves and buds started to appear.

Now a month later, there are three buds

with the tallest being 20 inches!

I’ll for sure show you when the Amaryllis starts to bloom.

For the Kitchen, these items are a great addition.

You all know how much I love to cook.

In that fancyflours package...this adorable gnome cookie cutter.

This box of rubs and spices was under the tree for hubby,

but I know I’ll also enjoy some delicious dinners

when hubby can get out to the grill.

More favorites...the coffee flavored candies from Okinawa,

and a coffee scented candle.

The Soy Candle is in a coffee mug...cute idea, right?

And I love this pillow to lighten up the couch in the living room.

Also for our home, a welcome mat,

with interchangeable inserts for different seasons.

It will be great to catch the sawdust when

hubby comes into the house from the wood shop.

And now for a little pampering...

a gift certificate to treat myself to a spring pedicure. 

A cozy sweater to get me through

the remaining chilly months of winter.

And this sweet top...comfy cotton adorned with such pretty lace.

To complete the ensemble, this bracelet ties the look all together.

You can see I am a very lucky woman.

However, the best gift of all was being able to spend time

with our family and friends during the holiday season.

Thank you, everyone, for making me feel so special.

Take care,

~Natalie

The Most Wonderful Time of Year ~Christmas 2019 ~Now a Memory ~Here’s the Rest of the Story

My digital album is filled with random photos

of the time we all spent together this past Christmas.

It was short...but oh, so sweet.

Remember the photo of great grandma sitting

in her living room while the younger generation prepared dinner?

She was actually watching Jack play with my hubby’s old toy cars.

And what was happening on the home front

when Jack was napping?

Jake wanted to try his hand at wood turning.

Hubby was pleased to take on the role of instructor.

In fact, the guys spent quite a bit of time in the man cave...

This was probably the best $20 Hubby spent at Menards

when we were prepping for the holidays.

The family bundled up to enjoy time outside.

I’m not sure who had more fun...little Jack or the “big kids”?!

And then, there was this.

When you live in the Midwest you take the

Winter Storm Warnings seriously.

They had no choice but to pack up

a day early and get on the road.

Just like that, the house was quiet again.

However, we are still loving the memories

we created during Christmas Break 2019.

Take care,

~Natalie

It’s the Most Wonderful Time of Year ~Christmas 2019 ~Now a Memory ~My Christmas Day Report

Christmas Morning...

The first time we had all been together for a year and a half.

We had a wonderful time catching up.

When Hubby went out to the airport

to meet the late flight on Christmas Eve,

Amy kept me company as

I prepared an overnight coffee cake.

When it was baking, we all checked

our stockings to see what Santa brought,

and then had a light breakfast.

We needed to save room for our traditional family

Christmas meal at Great Grandma’s House.

When someone is 90 years old,

it is okay to relax and just be the hostess

while your family does all the work!

My sister-in-law was there early

to take charge of the preparations.

And then, when we arrived, I made the gravy,

Emily and Jake mashed the potatoes,

and Hubby carved the Roast.

Great Grandma really enjoyed her company.

Her table was lovely...She used her best China.

Our family gifted her with this Winter Centerpiece.

Great Grandma lives a short walk from

one of the only sledding hills in town.

We all had fun being outside and working off

some of those extra holiday calories,

and breathing in some of that cool, crisp air!

I hope you all enjoyed plenty of good food

and some outdoor activities with your family and friends.

Take care,

~Natalie

It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year ~Christmas 2019 ~Where the Week Went ~Planning and Prepping

As I clean and organize the bedrooms & family room

I occasionally come across a few treasures...

like this precious photo.

This was what our Christmas looked like 26 years ago.

No, we women did not send out a memo to wear green,

And yes, our daughters are wearing matching,

home-sewn, Christmas Pantsuits.

I can’t wait to all be together again this Christmas!

While my days have been spent enjoying holiday preparations,

we do take a break to watch some Bison Football.

(I have yet to master the art of taking a bathroom selfie)

We all get into the Bison Football Spirit here.

My grocery list was so long it filled a legal pad.

I could not figure out why the supermarket was so busy...

and then I turned the corner into the liquor department.

It was their monthly Wine Sale, complete with samples!

I also enjoyed a little pampering for the holidays.

Thank you, Diane, for making me look young again!

This is why we are referred to as The Hub City.

A freight train is a frequent reminder to stop and just breathe.

This photo was in my Facebook Memories.

It is the last time I celebrated Christmas with my mom.

We had traveled to visit her at the Assisted Living Facility.

We brought a gift and some sweet treats.

She loved looking at the photos on my laptop

and I showed her how to take a selfie.

This photo, also in my Memories, is our old Farmhouse...

you remember that it was surrounded by water, but

we were able to drive out there over the ice.

This is before the vandals shot out all the windows

and broke in to steal precious family possessions.

While my Bison Tshirt is my Saturday attire,

this Tshirt is appropriate every..other..day..of the week.

Hallmark Christmas Movies do help

to make the Season Bright.

I have also been having some fun in the kitchen.

I made a big roaster full of Party Mix

for those that like a Salty Snack.

And a big roaster full of Homemade Granola

for those that like a Healthy Sweet Snack.

There are a few more tasks on my ToDo List,

but Hubby and I are enjoying planning and preparing

to have our family all together...

in just a couple of days!

Merry Christmas, everyone.

Take care,

~Natalie