Gifts for the Birthday Girl

Here's the birthday gifts we bought for Autumn this year.

3 chalkware carnival prizes and the sweetest pink metal serving tray,

(I wanted to keep the tray for myself... but I didn't;)

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Have a great weekend, oh yes! I've seen three robins, spring is here!

HO-HO-HO...

The family had a great Christmas. Loads of presents and food... lots of family came over through out the weekend. We celebrated my mom's and sister's birthday on Sunday.

But guess what our best surprise was???

Miss Autumn sporting an engagement ring when she came over and announced their engagement to the family... yes I cried. Kevin surprised Autumn with a ring at 4:30 am on Christmas morning... he was a little excited:)
It's so important to them to get married before grandma gets too sick and can't be there so we're planning a February 13th (their 3rd year- first date anniversary) wedding right here at the house. I know it's not a lot of time, but it's a small gathering of Autumn and Kevin's closest family and friends. We'll figure it all out in time. I'm just tickled pink and over the moon. Autumn and Kevin are such a loving and sweet couple. I wish them all the best! I got a new son-in-law-to-be for Christmas!

Noah rockin' his new headphones.

Autumn and Kevin.

Autumn's vintage cat tray I bought for her on Etsy.

(Okay this is blurry, trying to figure out my new camera from Brad.)
We all got new cameras:)

Caleb sporting his crown from his English cracker:)

Harpo making a hiding out from all the commotion!

The fur babies checking out their stocking from Santa.

Autumn painted me a portrait of my dad... I just love it!

Celebrating our two Christmas birthdays!

Merry Christmas making!

Some cookie art with Autumn and her adorable friend Colleen who loves squirrels just as much as I do!

Cookie art. Of course there are squirrel cookies:)

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The cookies are made... the gifts are wrapped... the stockings are hung... time to relax and have some fun! Let the merry making commence!

Christmas visitors... my handsome nephew Sam (who's going to be a first time dad in June.)

My niece Kari (Sam's big sister) with two of her children Lindey and Jeffery.

English crackers are ready for Christmas morning.

"Oh and what's this Teddy? A little Electric Reindeer cheer for me!

Well... thank you, I'll have some of that tonight."

"What's that Teddy? Oh don't worry, I'll be sure to share!"

Chicago, Chicago...

it's our kind of town?

so many buildings!

Night view from our hotel window.

Well... what can I say?

If you like tons of people, tall buildings, crazy taxi rides, elevators, escalators, twirly doors, ladies with full length fur coats, doormen, expensive stores and restaurants then Chicago is your kind of town. (Brad and I was glad to get back to our capital city where life is a little less hectic.) Let's not forget the insane train station and the freezing wind chill! But I must say the building were amazing and we did have a great time. We went to the John Hancock building with fantastic views and we also visited the Museum of Contemporary Art... with some strange stuff in it. (I'll post more on that another time.)

A beautiful Church ready for Christmas.

See how bundled up this carriage driver is? That's how cold and windy it was... seriously!

I loved this quaint little city park and especially the pigeons!

So many elevators!!!

Red tree in Macy's... the only store we could afford to shop in:)

A random lobster bell ringer.

View from the 94 floor of the John Hancock. Look at those tiny little skyscrapers:)

We sent Noah out to wash the windows... just kidding!

A Little Chicago love for you!

Also I'd like to wish you a Merry Solstice!

Yesterday we had company coming and going for most of the day. Then Brad and I headed out to the mall in the evening to finish our Christmas shopping... in reasonably priced store for goodness sakes! Today is a day of wrapping gifts, baking some cookies and tonight we will light our solstice candle and welcome back the sun!

Weekend trip

We're off on the train to Chicago this weekend. A Christmas present to Noah, Brad and myself. I thought what better gift than great memories of a trip to the big city. I just know Noah will be so excited to see all the sky scrapers. We'll be going to the John Hancock building. Up 94 floors up in 45 seconds... the fastest elevators in the United States! Swimming in the hotel pool for the boys and my favorite part... enjoying all the holiday decorations and lights.

Here's a few photos I've taken in the past few days.

Yes... I'm still feeding squirrels;) It's she cute?!

We're all packed and ready to go so...

have a great weekend and we'll see you next week!

The tree is trimmed...

with new energy saving LED lights:)

I don't know what the cats see in this Santa pillow... but they love to cuddle with it as they dream of their stocking filled with catnip mice and wool felted balls on Christmas morning.

Jasper... what a blessing this cat is... so sweet and cuddly:)

Christmas at the Zoo

Kevin, My sister Deb, me, Noah, Caleb and Brad

Noah and Caleb in the caterpiller ~

This little guy has the sweetest little face and was so soft!

Autumn looking so adorable!

Warming up with the tiger...

The lights were even more fun with the crazy rainbow glasses we bought. It made braving the freezing cold a little more bearable. Hot chocolate at home hit the spot!

Caleb with his rainbow glasses.

Tall Tales and Decking the Halls...

Tall Tales...

Noah's parts in Annie Oakley, Pecos Bill, and John Henry.

Noah with two of his good homeschool friends:)

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A quiet early dinner for me and Brad in an antique train car before the play.

We had the place to ourselves, very nice;)

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Decking the halls...

with Christmas past... old family photos, vintage silver garland, antique brooch on the wreath and a few vintage Christmas kitties.

I swear, I rearranged this mantel 5 times!!!

No tree yet, just a few touches here and there.

Harpo all tuckered out after all this decorating going on!

Quiet Celebrating...

Noah started out the day with a surprise Civil War book sent in the mail from our dear friends Tammy and Kayla. He cuddled with Jasper and showed him the book.

"Miigwetch~ Thank you, Tammy and Kayla!!"

Noah and I celebrated our birthdays in a quiet way today... no big plans made, no cake. Noah didn't want one and I can't eat any. Autumn came over and gave us her usual fabulous presents. Except this year she did something to honor my birthday is a very special way...

Autumn's MOM tattoo, at first I thought it was a rub on but it's not!

What a gift!!!

Musical Squirrels, so cute!

A lovely vintage needlework book.

She also bought me a cute vintage apron and a chalkware like bank.

Noah's gift from Autumn, a vintage Civil War book with old toy soldiers.

The three of went to the Guardian's of GaHoole' movie. Noah loved it... Autumn and I, ehhh not our cup of tea. But it was for Noah. Really beautiful graphics though!

Then we did a little birthday shopping for Noah. He chose the Guardian's of GaHoole' Wii game and some other PlayStation game.

After that we went to Max and Erma's for a nice dinner. Noah and I got an all you can eat ice cream sundae bar for our birthdays. It was a good birthday... oh yes, Brad was at a work and had a code class right after work so he didn't join us. Caleb started a new class today and couldn't miss it.

What we've been up to lately: besides doctor appointments and medical test...

Homeschool classes; Theater, Michigan's Native People, Cells and Microbes, Letterboxing, Fiber Arts, Gym and Archery (not a homeschool class, he does archery on Sat. mornings)

Tomorrow I'm taking my Letterboxing students on a field trip to a nature center and cemetery to hunt for letterboxings. I hope it warms up because it's freezing today!

I'm way behind on reading blogs and hopefully by Saturday or Sunday things will slow down a bit for me so I can catch up with you. Stay warm everyone!

Noah's alpaca wool dying in the sun.