Lori's Giveaway

We interrupt this incredible visit with children and grandchildren (they are sleeping right now......shhhh) to bring you this exciting news.
Lindsay designed my blog, and she designed Lori Holt's blog also.  Lori is a quilt and fabric designer.  I have taken three of her classes, The Comforts of Home, Thanksgiving Dinner and Paperdolls.  I always kept up with my blocks every month, but last year threw me off with the arrivals of four beautiful granddaughters.  I made each one a baby quilt and heirloom blessing gown, and kept up with everything else in life as well. I haven't finished the Paperdoll quilt yet, and can hardly wait to resume working on it again.  It is so gorgeous!! Lori's first fabric line comes out in April and I am saving my money to buy a whole bunch of it!  
Lori is having a giveaway, just hop on over to her blog http://beeinmybonnetco.blogspot.com 
and grab one of her buttons for your blog.  Lindsay designed that too :) I have her button on the right side bar of my blog, under the family pictures. The giveaway is choosing 3 of her applique patterns.  I already know which ones I would love ♥   
She would love to hear from you and good luck to you and me on the giveaway!

They are almost here!!!!

Lindsay, Jeremy, Bridger, Kennedy and Charlotte are flying high in the sky,  headed for Florida right now, as we speak.  I hope the kids are all sleeping but I bet Lindsay and Jeremy have Charlotte crawling all over them!!!
I worked really hard to make our home as inviting as possible, and fun for the kids....
This is what I did:

 My grandmother's quilt is in place.  It isn't really my grandmother's quilt, that is just what I call it.  It is a peekaboo quilt with embroidered squares.  I made it to snuggle my grandchildren up in.  The qult is backed with chenille, soft enough for the cutest grandchild.

 Toys out but not set up, Sean will do that when he gets home from mutual in a couple of hours.

 Necessities purchased for the guest bathroom.

   New sheets purchased for the guest bedroom (Sean's), and heart shaped Dove chocolates for the pillows. ♥

Kennedy and Bridger's beds set up on the floor, with new pj's and nightgown, and stuffed animals and books.

Car set for Charlotte to take to the airport and take her home in, along with Kennedy and Bridger.  Lindsay and Jeremy will take a shuttle to the car rental agency and the green bag has my GPS.  All they have to do is plug it in and press "Go home".

 Table set for Bridger and Kennedy, with Disney dishes.

Charlotte's high chair and new dishes.

Charlotte's crib set up with a nightgown to match Kennedy's/
Everything is all set, we are leaving for the airport in 5 minutes.  I can hardly wait!
On Friday, my mother is coming to visit for 4 weeks.  We will be celebrating her 80th birthday on Saturday.  On Friday, my father and mother in law are coming to stay with us too.  On Friday, Lindsay's best friend and my "fourth" daughter Lois and her husband Doug are coming to visit too.  We are going to have so much fun.  Neo is being blessed on Sunday.  I sewed the last stitch on her bonnet last night.  Stay tuned for more excitement!!!

Neo

This post is for all of you who haven't met Neo yet.  It is so difficult living far from those you love.  Vanessa saw Neo at Christmas and Lindsay and Jeremy, Grandpa Walt and Glenda, and Grammie Elizabeth will see her in a few days. Rebecca and Dave, and Jordan and Kim haven't been able to see her yet.
I am especially thinking of Africa, namely Lesotho.  Neo's grandfather Cheli, and all of her Uncles and Aunties haven't seen her yet.  Mabulane wants to visit them so badly.  I think of them often........so this is for you, Majubere, Macheli, Moses, Paila and Mantsane, Matea, Bafokeng and Mafelleng, and Thapelo.
This is what Neo looks like, almost as good as in person ♥

Sunny Florida

When I moved to Florida 2 years ago, I really wanted to have a home with an orange tree.  I didn't get my wish, but we do have beautiful tall palm trees instead.  I was at exercise class the other day and my friend and her husband had picked grapefruit off their tree and brought 3 large boxes for people to take.  They had ruby red and white ones.  I took some home and they were so sweet and juicy.  
I have another friend who has a lime tree in her yard.  Limes for their drinks.

Here's a picture of the grapefruit I took home.  Imagine having an avocado tree?  I would be in heaven ♥

Congratulations Sean!

My blog is still under construction......my daughter Lindsay is the designer and engineer of this blog.  Thank you Lindsay, there is nothing like getting a blog facelift ♥ Don't you just love Little Red Riding Hood?  I could just eat her up!!!
Anyway, on to the reason for the post......

As you know from reading this blog and knowing me, that Sean is the Student body President.  El Presidento as my friend Sandi would say!

Now he has been inducted to the National Technical Honor Society.

First he led the group in saying the pledge of allegiance.

 Sean is the secretary of the NTHS, so he was able to light a candle and say one of the attributes.

 I got to pin him!!!!

  Mr. Jimmy Wood read the oath and Sean seconded it.

(don't really know how to word it properly :) )

Mr. Wood goes to our ward with his wife and 3 children. 
 
We are very proud of you Sean, for your many achievements at Marion Technical Institute!  You are sending us off with a bang.
Thank you very much :)

What better way for Sean to end an evening?

WENDY's

test

Testing.....

Neo, isn't she lovely?

Isn't she lovely 

Isn't she wonderful 

Isn't she precious

Isn't she pretty

Truly the angel's best 

Someone bought a brand new car!

Out with the old......

 In with the new....

 Who wants to go for a drive?

 

Christmas Day

This was our first Christmas, apart from our family.  We didn't have any young children for the first time ever, so we slept in until 8:30 a.m.  We opened our stockings, and then opened our gifts one at a time, like we have always done....even without young children.
It was really exciting to have Neo with us, it was her first Christmas....even though she slept through it!  Did I mention that Addison wore that little Santa outfit on his first Christmas, 23 years ago?

 We visited with Rebecca and Maisie on the webcam, Dave was working. 

When we were in Orlando with Vanessa, we were at the Millenia Mall and went to the Lindt store.  Vanessa and I bought 100 chocolate truffles, that came in this cute bag.  100!!!!!  We had so much fun picking out the different flavors, and we (mostly Vanessa and I) ate them all within 4 days!!!  We poured milk into our hot chocolate machine and when it was all foamy, I stirred in 4 truffles. Yummy ♥

Vanessa set the table with my beautiful china.

Ricky made a standing rib roast.  It is so delicious, he has been making it for Christmas dinner for 4 years now.

We try to keep it simple on Christmas day, as compared to Thanksgiving!  Rib roast, fresh green beans with toasted almonds, mashed potatoes, roasted vegetables (beets, parsnips, carrots and brussel sprouts) and rolls.  We had so many truffles that we didn't need to have dessert!  ha ha ha!

We went to the theater and watched the movie "Gulliver's Travels", came home and visited with Jordan, Kim and little Reagan on the webcam.  It was a very nice and enjoyable Christmas with Addison, Mabulane, baby Neo, Vanessa and Sean ♥

Universal, Islands of Adventure

 We went to Universal Islands of Adventure.

Michael Jordan tried to squish Sean with his basketball.

We made our way to Jurassic Park and had many adventures!  T Rex was after us the whole time.

We took a tour of the dinosaur park, and were so happy.  The weather was beautiful.  Not too hot, not too cold, just perfect. 

We got on a ride all nice and dry...

...but in order to avoid being eaten by T Rex, we were soaked!!!!

AAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!

 We walked over to Hogwarts.

 Diagon Alley was packed, shoulder to shoulder.

 This stuff was so delicious.....like the sweetest cream soda, with thick cream on top.  I loved it!!!

 

Then we walked over to Dr. Seuss land which was "Merry Merry Holidays" everywhere!  It was fun to see everything decorated for Christmas.

 We saw "The Grinch" show and even had our pictures taken with some Who's.  

That night, Addison, Mabulane and Neo met us for dinner.

To finish off a fun day, we played miniature gold at Pirate's Island.