twinkly lights

 even though it is a lot of work, i am so thankful to see the beautiful lights on the house every year.  next year, we always say, we will pay someone to do it. we'll have to just wait and see......

gingerbread cookies

gingerbread house cookies made from gingerbread dough!  the house smelled soooo good when these were baking.

winter concert

little sister and the rest of the band tried to get us into the holiday spirit with their annual winter concert.  little sister played in two songs.

she played xylophone & bells on the chipmunk song.

then she played cowbell on deck the halls with chips and salsa.

bronze medalists

little sister's rec soccer team played for the third straight year in the tournament of champions.  earning gold for two years, they were not able to make it a three-peat - but instead took home the bronze, third place medal in the u19 division.  many were disappointed but it is still an accomplishment to be proud of.

engagement cookies

another referral from my cookier friend of a customer in need of 3 dozen engagement party cookies.  i had total freedom on what i could do.  her only guidelines were: the color sage, initials m & g, and an opal stone (if possible) on the ring.  well, this was a fun set to design!  i already had to ring and double heart cutters, and i purchased the champagne glass cutter to round out the set.  big sister helped me come up with the idea to use a star piping tip for the flowers - so clever, and fast!!

lumberjack baby cookies

a local cookier friend of mine didn't have any availability - so she referred one of her customers to me.  she wanted just 12 baby shower cookies - with the theme of lumberjack.  she asked for "black & red check baby bottles or whatever, maybe some green trees or deer? his initials are jd maybe in browns?"  i decided to do a onesie, a bottle, and a cute evergreen tree.  i love the way they turned out!  i think the buffalo plaid is my new favorite.

heartbroken

today, my daddy went to heaven to be with God and all the angels.  he was having a rough time lately, after breaking his femur in mid october and having a hard time recovering.  his triple bypass surgery in december 2020 accelerated his dementia symptoms and he was having chest pains here and there ever since.  he was being cared for at home by my devoted, loving mama and a team of hospice caregivers.  shortly after lunch, he experienced a massive heart attack, which took him peacefully and without suffering.  i know he will be watching over us all and i pray that my mama finds the comfort and peace she deserves.

christmas 1976

dressing up in daddy's work jacket & hat

october 1983

high school graduation, may 1994

driving me to oregon, september 1998

walking me down the aisle, june 2001

april 2009

big sister's graduation, may 2022