Thursday, December 25, 2014

Part Two ~ And the Winner Is......


From a panel of 7 judges...unknown to the contestants...

"We will begin with our honor mentions...
 
First of all, Charlie took this whole challenge and spin it on its head. He was ingenious enough to take a famous Christmas Carol and make it into a non Carol. Instead of I’m dreaming of a White Christmas his was I’m dreaming of a not White Christmas. While brilliant, it did not meet the goal.
 
Jessica, where or where do you find such adorable models for your pictures? They are just too cute and their enthusiasm is noted. Hurray for Lucas and Livie.
 
Hope had the most original antlers in the history of this contest. Very clever!!!
 
 
The Merry Gentleman had the most outstanding mustache seen in decades.
Now down to the winners...
 
Third place goes to Robert and Christa. Not only did they depict several songs in their picture, but most judges agree that Robert should sport that bow fashion at more than just Christmas time. Christa also gets an honorable mention for her acting performance in the photo.
The last two photos were in a tight race all the way...
 
Second place goes to Michelle for the three ships. It was described as beautiful. One judge voted for it even though his grandma had a lighthouse that played the song every time you walked past it. The judge hated the song but loved the photo.
 
First place goes to Rachel for Silent Night
 

 
noted for its cleverness and original design. One judge noted that the city behind her did not look like it could be silenced but applauded her effort.
 
So there we have it – beautiful photos from a wonderful family."
 
 
Thank you,
Judges!
This was such a fun challenge
and certainly added to the festivities
of the Season.
 
And Rachel was very, very
 elated
with her win!



Saturday, December 20, 2014

Always Up For A Challenge!

 
 
We were presented with a
Christmas challenge...
(thanks, Susan!)
 
to depict a Christmas song in
a picture.
A panel of judges was selected,
and the pics are being submitted to them
to guess the songs
and judge the pictures on their criteria.
 
So in the Spirit of
 Christmas fun
here are the submissions...
 
 
 
 





 
 
This certainly was a
 fun challenge...
 
Can you guess them all?!
 
 


Sunday, December 7, 2014

An "UnOfficial" Nana/Lucas Day



We were way overdue to have an
official Nana/Lucas Day...
so when I got a call from longtime friend, Kim,
telling me that her daughter was in the play,
Aladdin, Jr., directed by the great Jim Pignato,
I knew this was a date night I couldn't pass up!
(although I am declaring it an "un-official" day
because when Jess realized what a fun time it was going to be,
she crashed the party...lol!)
 
First stop was a favorite eatery from my
Putnam days...La Hacienda...
where Lucas gave me a lesson on the correct way to eat
chips and salsa...
 
 
Then over to the theater to enjoy the show...
which was absolutely fantastic.
Every production that I have seen from that director had a
WOW factor...and Aladdin, Jr. did not disappoint.
 
Lucas sat on the edge of my lap the entire play,
 
 
literally mesmerized.
 
When asked after the play who was his favorite character...
his immediate response was "Princess Jasmine!"
No need to wonder why...

 
 
First crush, maybe?!
 
And,
just like my Nana/Hope Days,
we closed the place down...
 
 
because
we're.were.having.just.too.much.fun.to.leave!!
 
But now for
 the icing on the cake,
or, in this case, I should say
the pecans on the sundae...
 
Lucas' first trip to a Dairy Queen....
You would have thought it was
ChristmasMorning, DisneyWorld, & a PonyRide
all rolled into one!
 
The excitement was palpable
with even the young cashier asking...
"Uh, is this his first Dairy Queen experience?!!"
 
Yes, ma'am, it is...
 



 
He was sent over to pay for the order by himself,

and he was so excited when he realized he just paid for his blizzard,
when he turned around,
he did a vertical leap of joy with the thumbs up sign...
(he's inches above the ground here...lol!)
love this kid!!....




Cheers, Buddy... 

here's to many more
Nana/Lucas Days in the future!


 
 
 


Friday, December 5, 2014

A Week of Thanks and Celebration/Our Sun



The week started with a delivery of brownies
with the words "Guess Who?" written in pink icing on top.
 
Then a grand entrance of
 HOPE, MISH, and CHARLIE
through the door...
surprising me to tears...
happy, joyful tears!
 
The week of celebration began...
celebrating
 and concentrating
 on all that we are thankful for...
and as we shared around the Thanksgiving Table
(2 different times...lol)
the main theme was FAMILY...
and you all know my take on the definition of FAMILY..
it does extend beyond the nuclear!
 
I'm thankful for
 each
 and
 every one of you!

Now,
let the good times roll...




Christa wrapped some twine around a jar and declared herself a "crafter"....


A competitive game of GoFish was part of the festivities...


now here is one of my all-time favorite activity in life....sitting around a "campfire"...
in the woods or city... it matters not..and here's a first - roasting mini-marshmellows....
 
 Alot of mooing going in these pictures...on the humans part....


Jade showing off her vertical leap...Lexi looking a little jealous...
 

Three of my favorite people in the world...
 


 
The week ended with celebrating
Christa entering her 30's!!!...
 
 
 
 
and presenting her with the word collage of adjectives
that so accurately describes
 

this "loved" daughter of mine!
                                                                          ^^^^ (my word)
 
 
Here comes OUR sun...
  



 
 
 

 
 


Thursday, November 27, 2014

A New Decade Begins!



                             From then....



             till now....

 

 you have been more than a blessing in my life!
 
 
Happy, happy Birthday,
sweet Daughter.
I pray for God's blessings
to surround
your life
as you enter into this next decade!
 
and
 
here is a verse for you for the years to come...
 
may
"The Lord bless you and keep you,
the Lord make His face to shine upon you
and be gracious to you,
the Lord lift up His contenance upon you
and
give you peace."
Numbers 6:24-26
 
Amen!
and
Happy Birthday!
 
 
 

Sunday, November 23, 2014

when a HOUSE is more than a HOME



Each of my girls
 share a gift.
They have created, in their homes,
a sanctuary
and in describing these homes,
instead of
"oh, it's a three bedroom, two bath home
with a porch",
one is compelled to use personification, as in...
"ahh, the home is inviting, warm, happy.
It is so welcoming!"
love personification... and when it comes to using
it in describing a home...
well, that just makes my heart happy!
 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
So, 
Jessica and Peter have settled in their new home,
and have spent the last few months
personifying their abode.
Successfully.
And,
recently, I followed Lucas around... each with a camera in hand...


snapping away.
 
 Welcome
 to this welcoming place...
 
 












 





          Lucas view....                               
 
 
                                            He snapped a few of Liv along the way.....
 
Lucas...
 
 
 
Lucas...
 
 
 
 
 


Lucas...





 
Lucas: the important things in his room....


 
Lucas....
 
 

 



Lucas...

 
Lucas...

 


 
Interesting discovery with this photo shoot...
Lucas has an eye for texture...


Camera time is
done...
now for a swinging time in the backyard with dad...

Peter, Jess, Lucas and Livia,
an Irish prayer
for your santuary...
 
May these walls be filled with laughter,
may it reach from floor to rafter.
May the roof keep out the rain,
may sunshine warm each windowpane.
And may the door be open wide
to let the Good Lord's love inside.

Amen!