Finally! It came.

This year I had a bit of time getting this book here for my mother for Christmas. But, alas, it has come. And she loved it. So, mission accomplished!

About 3 years ago, she & I started working on a book of her Grandparents & their posterity. We had it mostly finished but never printed it up, until now. I finished it up and printed through Blurb. It's only a soft copy right now, as I am sure that she'll want to edit a few items. But it's pretty cool. I gotta hand it to blurb for their fabulous books!

What Christmas looks like at our house

We had a great surprise this year for Christmas...Grandad & Grandma J came to visit Christmas Eve & Christmas morning. HY couldn't have been more excited to have visitors.

We re-inacted the Nativity ( Mini-E was Mary, HY was Joseph, Grandad was the wise men, Grandma J was the Angel, Mamma was a shepard, and Farmboy the Narrator). Grandad also took the photos so I'll have to post those later.

Mini-E waiting patiently for something. Or she's getting into trouble. Not sure which one.

Grandad read the "Night Before Christmas" to the kids before bed. He's so animated, they loved it.


We baked cookies for Santa. And left him with a plate full and a glass of milk.


Then it was off to bed for the little ones. I've never seen them get to bed so quickly!!! I mean, it was FAST!

And Christmas morning was better than I ever remember. HY was up at 8 am, knocking on his door and asking if Santa had come. And in fact, he had!

HY really got into it. And Grandad and Grandma J sure had the time of their lives watching all the action.

Mini-E got a kitchen set & HY loves it too! Oh the messes we'll be cleaning up. She's a bit short for it, but we're hoping she'll grow into it. Check out the panties that Santa brought her.

The kids got a ton of gifts from aunts, uncles, cousins, friends, & grandma & grandpa.
Check out some of Mini-E's this loot!

HY loved all the Thomas stuff and even had Grandad read him some books in all of the rush.


Farmboy shoveled snow, and snow, and snow. And watched the weather predict more of it. I think we got 2 feet at least! And he set up our new computer camera compliments of Uncle JB and Auntie T so that we can talk and SEE family.

Grandad loved his gift from us.




And I? I was preparing this. Christmas Dinner.
Ham, potatoes and gravy, veggies, salad, rolls, pudding, and pie.
Complete with Grandma Z's china.

It was a great day---

By the end, I think I finally understood why my own mother was so exhausted all those years. She did a lot of work. Thanks mom! No wonder you never warned me.

Want something for FREE???

A week or so ago, I won a contest "Pay it Forward"...I continued the contest & received great results. Everyone that played made it so much fun. Now, if you didn't win, but you want to. Check out this site. It's still going. You can get in on the action.





Check out what I won from doing Pay it Forward: This darling homemade "grandma's apron". Thanks so much Raygon.
And here's what the 3 winners got from me when I did the contest. And yes...it was all HOMEMADE!

Great gifts await you! Check it out! Be a winner & keep it going.

What you've all been waiting for:

I know that you have all been patiently waiting for the winners of the "Pay it Forward" Contest....And they are

(Drum roll please)........








Okay, go count & see if you are one of the winners. Just kidding. I actually did count it out by hand about 3 times to insure perfection. And I think that you will all be pleased to hear that 3 DIFFERENT people won. But before I tell you their names I want to tell you why it's taken me so long to post this today. I was busy doing this:




Yes sir-ree...I chopped off my hair. It's different, but I think that I'm liking it. HY & Mini-E even noticed a difference. They are starting to warm up to me again. But, you all are the first to see it---besides my mother & sister. Even Farmboy has yet to see me. So, if you love it...tell me so , if you don't---then---that's okay too, but I'd rather not hear that you think it's hideous.

BACK to the Winners. First let me say, THANK YOU so so much to everyone who played & just had fun. I loved reading all of your comments (I read ever single one of the 146 comments).

Don't forget that if you didn't win, you can still play the game. Of course, the 3 winners are OBLIGATED to play the game. And "Pay it Forward"


The Winners are:

107 = LilyJackandPosmama said...
you should be at 100 posts now....

1 = Bethie said...
I want to play --- not to win but just becasue I want to be part of something:)

22= Crazymamaof6 said...
love it! but i am so tempted cuz i love to win things.

Just for the record...Onehm did have the most comments (32) followed by Crazy mamma (27)
I'm sending Onehm a little something just for being my greatest fan! Thanks so much for playing.

I'm definitely going to need your addresses Crazy Mamma & Bethie. Send it to my email please. junk4zoie@gmail.com

Congradulations! I'll be putting your fabulous prizes in the mail just as soon as I figure out what they are....hehehe.

Have a super weekend!

Cheaters Welcome

This Pay it Forward contest has really brought out the cheater in everyone. I love it. Mainly because it's NOT cheating, but it feels like it. It's like having a really great Italian icecream that is so good that you feel like it should be illegal! If you haven't ever had that kind of icecream, please visit Italy sometime in your lifetime. I promise, it's worth your time.

As for the gift....I am still thinking about what it will be. The original rules were that you had to make something, but I'm not that great at "homemade" stuff. So, the gift is still in the works.

Remember, Friday I'll be announcing the winners, so get those comments in!

Pay it Forward Contest

I am the Winner! I rarely win anything so I'm very very excited to announce that I won a "Pay it Forward" Contest on my friend, Raygon's blog! (audible applause). Thank you -thank you very much.

Here's how it works: You post a comment on my blog & on Friday, I'll be announcing who the random winners are. There will be 3 winners, so you've got a great chance of winning one of my fabulouse prizes (not telling what, but I promise they will be fabulous).

If you are one of the 3 winners, you are responsible for keeping this contest going. If you do not win, I'm sorry---it doesn't mean that I don't love you---it just means that the random generator didn't pick your comment. But, feel free to carry on this contest---win or lose.

****no restrictions apply--feel free to comment as much as you like.*****

Happy Day!

Everyone should take lessons on "how to be a best friend" from this girl. (sorry to use the same picture over & over again...I just don't have a lot of recent picture of us together). Not only is she one incredible mother & wife...but she is THE GREATEST example of a friend.




Yesterday, I found a little surprise package in my mail. Look at all these goodies. It's not even my birthday! And this necklace is my new favorite thing to wear! You are the BEST!!! Loves to Miss Tina for always doing something for me that I'd never do for myself.

The Big 3-0...

Yesterday at 3:06pm, everything in my life CHANGED! Yes, I have now entered a new decade---the 30's! (It doesn't feel too bad).

Lucky for me, I have a lot of people who love me & wanted to make it a very special day. First, Tina with her surprise visit & this darling creation to the left! She's amazingly creative. Oh & lest I forget this post that made me laugh & cry all at the same time. Memories are sometimes the best gifts ever. Truly a tulip!

While Lovin-H watched my two yahoos, Nonna & CC took me to lunch at Gardner's Village! Yummy.As if that wasn't enough-- Nonna & I got pedicures & a much needed eyebrow sculpting. Quite the treat. My dear sweet sister, Aunt CC & her kidos gave me this very cool box, but what could be inside????....you'll never guess....The perfect gift for my new home. Thanks so much Aunt CC for your beautiful work (did I mention this was hand-made?). Makes me think of Italy.

Of course--not to be outdone--the infamous Farmboy gave me one of these...The Philips portable DVD player with 2 screens. It's the gift that keeps on giving. (especially on long car trips with 2 kids). One of my favorite movies (National Treasure) was hidden inside---I have underestimated his sneakiness.

Of course, I don't want to forget all the emails, cards, & phone calls (even at 11pm) from friends & family. Thank you for remembering me on my birthday. It means a lot to me to have such incredible people in my life. You can't ask for much more than that in 30 years.

Mother's Day came early

Here are some of the first pictures taken with my NEW CAMERA! Woowhoo. I am so excited about all the cool stuff I can do. No more taking pictures with my phone. Big hugs and kisses for my sweet husband. Love the surprise.