My Favorite Christmas Elf!

I found this adorable outfit at Walmart and while I was babysitting her on Saturday, I just had to put it on her and take some pictures. She is just so adorable (no prejudism there, just fact - LOL!)

Now, who could resist this adorable face!

Happy Baby!

See sometimes she does wake up happy! LOL!

Christmas Candy Sleigh Treats

My Scarlet Sophisticates Sock Monkey Sisterhood group got together and made some of this for our big Christmas party. I had to miss the get together to make them as I was out-of-town, but I have been busy making them since then. First for my other red hat group, The Busy Bees and now as little gifts for some of my neighbors. They are so fun and easy to make. Here is the link with a tutorial to make them.

 Aren't they adorable!

 

You can see them on the table at each place setting. We had a Dessert Party, but as usual, Maryln went above and beyond and provided us with subs, chips and some punch as well. Yummy! All the desserts were fantastic as well!  She and her DH, Frank are avid District 56 collectors (kinda obvious - huh!) I see something I missed the time before everytime I go there. My favorite are the ones that move and play music (like the carnival scene)

In Loving Memory of my Father

In Loving Memory of My Father

Vernon L. Prather

 

October 2, 1932 - November 13, 2012

 

High Flight

 

Oh, I have slipped the surly bonds of earth
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;
Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth.
Of sun-split clouds--and done a hundred things
You have not dreamed of-
Wheeled and soared and swung
High in the sunlit silence. Hov'ring there,
I've chased the shouting wind along, and flung
My eager craft throught footless halls of air.
Up, up the long, delirious, burning blue
I've topped the windswept heights with easy grace
Where never lark, or even eagle flew.
And, while with silent, lifting mind I've trod
The high untrespassed sancitity of space,
Put out my hand and touched the face of God.

 

by John Gillespie Magee, Jr.

More New Nieces or Nephews Coming Next Year!

Wow! This year has been an exciting one. Our niece Risa had her little girl, Bonnye Risa on June 28th; our youngest son, Jacob and DIL, Karli had their little girl, Bonnye Anne on July 4th; and then Our niece Bekah had her son, Ryder on Sept. 17th. Babies everywhere.

Well, we found out  not long ago that our niece Lindsey is expecting again and today we found out that our niece Roxie (Risa's twin sister) is also expecting. So many cousins being born so close together in birthdays is gonna be fun! Now if we can just get them all together. Risa is in CO,  Jacob is in NC (he should be back in VA early next year), Bekah is in TX (soon to be in Del Rio, TX, Lindsey is in  Fort Worth, TX (actually Richland Hills) and Roxie is in No. VA (at least I will get to see hers after it is born).

Update: Sad news, Roxie lost the baby, but she is doing well so hopefully we will get another happy report in the future.  Lindsey has been having a lot of sickness with her pregnancy, but so far she is still doing okay. Everyone is keeping a close eye on her and she is taking it easy after having problems with a pregnancy last year.  Good news is she will be finding out the sex of the baby on my birthday! Can't wait!

I'm a Great-Auntie Again!

Our niece, Bekah and her DH hubby, Beau welcomed their new son, Ryder today. He is adorable. He arrived on 9/17 at 6:10 a.m. He is 8 lbs. 11 ozs., 20 inches.

Ryder

 

 Ryder and his proud parents, Beau & Bekah

 

Proud Grandma & Ryder

My Newly Re-organized Craft Room!

Jacob was finaly able to help me a few weeks ago to put together my new computer desk and printer stand and re-arrange my craft room. I spent last week bringing all my supplies back in (kuckily the stamps didn't have to be removed, That bookcase was the only thing that stayed in it's original space. Here are some pics of my new room. You can actually see the floor now.

 View from doorway

Craft table, desk, printer stand, file cabinet, shelves on top of cubes.

 

 View from desk to doorway

 

 Bookcase with stamp sets on it

(items on floor in front will not be staying there)

 

 My clothes closet (I need more space)

 

 My new desk - I LOVE IT!

 

Ziggy, my sock monkey computer mascot with her kitty - Kit!



My 2 Bonnye Annes!

I am now in a special red hat group called "Sock Monkey Sisterhood". Yep, you read it right Sock Monkey! We have a blast even though much of it is online on our private FB page and the individual group get-togethers of the different groups all over. The ladies in this group live all over, a few of which include 6 of us here in VA (my group), to some in the states of Washington, LA, TX, Ohio and Maryland as well as other states. We have a blast. It started with sock monkeys, but any monkey is allowed. We name them dress them, have them talking online and make up stories about things they do. We take them with us to red hat events. We are in our second childhood (that is, it we ever left our first - LOL!) Mine, of course, had to meet Bonnye Anne. So I took a few with me when I went down and got her picture with them when she was born and the last time I went down in Aug. I have done some trading with one SMS friend from Washington state and she made the purple and red crocheted outfit for me in trade for some stamping supplies. She also sent me several dragons to add to my dragon collection and I was to pick on to give to Bonnye Anne.

 Taken on 8/18/12. Love that sweet smile!

Above her are: Jo-Jo, Ziggy and Rosie

In front of her are Lizzy & Giggles, the brown one has not yet been named.

 

 Bonnye Anne with the dragon that my SMS friend, Marie Lukas sent for her.

 

One of my other new friends, Kathy Menz makes individual baby monkeys each with a unique face and this is one she made and gave to me in trade, so that I would always have a Bonnye Anne with me (can you figure out what I named her - LOL!) So here I am with both of my Bonnye Annes.

 

Taken 9/3/12

Time with Loved Ones

We got to go down and visit with Jacob, Karli and Bonnye Anne this weekend. Had so much fun just snuggling with Bonnye Anne. Had forgotten how much fun and soothing it is to snuggle with a baby. It did bring back a lot of memories of snuggling with the boys when they were little!

 Bonnye & her mommy, Karli

 Bonnye with her new dragon.

A gift from Marie Lukas, one of my Sock Monkey Sisterhood friends.

 Just being cute!

 Bonnye with some of my sock monkeys

 So cute!

 Bonnye and Grandma snoozing.

 Daddy feeding her

Just had to include a picture of L'il Bit.

Relaxing in the back of the Explorer on the way home from our visit.

SHE'S HERE, SHE'S FINALLY HERE!!!!

Well, we will definitely be having to set off or go see fireworks on July 4th from now on. Our precious Bonnye Anne Ferenz was born today at 12:34am. She weighed 7 lbs. 9 ozs., 21.5 inches and is the most beautiful baby in the world (no partialism there, just stating a fact - LOL!) She is perfect and we are soooo happy she is finally here.

 The sweetest face on earth!

 Karli, Jacob and the pride of their life - Bonnye Anne

 Happy, happy Grandma!
 

Proud Grandpa - She already has him wrapped around her little finger - LOL!

I'm a Great- Auntie Again! Bonnye Risa came early!

Bonnye Risa arrived early. She wasn't due until after our Bonnye Anne, but they are reversed now. LOL! She is adorable.

Bonnye Risa

DOB: June 28, 2012

 

The Proud Parents, Mike & Risa with Bonnye Risa.

 

 Grandma Becky, Risa, Robyn

Mike, Bonnye Risa, Risa

 

Roxie, Bonnye Risa, Risa

My New Great-Niece - Bonnye Risa Russell

Well, in NC waiting for my darling granddaughter, Bonnye Anne to be born (due on the 23rd) and my niece, Risa goes and has her little girl (due July 7th), on June 28th, also a new Bonnye. Bonnye Risa, 7 lbs. 19.5"



Bonnye Risa Russell

Yes, you read right. We will have two Bonnyes. The family has been waiting since 1990 when we lost my SIL, Bonnye Jean Ferenz-Alvarez, for someone to have a girl and name her Bonnye and we got 2 at the same time. We are definitely okay with that - LOL!

Memorial Weekend Visit with Jacob & Karli

Sorry, so late posting this. We did go down and visit with Jacob & Karli over Memorial Weekend. Went down Thurs. night and returned home on Tues.

Karli is doing great and is ready for L'il Bonnye to come.

Jacob's 22nd Birthday

We drove down to NC to see Jacob and Karli for his birthday and to take down some furniture they had gotten at IKEA a few weeks before and a dining room set that my friend Bobbie had given them. We had a great time visiting them. We even took L'il Bit with us. She wasn't too sure about the ride at first, but once we had driven long enough that she decided we weren't taking her to the vet, she settled down.

 Karli made him a homemade raspberry cake

 So serious! LOL!

 Always knew he was a blow-hard! :-D

Doesn't this look yummy - believe me it was!

Modeling his birthday present from us.

He is ready to go turkey hunting with friends now!

The next day we went to a Maternity Fair at the base hospital. They picked up a lot of information pamphlets and such and we got to take a tour of the Labor and Delivery Floor. I received one of the hats the tour guide showed us that the baby will wear when they go home. Love it!

Isn't this just the cutiest thing!

Going into week #26

Red Hat Busy Bees March Luncheon

I love hosting our luncheons in March and coming up with something special to celebrate St. Patty's Day. This year I came across this cute idea thanks to my LNSDemosonly online group. It originated from www.ourbestbites.com

 The gang

L-R: Oneida, Bobbie, Maryln, Frank (Maryln's hubby), and Becky

Me

(Bobbie snapped a shot of me, so I thought I would share as I don't get my picture taken often)



Karli's Baby Bump - Week 24

This picture was taken at Caleb's birthday party on Mar. 3. She is right at 24 weeks along.

This one was taken a few weeks earlier when they were home.

I have already started buying little girl baby clothes and having so much fun doing so. I had taken Karli out to buy maternity clothes right after taking this picture (she is wearing one outfit it the top picture) and of course we came home with some outfits for the baby as well. Forgot to take pictures of those. Need to do so when I go see them. :-) I have picked up a few things since then and am putting them away to make a basket for the shower. So much fun!