Festive fun with the family update! So the cling wrap game was great fun. Over 800-feet of cling wrap with a hundred gifts, trinkets, coins, candies, OREOs, money, gift cards & more wrapped inside! So each person has a chance to unwrap the ball and whatever falls out is theirs. The person next to them is rolling a pair of dice and if they get doubles, the person unwrapping is done! Next person, next turn… moving around the room until everything is unwrapped. And to make it even more fun… the unwrapper had to wear a pair of thick woolen mittens!!!

Okay, so this was all my niece Taylor’s idea…
but I’ve made a bundle of fun for our Christmas gathering. Over a hundred pieces packed inside, some good, some not… all wrapped up in 800-feet of cling wrap! My family will pass around the ball unwrapping & discovering some gifts along the way! Might not be the best gift ever… but it promises to deliver tons of entertainment for ME!!!

When tasked with bringing a dessert for Christmas… there are certain expectations. I mean, who wants a store-bought dessert when I can make this for my family??? Yummy vanilla cheesecake with chocolate & cherry accents. Oh yes, and some hot fudge to put over it all just in case you want even more!!!

As you know… MORE IS MORE… especially at Christmas!

Adding some last-minute festive touches to my Christmas treats. Not surprising… for our family gathering, I’m in charge of Jell-O & dessert. Two of my favorites!!!

Yes, I have the palate of a four-year old!!!

Hard to believe that I just put the last ornament on my advent calendar… handmade by my Grandma Kitty!!! Seems like just yesterday the tree was empty and I put up the first ornament. And now somehow tomorrow is Christmas… and I’ve still got a list of things to wrap, bake & pack for tomorrow! Wishing you all a “productive” Christmas Eve Day!

And so it begins… Happy First Day of December!
Pull out your advent calendars if you’ve got ‘em?! Like this one that my Grandma Kitty made for me many years ago! Such a wonderful yearly tradition filled with great family memories.

Happy Belated Birthday Tina! Looks like you had a yummy birthday cake… errr, cheesecake… presented on a nice stamped & glazed platter! Making every celebration a bit more special… although I don’t see any candles here?! Thanks David for sharing the festivities!

HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY to all the great Moms in the world…
to those still with us, and to those who are not.
Take time. Share stories. Make memories. Life is short.

Looks like Spring has sprung in Crystal Lake where my Cousin Kim has gathered a few flowers from her garden for her Easter centerpiece using one of my ikebana flower vases! So festive. So pretty!

I mean, c’mon…. could these two rascals BE any cuter?!
Best buddies & playmates. Hanging-out playing with my niece Taylor’s two puppies Riley & Shadow!