christmas at our house.... (picture heavy)

For the most part, our decorations were the same as last year - the outside lights, the garland and lights on the stairs, as well as the wreath on the door, so I'm not posting pictures of those this time around.


This year, we had a full house again, in that the whole family was here for dinner on Christmas eve. There were 15 of us in total. Here are some pictures from that night...

My sister in law made a tree from the left over pearl garland on one of the tables... it was very pretty, but it didn't last long Christmas eve with little hands grabbing every where :O)

My nativity set up on the piano

One of the two tables, since we all didn't fit at one... you can see the second smaller one in the background...

Our tree, as well as our little Christmas angel who helped with gifts Christmas eve...

Our traditional family shot, though my oldest brother is hiding behind me - my dad, his three kids (me + my two brothers) and our spouses, 5 grandkids + one spouse, and 2 great grand kids.


Usually I add at least one ornament or somesort of Christmas decoration to our collection each year, and this year was no different. This year was the addition of Santa's reindeer... I bought them at Chapter's thinking they would go on the tree, but they turned out too big and heavy for the branches, so on the wall they went! And yes they are in order with Rudolph leading the pack!

Christmas morning, Santa had arrived and brought more gifts for the girls, and as you can see they were pretty excited! We also found our kitty snuggled in her spot surrounded by the tree and gifts waiting to see what Santa had brought her...

catching up - halloween weekend

We did a lot of things this past month, so I'm trying to catch up in posting it all. I'll start with Halloween weekend and work my way back...

Our Halloween weekend was a busy one, it was my nieces first official Halloween ever, so the little one was pretty excited! We started out Friday evening with a family Halloween dance at her school where everyone dressed up...

the mad scientist, a black kitty, a witch, golfer, Luigi, and a lady bug

Saturday, the festivities continued with a Halloween concert and dance at our community center, where my hubby and I volunteer...

Pottyos Panni, Luigi, spider, black kitty and a witch

Sunday, we carved pumpkins and then got ready for trick or treat! We carved 5 pumpkins in all. Two mini pumpkins, and three big ones, with two more big ones left "au natural" for decoration by the front door.

Jack Skellington, Kitty on the moon, Smiley Jack

It was then time to get ready to go trick or treating! Even our kitty got dressed and ready for the action...

I hope everyone had a fun and safe Halloween... I know we did!

Canada Day in the city...

We decided to do something different for Canada Day. Normally we either just relax at home, have people over or (eek) go out of town! This year the three of us got ready and headed downtown for an afternoon at Prince's Island...

We braved the crowds, and it was quite enjoyable, we walked around and checked out the all the different stalls and wares for sale, including the best sausage "hot dog" ever. It was absolutely huge and very tastey.

We were only slightly disappointed, as I remember from years ago (when Laci and I still used to dance in the Hungarian folk dance group), that the festivities at Prince's Island had a more international flavour to them. There were none of the city's various folk dance groups performing on the big stage - or really at all for that matter. Hardly any of the nationalities were represented in the available booths, they all just seemed to be missing. Though we did have a good time, and the afternoon was enjoyable, it was just sad to see how things have changed - not necessarily for the worse, but different than what we (I) were expecting. Its definitely been a long time since we were there for Canada Day last!

There were so many Canada geese as well as ducks of all sorts and ducklings, but the best part was watching when the geese dunked their heads under the water. They looked so cute with their tails inthe air, and their feet flailing away to keep themselves under...

After walking around the island for a bit, we grew tired of the crowds and decided to just drive around a bit a do some sight seeing on our own... we ended up in Crescent Heights and tooks some lovely pictures of downtown.

On our way home, we made a pit stop iand in the parking lot was this beauty! We parked right beside him, and the owner was kind enough to let us check out his car (okay we tried not to drool all over it)

happy spring!

Hope you all had a wonderful Easter weekend, filled with fun, friends, family and of course food! I know we did!

Friday I had a wonderful stitching day with my stitching buddy, and actually got out of my mini slump, and got lots of stitching done on the BBD Bird in Hand. Friday night when we came home, as Hubby was over there too helping with some guy stuff (building and fixing things) with her sweetie, I continued to stitch and even finished it up! So here is my newest happy dance! Hubby and I (actually more Hubby than me) finished it into something already but that is a surprise as it turns out that this will be a gift! Hopefully the recipient will like it once it arrives!

Blackbird Designs - Bird in Hand
Stitched on mystery 28ct fabric with
GAST - Claret

I'm definitely going to have to stitch this again for myself, as I really love how it turned out!

Then Saturday we spent the morning being nice and lazy here at home, the afternoon saw an easter egg hunt with the family, and the evening was filled with a great dinner of sushi with friends. It was a great day!

My great nephew Ethan with his Easter basket
brimming full of chocolate eggs he found

My great nephew Joseph, just enjoying the sunshine

Sunday we went to church, which was very nice - as we don't usually tend to go very often. It was wonderful to see everyone there. Then we came home relaxed some more and then headed off to my SIL for a wonderful family dinner of ham, and goose! Very yummy!!!

I also took Monday off from work, so I got an extra long weekend, and it was wonderful! Monday was again a lazy day, really didn't do anything that I had planned to do, other than spend time with Hubby and my Dad.

I did manage to start a new project (yet again) as well over the weekend, I started Quaker Sampling III by With My Needle. I'm stitching it over 2 on 28ct ivory jobelan, so it will be huge, with Rose Garden GAST. I seem to be in red mood lately... anyways not much progress to show on that one just yet so no picture... next time!

till then happy stitching!

christmas continued...

I recieved a few stitched gifts right on the 24th in the mail and thought I would share them with you...

LHN Holly and Berries from Polly


Chocolat from Dia

It was such a lovely surprise to recieve these in the mail from these two lovely ladies. The stitching on them is beautiful, and I believe I'll get hubby to help me (read as him) to finish off the chocolat one into a similar little pillow/wall hanging. Again thank you ladies!

I also love to collect Nativity scenes, and have a couple around the house during the holidays. For Christmas this year, my dear sweet husband got the last two pieces I was missing from my large set. I recieved the three wise men, as well as the "manger" itself. He surprised me, as when we set it up on the 23rd on the piano, I was still missing those two "pieces" by the time I woke up on the 24th, they were there all set up as if they had been there all along. It was such a sweet and wonderful surprise.

Willow Tree nativity

I have also done a little finishing and stitching over the last couple of days when I could, and I "finished" my 4 Joy ornaments - one of which has already gone to its new home, as well as I stitched up the Quaker Snowman freebie by Midnight Stitching the other night. I've been wanting to stitch this one up for the longest time, and now I have one, but he is calling me to stitch him a few more times, and I probably will - maybe as a head start on next year's ornaments! Last night I also managed to stitch up another cute freebie, this one called Christmas Hearts by Happy Threads.

Quaker Snowman freebie by Midnight Stitching
stitched over 2 on 25ct natural peal linen

Christmas Hearts by Happy Threads
Pattern found here

christmas at our house...(picture heavy)

Thank you all for the wonderful wishes on our anniversary, it was so sweet to read them. I can't believe that its been 12 years! Time really does fly when you are having fun...

Now that Christmas has past and things are settling down during the holidays, I thought I would share some christmas pictures of our decorations. All pictures are clickable to make them bigger.

First off is the outside of the house, with our lights on, the picture didn't turn out very sharp - it was chilly outside - but you still get the general feel of it. I love Christmas lights on houses, and I love to go driving to see all the different ones in the various neighbourhoods and displays. We start turning ours on the evening of Dec 6th until Jan 6.

This is the wreath on our front door. Its actually "new" its only the second year we've used it, as before we had a homemade one that I made while we lived in Hungary, but sadly it was starting to come apart.

Next is the garland on the stair rails going upstairs

Next come the dinning room tables... yes I did say tables! We had quite a few people over for dinner - family and some extended family - that we didn't all fit at one table. It was wonderful though, I love it when we have a full house.

And now our tree... as well as close ups of some of my ornaments.

The snowman, reindeer and blue fish ornament are the newest additions to my collection - all those kitties on there need something to nibble on! As well as you can see I kept the "believe" ornament for myself.