It's begining to look a lot like Christmas!

Things around our house have been looking a lot like Christmas since right after Thanksgiving. We had never decorated this early before; but Dave got busy and started putting the lights outside and I got busy inside (with the help of Dave of course).
These are some of my favorite spots in our home:

I love this sign, sorry for the bad shot; "Meet me under the Mistletoe".

This was Dave's position during the college football season. On Thursday nights this is where you could find him and on Saturday's from around 12 noon until 1:00 AM Sunday morning. If I haven't mentioned it, we are headed for the Orange Bowl - Virgina Tech Vs Kansas on January 3, 2008. We will leave New Year's Eve, drive south and stop to visit with some family on the way down and on the way back.
These are some of my favorite things during the Christmas season:

Amy's pictures with Santa Claus that were taken with the Miller and Rhoads Santa in downtown Richmond. I have every year except for one - somehow there was a mess up with the photography one year and a lot of the pictures were lost. I went to the store and looked through hundreds of pictures -I couldn't find Amy's but I did find the Tracie's. Some of the pictures are of Dave's grand kids. The black and white picture at the top is me and Jack sitting on the lap of the Santa at Miller and Rhoads back in the 1950' s.

Dave's stocking.

Amy's stocking that I crossed stitched when she was a little girl.

My stocking that I cross stitched. I plan on making stockings for the twins - and hopefully will have them ready for next Christmas.

Our stockings hung on the mantle.

Our tree - I like white lights and Dave likes color lights. We alternate every year.

This is a little tree in our kitchen that we made for the kids. It's their tree and they can take the ornaments on and off, in hopes that they won't mess with the big tree. I have pictures of all our grandchildren on this tree. I have decided to give a special ornament to the twins every year. For Meighan there was no doubt - angels for her. Alex, well he loves Spider Man, but I am not sure how long his passion for Spider Man will last. He does loves trains, so his collection will be trains!

My kitchen is decorated with my Ginger Bread collection. Although I couldn't find a lot of my favorite pieces.

I love this sign, although I am never quites sure where to put it. But I think it looks nice in my sewing room.

Santa hats I made for the twins. The picture in the background is one Dave gave for me last Christmas - I adore it.

I found this cute little Santa cup at Walmart. I couldn't resist.

December 2, 2007

Matlin and her classmates (from Monacan High School Drama Club) were at a Barnes and Noble today reading and providing lots of fun activities for children. The kids really enjoyed it. Thanks to Matlin and all the others.

Meighan loves to draw and play with stickers.

Everyone enjoyed reading!

Grandpa with Matlin.

That's Samara on Matlin's lap.

Aidan

They have this very nice "Thomas" train set at B & N. The kids spent a lot of time playing with this.

Alex in his Christmas Tree Hat I made for him.

We told the kids they could pick out a book - Alex picked out this Spider Man book, but ended up with a Thomas the Train Book, Meg picked out a set of "mini" books, each one about a different Disney Princess.

November update

I made this Christmas hat for Meg, now I need to make one for Alex.

This is my progress on the Intarsia Giraffe Sweater:

I found these cute little mugs and I am making cozies for them for some of the girls in my office for Christmas.

I made this Christmas Hat for Evelyn - the daughter of one of the nurses I work with.

We went to Mary Lou's for Thanksgiving and had a very nice time. Alex and Meighan loved playing in the back yard.

Meg with her Hokie Bow.

Meg found a pair of my reading glasses - they are upside down.

This girl is so funny.

Florida State Vs Virginia Tech 2007

On November 11 ' 07 we headed to Blacksburg for the the Florida State game. These pictures don't prove it but the colors in the mountains were vibrant.

It was very cold, so we went to the bookstore and bought gloves, socks and a headband.

Dave doesn't wear gloves or hats - but he decided gloves were needed tonight. We had dinner at Awful Arthurs. We didn't know this restaurant was in Blacksburg. Dave discovered it by accident. The food and atmosphere was great! TV screens everywhere!!!

I tried the "Pineapple Upsidedown Martini".

Dave liked the Bloody Mary's.

Not bad!

We didn't remember Awful Arthur's being so good. Dave loved the oysters on the half shell.

Here are some pictures of the game. It was great. Tech had not had a win against Florida State in 32 years!

Very exciting - the Hokies won 40 - 21. The kids hit the field.

and then some!!!

I didn't bring my camera for the next game. It was against Miami. Tech won 44 - 14. The next game was at UVA so we watched it on TV. Outcome : Hokies won 33 - 21. Very exciting. The ACC Championship game will be in Jacksonville Florida against Boston College on November 31. GO HOKIES!!!