A Special Card...

Every year, I make only a few extra special cards. Usually, I make them for the people that have touched me in some way. This year, I made a special masterpiece for my Uncle Gene. Uncle Gene is one of my mom's older brothers. He is hilarious, always has a story, a smile on his face, treats my mom and her sister like they are queens, appeals to the boys because he truly is disgusting. He also had a special bond with his mother, my grandmother. In the card below, Uncle Gene is pictured with my grandmother on Christmas Eve (I believe this photo was taken in 1998). This is a special card not only because of the picture on the front, but also because my grandmother was the one that started our holiday Traditions. Christmas Eve begins as our family sings "Silent Night" together and is celebrated with gifts, food, family, stories, pictures and love. Sadly, my grandmother passed away a few years ago this January, on my Uncle Gene's birthday. She is remembered every day, but mostly at Christmas time. She baked, cooked, made gifts (such as crochet afghans and slippers, stuffed animals and little purses), she loved the decorations and lights and was so full of joy, love and tradition. To me, that's what Christmas is all about... Tradition.

Since Grandmommy died, Uncle Gene has sent me a card at Christmas time. The card is usually super funny or gross, but it's what's on the inside that counts. He takes the time to write a special memory of a Christmas past: a story, an old photo of a decorated mantel, a family secret, and so on. I save them, I cherish them, I love them! I look forward to Uncle Gene's card every year... I hope he likes mine!

Meet Lucas Snowflake!

Hey there! Finally feeling better... shew! It was a rough 6 days of nasty cold and cough. It wore me totally out, and had to go to bed at 8:30 a couple nights in a row. But now, woo-hoo! Feelin' great!

So, December has begun... a month full of traditions, magic is in the air and my kids are wound up tighter than a yo-yo! They LOVE Christmas, just like any other child, but they really love it because our friend, Lucas Snowflake arrives the day after Thanksgiving.

That is Lucas Snowflake (our Elf on the Shelf). He watches the children and at night reports back to Santa of our daily events- naughty or nice. A couple of times now, Mac and Anna have left Lucas little notes and presents that they make, which in turn, I stay up after my bed time to reciprocate with a letter of thanks and gratitude. The letters from Lucas are always adorned with snowflakes! They are so excited to get up in the morning to see where he has hid and what he left for them.

I thought it was so cute when I heard Anna and Elan talking to him one morning and Anna said, "Lucas, Elan wants a new pappy for Christmas because his is broken with a hole in it." Mama's gonna get him that new pappy... and I know I shouldn't. 'Tis the season to make wishes come true!