Not Dead

Nope. Not dead yet. But I have been missing in blogland... I've had company and a huge Thanksgiving with family and friends, and had to get the first of the Christmas shopping done, wrapped, and ready to send back with my son and his family. And a broken toilet. And a sick husband (he's better now). And normal and extra cleaning. I have this feeling that December isn't going to be any less busy, but then it won't be any less busy for any of you either, will it?!

Other than a place card project which I organized and let the little ones go to town on, and helping three of the grandchildren who were staying here to make Christmas gifts for mommy and daddy and a card (one of which you'll see) I haven't spent anytime in my craft room until today. I actually made a card. I'm a little rusty but I REALLY needed to play. Felt really good! We'll do that first, then I'll show you a few photos from Thanksgiving. I found a color challenge at As You See It. Fun colors and the DT has really come up with some great cards as you'll see when you head over there!

Mine is a bit subtle:

The colors are there. They're the blings on the "strings of lights." I drew the 'strings', and the dies are both NBUS. The 'joy' is from Lil' Inkers and the frame was made with my new ME die and an old MFT for the interior part. The red paper I think is from BB, but since it's a scrap, I don't know for sure. Sorry for the blurriness...

This first Thanksgiving photo is one of son Tad and I wearing the necklaces that his daughter Samantha made for us. Just had to stop cooking and do a selfie..

He kindly bent down to my height and took the selfie with his longer arms. Goofy kid.

And we've started a tradition where all the little kids put black olives on their fingers. Even the youngest granddaughter was old enough this year to participate!

Aren't they cute??!

Here are a couple of pics of the "Kids" table, and grandma got to sit with them too!

That's my dil at the far end of the table, and the three oldest granddaughters helping the little ones out. 

Here's clean up time:

That's the big girls other grandma helping with the dishes with Jessica and Lizzy. Can you see the giant platter on the "floating island?" It was my great-grandma's and only comes out at Thanksgiving. And see my ugly shirt? Well I put it on at 5:00 AM to cook dinner, and had zero time to change clothes before we sat down to eat. I'm covering up the holes in the pocket...I'm such a dork.

And I wanted to show you Carter's card. He designed it himself, and wrote his own verse inside. The photos aren't very good, but you get the idea. (Carter is the one in the far back in the olive photo)

And I won't force you to look at any more photos. In reality I was too busy running around like a chicken with my head cut off to take many more. Thanks for looking, and I plan on visiting your blogs pretty darn soon. Happy dances everyone.