Pre-Holiday Fun

The girls don't get down to Detroit often bit when they do we pack a lot of action into a short period of time. 

Brothers And Sister

Rare pictures of these three. 

Love

I love these two!

Happy Mothers Day

Three reasons that always make it a happy Mothers Day every year for me.
Missing my Mother but enjoying fond memories of all the love she gave my sister and our families over the years.
Happy Mothers Day everyone!

Peace

Hopefully you are all keeping your cool during these last few days before Christmas. We had our family celebration here a couple of weeks ago so the bulk of my shopping, wrapping, cooking, cleaning, and hostessing are complete. You would think that this week would have gone smoothly, and it has for the most part, but yesterday I felt like I might be loosing it with papers piled a mile high on my desk and the ghosts of things undone all came rushing in at once.

I was on the phone most of the day with our insurance prescription provider, then with Boyne Highlands and Dad trying to get rooms reserved for the overflow up north next week. Stacks of menu ideas, grocery & to do lists, year end charitable giving lists, graduation and wedding cards to get in the mail (added anxiety about being so negligent), Christmas pictures to download and forward were all piling up. Hurt feelings soothed and confusion clarified.

This morning though I woke up with a new attitude. These smiling faces greeted me on my computer and reminded me that all is right with the world even if I don't get every thing done.

I am so grateful for the grace that my family and friends give me, and we give each other, year in and year out for my, and their, short comings. Isn't that one of the best gifts we can share with each other?

Blessings and grace I share with You my kind reader. As you go about your day may the peace of the Lord be with you. Smiles all around!

Pictures of our Grand Children

by

Ashley Privite

It Is Freezing Here In Michigan

I am ready to fly off to any where that is warm. From the looks of the weather maps that might have to be somewhere outside of the US.

We celebrated Christmas here at our house last weekend. Today my plan was to head up north for a party with my girl friends but the black ice covering the roads is keeping me home ;( Hopefully by Christmas Eve the weather will be better so we can make it home for the final family Christmas celebration.

During the spring, summer, and fall I don't have any problem jumping in the car and traveling all over the state. When Winter hits I get much more cautious. The least bit of potential for slippery roads keeps me house bound. It is a good thing I love ~ Life At Home ~.

Well, since I have no plans to jet off to warmer weather any time soon, and I have to miss all my girly friends, I better go find a project to get busy with around here. One can only watch so many episodes of The Real Housewives and I think I have reached my saturation level.

Guest Blogger Today is Blake Moore

Dear Aidan, Have a nice day. Have fun at school. I am staying with my Grandma. Good by.

Happy Birthday Cathy

Happy Birthday Cathy! This picture is of the ladies on our Christmas Eve. When I enlarged it Cathy was cut off a bit ;( You still get a good idea of how stunning she looked in her Anthropology's dress.

My hand is still hurting so I can't type much. I hope all is well with you all and that you had a happy New Years celebration.

Hugs,

Sue

Christmas Recap

Warning: Picture heavy post ahead. First let me say that at our last stop on the Christmas trail I fell. As a result I won't be doing much typing because my left hand is pretty much a mess.

Our first stop was at Mom & Dad's to celebrate Christmas Eve with my side of the family. A good friend of the family came by and helped them deck the halls so every thing look especially beautiful. Thank you Eunie!!!!!

Every year we alternate spending the night Christmas Eve with one of the children. This year we were at Aaron & Angie's. The Christmas magic was felt in a big way there as those of you have been readers of Life At Home for a long time can imagine.

The weather was icey and rainy so after breakfast at A & A's we headed over to our friends to do a quick gift exchange then got on the road to come back south as early as we could.

Our last stop was at my brother and sister in-law's for a polish feast with John's side of the family.

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas. My hand is throbbing now so I will sign off.

Hugs,

Sue

~ Merry Christmas ~

Merry Christmas to you and yours from our family to yours.

Call It A Bribe If You Want To ~ It Worked ~

Last weekend we celebrated Christmas early at our house. All of our children and grandchildren arrived Friday for the festivities. This is the first year that we have had them all here. In the past six years since we have been living in Metro Detroit we have celebrated Christmas in MP. Now that our oldest has moved back from Colorado with his wife and four children we decided to do it here.

You can imagine what a chore it has been for us to load up all the Christmas goodies to create a memorable Christmas away from home. Not an easy one for sure. So, this year they all agreed to make the trip here. Hallelujah! To insure that they would make this an annual event we really put on the dog. E-mails and phone calls were made by the dozen to coordinate all the details. The agenda was set. Friday would be our Christmas eve, a casual affair, with heavy appitizers and a social hour. Saturday morning we would exchange presents and have a nice breakfast. Saturday afternoon the ladies would get their hair done and it would be a free day for the gentlemen and children. Saturday night a semi-formal dinner party would follow.

Below is our opening attempt to insure a continuation of this annual event.

Pretty dresses


for the ladies.

Monogrammed shirts for the gentlemen



with ties that coordinate with the ladies dresses.

I think it may have worked!