celebrations – Page 16 – Karla's Cottage

A Sweet Valentine Gathering

celebrations, cottage, Dew Drop, family, holiday decor, Sugarwings, Valentine's Day, We're having a party

By Karla Nathan / February 14, 2015

One of my favorite things is to have a studio full of friends, whether it is at Birdsong, a craft day, or a kid's holiday party.

I don't always get to host a bash for every holiday, but love it when the timing works out to have everyone over.

Sugarwings and Dewdrop went to Michaels with me to fill a cart with pink and red heart supplies, I nabbed a few Dollar Store tablecloths and balloons, and we were set to go.

We made faux cupcakes by gluing a styrofoam ball into a cupcake paper, smearing it with modelling compound icing, and glitter.

Lots of glitter.

Besides that, the projects weren't organized, it was every artist on their own.

Valentine cards for loved ones were a popular choice.

Dewdrop completed this one for her mommy.

Lizele made lots of colorful hearts. She is a prolific crafter.

Besides the cart full of stickers from Michaels, I had vintagey goods out too. And had saved empty valentine candy boxes to be redone.

Sugarwings and her mommy made a mail box for her upcoming class party.

The littlest workers got a bit burned out and turned to coloring books full of ponies, then decided to work with playdough. That is always a hit with Dewdrop.

The older kids had already headed out to the creek and woods behind the house when I got my camera out. They usually make a few nice things, then head outside, not caring that it was horridly cold out there. Of course, someone always slips into the creek and needs dry clothes, but it never stops them.

I really should plan more summer time craft days, where they can get out there and enjoy the woods when the weather is better.

Before the party, Sugarwings and I made chocolate dipped strawberries to serve, and I saved the plastic containers that the berries came in. Those were ideal for sending wet modelling compound cupcakes home in. Cars might have been muddy from the creek on the way home, but at least they didn't have any pink, fake icing all over them.

I can't say there wasn't any glitter drizzled into the seats, though…

My new water jug from Victorian Trading was ideal! I filled it with ice, poured cold water over it, and it was still chilly the next day.

The pottery really keeps the water cold.

For punch in the cut glass dispenser, I mixed white cranberry/strawberry juice with a couple cans of Sierra Mist. The night before, I froze cranberries in juice to make a giant, floating ice cube to slip into the punch. Very pretty, and tasty, but so easy to make.

I'm already looking forward to the next party.

A festive season

celebrations, family, Food and Drink, holiday decor, We're having a party

By Karla Nathan / December 22, 2014

I've been going full speed into Christmas this year. I always love the season, and this year even more. I've arranged one activity, party, or gathering one after another.

It has been glorious! (that word should always be spoken the way Will Farrell says it in "Old School")

Last weekend was Breakfast with Santa at Lion's Gate country club. They have the BEST Santy Claus.

Sadly, Dewdrop was ill and couldn't make it. So, we will be taking her to see the jolly old elf at the community pool for a Santa Swim party.

I've bought tickets to plays, gone to craft parties, thrown craft days, arranged luncheons, attended gatherings, hosted gatherings, and have had so much going on that there has been something exciting almost every single day.

If there wasn't a special activity going on, Sugarwings and I would make one up. We'd turn an ordinary day into an event. We'd dye trees (our Christmas version of doing eggs at Easter), set up a fancy table with good dishes in front of the Christmas tree and have a cocoa party, draw up a list of holiday lit homes in town and go on an adventure hunt to follow a map and find all the brightly lit up neighborhoods, or just snuggle up and watch some holiday specials on TV.

I've thrown a few parties this season. I like to have my friends over for an annual ornament making party with their kids, and this year, with my husband's travel schedule for work, it didn't look like we were going to be able to have our big bash.

So, instead of my usual weekend dinner party with a bonfire and beers for guys and crafting for anyone who wanted to hang out in the studio, I switched it to a luncheon for some of my friends and ornament making afterwards.

I wanted to try making these tarts, they are thinly sliced veggies, rolled into spirals and baked in a pie crust lined with ricotta cheese. And I also wanted my friends to know that they are special to me and I wanted to create a treat for them, so I set the table pretty and had them over.

But we didn't stop there. After school, their kids joined us for more crafting and a few other friends were able to come by to make ornaments too.

We turned it into a whole evening, ordered some pizzas, drank some wine, and had a cocoa party for the kiddos.

I set out thermoses of hot milk, a big bowl of marshmallows, organic candy canes, chocolate syrup, and some cocoa powder and let them serve themselves from the treat cabinet.

We also broke up candy canes and put those in the cotton candy maker and that was a hit too. Although, at times, the cotton candy maker was left on unattended, and big fluffs of spun sugar would float across the room.

I was ready to chase those puffs down and try to catch them with my tongue like snowflakes.

(and was glad that I'd covered up my vintage wallpaper with a curtain before setting the cotton candy maker next to it)

It is always fun to see what everyone comes up with, when presented with a table full of supplies and left on their own.

Lots of different styles of crafts get churned out.

But the best part is the laughing. It was a fun evening.

I've not finished my shopping or wrapped any gifts yet. I'll make that work out somehow. Gift cards for the big kids and a few toys under the tree for kids, probably. This year, I've tried to make the season about the people, not the presents.

And to have the holiday spirit of sharing and togetherness for the whole month.

And of course, soak up the joy every single day!

Happy Thanksgiving!

celebrations, Dew Drop, fairies, family, holiday decor, Sugarwings

By Karla Nathan / November 27, 2014

Happy Thanksgiving! I'm hoping that as you read this, my house is all decked and my turkey is roasting in the oven. But for now (I write these posts ahead of time) I can just day dream of juicy turkey and all the trimmings while thinking about what I'm thankful for. And hoping to get time to get the tree out and the 6 overflowing boxes of sparkling goodies piled onto it….

While the furniture is moved around to make space for the upcoming tree, we decided to take advantage of the space and have a dance party. I looped a strand of rope lights around the room, gathered up the grand fairies, and hit the button on what my husband thinks is the world's most annoying toy.

It's loud, it's obnoxious, and WE LOVE IT. That is, the girls and I. Not so much their grandfather. But he will dance with us. I bought it for half price and with a 30% coupon off that price at Kohls. And I think the ten bucks is a much better investment than the two year gym membership that I bought. This little machine is a big workout.

We are learning to dance, "North Pole Style." Here I am shovelling snow. We also get to chase snowflakes and catch them on our tongue, go ice fishing, jiggle like Santa's tummy, and plenty more cool dance moves.

(I bought these slinky,fuzzy jammies at the same 50% off, then 30% off sale at Kohls, and have been very popular with Dewdrop when I wear them. She thinks I am some sort of a human stuffed animal and won't stop petting me.)

I think she is pretty snuggly too.

Enjoy your turkey and your thanking. I know I have a lot of things to be thankful for.

And if you are in the mood to get ready for the holidays, I have some kits available (with more to come).

I'm calling these Tart Tin Tassels.

Both kits are available in the Boutique.

Along with these fairy kits from Birdsong. Wouldn't they make adorable Elves on Shelves???

I'm doing that with one of them this year.

I'm also planning to fill a silver tree with them.

Or if you'd prefer to buy something ready to go instead of making it, I've got one ornie listed in the Etsy shop and hope to get more up soon.

Also, I have seats left in my Romantic White Christmas workshop at the studio on Friday Dec. 5. Maybe I'll see you in Lawrence??

A Fall Wedding in New Hampshire

celebrations, family, flowers, Food and Drink, guncles, holiday decor, Travel, vintage paper/collage art, We're having a party

By Karla Nathan / November 8, 2014

What a perfect place for a wedding! The guncles have been together for a long time and had a commitment ceremony 17 years ago, but now that they can be legally married, we gathered in NH to celebrate with them.

We had a rehearsal dinner the night before the event at Ipswich Country Club. And oh my! It was something!

Great appetisers.

Exceptional food.

Wonderful company. (this is just some of us, I don't have a group shot)

And a serenade from Carol Swarbrick Dries (Aunt Carol). She sang a song that had tears in all of our eyes. We begged for an encore the next day at the wedding.

The air was crisp, the leaves were colorful, and the site for the wedding luncheon and ceremony was ideal for the occasion.

And did I mention that there was carrot cake? My fave! And so pretty with the fall colors. There wasn't a cake stand, but I slipped a couple of box lids from our centerpieces under it and that made a quick but cute, make shift stand.

I was so pleased that the boxes we worked on together to make centerpieces looked so festive in the room.

We also glittered and sponge painted some packages of tissue paper leaves from the dollar bin at Target to sprinkle around the table. And Randy framed a picture of each guest to create name cards for the seating.

17 years ago, we had to take apart two bride and groom cake toppers to get two grooms. Now, the guncles had plenty of toppers to choose from with two grooms. All this one needed was some highlights in one groom's hair and it was ready to adorn the carrot cake.

I was honored to be in the ceremony. The whole time I was up there, I watched Kevin's face and was moved by the emotions he showed.

That man is a treasure and we are lucky to have him in our family, and seeing the love and happiness in his eyes that day, moved me to my core.

I spent the entire day with red, weepy eyes, but a huge grin on my face at the same time.

Fall leaves wedding centerpiece how-to

celebrations, family, free images, guncles, how to's

By Karla Nathan / October 16, 2014

This is a big week for me. I'm away with my sisses on a trip to Sarasota to relax on the beach for an entire week of sister time. From there, I'll be flying directly to New Hampshire to meet up with my husband and attend his brother's wedding.

We are both standing up with the couple and I am thrilled! I've never been in a wedding, and this one is extra special. The guncles had a commitment ceremony 15 years ago, and have been an ideal couple, deeply in love and devoted to each other.

But in Florida, their ceremony isn't recognized. So we are all flying to NH where it is legal for them to wed, and I am double thrilled to be a part of it.

I'm helping with the decorations, here is a prototype of a centerpiece that I have mailed to the guncles to approve. And while I'm in Florida, my sisses and I will have a bachelor party/craft day with Randy at sweet Karen's Kozy Kottage in Mt. Dora to create the rest of the decorations for the wedding.

The plan so far, will be to get some fall vines from the hobby store, sponge paint them gold and add glitter, to make a few centerpieces and a garland for the mantle in the room they are renting for the event.

The day of the party, we will add some fresh flowers to the arrangements.

We have 10 of these tins to use to make a banner to hang from the garland. I added a K to this one as an example, but I don't know what we will be spelling yet.

I thought of using the light weight, paper mache boxes to hold the floral arrangements because they have to be mailed. These would cost a fraction of what it would cost to ship vases. Plus, Randy adores photos, so this is a way to use photos in the decor. He has already made up place cards utilizing pictures of the attendees, so this will look nice with those on the table.

The boxes are decoupaged in old, French text, then glittered in a sheer crystal glitter. Over that, I've added a fall colored scrapbook paper framed out in Dresden foil and holding cut out picture of the guncles and their beloved pets.

The leaves are stuck in oasis foam, and there are two small skewers, painted gold holding up the mini banner, "Happily Ever After" printed on heart shaped leaves covering chipboard.

Here they are if you'd like to use them for a project too. Click on the image to open in a larger window and save that to your computer to print.

When I get back, I'll have pictures of the finished decor, along with the happy couple too, of course!

ps-

I'm out of town now, but the tutorial is still available for purchase, if you are interested in making an art journal

What A Wonderful, Wonderful, Day It Was

celebrations, family, Sugarwings

By Karla Nathan / March 9, 2014

If you have a little Oz fan (or a big one like me) in your family, she will need to get to Crown Center in Kansas City to see the 75th anniversary celebration display. And on different weekends, you can meet some of the characters.

We were lucky to be there on Glenda's day to visit.

Her costume was perfect in every detail! I really wanted this necklace she had on.

While standing in the (very short) line to meet the Good Witch, Sugarwings confessed that she was getting nervous and didn't know what to say to her.

But it didn't take her long to get over her nerves. She was thrilled to meet the gracious witch who took plenty of time to greet and visit with each kid.

Down the hall, was the Oz playground. Every single inch of the space was hand painted.

Starting with Auntie Em's old house, all at a crazy tilted angle from the twister.

Complete with the Wicked Witch's feet sticking out from underneath.

If you press the red button and look through the window, you can watch Miss Gulch fly through the storm on her bike. Throughout the exhibit, there were lots of interactive things like that for the kids.

We were some of the biggest kids there. I wore my striped socks and witch hat, but didn't go all out witchy. I still made a friend who believed I was the real thing, though. A little boy followed me around throwing pretend buckets of water at me, so that I'd do a lot of melting. And more than one itty bitty girl thought that Sugarwings was really Dorothy.

I was impressed with Wizard's giant head, and all the details of the Emerald City, from the green lighting to the floor painted with emeralds.

And behind the curtain, the mechanics of making the giant head come alive, with buttons, levers, and pumps for the kids to control.

I've been to Crown Center for a kid event one other time and this same room was all hand painted every bit as cool and done up as a fairy tale land.

It's been too long since I revisited, I need to become a regular there with my girls, this place is so cute. We want to go back on the weekend that Dorothy is there to greet everyone, and I hope that Dewdrop gets to come along then.

We missed her this trip, I know she'd love it as much as we did.

And did I mention it was all free? This is set up in a downtown mall, owned by Hallmark (headquartered in KC) and there are lots of other attractions there for kids, plus shopping, movies, and food.

We ate at the Crayola Cafe, and surprisingly, had a very good meal. I was especially glad to see the heathy eating tips aimed at kids on the menu. And a side of "apple fries" which was an apple cut up like french fries and flavored with cinnamon, crispy and fresh, not fried at all.

There was also a lot of activities (free) in the Crayola gift shop.

As well as art supplies to buy. We got a couple little things, and also bought this Dorothy dress and ruby slippers at a shop there, but if you don't want to spend money, they even provide a place for you to eat a bagged lunch you can bring for yourself.

We were glad to see that there were dresses to buy, because we'd had a Dorothy emergency that morning. Sugarwings has had a progression of Dorothy dresses from infant size to 5, and we realized that she'd outgrown her latest one. I looked everywhere downtown Lawrence to get one for the day, with no luck. She had to wear a Toto tee shirt and a gingham apron.

But being the sunny child she is, she was fine with it.

My husband said she looked like a laundress.

The dress was a big improvement and she was thrilled to get it. But she is pretty much thrilled with anything and everything.

Which is why every day is an adventure with her, no matter where we are heading.

Sweethearts and some card making tips

celebrations, Dew Drop, family, holiday decor, how to's, Sugarwings, Valentine's Day, vintage paper/collage art

By Karla Nathan / February 21, 2014

I hope you had a good Valentines Day? We sure did. Actually, a week of it! My Handsome Husband took me out to dinner one night, then the next, we all got dressed up and went out for a fancy meal with Sugarwings, her mommy and her mommy's sweetheart. And this was all before Valentines ever arrived. On the day of, I had the grand fairies and we decided to play with food coloring out in the snow.

Of course, not all of the artwork can be hearts and love notes when you are creating with a 3 year old, and most of it all got trampled. When Ryan came down his stairs later as it was starting to get dark out, he thought there had been some sort of massacre in the snow from all the red squirted everywhere.

Sugarwings took off for a weekend with her mommy while Dewdrop spent some time with us. We got all dressed up with her and went out on the town again, to do a little dining and dancing while a friend's band played.

Then, and yes there is MORE. My husband and I went out to dinner AGAIN with some friends. I think I might just forget how to cook. I could get used to this life of restaurants and celebrations.

Except it all came to a crashing end when I had more gum surgery on Monday morning. No more dining for me for a while, it's jello time now.

Between galas and bashes and dinners and celebrating, I made up some cards to send out. These are a little different for me, not all elements are pure vintage. I had this rose print paper, and thought it was perfect for the holiday.

To start, I folded a chocolate brown sheet of card stock to make the card, and inked all the edges inside and out. Next, I cut out the rose paper to fit on the card, and with an exacto blade, cut slits in the faux picture frame on the paper, to slide in a Victorian die cut cherub.

To make the frame a bit more 3d, I used a soft brown marker to outline the inside of the frame and create shadows.

Around the card, I doodled with a metallic gold ink pen. The message inside the card is with the same ink.

To finish, I glued two sets of millinery petals, and added a red rhinestone to the center.

This card was made in much the same way, then I added velvet ribbon, a crepe paper ruffle, a painted brass piece and a millinery leaf to the edge.

For the brass, I used Martha Stewart craft paint that is made for metal, painted it on and wiped it off.

This time, the card also features a painted metal piece, that I've tied ribbons to. On top of it, I glued some vintage butterfly wings and on those, a pink cake topper lady, who is now a fairy.

I had another pink lady, and used her over some die cut butterfly wings that my friend, Hope, had given me. I layered her over another painted brass piece and some lace.

This one was made after I ran out of the pretty rose paper but was still in a card making mood. I cut sheet music into a heart, inked the edges and added a crepe paper ruffle to the back.

Onto the card, I added a Victorian die cut lady. Her dress had been baby blue, but I changed that with markers for a more Valentiney look. Her wings are two different butterflies printed onto vellum paper, and slid under her shoulders.

I added some millinery and a touch of sparkle with Stickles glitter.

I just love the way vellum paper looks with images printed on it. This photo is on vellum, and I cut a heart out of sparkly, white scrap book paper to layer underneath, then put both over a tan mat for contrast. It went into a frame, not onto a card.

If you'd like to try the snow painting, it is simple as can be. A small amount of food coloring in a jug of water is all it takes to make the paint. Then, put it into squirt bottles. It is surprising how fast it goes, though, so be prepared for a lot of refilling.

PS- if you'd like to sign up for a chance to win a copy of Where Women Create, please leave a comment on my previous post, or on FB.

A special surprise

antiques/junking, bird song art event, celebrations, family

By Karla Nathan / February 8, 2014

When I got an invitation to my niece's surprise 50th birthday party in Indiana, I couldn't say no. As soon as I finagled the kiddo watching schedule and made sure my turn was covered, I cashed in frequent flyer miles and packed my bag.

My niece, Shelli, has always loved mermaids, so I made this one as a gift for her. It's the same pipe cleaner and wool roving as the fairies we will be making in Birdsong, but with shells and a tail instead of clothes and legs. A little more complicated, but not much. And harder to sit up, so I packed a sea shell in the gift bag too, now the little mermaid has a seat.

This mermaid is holding a heart shaped coral from the Maui beach and her seahorse wand is a cocktail pick from our dinner cruise there. And my family wonders why I fill my pockets with "junk" sometimes, it's not junk, it's supplies!

My flight arrived in time for a lunch out with my sisses and the birthday girl. She didn't realize there was more in-store for her birthday the next day and had no idea I was there just for her. She thought that the lunch was the celebration itself, along with dinner out with her husband and kids that night.

So, the evening after her birthday, when everyone surprised her at the party, she was looking over her shoulder trying to figure out whose shindig this was.

It was cute to see her face when she realized everyone was there just for her.

My sisses and I were able to fit in a little antiquing the first day, just enough to score 3 floral hats and a few other tidbits, not a lot, but it scratched my junking itch.

Mostly I was there for family time, and glad to have it.

Our cousin even drove all the way down from Northern Indiana in the snow to join us for craft day.

Everyone consented to be my guinea pig students for the Birdsong fairies. This is Sissy's Valentine fairy, I'll have more to show later.

**********************

ps- have you seen the Facebook movies that have sprung up over night? At first I wondered what the heck they were, then thought they were hokey, and soon after got sucked in to looking at them all.

Some are off a bit, like showing exes from years ago, or odd pictures. But some are golden. I even got a little teary eyed at a couple, including my own. Yep, I went along like a lemming and posted one.

Here is the page it is on.

They are fun to look at, but it's also creepy to see how fast they spread. In one day, it seemed like every other post was a fb movie. Like a zombie epidemic.

A Holiday Ornament making party

celebrations, family, holiday decor, We're having a party

By Karla Nathan / January 11, 2014

Is it too late to still be talking about Christmas?

I feel like I missed a chunk of the holiday since I got so sick with a 24 hour bug that I was in bed for almost a week. Luckily, the rest of the family didn't get hit so hard. But I was a pure wimp about it.

So, I feel a bit behind with my holiday recaps. Plus, I'm writing this ahead of my trip to Hawaii so my blog will update while I'm away, making this not quite as old of news to me as it is to you….

On the weekend before Christmas, we had an ornament making party. It was a big, pitch in dinner, with lots of tasty treats, about 40 or so people, and I filled a table in the studio with tons of supplies so whoever wanted to make something for their tree could snip and paste and glitter away. Most of the husbands preferred beers in the office to glitter in the studio. The kids and moms were all able to make at least a couple ornies each.

I think Finn set the record, he was a regular Santa's Helper Elf. That kid was cranking them out.

And, I'd say the glitter was certainly used in full force! I will be sweeping up glitter for months. Or not, I kind of like having it sparkling up the floors.

Actually, it was one of many ornament parties I went to. First, the workshop early in the season, then a few friends over the next week to make some of the leftover projects. And my pal, Tami, invited me to a holiday ornament party at her house with some of our Birdsong friends.

Those were all such fun, that I threw this big one with the dinner party too. But poor Sugarwings, who was so excited about helping me plan it, got sick and couldn't come. I had a mini party for her where she could craft her own sparkly creations to make it up to her.

I'd bought a bagful of those papermache shapes on strings at Michael's when they were 40% and I had a 25% off everything coupon. These made for some fun concoctions, and I think I should go back and get more if they are still on clearance there . I have a feeling that they are gone by now. They are good to work with for the adults as well as the kids.

I wish I'd had my camera out more. I was elbow deep in sparkly stuff and too busy to take many pictures til things slowed down and all the kids had been helped with the glue gun and basic steps.

Over the years, I've had other seasonal parties with crafts in the studio. I love making things so much, these are my favorite kind of parties. I'm blessed with the space to do this and also have more supplies than I'll ever use. Might as well share, huh?

Speaking of supplies, my friend, Jen, had given me a stack of photo paper she wasn't going to use. Some how, some old photos (copies) of her relatives were left in the envelopes, but I wasn't sure if they were from her or some I had, or what, because it was a year or so later that I opened them and I had lots of pictures and photo paper.

She saw the photos I had out for everyone to cut and play with and recognized her grandma in them. She and her daughter had a great time making family themed ornaments to give away for Christmas. And it was cute to hear her daughter come over and say, "Mom, can I have another relative, please?"

Gosh, I hated to see the holidays come to an end. In my house, all the decor was packed up and stored away on Jan.1st. But there is still a silver and gold explosion of Christmas out in the studio. I have a feeling that when I return from Hawaii, I will be wishing I'd got that all boxed up too. Heck, I didn't even have a chance to clean up the room from the party yet.

That will be one of the first things on my list to do when I get settled. Because the girls and I have new toys to play with, I got these art sets at Michael's for them (those go on sale every year for a couple dollars) and Sugarwings bought one for me too! She had earned money from selling dyed bottle brush trees on Etsy and took that to her school holiday shop where things are donated by the community for kids to buy.

We were so tickled to see that we'd got the same gifts for each other. I can't wait till we get to sit down in the studio, spread out all the colors and give them a whirl.

Sometimes holidays aren’t what you planned, are they?

celebrations, Dew Drop, family, holiday decor, Sugarwings

By Karla Nathan / December 30, 2013

Oh, we pulled Christmas off wonderfully, after all, but it was a bit of a bumpy ride.

First, Sugarwings came down with an upper respiratory bug and fever that made her miss the last day of school, with its big holiday bash, and then our annual ornament making party too. As she started to get better, her mommy got a stomach bug, and Ryan got the head cold thing and high fever. Then, shifts at work started shifting for the other parents, and all of our plans were topsy turvy.

We were back and forth on what day, what time, when to celebrate, but it all worked out with all of us feeling healthy on the same day and off work at the same time. For one, beautiful, sparkly evening Christmas night, no one was sick. We had a lovely party, with lots of happy giggles.

And Santa was able to find the girls at our house on the morning after Christmas.

But then, people started to trade bugs back and forth and before you know it, we had all succumbed to one or the other.

Lucky me, I had both at once. I can't even remember how long I was in bed, it felt like years. And my selfish family refused to put a pillow over my head and smother me to put me out of my snotty, nauseating misery. Even when I assured them that I was too weak to struggle and would go quickly.

Our littlest fairy has the feverish bug now, along with both of her parents. Hopefully, her brothers and sisters won't get it too, because we are still trying to find a day when we can bring them an armload of gifts.

On Christmas Eve, when the parents were at work or sick, Sugarwings was feeling better, so we took the girls to the restaurant her Daddy was working at. I almost felt guilty about enjoying it so much with most of the family either sick or at work on the holiday, but man, it was a beautiful thing to have someone else cook a great meal on Christmas Eve.

Years ago. before we had the Fairy Granddaughters, we used to eat Christmas dinner with Ryan at a bar and grill where he was employed as a cook. There are few things as sad as bar food and listening to drunks cry into their beers over not seeing their kids on Christmas while we ate chicken strips and buffalo wings. But hey, you do your best to be with family and keep them company on the holidays. And we did our best to make it fun.

It was a whole different thing to get fancied up really nice and put red, velvety dresses on the girls to go out for an Italian meal at my favorite restaurant.

We have aimed at traditions over the years and sometimes succeed. But, we've discovered that it doesn't always matter if you have a certain meal on a certain night.

As long as we can find a day to be together, we are pretty happy.