A Pinkalicious Peek~

I promised MyHero

that I would do a

QUICK post..

because it is, after all,

Christmas night...

We just got home from

a wonderful day

that started about 6am..

It is now 8pm..

We are tired

but we

ARE NOT

hungry-

trust me.

Everyone hugged.

Everyone smiled.

Everyone got presents.

Everyone had fun.

Little Miss Lulu got her

heart's desire.

Little Miss Ria got what

she so longed for.

BabyE stole our hearts

as he danced excitedly

over every little thing.

But..

We all know that everyone

is waiting to see if

SweetCheeks liked

what she got.

Tomorrow I will

go into more details

about everyone's Christmas

but today I will leave

you with

a few quick pictures of

SweetCheeks

at her

PINKALICIOUS

best.

So..

Remember this?

Ah...the crown is the

perfect fit.

She has Christmas Head Hair..

don't you love it?

And the gloves?

Oh, darling, the gloves

are perfect for these royal

never-seen-dishwater hands.Lulu-

Lookit my

PINKALICIOUS DWRESS

AND TEEARRA AND

PURHSE.Hey, Nana..How comes

this

PINKALICIOUS DOLL

has a mhagik whand

and I doan't haff one?

.....uh-oh....Hey...Look..

Baby Effan is

touching my stuffh!

Can sumbuddy help me hearh?I promised a peek..

A sweet little peek..

A PINKALICIOUS PEEK...

A PERFECT

PINKALICIOUS

ending to a

perfect

PINKALICIOUS DAY!

Christmas Blessings

for this wonderful

post Holiday

morning.

It's A Pinkalicious Christmas

I was afraid that

Santa had so many special

things already picked out for

SweetCheeks

that he might not have

room on his sleigh

for my little

PINKALICIOUS PRINCESS.

So...

I went up to the mail room

at the hospital and found

a wonderful, sturdy box..

A box that could be

covered with some

PINKALICIOUS PAPER.

Let me just tell you this..

NO PERSON

in their

RIGHT MIND

should attempt covering a

box like this entirely with

PINKALCIOUS PAPER.

It is a daunting task..

a task that requires

an angel sitting on

your shoulder to

keep you from

chopping off the

head of the person

standing next to you

giving you instructions.

Well, he didn't really

but he WANTED too..

you know how you can always

tell they WANT TO

tell you how to do something....

My newest line is..

BACK AWAY-

I HAVE SCISSORS.

However,

once covered..

is this cute, or what?

The first thing a

PINKALICIOUS PRINCESS

needs is a

PINKALICIOUS GOWN.

Size 4 is perfect!And no gown is complete

without matching slippers-

Slippers to fit precious

little toes!I wonder if they make this

outfit in an

Extra Large..

Cuz I think I might look kinda

cute in this myself...

OOOOh...I wonder what

MyHero would think of me

in THAT outfit..

Not much, I'm thinking...

And at the opposite end

of the body ..

is the...

c'mon...there's gonna be

a test later...

Opposite from the toes?

Got it?

Why..yes...yes it is..

It's the head~

And A

PINKALICIOUS HEAD

is not fully dressed

without a crown..

A PINKALICIOUS CROWN.

A crown to die for..

with perfect gemsAnd..oh yes...we must,

we must, we must

have a purse and gloves.Look- Look-

It's a

PINKCALICIOUS PURSE

up close and sweet enough

to make you cry pink tears.And...if we have slippers for the toes..

we must have

PINKALICIOUS GLOVES

for little

PINKALICIOUS FINGERS.And every

PINKALCIOUS PRINCESS

needs a

PINKALICIOUS COMPANION..

complete with a crown and a

MAGIC WAND!

Look-she is smiling.

She is smiling because

she knows that soon..

oh-so-soon..

our own little

SweetCheeks

will be opening the box

and pulling her out

and loving on her.

She is already dreaming

of all the grand adventures

they are going to have.

I'll bet you

three magic mops

that SweetCheeks will name her...

RAINBOW.

Any takers? Anyone? Anyone?Here it is..

All put into the

PINKALICIOUS BOX..

The box with the ribbon on it

waiting to be curled.

And now...now the ribbon is curled...

There's just one more thing..

What's that you say?

That's ALL the

PINKALICIOUS STUFF

you can think of?

Oh..no..there is

ONE MORE THING~

Found at the bargain basement

price-the day before

Christmas Eve day for $3.98.

I mean, really...

Who could resist?

Obviously not me!

And, before I wrapped it up..

I had to plug it in to see

for myself..

just how

PINKALICIOUS

a tree could look.....*sigh*

It's Christmas!

A Pinkalicious Christmas..

Wishing you all a

Blessedly Beautiful

Christmas Eve with your loved ones.

Nana Diana

Merry Christmas Blogging Friends

I hope your home is warm and bright,

I hope your life is full of light,

I pray that evening finds you near

to everything that you hold dear.

God Bless You All

This Christmas Eve..

And keep you safe.

for I believe..

that we have met here for a reason,

More than just the Christmas season,

Perhaps to share some stolen smiles,

Perhaps to connect us o'er the miles,

Whatever the reason,

I'm glad to see..

There's someone else

a lot like me.

So, here we are,

a fine old blend,

of Moms & Artists

and One Old Hen (me);>)

Merry, Merry Christmas

to all my wonderful

friends- Diana

ps..Pop in tomorrow to see

Lil' Miss Pinkalicious!

Dressing The House For The Holidays

As you know..

I have been working..

and not getting nearly

enough done..

But here is a bit

of our house

dressed for

Christmas.

This is part of the

front entry hall..

To the left is a small

sitting room..

To the right is the

dining room.

A glimpse of the dining room..

table set..

and I am playing with lights

and camera settings..

and..

well...see for yourself..

I know you can't see them

very good..

but hanging off the sconces

on the back wall are two

long silver "icicle" tassels

from the 1940s..

they belonged to MyHero's grandmother. This is where the old stairwell

came into the house

and opened into the

old hall..

Behind the seeded glass

is a small library area

for the kids..

There is a pocket

sliding door there

that opens into

a small powder room..

and on the side facing you

is the landing area

to the upstairs bedrooms.And this little snowman

sits at the end of the downstairs hall

just before you come up the steps

into the main area of the house..

That is where the little

"nature" tree sits.More to come...but

right now..

I have presents to wrap..

and food to cook..

and hair to wash..

and..oh my..

do you think I have

time to eat?

Oh--yeah--

I can ALWAYS

find time to eat!

Trust me on this..

You know how you hear people

say...Oh she looks just

so "drawn"..

(you know..thin and "drawn" looking)..

Which, by the way, where DID

that saying ever come from...

someone drawing STICK people?

Well...you know how people say

someone looks DRAWN?

Yeah?

They will NEVER say

that about me!

The Trouble With Christmas Trees & Santa

Here they are..

in the car..

just before Thanksgiving..

headed out to

The Tree Farm.

They needn't go far..
They are OFF..

(not OFF like me-no I mean they

are on their way)

OFF to get a Christmas tree.

They go to the same

place every year.

This year there was a lack of snow..

but it was a nice day..

not too cold.

You will notice that

SweetCheeks..

looks like a little

stuffed sausage..

er..

sweet little

candy cane girl.

They get to the tree farm

and set off on their great adventure..

in quest of

The Perfect Tree..

Ah yes~

There she is..

tall and green..

looking like a queen..

a real dancing machine..

oh-wait..

there I go rhyming sorry..
Chop...chop...chop...

Down she goes..

She went the opposite

way they thought she

was going to go..

Whoooops!Now for the trek back..

The two older girls

rush ahead..

SweetCheeks brings up the

rear because she

just trudges along.

Smile girls...Where's your sister?

Huh?

Where is SweetCheeks?

SweetCheeks..What are

you doing?

Ih'm stuck in a twree!

(She said it was a tree-looks

like a big ole bush to me..

but then..what do I know?)

We'll help you, SweetCheeks.

Come on..We're gonna

go see Santa now.

The tears are right

at the surface..

I doan kare iff I effer see Santa..

(Uh-oh- Someone lost their

sense of humor in the

non-burning bush)

We finally make it to Santa's lap.

Do you want to sit on my lap,

little girl?

I hear it's your birthday tomorrow..

Tell Santa what you want for

Christmas.

The soft little secrets

are whispered

to Santa....

followed up by the

saga of

The

Killer Tree That Catcheted Me..

(look at Santa's face);>)

Finally, they all snuggle up

to have their picture

taken with Santa..

Now..

The Saturday

AFTER Thanksgiving

is always a special day.

They get all decked out

in their Christmas dresses..

AND

They go to a special

Santa brunch with

Uncle Paul.

(He's my brother-in-law-

Is he just not the most handsome

in-law ever? We love our Uncle Paulie!)And after eating a wonderful

brunch..

(where SweetCheeks eyes actually

rolled back in her head when

she saw the big chocolate cake-

Yummmm)

Anyway,

After that..

They get to see Santa!

What?

Again?

Yep!

First our dear

Little Lulu

tells Santa what she wants.

Then Ria & SweetCheeks take a turn.

And, tell me, Little Girl...

What would you like for Christmas?

SweetCheeks puts one hand on her hip.

Doan't yoah rehmembarh from befoarh

I jus' tole yoah the offther day

whut I wanted, Santa!Santa is just checking to see

if you want the same thing now.

We have to double check, you know.

Well, ohkay then..

I wanna PINKULICIOUS crown

and dress and slippahs..

okay?

Okay..SweetCheeks...

You sure are a

sweet little girl!

Thank yoah, Santa!

Later.... Nana? Yes, honey? Didju know I luvff Santa Claws..

Yep! And he loves you too..

Hims does?

Yep! Hims sure does!

Monkeys Monkeys Everywhere Except In The Ornament Department

What a day!

Let me repeat myself..please..

WHAT A DAY!

Now..y'all know I call the little

curtain climbers around here

monkeys.

There are four of them that

visit on a semi-regular basis.

And..

they are ALL monkeys to me.

Monday morning

finds 2 girls off to school

and you-know-who

left behind.

Quick as lightening we

shuck off our clothes in the

living room..

Well...ONE of us shucked off our

clothes in the living room

and it wasn't me.

Me? I dress in the

closet with the door closed.

When they say I'm coming

out of the closet they mean it

in the nicest way...like

OH! Nana got dressed today..

Yes, yes..I do get dressed

everyday..

thanks for asking.

Anyway..back to the shucking

of clothes..

The Princess That Reigns

has now donned her

normal attire and

is about to feed her baby.

Hey! Can I see your baby?

Dass not a baby..

Yoah know whut diss iss.

Diss is my muhnkey..An' I'm gonna feed hims

wiff hims own bottle.

Hmmm..

I see you got HIMS

dressed in HERS

dress.

I thought that was a boy

monkey, SweetCheeks.

Nope..Hims a gurhl.

Well, of course, hims is!As soon as I can muster

up the courage we get

dressed and head to the

store.

We are on the ultimate

ornament search..

The ultimate MONKEY

ornament search.

You can read all about

the sad tale

of the missing monkey here.

Today we are going

to a store that advertises

EVERY ornament

known to mankind.

I KNOW I can find

a monkey ornament there...

but...just to be on

the safe side...

I drop

SweetCheeks and her Mom

off at TJMaxx and head

next door to

PJ Collectibles..

(amazing store full

of collectibles and ornaments)

I confidently approach

the sales clerk.

I'm looking for a monkey

ornament...Nothing fancy

(I am sooo NOT paying $75.00

for a Radko monkey for

a four year old..I may

LOOK a bit daft but

I still have a few bolts

tightened in the old

nut factory)

Anyway, Ma'am

I'm looking for something

similar to this picture..

Do you have anything

like this?

Oh yeah...and, mentally

add a tutu and you

will get a close visual to what

SOMEONE

broke.

Ummmm...here let me take

you over to the zoo collection.

titter-titter-titter

I guess we don't have any

monkeys this year.

WHAT?

WHUT?

No monkeys?

No..not this year...

You have 50 gazillion ornaments

and not one flipping monkey

in the whole store?

(I said THAT whole conversation

in my head..

to myself ..

so I could pass for

a pleasant person).

Okay..Well,

Thanks anyway!

I meet Mom and SweetCheeks

and sadly shake my head.

My daughter looks at me.

Her mouth is hanging

agape in that

"You've GOT to be

kidding me" look.

Well, I say..let's head to

Target...we have already

checked out Shopko,

Walmart, Hallmark,

independents..

we are on to

Target.

Our last great,

white (and red)

hope.

SweetCheeks

settles herself into the

cart because I bribe

her with

bubblegum..

Where's that gum

I just gave you?

Welll, Nanneee..

yoah losteded it bhack

therh..

What?

I sayed yoah losteded it

bhack therh when

it dropped outta my mouff

and down through the

holes in the charrt

and yoah jus' keeped

whalkin'

OMG!

I am going to be arrested

for littering, by the

rent-a-cop..

cuz I see one coming

towards us and she

looks mean.

Hey, SweetCheeks calls.

My heart drops into my shoes.

Do yoah haff eny muhnkey

ORMANETS?

Try the Christmas aisle..

floats back..

It floats back...

because, honey, I am

moving myself right along

away from that

dreaded wad of gum

that is lying

SOMEWHERE

unknown waiting,

like a louse,

to attach itself to

a host foot.

We finally get to the

ORMANENT department.

When did Target get to

be the size of

a football stadium?

Lo and behold..

there it is..

The last one in the store.

Ohhh..

Sweetcheeks sighs..

Datt iss the one

I dreamed I wanted.

It isss 'zackly whut

I want.

SOLD!Hmmmm...

Doesn't look like a monkey

in a tutu to me...

just sayin'...

I'll Leave The Light On For Ya!

Yep- Just like the Motel6...

The last guest has departed..

The last dish is washing..

All the food has been packed away..

And I am packing myself

off to bed.

More on my adventures

tomorrow.

This is one of the windows

in our great room...

Sparkles cost a bit..

but the love here

is free! Hope your Monday before Christmas

is wonderful!

Monkey Business

SOMEONE

is not happy!

SOMEONE

is feeling pretty sad.

Whatever is the matter

SweetCheeks?

Look...Look at my twree..

Do yoah see whut's misssing?

Uh...Did you eat all the

candy canes off?

Noh..

Okay...I don't know.

What is missing,

SweetCheeks?

Mhy MUNKEY ORMANENT..

Thass whut's missing...

Mhy MUNKEY ORMANENT.

I was puttin' it on thu bwranch

and it slippeted off and

it smashed all to pieces

and now iss all gone..

and it wuss my

FHAVORHIT ORMANENT

too. Ahnd...YOAH

gott it foarh me lass' yhear.

Well, SweetCheeks...

Let's go see if we can find

another one.

That will be your ornament for

this year, okay?

OH-KAY Nannee..

I nott gonna break thiss one

eny more.

Okay..

Off we go on our big adventure.

We went to a store..

and another store..

and another store..

NO ONE has any

monkey ornaments this year.

SweetCheeks was

getting pretty discouraged..

but finally...

FINALLY..

FINALLY...

Thank You Lord!

We stopped at

Aim Variety..

SweetCheeks very sweetly

asked the lady..

'Scuse me..uh..do yoah

haff eny munkey

ormanents?

The woman smiled

at her cute little

customer.

Why! Yes! I believe we

do, she said.

SweetCheeks little face

lit up.

She smiled .

She was hot on the

sales woman's heels to

follow her to

THE TREE

The tree

that held the monkey ornament.

She looked...

Her smile turned upside down..

The lip started to quiver

a bit..

Thass NOT a MUNKEY!

THASS A

GORILLA!!

The lady felt bad..

I felt bad..

SweetCheeks felt worse.
The only cure?

Off to Starbucks to

discuss the matter.

One Starbucks

Steamerah coming right up!

They know my order

by heart...

Just your usual? they ask.

Yeah...but...

Put a little Prozac in it

will ya?

I have two days to shop.

because I am working

next week..

Lord, please let me find

a monkey ornament!

Amen!

A Wee Little Tree-Nature-fied

Pardon the slightly off-kilter

calendar...

I was scanning it in and

whooops...it got kinda

skewed...a bit like me..

Just a bit "off" as they

would say in polite company;>)

Anway, every year I look forward

to picking this calendar up for

my desk area.

I love

Marjolein Basten's artwork..

She does nature like

nobody else does nature.

It is sweet without being

"gooshy" and full of

her own take on

God's little blessings...

plants, flowers, birds

& bees.

Below is a gathering

of the months for next year.

A few years ago I noticed

that Hallmark was

carrying her ornaments.

And, being the collectaholic that

I am..

and loving gardening

and nature..

I bought one..

and anohter..

and another..

y'all know what I'm talking about

now, don't you?

Here's her little sled..

Oh~ and look at that little

watering can.. with the little pots..A little birdhouse..Another little birdhouse..
A miniature wreath with even more

miniature birds..And this delightful little snowman

looking old and well-loved

although he's new(er)...And my favorite..

The Garden Gate...All nestled into this little

2' tall tree..

dripping with icicles...

taken with the camera turned sideways..

And, the most important

little one of all..

What garden could be complete

without our dear little

Peter Rabbit?

I told SweetCheeks that

Mama Rabbit

is buttoning his little coat

so that he can go out and

steal carrots..

SweetCheeks says

Noah- I don't think hers is

buttoning hims coat...

Hers is

checking his throwat for

sores, Nana!

Hmnmmmm...

What do YOU think?