Monday, December 2, 2013

The Hittyville Advent Scene...Day 2

The Merry Family decided to let Bea choose the next Advent Window Opener.  Bea chose her biggest sister, Gracie Rose, who was quite honored by Bea's selection.
  

Gracie Rose thinks she may need Dad's ladder to help her reach the window.

A half hour later...
Thomas is only too happy to help his daughter.


Thomas tells his daughters he will leave the ladder behind the scenery so all the windows may be reached.  
Gracie Rose secretly would like some help assembling the pieces, but assures her dad she can handle the building just fine.

A bit later...
Gracie Rose has the little snow mobile all put together and Bea even helped with a piece or two!


Bea is thrilled her friend, Holly, will have something to do since she has to stay here at the Hittyville Advent Scene...at least for now!

~Winter fun~

V-I-C-T-O-R-Y

 My brother-in-law, Scott Shafer, led his Syracuse Orange football team to a win over Boston College to end his first season as head coach...which means the team is BOWL BOUND!
Wolf's smile...and his dad's trademark white visor...says it all!
~CONGRATULATIONS~

Thanksgiving With Abe

 Hello Friends!  Here I am...off to Minnesota to spend Thanksgiving with Mommy's family!  I had my very own seat again and some of the flight attendants remembered me and I must say, they all kept telling me how cute I am!

In Minnesota...
Here I am after my bath with Grandma Judy!  I love her so much!  She is funny and taught me how to stick out my tongue.


Now if I could only twist that little tongue of mine!


Grandma Judy is the best of kissers.  Don't I look handsome in my new pajamas?


Daddy and Mommy are lucky they got to eat FOOD!  I am getting tired of formula.  I think I overheard Mommy saying in just a week I may get some cereal.  I hope it tastes as good as this turkey feast smells!


 I really liked my bedtime story about the lake. That is where I spent part of my vacation...at Grandma Judy and Kent's Lake House.


I know I look sad in this picture, but really, I am about to cry because I have so much to be thankful for on my first Thanksgiving and I can't talk yet to tell everybody how much I love them.
Sometimes it is very frustrating being a baby.

At Auntie Sue's home...

 I think spending time with family is just the best!


Auntie Kara and Uncle Andy...Mommy's brother...are so nice and their children...Maisy and Owen are the greatest cousins in the world..at least my little world!


Auntie Sue is Grandma Judy's beautiful sister and told me a special secret about Christmas which I am about to tell her grandson, Josh!
Don't I look surprised?
I wish I could tell you, but then it wouldn't be a secret.  Auntie Sue told me I could share it with Josh only!


Owen introduced me to Josh's mommy, Jackie.  She is another very special relative!


Grandma Judy sure does love all her grandchildren and we all love her!


I think my cousins are totally awesome!


I must admit, I wish I had hair like Owen.  Next to him, I look so...um...bald.


I know it's not polite to have favorites, but GG is one of mine!  She is, after all, my only living great-grandparent!


I just can't believe GG is Grandma Judy's mommy who is my mommy's mommy!
WOW!

I kissed GG so hard, I bit her.
Oops...sorry GG!


I can't imagine a more wonderful first Thanksgiving than spending it with GG...and the rest of Mommy's family, of course!

Back in Cleveland...
So our flight was delayed for over 3 hours and we were FINALLY back at the airport where we started this Thanksgiving adventure.
Oma thought I was waving hello to her, but I was really asking for a tickling.  I love being tickled and needed some joviality after a long day of traveling!
Don't you think joviality is a happy word?  I am collecting words for when I start talking.


Thanks, Daddy!  He sure knows his little boy.

Back in Tremont...
I missed Ellie and Lucy SO much.  I wanted to kiss and hug my dog sisters just like Mommy and Daddy do.


Ellie didn't want any hugs or kisses from me...I thought if I just held her leg, she would change her mind.  Mommy told me to try again later, when Ellie's more in the mood for some affection and forgets I grabbed her leg.
I don't think Mommy understands I was just trying to hold Ellie's leg like Mommy holds Daddy's hand.
Boy, I can't wait until I can talk and explain myself!


I loved visiting my family and now I love being home and I am finally going to do one of my most favorite things in the world...watch our ceiling fan go round and round.

I hope all of you had a super-duper Thanksgiving like I did.
See you soon!
Love~Abe

Brooke's "Vacation"

Brooke is the most dedicated of teachers and spent most of her Thanksgiving vacation planning lessons and working in her classroom...

The front of Brooke's classroom...notice the Christmas lights.  


The back of the classroom...


 Such amazing organization...


Even the Math Word Wall got a bit of Christmas cheer...


 There is that Elf on the Shelf!  


And the finishing touch...An Ohio State Buckeye Christmas tree!

~Brooke's students are lucky to have such a wonderful teacher~

Sunday, December 1, 2013

The Hittyville Advent Scene...Day 1

Mrs. Claus wonders if Santa has chosen an Advent Family to set up the annual Hittyville Advent Scene.


This year Santa Claus has decided the Merry Family will build the special Christmas scene.


Mrs. Claus thinks that is a splendid choice.

Later...
The Merry Family is honored to be the Advent Family of Hittyville this year.
Now to decide who should open the first Advent Window.


It is unanimous!  Bea was chosen because she is the youngest member of the family and would be badgering the everyone endlessly until she got her turn!


Bea is so excited...


She cannot believe her eyes!
Bea gets to create her very favorite thing in the world!


 The girls of the family have decided to stay and lend Bea a hand if she needs it.
She doesn't...


Bea has built her very first doll and named her Holly, a very Christmas-like name.
The thrilled little Merry announces she is taking Holly home with her.


Bella explains Holly and the surprises behind the Advent Windows belong to Santa and ALL the Hittyville Friends, but she can visit Holly every single day.


Bea is very disappointed, but is happy to know she is the one who made her new little Friend.

Happy Beginning of Advent Season!

It's All About Art Projects

I like the idea of celebrating EVERY day, so I came up with a 12 month canvas project.
EVERYDAY IS A CELEBRATION!


I will decorate a canvas for every month of the year.


Each day I will add something celebrate a moment of the day.


I couldn't wait for the New Year to start for my project, so December is good for me!

And then...
I also started a class today offered by Dawn DeVries Sokol called
~12.31 Doodling Your December~
Day One

FUN!

For Corey

My brother and his wife, Corey, hosted the most wonderful of Thanksgiving dinners this year and I wanted to give our gracious hostess a gift to thank her for including us in the festivities...
 Corey is devoted to orangutans and their conservation.
I hoped she would love the collage I made for her.


Corey did love my gift and once again, a big thank you for the best of Thanksgivings!