LAST CHRISTMAS YOU GAVE ME YOUR HEART

Ok,

so I'm only a year tardy posting last Xmas' favorite pictures.

It's just how I roll these days.  

LOL

I thought I'd better take care of it soon as we are already into this next season's Xmas.

 Here we go.

We've got kitty Lily under my ex's tree on Xmas day while we opened presents above.

And my son Zach who brought about 5 different specialty beers to quiz us on at Xmas Eve

at my little home/studio. 

He is seen here reading off the correct answers.

My daughter Dani got the most correct guesses

(of course she did, she's a bar tender after all).

LOL

And here they are,

the glamorous couple of Danielle and Tristin,

  just starting their dog family.

This was when Granger was only about 4-5 months old.

I couldn't decide which pix I liked better so I posted both.

And my ex,

Inars,

with his pup Bogie who is now getting to be an old man,

Bogie that is

Ha!.

He's got to be about 12 years old at least.

Inars rescued him off a golf course,

thus Bogie  :).

This was when Grandger still liked Bogie,

see how he's giving him a kiss?

Now they just tolerate each other.

We are pretty sure Boogie is a Rat Terrier mix.

And I loved this shot I took of Inars.  

I think I will have it enlarged and give one to each of our children for this Xmas.

We had a frightening year with Inars' health this last April.

During my son's wedding in Hawaii he wasn't feeling right

 and when he got back to the mainland

his doctor had him go in for Open Heart Surgery. 

He had a double bypass.

So we are all so very thankful that he is completely at 100% again.  

It took 6 long grueling months of recovery and physical therapy

but he's feeling energized and oh so lucky.

And of course there are rarely any pictures of me cuz I'm usually the one doing the photographs,

so I couldn't find one from Xmas Day or Eve,

but I love this one in my classroom of senior Jimena Alvarez and I.

She was an outstanding crafts student last year.

Have I mentioned lately how much I miss my classroom,

and how utterly thrashed and disorganized it's become since I retired?

How supplies are being wasted and damaged and not brought back to the classroom.

And just how filthy the classroom has become.

This all just hurts my heart so badly.

Some little birdies and their parents have sent me several e-mails and pix

 because they are appalled how much it's gone downhill in so many ways since I left.

What really saddens me is that I was not allowed to participate in the interview process

like I was promised several times  for many years now.

That I'd be able to pass on my program that took me years and thousands of dollars to build.

There were actually a couple of ex-Whitney art students waiting in the wings for me to retire 

because they wanted to carry on my legacy.

Now it's all gone down the drain.

I haven't been able to share and talk about this with all of you till now.

It just hurt too much.

There is so much more I could say but I think this is enough and you get the idea

of how truly heartbroken I am.

So much for this tangent I went off on.

Back to happier things.

 Wanting to end on a much more positive note 

 here are my husband Jim's grands playing their cigar box guitars Jim made for them.

Notice the "M" on top of Mackenzie's?

They loved them!

Both are growing up so very quickly with J.V. entering his teens.

Much love to all my blog friends this Holiday Season.

Thank you for your constant support and your lovely comments.

xoxooxoxoxo

Happy Holidays!!!!

TRICK-OR TREAT

There are no trick-or treaters in our condo complex 

so if we want to see the little ones dressed up we have to go elsewhere.

This year my daughter and her boyfriend invited us over

and we all hung out and had a blast.

We started off before the Happy Halloweeners arrived by taking the pups out in their costumes.

Granger was a shark and Miss Tatum a little bumble bee.

These two pix were taken last weekend at a party for dogs in their outfits.

Who knew.

ha ha

Sorry they are a bit blurry.

Then last night we had a special appearance by one of my daughter's neighbors

in his fabulous clown costume.

And of course a very special appearance by my ex 

who came creeping around the windows with this mask on.

He scared the be-gee-bies out of us!

Fun had by all!

BELLE OF THE BALL

My little girl has gotten so grown-up.

Recently she attended her first Gala,

a fundraising event for CHOC,

the Children's Hospital of Orange County.

She and her boyfriend were guests of his father and mother  

who each year make a generous donation to the hospital.

It was dinner & dancing in a beautiful setting in Newport Beach. 

They even came home with door prizes they had won.

It's funny how she has done so much more in her young life

 then I ever did at her age..

I couldn't be more pleased and happy for her.

She makes me so very proud!

JUMPING FOR JOY

I'm so thrilled to share that my hardworking daughter and her equally hared working boyfriend 

were able to save up enough money to buy their first home together,

with a little bit of help from all the parentals.

And she's only 8 mins. away by car!

Woo Hoo!!!!

(I'm trying so hard not to go over everyday to see if she needs any help)

LOL

Danielle has been working since she was 16 and saving her money

for a down-payment and she finally made it.

I couldn't be more proud of her!

She was also promoted to manager and gaining a lot of service industry experience

and thinking of opening her own business.

She is on the way to making her dreams come true.

Their home is a two bedroom ,

two bath that has been redone,

and the kids are making it their own.

It's got a nice sized backyard, 

big enough for a pool if they ever choose to put one in.

But right now their two puppies love playing in the lush grass back there.

It's in a cute and safe neighborhood on a cul-d-sac 

which is also great if any grand-babies come along.

Hint, hint!

And one of the best things are the garden and home improvements that need doing together.

She's wanting to learn how to do things, 

and we've made many runs to Home Depot for plants and mulch for the backyard,

and nuts and bolts for hanging things.

We've dug weeds and dead headed roses together,

arranged furniture and hung decorative pieces on the walls.

She has even put a few of my clay pieces around her home.

I'm a happy woman!

She has a perfect side yard in full sun where her brother 

is going to build her several raised vegetable gardens

because she is also learning to cook as well.

Life is good!

The kids and my grandson & granddaughter pups

in their backyard.

SECOND MOST FAVORITE

My daughter Danielle and boyfriend Tristan were out to dinner for their first year dating anniversary at The Steak Tavern in Laguna Beach,

and asked waiter if Teemu Selanne,

ex Anaheim Ducks Hockey Player extraordinaire and owner of resturant was in the house.

The waiter who turned out to be Teemo's son 

& sent Teemu over to their table and he delivered their dessert to them personally,

which made Danielle's night!

He took them on a tour of the hidden and private rooms in the restaurant for VIP celebrities,

and even took pix with them.

Dani grew up with a brother who was playing hockey since age 5,

was dragged to all his games and grew to love the sport.

When she grew older her dad would take her to the Ducks games at the stadium in Anaheim,

so she has been watching Teemo play on the ice since she was about 12 years old.

He is her second favorite player,

Andy McDowel being her first. 

What a thrill this was and made the evening even more special for my girl.

TWO NEW LOVES FOR MY GIRL

Tristan & Granger

Our newest grandchild has arrived,

little man Granger,

an Australian Cattle pup.

He was bred to be a herder

and doesn't like to be alone.

He's smart as a whip and learns quickly.

At 8 weeks he can already sit and lay down.

My daughter has been wanting a dog of her own for a couple of years now.

He is a little love, 

super affectionate, and spirited.

Potty training has been a bit of a challenge,

but he's getting the hang of it after 3 weeks with his new family.

I've already got to babysit,

but believe me,

there was no sitting involved.

Grange is a busy boy.

He loves to run and already retrieves his ball.

I'm so in love with him and his puppy smell.

Here's our little guy sitting on his mommy's lap in her car.

He goes everywhere with her,

including the gym everyday.