I finally did it. It's Christmas here at the blog. Caleb had asked for an Oculus Quest for Christmas. He got it. He can be trusted to use it wisely. I'm sure he has many interesting hours ahead.

No, this is not from Christmas or even December. I went back to November for it. I do have Christmas pictures now, but have not had time to make layouts. I've been trying to make some Jib Jabs. If you don't know what that is, you should visit JibJab.com for a laugh. My days are flying by and I'm getting less and less done as time passes. It really doesn't seem fair. I'm being robbed of time somehow. I get up and it is time to go to bed and no, I don't sleep that much, so I really don't get it. The layout today features great granddaughter Ava. It was tea party time. I ceratinly hope that by the time I post tomorrow, I'll have at least one Christmas layout.

We haven't any Christmas pictures yet, so I'm posting another layout of our great granddog, Georgie Girl, taken in early December. Today is our granddaughter Leah's birthday. She is Gerogie Girl's 'mother'. Happy birthday, Leah. December 27, 2021.

It was a quiet Christmas here. the only thing special was dinner, and that wasn't too special because I cooked it. We each got a new iPhone. Now all we have to do is learn how to use them. Even Ron is not finding it easy. We need a 5 year old to teach us. I did get a few pictures of Maggie, but have not yet made a layout. The layout I'm sharing tonight has pictures taken of Maggie on December 6th when she was groomed and got her pretty hair deco, which she has since taken off and lost.

This is a gift we've been wanting to open for over a week. Don Berg gave it to us after dinner on Saturday. It just sat on the table tempting us. We finally opened it Christmas Eve and dove in. Ron and I were first while April took our picture, then she joined in and helped us eat it. No, even though it is very good, we didn't eat it all at one time. It will take us a few days.

I love this picture of our granddaughter-in-law. I've not heard that term before, so I'm not sure I have it right. Amyway, her name is Hope and the children are Ryan, Reagan, Quinn and Sam. She definitely has her hands full. What a cute bunch they are. The picture was taken on the 16th of this month. They were looking forward to Christmas and I'm sure it has seemed like a long time to them, but to us, it seems like a day or two. While their days seem long, ours are flying by. Santa is already at work this Christmas Eve here in the states. It won't be long until these kids and others around the country will be searching through stockings and opening gifts. May God bless each family this day. and may all of us realize the reason for this celebration. The birth of the Christ, Jesus.

This is our great grand dog, Georgie Girl. She belongs to our granddaughter,Leah. I don't know if we will ever get to see her in person, since she lives so far from us, and our travel is very limited now. But I still get a kick out of her pictures. I know the type of dog and fell in love with them the first time I saw one. They are not just cute, but very loving.

I had never heard of the white sands. However, Ron had. He said the first atomic bomb was set off there. When I was sceptical, he googled it and read it to me. Anyway, it LOOKS LIKE SNOW to me! Amazing! It also makes it seem like snow when you notice that they look cold. I need to ask what the temperature was in this area of New Mexico yesterday.

John and I got this selfie while he was here in early December.

This really was a surprise for me to see John and his family in New Mexico so close to Christmas. They are certainly an adventurous bunch. Oh, that I could be that way. I love it!

Ava has been learning to roller skate. There is a very good place for that in the area. Here, her mom Brittanie hurries to keep up with her.

I have to admit I impressed myself with this layout. It was not easy. I took two pictures Beth had taken of the ice on the water and formed them into a frame for the selfie she took of herself, Oliver and Julia in Breckenridge in Novemeber.

With these two layouts finished, I now have another book coming. Will probably wait until after Christmas when the publisher is not so busy and hopefully it will be a better time for me as well. Now, I'm ready to work on Christmas pictures. Hoping to get some really good ones as usual.

Almost finished with Brekenridge layouts. I love this picture of Oliver and Julia among the trees.

Back to Novemeber with Oliver and Julia in Breckenridge. I'm trying to finish the layouts for that trip because when I do, I'll have another book ready to publish...and books of family and friends pictures is what it is all about. Now, I just have three more to do. I'm anxious to publish this, because I've already started making pages for the next one.

Well, I'm trying to do a layout each day for the blog. Can't believe how hard it is now that I've slowed down so much. I need to get younger, so that I can accomplish more. Let me know if you figure out how to do that. Back to the subject at hand. John was here from Colorado for a few days and April dropped in to see us all. It was good, so good, to be together. It happens so rarely.

Here is the birthday picture I mentioned yesterday. Oliver celebrated his 8th birthday yesterday, the 10th of December.

Our grandson Oliver celebrated his 8th birthday today...all day. I love how my daughter-in-law streches the 'party' out all day, starting with some gifts in the morning and a very special breakfast, then comes more at night. She even creates and makes them a birthday shirt each year. I'll try to have a layout tomorrow showing Oliver's birthday shirt this year. Now, I'm posting a layout of him and his little sister Julia in Breckenridge last month.

I've been too busy for the blog. It is not my first priority. Our son John has been here a few days and we don't get to see our kids often enough; so we just put aside everything else and enjoyed the visit. Maggie is going to miss him as well. They kissed good-bye.

Kids like dinosaurs. Oliver and Julia admire this one on the street in Brekenridge. Ok, let's face it, some of us adults like to see these prehistoric creatures as well.

In early Novemeber it was already ski season in the Colorado mountains. While John and Caleb skied for the first time this season, they avoided the trees. At the same time, Beth, Oliver and Julia enjoyed the Aspens. Here they were posed cleverly amid those trees.

This is Brandon and his dad Tim in Florida. The picture was taken in early November. Since then, Brandon has accepted an even better job for an airline as their mechanic. Due to us having Covid when he was here in Ohio this August, we haven't seen him in person for a couple of years. I'm hoping to see him sometime this next year. I need a hug.

It is a long way from Texas to Florida, but our grandson Brandon makes the trip every chance he gets so that he can be with Hannah and Braydon. This time they celebrated Braydon's birthday and Halloween.

Notice God's spotlight on Oliver as he runs across the campus on a beautifully sunny day. Colorado is really a good place to live if you love sunshine and don't really appreciate heat as much. Yes, I'm still working on October layouts. But I believe this is the last one.

It is snowing here right now and sticking to the ground, but I'm still catching up on my scrapbooking of October. Almost finished, but not quite. Today I'm sharing a layout of our great granddaughter Ava and her mother Brittanie.

I would have liked my post for today to be holiday beautiful and festive with a luscious looking meal. My layout today is not any of the above. It doesn't show any of those qualities, but I hope it does portray my thanksgiving for such wonderful friends and plenty to eat at a time when there are many people in this world who are hungry.

Ava and the pumpkins.

In mid October Ron took his good friend Bob down to Marietta to visit a museum there. While they were there, they met with our daughter April for lunch.

Last month Ron felt he had caught up with his yard work and he had time to try something he had wanted to do. So that is what he did. And I, well I took pictures and made this layout.

I doubt we will have much color in a few days. The leaves are falling now; but I'm still in a fall mood and thus this layout of the grandchildren at Bartels Farm in Fort Collins, Colorado. They measure up! They are standing tall.

Today was another day out with ORU friends. This time, there were 6 of us, including Robin from Sanibel, Florida. It was so good to have her 'home' again. Now I'm just thinking that we need to get our whole group together again. It has been too long.

Although our numbers are dwindling, ORU still has fun when we're together. Here are four of us at Dewey's Pizza on the front of Summit Mall. Their food is unbelievably distinct and oh so good. This day we shared a Porky Fig Pizza and bought individual salads. All were great. We spent so much time there, I'm surprised they didn't charge us rent; but no, they were very nice to us.

It has been another very busy day for me and I didn't accomplish much. So I'm back at Haloween. Our great granddaughter Ava dressed as Lady Bug. I need to post this quickly before I fall asleep in my chair.

Phyllis is visiting from her new home in Arizona. It is nice to have her back here again , even if it is for a short while. We are enjoying getting together as ORU, which we've not been able to do much lately. We went down to Amish country last Friday, as you see in the layout today.

I had given up feeding the birds because I got tired of watching them fight over it. A few months ago I went back to feeding some of the special ones I like...the ones that eat safflower seeds. I found out some who don't prefer those adapted, but they are birds I like to feed. So far there has been a little competition, but not out and out fights. Here are a few who were feeding yesterday and today including Nuttall Woodpeckers and House Wrens.

This picture was taken on September 16, 6 weeks after his first day with Covid. Up until recently he was still having problems falling asleep whenever he sat down. However recenly he was prescribed ivermecten and after taking it a while has been able to stay awake better. I don't know if it actually worked or if his state of mine made him more likely to stay awake. I figure at his age, he should expect he'll need to sleep more, but then what do I know? I'm just a scrapbooker. lol

They could hardly wait to ski this season. Look at those smiles!

There is no snow in Fort Collins, but just a nice drive up the mountains gives you a whole new world, so to speak. It is cold and there is snow. And for those who love to ski, it is perfect. John and Caleb could not wait to start ski season and with a season's pass, that is what drove them to Breckenridge. Beth is a skier as well, but to protect her knees, she entertains the two younger children. You certainly don't have to be a skier to enjoy Breckenridge. I can attest to that. This day, she took the kids on a hike of the Trollstigen Trail and of course got pictures. So now I can enjoy it as well.

Dennie is here at his Ohio home right now. He lives about 1 mile from us and Jerry is about 5 miles from both brothers. Not only that, but Jerry is less than 1 mile from Dennie's restaurant. They are busy 'boys' but they are able to keep in touch.

This has been a hard day. One of our grandsons, Aussie, started chemo for his Hodgkins Lymphona today. Four hours of chemo somehow turned into 5. It is hard to see him suffer like this at such a young age. Yes, it would be hard at any age, but he is so young. May God take mercy and heal him. He is only a college student now with so much promise.

I just had to post this one of Maggie. She has been a blessing to us in our old age.

Oliver is a nature lover like his mom. In case you can't read the script on the layout this is it: Oliver found a praying mantis in the Redwing Marsh Natural Area. A few facts: The Praying Mantis has great sight. They can see in 3 D. They are the only insects that can turn their heads. They are agile like cats. They are masters of disguise. They only eat live food.

I'm just catching up with some of the good pictures taken of the grandchildren in October. I love the pumpkins of bright orange and the typical child expressions. Julia and Oliver are so cute.

The Vaneks invited us to travel around Amish country early this week. We were so happy to accept that invitation. We had a great time. Al knows his way around down there. He makes it more fun than you could ever guess. We wound around all the back roads and found lots of good stuff for sale from farm to farm. We also checked out some really good odd lot stores. And of course we stopped for dinner. Thanks for all the fun Al and Linda.

We have a new granddog. Isn't he a cutey? Look at those blue eyes! I don't know if I'll get to see him in person or not, since he lives in Florida with his mom and dad. Hoping I get lots of pictures as the months go by.

I love to watch the birds right outside my window by my desk. This day, I had just cleaned the bird feeder and filled it with safflower seeds which the cardinals love. He was looking straight at me and I believe thanking me. Isn't he beautiful? Now for the real story. The window is only one way. I can see out, but he cannot see in. He is actually looking at himself. Since he is a bird, he is probably thinking he is looking at another bird. There are other birds who come right up to the window and stare and sometimes peck at the window pane. And again, it looks like they are looking at me.

Before heading out for Trick or Treat, the kids posed for a picture. It shows what a good job their mom does with their costumes. Then of course they were excited to 'hit the road'. It was a neighborhood fun time. Then it got dark and when they had collected all their treats, they came home to this spooky site. It was a great Halloween!