Toys for tots

So at work we were doing a toy drive.  I know that I wanted to contribute a few items.  I went into my Christmas totes and dug out several small items to give this year.  During the year I buy items on sale and place in my Christmas/Birthday totes.  With having  12 adults and 8 grandchildren buying gifts is a big issue.  I always like to keep gifts on hand.  

I do think the journal, lotion and sugar scrub will be big hits for teenagers. For the younger boys a set of 3 cars and the beyblade. Then the Clue and the Walking Dead game (not picture) for older kids. 

I wish I would have went thru the other tote I have as well. I am sure I could have found a few more items to give.  

With me trying to budget each payday I really would like to save money to use toward a child that is on a Angel Tree.  I have always wanted to sponsor a child.  Have not due to not having the budget in place.  Like so many others come Christmas I am doing good to buy my family gifts.  

 

Christmas Cubicle decorations 2021

I enjoy decorating my work cubicle.  I of course have to have my go to items in the picture. My sweet tea cup that my BFF got me for my birthday.  Cherrie thank you so much!! I love to jot down notes down thru the day.  My posh hand lotion in my favorite scent of Down Dirty.  Smells so good it has Watermint and Lavender scents.  

Any cards I receive from co-workers  I will be placing on my wall.  I still need to get some garland and a tree topper.  I can't remember to look for one while out and about when shopping.  

I need to get my Christmas cards addressed and sent to my family and friends. This year I hope to send out 20 cards.  Not too many but enough that I do not get overwhelmed.  Some years I do try to send out a boat letter of cards.  Depends on my time and postage stamp money.  

This year I do feel like we are in a good spot with gift buying.  Can I give a shout out to my wonderful husband.  He has been wrapping the gifts while I am at work.   Huge huge help to me.  We still have many gifts to get wrapped but we are in a good place so far.

I do not have all my gifts bought for Christmas but getting closer each weekend.  How are you guys doing on gift buying this year? 

 

Marlow Okla Christmas parade

Kyndall and her sack of candy.  So glad she got to get lots of candy and items from the floats. This year she was old enough to understand to wave at everyone and pick up the candy that is thrown from the participants. 

 

I really enjoyed this float from a church the most.  during the parade I was too busy watching Kyndall to 

Sweet but sassy baby girl right here.  Love her so much.  She brings light into my life each and every day.  She really enjoyed the parade.  I asked her if she was going to share her candy with me and her mom and she was quick to say no! Too funny, as we know that Kyndall seldom gets candy from her mom.

I am the fun grandma as I give her my favorite drink Coke from Sonic drive in and treats.  Both Trevor and Melissa do not give her much sugar at all. She mainly drinks water and some juice. Am so proud of her mom and how well she takes care of  Kyndall.

Clifford's 3rd birthday

Clifford is so into Batman!  He loves this huge Batman balloon that his Uncle Blake and Aunt Jessica got him!!  

It was a small get together but he sure enjoyed himself. 

Aaron and Clifford opening gifts. 

Cute Batman cake with helicopter. This cake was so good but had a lot of icing. Which I enjoyed very much!! The icing did leave my mouth dark blur. 

Was so nice to spend time with the family.  

Clifford grandma loves you so much!! Hope you had a great 3rd birthday!!  His actual birthday is November 25th.   

 

Christmas Tree 2021

Am loving our Charlie Brown Christmas tree.  My husband put up the tree by himself while I was at work.  I had asked him if he would get it up before everyone came over for Thanksgiving. 

I was thinking it would be a good background for pictures.  

      These tree decorations are new.  Somehow our box of tree decorations ended up at Alisha and Jonathan's house 2 hours away.  So I stopped at our local Dollar General to pick up a few decorations till ours came back home.  I was actually okay with how these decorations turned out on the tree. Sometimes change can be good. I do not think I will be redoing the tree at all this year. 

       

My little Dollar Tree Christmas tree.  It's definitely not finished but so far it's cute.  I do need  a star and tree skirt and more decorations.  I bought the mini bulbs from Target. I so need to go buy another package or two to make tree pop with color.  I also need a string of battery operated lights to sting on the tree.   I do like decorating my one side of my desk for holidays and such. I need to buy some garland and hang. Heck I bet that there is garland and decorations in our department's holiday tote. I may have to go dig and see what all we have.  

When do you guys usually put up your trees?  If it was up to Luther it would have been the weekend after Thanksgiving. 

Do ya'll have any special holiday traditions that you observe each Christmas?   For me on Christmas morning I go to all 3 of my son's to see what the kids got for Christmas.  I normally go to Aaron's and they wait for me to unwrap their gifts.  Then on to Mellissa's and Trevor's to see Kyndall's gifts and the last stop is Blake and Jessica's.  Then around noon everyone shows up and we have Christmas lunch.   

 

Operation Christmas Child Shoeboxes

Operations Child Shoeboxes ready to roll to Lawton Ok Baptist Church.  These 8 boxes are completely packed with fun items. 

This was my first year to do the boxes.  This is thru the Samaritan's Purse. I have been buying all year for the boxes.  I also put back the $9.00 for shipping fee's for each box.  

This charity really tugged at my heart strings.  

I watched so many YouTube videos on what other's packed. I did lots of research on what to send and not to send.  For instance no liquids or toothpaste or army play figurines are big no no's. I made sure to add hygiene items, school items and a few toys to each box. I actually made 13 boxes this year.  

This is one of the boxes I sent for a girl 10-14 years old.  It also has a doll that went in the box for the wow factor.  I would have loved all these items at that age or even at my age!  Wish I had taken a picture of each box I had packed.  Shame on me!! I actually found 3 more boxes hidden that I was working on to send.  That will give me a head start on 2022.  

I already know that I am not going to pack 13 boxes.  I am going to do less but with more quality to them. Better wow items and such. I also want to make sure to add a clothing item to each box. I am thinking shirt, shorts, undies or even undies or shoes. 

I have another charity that I want to do for 2022.  I will makea new blog post about that later on.  It is something Luther and I are planning on donating to this upcoming year. 

 

Blake's 30th birthday

Love this cake. Super cute

Sheri & John & Brooks

Whiskey bouquet that I made.  I haven't made Blake one of these bouquets before. His friends thought it was pretty cool.

Blake had a good size crowd show up for his party.  Kochendorfer Brewing company has been around for several years.  Imust admit this was my first time out here.  It was super busy and seen several people I knew.  Since I was driving I did not buy a craft beer.  I'm a big ole chicken with having to drive 30 minutes to get home on the highway.  Everyone had a great time.