Instagram Inspired

 I really try hard to stay off of social media. I’ll skip thru Mike’s Facebook account to see if family has posted. I do have an instagram account that I find myself getting caught up in, especially when the quilters and crafters show up.

I like to see the garage sale and the thrift store buyers transform trash into not trash.

When this one lady bough these ugly old Christmas houses and painted them (though gold, ick). I’m thinking “I got an old Christmas village in the basement.” I can so do this.. with my ugly houses. It’s been down there in the box for quite a few years.” I think it was from 1984 when Linda and I were selling “Christmas around the world” . Who remembers them home parties?

Old Christmas village

I took out 4 houses that I thought would look good as gingerbread houses and spray painted them brown.

The easy part - plain brown

Now comes the fun part. I got my craft paint from the basement and sat down to some serious painting.

Lots of painting

Here they are about half painted. I realized that they all needed to be different - except that each one had to have a heart somewhere on them. It took me 4 days to where I was satisfied with them. 

They are now displayed on my kitchen counter next to the new cookie jar that Sharen got me.

Every year for our birthday and Christmas Sharen and I go shopping together at Hoppy Lobby. What I want I put in her cart and she puts her gift in mine. We are both mindful of the costs, but sometimes you just don’t care. When I saw that cookie jar I had to have it, not looking at the price at all. Sharen didn’t care either. When she figured I spent a little more than she did (both still not caring) she went back with me and bought me the little trees for my gingerbread village. I guess I have to call my new village TwinTown. We both had a part in it.

TwinTown

Pretty sure this display will be out each year.

Logan’s graduation

 It was a very cold (thermostat on the car said -2) morning, but we were not about to miss watching our grandson Logan walk across the Northern Illinois University stage to receive his diploma.

I know everyone says how hard they all work, blah, blah, blah - but Logan worked so hard and never gave up. He went to classes part time and worked 2 jobs. He worked at Menards in the yard and was part of the coaching staff at Byron HS who took the school to state and winning 3 out of the last 5 years. He has a deep love for coaching and has never wavered at his goal of one day becoming a head coach somewhere. He is well on his way.

Mike and I were a bit confused - ok a lot confused - on how to scan the code to get to the program. This is the program?!? Pretty sure you can’t save that in their memory box.

Today’s program

Congratulations 

Entrance on the Jumbotron 

I feel very grateful to be a part of such a special time in his life and to celebrate him and his journey. 

Dream big Logan! Grandma Karen is praying for great things for you. I am sure you are ready for your next chapter and you’ll face it with determination and confidence. I’m really proud of you.

That’s my Grandson

The Nutcracker

 The fifth grade at MSW put on their annual Nutcracker and Owen had a big part. This will be our last one. You would think I would understand the play by now, but Roger was a toy solider, Luke was a clown so when Owen said he was Uncle Dosselmeyer I had to look it up to find out his role. The curtain opens and there he is!

Owen opens the show

He does appear thru out the play.

He was so good, knew all his lines and gave a great performance. He does admit he enjoys acting., and it shows. I was so proud of him. 

He even made the advertising poster.

It was our last time seeing the Nutcracker, but I’m sure it is not the last time we see him on stage.

I’m usually right on top of getting pictures, but I really just wanted to sit back and enjoy the play. So, thanks to Bryan who was at both performances and shared these pictures with me.

Thanksgiving

 It’s been awhile since I hosted thanksgiving and I missed it. I missed the family being together. 

I planned it for early dinner. Bryan and the boys were playing in the annual turkey bowl (Owen came home with the MVP) so it made sense to have eats at noon. Logan and Nicole were celebrating with Nicole’s family and Dylan was spending the day with his new girlfriend Regan and her family. 

We had  a table full of food and  family and it was wonderful.

Dinner table

Our children

Our grandchildren who were there

Happy thanksgiving 2025.