HELLO OUT THERE!!

 oh dear oh dear..   what a horrible horrible blogger I have become.  I love my blog.. I don't know why I have avoided it.  well, not that I really have avoided ..  But I have no great excuses.  I guess Ive just been busy. 

 I have been able to do some Easter crafting!  I get so much inspiration from my little grandpies.   Look how cute they turned out as bunnies, lambs and chicks!    and one little sunshine!

 Maybe inspiration isn't the right word.   maybe obsessed is more like it. lol!

 They are just all so cute!  I cant help myself.

 Anyways..  I hope you are all well.  I feel so bad that I haven't kept in touch.  I really pretty much think I have nothing interesting to say that you haven't already heard a hundred times here! lol!

 I'm so glad that spring is in the air.  Even though I can not complain one little bit about the winter that we barely had.  Its still refreshing and exciting to know nice weather is on the horizon.. flowers, green trees and before you know it ...  the beach!

 I'm really hoping for beautiful weather for Easter day.  I have plans!  We're doing a big egg hunt for the kids.  I ordered a whole bunch of "junk" from oriental trading to fill eggs with.. Most of which will eventually end up in the trash.  but it'll be fun for at least that day!  

I'm also going to make a bunch of  bunny and chick instruments for the kids and let them march around having their own little Easter parade!  Gotta do this stuff while they are little.. someday they wont want to play grammie's games anymore!  gotta have fun now and take lots of pictures!

 hopefully they will humor their grammie for a few more years to come!  lol!

well that's all for now folks!  I just wanted to stop in and let you know I'm still alive and kicking.  Now.  I'm shall come visit all of my bloggy friends!  have a good night!

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

dancing donkeys and valentines day

Just a quick stop to wish you all a Happy Valentines day!   I kept saying that I needed to make a donkey.. She really didnt turn out as I had her pictured in my head..  but its ok.. shes cute enough.  

 I have heard from many that she looks like a pole dancing donkey!  lol!  (notice that her pole is upside down!)  anyways.. I took her pole away and she is now just holding the heart.  silly donkey.  But someone said to me "every body has to make a living..  and if you have a nice ass....  may as well flaunt it!"  lol!!  but my donkey has a little bit of morals..  and she doesnt want to be a pole dancer.  lol!

 Here is a pic of me an my valentine of the last 40 years!  isnt that crazy!?  thats a longgggggggg time!  but I loves him and he loves me..  and together forever we shall be! 

OK.. all my bloggy lovies..  Ive got to go to work!  and Im seriously running out of time here..  

so Happy Valentines Day! 

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

happy day before valentines day!

 So.. I'm pretty sure I lost track of a bunch of the valentine photos that people were sending me.  We ended up with 27 girls in the swap. And I believe everything went off without a hitch.. which is pure luck.. it doesn't always happen that way.   believe me... that's part of the reason I quit hosting and doing swaps..  anyways.. this one worked out well.  (I only got one teeny weeny complaint.)   I think all swaps have been completed or are in the mail.. probably the only hold ups are the too and from Canada ones.. and that's mine and my friend Martha's.. so I think we're all good!

 I'm sorry but I did not try to match names to photos..  the photos came to me through email, facebook and phone..   I just tried to collect them all in one place and then made them into collages.  I am soooo very sorry if you sent me photos and you don't see them here.  I am truly not as organized as I used to be!  lol!

 Its always fun to receive special treats in the mail for any occasion or no occasion at all!   It looks like everyone that joined it received a nice package and that was the plan!  

Cant believe that Valentines day is tomorrow...   not sure what I will do with my house.. there's such a long way between now and Easter!  lol!  

OKeedokie girls!  that's all for now.. I hope everyone has a great day!

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo!

Did ya miss me?!

 oh boy... I haven't been here in a couple weeks.  Been busy busy busy!  worked on the craft room a lot, then on the new guest/den room (the old craft room), we through a large benefit for a coworker with breast cancer and raised over 7000.00 for her,  had two birthday parties,  and then I was sick this past week..   Anyways..  here I is! lol!    I have had a few minutes here and there to play in my craft room with valentine goodies and I made this valentine garden the other morning with all my precious little people in it.   isn't it cute!?

 I also made these two doggie valentines.   I used the first dog in some valentines last year too.  Hes just too cute.   I didn't make these for anyone special, they are just out in my kitchen.  I do need to get busy making some valentines though for my little pies!  I think I'm going to make them up some little goodie bags with popcorn, choc milk straws, fruit snacks or raisins or something.. and will dress everything up in little valentines pics.. rather then giving them candy..  maybe give them some sticker books or something also.   I'm sure their parents will appreciate them not having candy...  but we'll see what happens when I actually get right down to it!  lol! 

 I also have been working on putting my packages together for the valentine swap I hosted .  I had two partners actually, because I kept my friend Martha in Canada and I also had Shirley!  so that was fun and my packages went in the mail yesterday.  I just hope Martha's gets to her by Valentines day.  I'll be posting as many pics as get sent to me of what the girls did for each other.   They've all been doing a great job from what I can tell so far!

 Do you like my little valentine swan piece?    these swans used to be storks! lol!  I had made them for Vanessa's sprinkle as cupcake toppers a few years ago.    I pulled their legs off  and curved their necks and tada!  swans!  now I just need a cute vintage swan valentine.  I searched but could only find Victorian ones and that isn't what I want.  so for now the little heart valentine behind them works well.. in fact, that little heart was in the package that Shirley sent me!  (which I will show you when I post the rest.)

 Here's a photo of one of the birthday girls from this weekend!  Miss Scarlet turned 2!  how crazy is that?  I feel like she was just born.   Lol!  do you remember when I didn't have any grand children?  that really wasn't that long ago.. now I have SIX and two Steps!    Anyways.. Scarlet is a hoot!  shes a nut..  she makes us laugh and shes very busy.  she has time for a very quick hug and kiss and then shes off to spin and play.  she loves to spin.. she likes to be dizzy!  I guess I did too when I was little.  lol!  the other birthday, was her mommy's birthday, Vanessa.  they share the same birthday!  so we did scarlets birthday party on Saturday and then we had Vanessa's birthday at our house on Sunday evening.   so hard to keep up with them all!  lol!! 

And then there's this little Lilliana.. she's the cuddler.. she'd rather cuddle then play.. and is very happy to climb up and put her thumb in her mouth and cuddle forever!  and then she'll look up at you and say, "I wuv you".  

God I love all my grand babies so much.. 

but you all already know that.. don't you! 

Have a great Thursday bloggy pies!

I gotta go get ready for work.. 

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

Valentine Swap!

Okeedokie, here it is girls!  Lets do it!  

Time to do a little swap.

We all like to receive a little something special in our mail boxes.

something that warms our HEARTS and makes us smile!

so lets send a little something to someone and make them feel blessed.. and loved.. and spoiled.. 

I'm thinking that we should send a special valentine card, and some cute valentine gifties.. I'm going to leave it up to you as to what you send.  we all love handmade things. so there should be at least one handmade giftie in your box of treats.

My number one rule for swapping is to send a package that you would love to receive yourself or something soooo cute that you almost cant part with it!  

It will be nice for everyone to receive a package that has at least a few little things in it.  

This swap is about having a chance to be creative and about sending and receiving a little extra love.. so make it special.

SPECIAL.. SPECIAL... SPECIAL

please.

sooo... Email me your NAME and ADDRESS to vivianneroni@yahoo.com.  

don't use that gmail address that's attached to my blog, because I don't really use that.   make sure on your email under subject you write VALENTINE SWAP..  so I don't miss it.  please also leave a quick message here that says, I'm in.. or something so I can make sure to look for your email. 

Mail out date will be Friday FEB 3rd. 

so sign up now..  and I will close the swap on the Jan 13th and assign partners over that weekend.  

There is one more stipulation..  please email me a photo of what you're sending to your partner, because after everyone receives their packages I will post all of the photos on my blog because its fun for everyone to see.

I hope I'm not forgetting anything.  I haven't hosted a swap in a LONG time..  

feel free to share the news, if there are others that want to join in.  it will be fun to have a bunch of us.  

and finally, here is a link to my valentine board on Pinterest..   I think there about 700 photos with tons of valentine inspiration! 

https://www.pinterest.com/viviann/valentines/

OK..  now I have to go get ready for work! 

have a great day!!

How about a valentine swap.. we haven't done a swap in a long time!

IN the back of my mind the thought of putting Christmas away is looming..  and the thought of putting Valentines out is somewhat exciting!  but not yet.  I started redoing the big upstairs bedroom and will be moving my craft room up there soon.  the room is truly in need of being gutted and refinished.  But that is not happening.  I recovered the walls and pulled up the carpet this weekend.  Will be painting the old chippy woodwork this week and will need to find a large area rug.  I also will have to do something with the ceiling.  So far there is a great improvement.  I should have taken a before picture.. but I would have been ashamed to show it!  lol!

Soooo..  Anyways.. It seems to me that its very slow out here in blogland.  And I thought maybe I could generate some activity and excitement.   so how about a VALENTINE SWAP?   I will post details this week, when I have it planned out a little bit better.  Any thoughts or ideas?  I'll do it the old way that I used to do the swaps and in the end collect everyone photos to post on one blog entry.  Its been a long time since I hosted a swap.   But I think Valentines day is the perfect theme.  sooo..

what do you all think?   please show your interest or thoughts here or I may lose the ambition to do it.

And....  Happy New Year bloggy pies!

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxooxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxooxoxo  

I love christmas!

 I thought it would be easiest to make a few collages of Christmas pictures..  well, I ended up with 6 of them.  sometimes I worry that my blog page will be slow to open for some people if there are too many pictures on it.  I hope that's not the case and I'm sorry if it is.  

We had a great Christmas.  I stayed home this year and didn't go to my mother in laws for dinner.  It has gotten too hard to have everyone over and then rush them through the morning to send them off and then for us to leave.  It was sooooo nice to take my time and not worry about how fast the cinnamon rolls got done and how fast the we opened presents..  We've been going to my mother in laws every year for probably 39 years.  Tony still took off in the afternoon and went there for a bit.  shes an hour away so he was gone for several hours.  I'm glad he went to see her and I'm glad I stayed home! lol!

 We were all massively spoiled as usual.  I really did try not to go overboard... but I'm a little worried that I'm not capable.  There are 18 of us now.  so I cant go too crazy!  lol!  I love to give them gifts!  I just cant help it!  lol!  I just try to make it as special and magical as I can.  I feel like that's my job.  lol!  Someday when I'm gone.. I just want them to remember these holidays.    Anyways.. I'm don't plan on going anywhere anytime soon.. ;)

 The kids were all sooooooooo stinking adorable and soooooooo good!  the day was just perfect.  I just wallowed in it all day.  And my kids truly spoiled me.  I am blessed with a loving, giving family.. and best of all.. they all love Christmas too!  they get that from me..  lol..  their father just tolerates it!  LOL!

 I fell asleep early Christmas night and slept for 8 hours...   unheard of for me..  and Ive been tired ever since! LOL!    I need a project to get my fire lit again! lol!

 aren't they all adorable?  they melt my heart!  

And then these pictures below..   thank goodness for Bethany and her selfies!  LOL!  shes a nut.. they all are..

I love the one of my 4 kids above.. don't those boys look happy?  there goal is always to make some gnarly face for the camera!  lol!

OK.. I guess I should get ready for work.  Have a wonderful day!

and in case I don't get back here before the weekend..  Happy New Year!

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox

Merry Christmas!!

 Ive been hoping to get here to wish every one a Merry Christmas for the past week!  finally here it is 6:00 am Christmas morning and I am here!  I was up til 1:00 filling 17 stockings, but the gifts have yet to go around the tree.. they are in piles in the living room, craft room and in my bedroom!  I just couldn't do it last night.. was too pooped!  Tony helped me get them all down stairs and then I went to bed.. and woke up far to early for going to bed at 1:00.  

They will all be here around 10:30.. which means 11:00.. (my family is always later then I tell them!  lol!)  And for the first time in probably 40 years, we are staying home all day today!   I think my husband would have liked to go to his  mothers for dinner, but I just really wanted to stay home and enjoy the chaos that will take place here ..   lol! It will be nice not to have to open presents and rush out.  I will miss seeing my mother in law and the rest of my husbands family.  but hopefully we will see her another day this week.  

I'll be making a breakfast casserole in a couple hours and cinnamon rolls and we'll also have some cut up fruit and there will be bagels and cream cheese for anyone who wants them.   Then later we'll be having Beef on weck and cheesy potato's.. as well as a ton of snackys left over from last night.

I think its time to pump in some caffeine! I need some energy to get these gifts arranged!  hubby will sleep a couple more hours..  How does he do  that!?  lol!!

 soo have a blessed Christmas my friends! I hope you all will be enjoying your families and that you all get a special little giftie!   love to you all!

Merry Christmas!!!

xoxoxoxoxoxoxooxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoox

a little quickie post!

 Hello Hello Hello!!  where oh where have I been??   I don't know..  I guess Ive been working and shopping and shopping and working!  and I have been crafting a bit too .  I finished up all of my orders and was suddenly free this weekend to make something that I wanted to make for myself!    

On thanksgiving, I took the pics above of the kids.  it took a lot of bribing.. and possibly rice krispi treats were involved! They really just don't like to have their pics taken.. unless its their idea!  lol!  poor things.. I'm always sticking the camera in their cute little faces. but they are just so cute, I cant help it. 

so, I took the pictures, edited them to black and white, gave them pink cheeks and noses and then took my little savey stick thing to rite aid and made copies of the photos..  came home, cut them out and dressed them up!  this time I painted and cut out their legs and feet.  at first I wasn't super thrilled with them, but by the time they were all finished I was pretty happy with them.   And then...... 

 I did this!  I was trying to decide what to do with them..  They were a little too big to be ornaments on the tree, so I hung them on a garland instead!  And this, I love! I'll be adding two more little elves this week..  I need Ella and Carson elves to go with them!  I have other plans with these photos as well, but I cant say what.. just in case one of my family members reads this..  I don't think they do.. but you never know!

So what do you think of this?  this is a picture of Torry that was taken and posted on the Orleans Hub.. an online Newspaper for our county.   Isn't this just awesome?  doesn't it look like a little boy in awe of the christmas trees?  Our town has a little park with about 60 trees that people and agencies decorate.  Anyways, Bethany took Torry to see them and the photographer  caught this pose!  So then Bethany tells me the truth behind the photo.  She said that she was actually on the other side of the tree telling him to get over there and he wasn't listening to her.  He was getting in trouble!  lol! She didn't know someone was taking the photo until it was posted and people were asking her if that was him! lol!  anyways.. the back story just makes it funny I think.  but I love the photo.    he looks like a little boy in contemplation of the beauty of Christmas! LOL!!  

speaking of Torry, we had his little birthday party here last night!

here's a little collage of pics from last night.. taken with my phone.. not very good photos.. but it is what it is!  

oyvey.. I am sooo tired tonight!  I just keep waking up so darn early.  today was at 3:45.  I stayed in bed til 5:00.. but I was not comfortable.  I need to stay up til 11:00 so I sleep until 5:00.. but when I wake up that early.. I'm ready to fall asleep at about 9:30!

Okeedokie..  Ive got to run.  I need to do some blog reading!  see you there!  Have a great night my friends!

xxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

you will love this! (well I do anyways!)

For your christmas pleasure!  this is so stinking cute!  just had to quick share this with you all!

Have a great day bloggy pies!

xoxoxoxoxoxoxo

early morning chit chat..

Well, we had a great thanksgiving.  Most everyone was here.  We ate a lot..  a few of them actually go somewhere else to eat before they come here and eat again!  lol!  I dont know how they do that.  I was so stuffed.  There was a lot of food and everyone went home with left overs.   I really dont think any of the little kids ate...  accept for marshmellow rice krispis that I made for them, because I was pretty sure they wouldnt eat pie!  lol!

Now that thanksgiving is past, Christmas is On!  I've been working on christmas projects for a while really, but finally this weekend I started decorating.  The Kitchen and bathroom are done and the living room is almost done.  The tree went up last night, but I'll work on decorating it later.  Garlands still need to go up, maybe later today.    As for the outside..  I'll do it when the mood strikes me.   There is still a lot of stuff upstairs that I'm not going to use this year..  I have too much stuff!  well at least I say that.  If I could get my bedroom and craftroom cleaned up some of it might get used..  we'll see..   lol! 

So I thought Id show you these photos.   Ive been busy the past couple months making christmas elves.  A friend of mine has been hosting a big christmas open house in her barn for the last 20 years with a bunch of artists and she has been bugging me for years to make elves for it. So this year I finally did!  I made about 25 elves altogether and sold everyone.  the few that didnt sell there, other friends bought.  and I actually have to make two more.   A nice way to make some extra money and I like making them.  But like anything else.. after  you sit and make a bunch.. you do sort of get a little tired of them. But they really are so cute!

 

Ive been making elves for longer then Ive been making bears.  I would guess about 25 years.   maybe longer.  They started out as ugly little woodsmen.    Its funny, because some people absolutely love them and some really dont!  You should see them when I make a bunch of heads and body parts and have them all in a pie plate to go in the oven!  lol!   We always joke about me "cooking body parts again"!  lol!

 There are elves all around my house for christmas.  I think I'm going to make myself a couple more though.  I LOVE the reindeer fabric on the one aboves apron and I need to have one like that! A friend just made me a rag quilt using that fabric in it.  I'll have to post a picture of it next time.  sooo cute!

   So for today.. I think I'm taking Marla birthday shopping.  Her party is next sunday.  Can you believe she is going to be 5 on 12/28?  and Torry will be 6!   Tiff is celebrating Marlas birthday early this year.  a great idea i think.   Torrys birthday is on the 8th and  Bethanys is the 6th.  Im trying to start a tradition to take each one of my pies out shopping to pick out their birthday presents. 

OK.. Ive blabbed on enough here.  I guess I should go work on bears or elves....    I want to have everything finished this week and in the mail!  5 bears to go!   

Have a great Sunday!

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

early morning thanksgiving crafting!

More turkeys! lol!!

Happy Thanksgiving to all my bloggy buddies! 

 lillianna

 marlaina

 Scarlett

 Seraphina

 Torry

Violet

I'm thankful for so many things.. for just about everything..  my list would be so very long.    so I shall just say I'm grateful for each day and all it brings.  

don't eat to much!  

yeah, right..

PIG OUT TIME!!  

gobble gobble!

xoxooxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoox