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by toogie ( edited 27 Dec 2018 ) 27 Dec 2018

update-occasionaly scroll down to see added stories/pics-Hello Cuties!

I might would like to start a baby quilt, but it would mean I would have to straighten up my sewing room-I am glad I don't have a web cam for you to see.-lol-Every time I have to refold and store my mess I think, why don't I put the fabric back as I get through. Seems when I'm on a roll, I keep sewing through the pile, then it really gets piled up.
I need to post some Christmas pictures. I wish I could show you the video of Nora (5yrs old) opening what she wanted Santa to bring. The squeals and wide eye amazement that Santa gave this doll to her, would tickle you.
Then poor Nora, all day she held and cuddled her doll, even though the sound and movements wouldn't work. Mom said she had placed the batteries in and called and left a message with Customer Service, but it was so disappointing the doll didn't work.....
When it got dark, Mom had to bring Nora's older brother Mason to meet his dad. While she was gone we googled about activating the doll. My other daughter said maybe the batteries were in backwards. So dh got his screwdriver and they took the battery cover off. 'Mom" had left a paper inside that was suppose to be removed when you insert batteries, so activation would begin.
Nora's Luva Bella doll came to life and Nora was excited all over again. When her mom drove up Nora squealed,"Turn out the lights, turn out the lights! I want to surprise Mommy because Lova Bella is working!"
Poor child loved her anyway, working right or not....kinda reminds me of the love we have for Avery and those like her. We love them whether everything is working right or not.
Above was the post I was trying to send to raeleen but it wouldn't load in comment to her. I guess was too long. I will add more photos later.
Love-Toogie and family!

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by 02kar Moderator 27 Dec 2018

What a delight to share in the festivities with Avery. I bet those cookies were delicious. And good for Nora to love her creepy doll that now works. She's a good mama. Enjoy your sewing room, no matter how messy it gets. I'm hoping to be able to get stitching soon in mine. It's been almost 2 years now thanks to the nasty and long lasting vertigo attack I had last year. But I'm expecting to get my machines serviced next month so I can stitch my way through 2019.

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pennifold by pennifold 27 Dec 2018

Hope it all goes well Karen and that you can get back to sewing. Love Chris

toogie by toogie 29 Dec 2018

Vertigo sure can mess up your life. I haven't had an episode in a while, thank goodness. I hope you can get a lot more sewing in this year. Good to hear from you.

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by dailylaundry 27 Dec 2018

Oh Toogie - such wonderful pictures!!! Everyone looks so happy - Avery looks so sweet!! I am happy Nora's doll began to work! And little Gus looks tired!!! Hugs and Love, Laura

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toogie by toogie 29 Dec 2018

Thanks for looking! Gus still likes to be held a lot, especially around a lot of people.

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by crafter2243 Moderator 27 Dec 2018

Such beautiful pictures. Avery looks so happy. I am sure she was the star of the play.

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toogie by toogie 27 Dec 2018

Perhaps to us Angie but no, her Physical Ed trainer Brad was Ebeneezer Scrooge and really played his part well.
If Avery isn't happy, then something is wrong. That's how we used to know she was sick.

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by toogie 27 Dec 2018

These pics were taken at Avery's school, during the visit from Santa. The weather was bad this year so the helicopter didn't bring him, he came on his sleigh. Gus played with her giraffe.
There was a man standing against the wall close to us. We offered him a chair to sit, but he said no,thank you. He wanted to remain standing so he could see the faces of the children as they received their gifts. At the time, we didn't know him, just thought he and his family were there for one of the students.
We found out that he, his wife and their 2 teenagers, son & daughter, bought, wrapped and brought all the gifts the children received! Not only that, the children and wife mingled/talked with the students and their families. The man remained standing but you could see he was touched with emotions. What a blessing for the school, the children and especially the family to not only be financially able, but to teach their children 'hands on' to get involved! How many teenager do you know would take the time for these special needs children. I tear up, at the party, right now too so full is my heart. This is a true example of being Christlike.

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pennifold by pennifold 27 Dec 2018

And isn't that what it's all about Toogie? Christian love in action. God bless that man and family for taking time out to bring joy and love to these kiddies. Love Chris

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by toogie 27 Dec 2018

Avery made her acting debut, as part of the Cratchit family, in Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol. Here she is with her family (all but Mason), after the play.

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gerryvb by gerryvb 27 Dec 2018

adorable pictures !

toogie by toogie 27 Dec 2018

Thanks Gerry

pennifold by pennifold 27 Dec 2018

Love this picture with all the fairy lights behind the family. Love Chris

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by jrob Moderator 27 Dec 2018

Oh how I love this photo!!!!

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toogie by toogie 27 Dec 2018

ha ha-knew you would! Wait till you see the others!

jrob by jrob 27 Dec 2018

Yay! So awesome!!!!

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by sewdeb 27 Dec 2018

What a wonderful picture of Avery and Ashley - so much love and joy in that photo!

Interesting how your sewing room and mine have the same décor after Christmas - what a mess! Mine looks like JoAnn's, Hobby Lobby and all sorts of other craft/fabric/thread and stabilizer suppliers have blown up all over my room! Yikes!

I look forward to more pictures! Hugs* Deb

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toogie by toogie 27 Dec 2018

You describe my room perfectly...have you been here while I was out?...funny hubby didn't mention it, but then sometimes he forgets, until you call or come again-lol

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by sdrise 27 Dec 2018

Great pictures!! Avery looks wonderful! Ashley looks like she is having fun too. Hope you get your sewing room straightened up.> I think we all have to do that after sewing for Christmas. hehe

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toogie by toogie 27 Dec 2018

Ashley makes moments special for her kids and she enjoys their excitement as much as they enjoy the moment. She is really good with them.

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by jenne 27 Dec 2018

There is nothing like family, you gottta love them, I straighten my sewing room yesterday somewhat, I need to get rid of some things I will never get made, oh well maybe next year, hehhe (had some bad luck yesterday spilled some tea and some of it went on my computer of course it quilt working we dried it out and I thought I have lost it, but this morning it is working yaaaaaaa.

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toogie by toogie 27 Dec 2018

Yea!!!! Boy, were you lucky! Glad you're up and running again.
As far as those 'things', you can't get rid of them! You might NEED them for some project you haven't thought of yet!-lol

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by graceandham 27 Dec 2018

Love your stories. It's always good to see pics of our special Cutie - can't tell what she got!

As for the sewing room, some of us can only work our process by leaping headlong into it and stitching till it's done. Others may be neater and not get so much done. Lately I've been hooping stabilizer when I am ready to leave the sewing room, so I'm already "started" when I return. It's just a mental thing! No project, no colors or fabric pulled, just the stupid stabilizer. But, it helps me jump right in.
I got inspired to start a quilt right before Christmas and I gave the first square (finished at 11:30 p,m, Christmas Eve)to one son with the promise of more to come. It's about the little life lessons I've tried to teach, so lots of wordy text and less about the designs. I have 7 squares figured out so far - 5 more to go.

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toogie by toogie 27 Dec 2018

Wipe your glasses Betsey....Avery is 'holding' the electric mixer. They are making cookies for Santa!
Ashley's dh wanted me to emb a hoodie with just a few days notice. I almost didn't find ANY cut-a-way in my piles, uh-um, room. Almost out, too. I can't hoop ahead as I know not what I'll be doing next.
Now we will be looking for updates on how that quilt progresses...where's the first block picture? Show & tell time!!!

graceandham by graceandham 27 Dec 2018

No cell phone minutes, so no camera. Each block takes about 2 hours. I stitched #2 this afternoon. Block #1 went home with him to look at until I finish the others. He wanted steel toed shoes for his job for Christmas - that was a budget breaker. So, the first square had the work boot from Miss Veronica - in with the cartoonish mice set. It says, "Look down and know you are loved." Planning one with the Star of Bethlehem (Sonia Showalter maybe) that says "Look up and know you are loved." Get the theme? Some will be incidents and experiences from his childhood. Haven't quite thought of 12 yet, but 5 are set up in my software program and ready to stitch out.

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by gerryvb 27 Dec 2018

great picture, how wonderful Lova Bella came to live again...hugs ))

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toogie by toogie 27 Dec 2018

Oh yes, Nora was happy, Mom was happy.... and you know what is said about mom being unhappy.-lol- if not, the saying goes, "If Mom ain't happy, ain't nobody happy".-lol

Although I must say, Ashley was just disappointed for Nora, when she thought it was something wrong with the doll.
Truth be told, the doll has an odd tint to her skin. Nora's dad picks at Nora and says she's creepy looking. When she was opening her present and squealing about it, her dad said he couldn't understand what she said she got. She told him, "It's that creepy doll, you called her".-lol
The only thing I say is, they could improve the skin tone.

gerryvb by gerryvb 27 Dec 2018

well you could say she's from another country , she's a foreigner where they have other kind of skin tone

toogie by toogie 27 Dec 2018

She is suppose to be light skinned, but she looks sickly....deathly sick, her coloring is..

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by pennifold 27 Dec 2018

Good to see Avery and Ashley having some fun. I hope to see some more pictures and pray that your back is better today. Those little paper things in with the batteries can be challenging for some! Love Chris

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toogie by toogie 27 Dec 2018

Back is no better but thank God, no worse, thanks for remembering.
Yes, as you say it can be a challenge!-lol-When Marsha pulled the paper out we started laughing and I said, 'well she (Ashley) is college educated!'.
Now I'm not putting down education, just the opposite, I'm supportive of it, so I need to explain myself.
Years ago when my sister was in nursing school, she had someone in her class that wore her boots/shoes on the wrong feet. I told my sister if I'm ever in the hospital I don't want her being my nurse (lol)... so we joke when one of us has one of those 'duh' moments and say, it is because they are college educated..... One of our niece says her husband is 'book smart', but no common sense and sometimes, even he, is smart enough to admit it.-lol
The reason I knew about the paper thing, Avery had a play Elmo phone that you had to pull the paper from the battery compartment before it was activated. The batteries were already inserted and I guess the paper kept them from running down before use, if a button was pressed or got hung up, for some reason.

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