Home Sweet Home!!

Hello again, dear Readers!!!

 After a wonderful week, we are enjoying being back home, buried in our snow and the hugs and kisses of our little siblings who don't seem to get enough attention from their older sisters after our little week away from home! :)

We got home late Sat night, after 24 hours on a bus, enjoyed a quick birthday celebration for Daddy, and went to bed. Sunday was a beautiful day full of relaxing with the family and telling stories from our trip. In the afternoon, Theresa was out visiting her ponies, Annie was out in the snow and sunshine building an igloo with Donna and Johnny, the rest of the kids were sledding/jumping in the snow while Stephen tested out his new camera, and me? Well, I missed out on all the fun as I was enjoying a quiet house and some very refreshing sleep in my wonderful bed. :o)

Meanwhile, some pictures for you, boys will be boys...

Diving...


Flipping...


Kicking...


Spinning...


Girls being girls... sweet, cute...


:)


And more boys, being boys...


Ah, yes, always followed up by the old 'digging the freezing snow out of your collar' routine...



Meanwhile, we have been hearing about all these orders coming in from both our shops. Mom insisted that Andrew leave us alone on Sunday, but first thing this morning, we were all put to work.

Annie drawing letters on the Big Boggle cubes.

I was halfway through one of my jobs when I realized I'd neglected to even catch breakfast!

Working in our own homegrown beeswax finish into one of Mike's Lord of the Rings daggers.


We're so thankful for all the work, but Johnny is beginning to worry that he won't get anything new under the tree this year, with all our toys being shipped right out the door as soon as they're completed. ;)

He's been so helpful with the work though, that Santa isn't going to forget about him! ;)

Oiling rustic napkin ring holders.

   Today, I've been sewing blankets and pillows to finish an order for some of Mike's dollhouse bunk beds, while Theresa has been knitting her Ingals family people to finish off another order we had while we were away: 

 Today, Andrew's making yet another nativity manger, after just finishing a custom one he did replicating the Vatican's.

Annie was catching up on the wood burning for some custom rustic signs.


Steve's finishing another castle...


...which Theresa still needs to wood burn the bricks into...


We shipped out a Castlepults today, and just got an order for another one...

I spent some time tagging and packaging my whole knitted inventory before I left and that has eased things up a bit in this busy rush order time. I am just so proud and happy for all the sales!! :o)


Dad was packaging orders all day today, as we were busily crafting the items, but he still didn't get everything out in the mail. The rest will have to go out tomorrow... :)


Busy as everything is, Lizzy made me proud when I walked in to see our home decorated with tons of the paper snowflakes you see hanging in the window's behind Dad. She remembered them from when I had made them with the kids a few years ago and decided to surprise me with making them again. Following in my holiday tradition, she also put on some loud Christmas music and gathered her younger siblings together to make Christmas cards one evening! Her holiday spirit is sparking in the rest of us, but especially in Johnny. Dad and the boys are going to get the tree tomorrow, and I've heard nothing but, "Dad, don't forget the saw!"

;-)
Merry Christmas, you all!! :)


P.S. Check back soon--more pictures and updates from our trip coming when I have time!