October through December 2011...

I thought I'd wrap up my year-in-review since I have quite a bit to do next week.
And to Cindy in PA...please do this for 2012! I'll enjoy reading it!

OCTOBER 2011

Oh how I love October!
But I missed the costume making this year.
TeacherGirl usually asks me to help her with a costume but this year she was on her own. And she did well.
But I am looking forward to sewing for my soon-to-be grandbabies!


We took a trip to our local Pumpkin Patch.
I was surprised when my boys showed up.

(I'm grateful for their wives who point them in the right direction!)

There was a lot of baking and tailgating this month.

I set a record high when it came to taffy apple cookies...

October 7th was a sad day. 
This would have been Lisa's 50th birthday.
Turning fifty is a milestone and I was saddened that her family couldn't celebrate this birthday with her. 
I thought about the upcoming holidays and her absence.
I spent lots of time thinking about unfairness this month. I was moody and crabby.
I admit it wasn't healthy, but sometimes you just have to go with it.
So I did.




NOVEMBER 2011


This month I was touched by a blogger's post about Compassion International.
I began with a donation to build a well, and I started a sponsorship with a young girl named Madeline Alexa in Ecuador. 
Things happen for a reason, and finding this organization was a blessing.
The well has been completed and another well is being built.
Please consider a donation.


I spent quite a bit of time dreaming about becoming a Grandma.

I also bought hokey t-shirts announcing my upcoming status.
Don't worry, I only wear these t-shirts indoors.


Chicago lost the beloved Maggie Daley, and LawyerBoy was honored to be a piper at her funeral. 

I spent most of the month sewing cow costumes for TeacherGirl's class, decorating the indoors for Christmas, 
and continuing to bask in the thoughts of becoming a grandma.
November was very busy and I wouldn't expect any less.




DECEMBER 2011

We had our first snow!


The house was full of Christmas spirit. I didn't finish everything I planned, but that's normal for me. 
I baked...and baked. I sprinkled and sprinkled.

We attended TeacherGirl's Christmas play...the cows were awesome!

And on Christmas Eve we received the best news of all!
Michael and Margaret are expecting a little one this summer!
That means two grandbabies for me!
Two!

It was a wonderful end to a year full of changes. 

A year with sorrow and joy.

A year that was very different from other years, but still very much the same.

Do you have a favorite month from 2011?
Let me know.