This is what "LOVE" looks like at my house.

Heart-shaped meatloaf on Valentine's Day

Spaz "holding" down the parchment paper on the cookie sheet.

Spaz recovering from helping in the kitchen.

Contented grandbaby

Silly games.

LOTS of laughter

All generations working together.

Holiday Adventures...

I couldn't resist sharing some pictures of my family's annual cookie and craft day. Sharing a day of love, laughter and a few mishaps is the best Christmas present I get every year. May you all be as blessed as I am. 

Ah come on. Don't leave. We'll let you play too!

Of course we're being NICE!

They assigned me the green dough.  They didn't tell me I'd be stained green  until it wore off.

I'm not stupid. I know about green food coloring.

Ok. It's loaded. Is the safety off?

Look. All you do is click it like this.

No. That's not how it works. Here. Let me do it.

I've got this. Watch!

There. I fixed it again. Now, watch this!

I don't think anything is coming out.

It's easier to use a cookie cutter, Mom.

We'll let mom fool with the cookie shooter. We'll do ours this way.

Hmm...now which one do I want to decorate?

Ok. I've got all the ribbon and glue ready. Are y'all gonna make some ornaments or not?

Mine is gonna be great.

Sometimes you have to approach these crafts at just the right angle.

The Master Dragon Goddess at work.

Her creation. Sir Christmasticus Hollymund Joyten

May you all enjoy good health, bubbling laughter and the joy of being loved!!

Animal lover?

In case you didn't know it, I love animals and more often than not; I tend to understand and feel a sense of acceptance from animals more than I do with my own "species". A friend of mine emailed the following pictures to me today and they gave me such a warm happy feeling --I just had to share. I don't know where these photographs originated but I'm grateful to whoever put them "out there" for all of us to enjoy.

Have a great weekend y'all!
:-)
Maeve

Where did THAT come from?

And he goes for the dunk!

Whaddya mean I've only got 5 more minutes?

Mine! Mine! Mine!

The professional cake taster was provided at no additional charge.

Ahh...nothing like one of those beds that conforms to your body.

Yaaawwwnnn...just lemme sleep a little longer, 'kay?

How's YOUR'S taste?

Did you just call me SHORT???

Excuse me? Were you speaking to us?

More please?

But Mama - the ground is hot!!

Pardon me. Could you please ask the waiter to bring me a clean fork?

It's been a LOOOONG day!

Shhh...baby is sleeping.

Well dammit.

We'll hold him down while you run get help.

What do you mean you THINK you saw it run out the window?

It was like this when I got here. SWEAR!

A laugh, a smile, and a hearty THANK YOU in the form of a free book...

It's been an awesome year. When I was a kid, I never understood when the "old folks" said that as you get older, time slips away before you know it. I understand fully now because I can't figure out how I happened to land on December 31, 2011 so quickly. I blinked and the year was gone. For this end of year post, I thought I'd leave you with a few pictures of how we laughed our year to a close. I hope they give you a smile too.

Oh! And the "thank you" I mentioned in the title. This year I took part in the Long and Short Reviews: Stuff Your Stocking Blogfest. Commenters were entered to win an advanced reading copy of ETERNITY'S MARK. http://lasrguest.blogspot.com/2011/12/stuff-your-stocking-blogfest-maeve.html If you happen to leave a comment on this post - I'll add your name to the pot. I'll draw the winner's name tonight right before 2012 makes its grand appearance.

Happy New Year, my friends. May 2012 be filled with good things for us all and the strength to defeat anything bad that might decide to nip at our heels.

Blessings to all,
Maeve

The cookie chefs. Cornflake cookies are sticky - but good!

Just squeeze it. Really. It'll be funny.

Of all the gifts the child received, the whoopie cushion was her favorite.

Oldest daughter & her new fiance. She's grown quite sassy since receiving that ring!

Youngest daughter LOVED her Thundercat's sword.

I'm proud to say I have my own personal elf. Life just doesn't get any better!