In the company of Friends...

Ron and I decided we're an odd lot... because three of our best friends are stuffed animals! Really... It all began on Valentine's Day a couple of years ago when Ron took me to Build-a-Bear. I chose the softest, most huggable, teddy bear. We named him Roneoo, and he's has been my constant friend ever since. (an I love you message from Ron plays when you press Roneoo's paw) Then Junior came along. .. Jr. is a small Teddy Bear. My 'welcome home' gift from Ron on one of my return trips from visiting my kids and grandkids. Jr. was a welcome friend to me (and Roneoo) and the two of them are propped up on the bed pillows every day...and snuggle buddies every night. Then Ron and I got married, and one day - at the end of a stressful day, I walked into the living room and found 'Barney' (yes, of purple dinosaur fame) propped up on the couch. When I picked him up, and pressed my finger on his tummy - he sang: I love you, you love me. We're a happy fam-i-ly. With a great big hug and a kiss from me to you, won't you say you love me, too! Well, what could I do but adopt Barney, too! He had made me smile ... Ron, who didn't really like the Barney videos, somehow took a liking to Barney and insists he stay propped up on the living room sofa pillows ... My first thought was, well - we'll see... but in the midst of my new crazy life with two teenagers and one who thinks he is... Barney is a sweet reminder of what is most important in this new crazy life of mine. Yes, we may be an odd lot - with three of our best companions being stuffed animals (who would have thunk it?). But when situations get tense, Ron simply pushes Barney's tummy and the song begins, I love you... you love me... we're a happy fam-i-ly... Yes, we are.

A Stocking with My Name...

I'm not sure I've ever had store-bought Christmas stockings before...but I was desperate this year. I had 10 stockings at my house and none of them had our names on them. They were the ones for my kids and grandkids. (Funny...since I've always been with Michael and Melinda for Christmas, I've always taken their stockings with me. And, they had my stocking at their house!)

I couldn't hang up their stockings if I didn't have ones for me and my new family. I thought about making them - but even if I was motivated, 5 stockings in one year is a lot! Twice I've made two in one year - and that was a lot. I couldn't imagine doing five. But just in case, I did go to the fabric store one night. Have you been to the fabric store recently? Oh, my goodness. The price of patterns and fabric - you don't save money any more. You have to be sewing only because you want to create something hand made. And even though that was the idea, there wasn't going to be time to do it this year. So I gave up and purchased Christmas stockings with our names embroidered on them... I wasn't too sure if I liked them when I first opened the package, partly due to a bias about having store-bought stockings, but I took them home and one by one hung them on the fireplace and voila` it looks like a family lives here! Plus, it's something 'just us.' All of the other Christmas decorations, including all of the Christmas ornaments, are the ones I brought with me - they are 'my' memories. So, 'our' memories will start with stockings this year, and the ornament from our honeymoon, and one commemorating our first Christmas as husband and wife, and go from there. And that's a good place to begin, everyone will have a stocking with their name...