What a blessed day we had yesterday! 
We held our annual Cousins Christmas at my house, 
and so much fun was had! 
So much food too!
It's such a blessing to get to be with my family. 
We are all fairly close in age and grew up being together 
almost once or twice a week. 
We are close! 
I call some of them my Sister Cousins, 
because I do not have a sister, and we do a lot of things together still. 

Here's one picture of the 100's we took...we get a little out of hand when we are together, but that's the fun of it...this one is a rather calm shot.
Love them all!
(that's my baby brother in the back, he always gets in at least one of the pictures each year with all us girls) 

I am joining  

The house in the roses: Show off Your Christmas Tree Monday fun...
come on over!
When you are finished there hop on over to Bargain Hunting(and chatting) with Laurie, I couldn't help myself, I joined the party there too!

Here are just a few of the Holiday cookies, 

Christmas cookies , pendant cookies,

Winter cookies, ummm...

thingies with a hold in them cookies 

that we just finished in my classroom. 

It's hard to decide what to call them 

when you are trying to think of others during this time of year and respect their traditions and beliefs, 

as well as, create an art project that will cover simple clay techniques.

We rolled the clay into a ball...pressed it flat and stamped different designs in the center. Usually the design of choice was the students initials. After the clay was fired students colored the cookie with construction paper crayons and painted over the crayon with glitter paint. 

Amazing fun!

When told to put the paint on quickly, but lightly one very quiet student whose voice I had not heard this year said, " I'm finished. I put lots of paint on that sucker!!" 

Made my day that she talked to me, and the comment was priceless!

Even the paper on the painting table was beautiful!

Keeping up with popular Southern fashion...notice the monogrammed ones.

CHRISTMAS!

Let the decorating begin...

 I need a few more Christmas balls for this tree.

I made two...

one is so tall I am not sure
where it will end up.

 

When finished this tree will be in the center of my dining table.

A shelf in my kitchen filled with silver shakers, plates and such.

My mantle...now white from it's summer painting. 

The wreath's made on a 10 cent form I bought at my favorite sale, put on by the Macon Historical Society each year. 

They have the BIG sale and then a few weeks later they have a half price sale...I could still be there digging through all that glorious junk, but someone has to decorate my house.

Borrowed this idea from a blog. I need a little more bow practice.

A peek at the mantle just as I began painting it this past summer...this makes me feel good to see it, because it's proof that I do get some projects finished. Well, sort of...I want to paint the brick fireplace next...that will be some job!

More mantle...want a new fireplace cover also. Or, at least to paint the one I have...tires me to think about all that I want to do.

Here's my new curtains...painter's drop clothes. 

I like them, but think I'll be adding some bling to them sometime.

So, that's it. Got lots more work to do before ALL my family comes for our Christmas get-together. It will be done, but I just might be too. I really can't wait...I have the craziest bunch of cousins showing up here in about two weeks...FUN!