Glimpses of Christmas

I love decorating for Christmas. Over the years I've collected quite a few decorations, and many have special meanings! Here's a few "Glimpses of Christmas" around the Pavone home.

These little Christmas trees are probably from the late 50's. They were always on display in my parents house, growing up. My mom gifted them to me in 2002.

This beautiful white Christmas tree was made by one of my mom's best friends, Dot, in the 60's. 

It was always one of my most favorite Christmas decorations so I was thrilled when 

my mom gifted it to me in 2002. Look closely and you will see it is made of all different shapes of macaroni noodles.

Hand drawn cherished Christmas Cards made by my dad, dating back to the first year he made them, 1976-2000, and the last year he made them, 2002. He made them for everyone in my family and my sister's family each year; they are treasured by us all!

I made these stockings for our first Christmas after we were married in 1978. 

They are so big it takes a lot of stuffers to fill them. 

I made this Christmas Tree Advent Calendar for our first Christmas in our first house, 1979.

 Individually wrapped candy canes count the days until Christmas Day. I made many more of these Advent Calendars for friends and family. I also made one for each of my kids' families. Our grankids love putting the candy canes in the calendar pockets.

Another of my first Christmas decorations for our first Christmas in our first house, 1979.

My mom made this Christmas bunny family for us in 1981, the year our daughter, Nicole was born!

My very dear friend, Judie Provansal gave this treasured Christmas tree puzzle to me the year our daughters were in kindergarten together, 1986. Our daughters met taking dance lessons together, starting at age 3, and they are still friends today! Judie was a 5th grade teacher and I watched her daughter Emily during the year of kindergarten. I think of Judie with such love and am reminded how precious life is. Judie went to be with our Lord when my daughter and Emily were 11. Her two daughters, Emily and Nicole have grown into beautiful women of faith.

Another of my mom's cute handmade Christmas creations

 A new "Crazy Eights Table Runner" adorns my dining room table this year. 

(I finished quilting it before Thanksgiving.)

My newest Christmas decoration. For years I had a Santa cookie jar (in which we put doggie cookies not people cookies). The Santa was retired last year since it had a few too many chips.

A favorite of mine!

Merry Christmas!

Christmas 2014

2014 has been another wonderful year!

We have much to be thankful to God for, our health,our retirement,

our family and friends. We really enjoy spending time with our kids 

and grankids, and we see them as much as possible.

 The grankids, of course, are growing like weeds: Gigi is 7, and in 2nd grade; 

Brody, 4 and Hallee, 3 are both doing preschool with mom; 

Micah is 4, and in preschool, and Seth is 18 months and just running all the time! 

They love to learn and love for us to read to them. They often climb into our laps, especially Papa's, with a bunch of books to be read!

When we all get together it can be crazy and chaotic but loads of fun, too! As they say, 'young kids are exhausting,' and yet, we are so grateful for 

our family times and the love we share.

We enjoyed a lot of RVing (almost once a month) and did more traveling, too. Highlights of the year:  Jan: Las Vegas @ the Bellagio; March: RV'd in Arizona for Spring Training;

May: RV'd in Pahrump, Nevada for Nick’s firearms class;

July: Virginia for a week;  July 31-Aug 11: camping at Lake Almanor with the gang, 4 couples, our adult kids and 22 grandkids;

and Nov: our annual beach camping at San Elijo St Beach

with family. 

Our big trip of the year was a 2 month (Aug 11-Oct 8) USA RV Trip traveling with friends through 17 beautiful states in northern America: CA, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, No Dakota, So Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Missouri, Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas, Colorado, Utah, Nevada and back home! Seeing America was a dream come true; there was such diversity and beauty everywhere we traveled. The memories we brought home will last us a lifetime.

Yes, 2014 was a very good year! 

Wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas filled with God's Blessings!

Love, Karen and Nick