Just keepin' it real~

Visits with grandbabies, hand made teddy bears, the last of the Pink Scarf deliveries, and a beautiful heartfelt gesture from a dear friend -- all the blessings that are so very special to us in our life.  This is my chance to share some of those most special memories with you~

Mason - 5 years old
Avela - 18 months old

We just returned from a wonderful

visit with our grandbabies in Atlanta. 

It seems like you just turn your back

and they grow so much!

Avela poses by the Christmas tree. 
(ALL the photos in this post were taken with our
Iphone 5 cameras)

You probably already know this-
but-- grandbabies are BUSY, BUSY, BUSY!!
~
there was lots of jumping on top of
Papaw's belly!

we celebrated Christmas with our babes
so there were new toys to play with~

the dollbaby lost out-
but Avela took off with both the teddy bears
in her new grocery cart!
~
(the teddy bears have their own special story
later in this post)

Mason was SO excited about the five
one dollar bills that his Papaw gave him ---
he wanted to take us all out to dinner!

EARLY morning building!
Grandbabies do not sleep late
when we come to visit!!

Avela's favorite toy was her
gb's iphone!

Avela's first ride on the merry go round
at the mall

Papaw captured this magical moment
with his iphone~

she is laughing out loud here~

we went to this little Italian bistro-
I said, "Mason, turn around here and smile for your gb".
and THIS -- is the picture that I got.

You can pay for expensive photo props ---
or-- you can plop the baby
on the bed at the Pottery Barn Kids!

but the truth of the matter is really this --
most of the time when you are taking photos of
busy, busy, busy grandbabies,
what you end up with mostly is
this!

 Papaw got to fly a vintage aircraft
while we were in Atlanta-
a Waco YMF

Mason was as excited about the airplane
as his Papaw was!

these precious little Teddy bears
were created by my friend Gregory Patrick.
~
Greg's story of how he came to knit
teddy bears is both unique and heartwarming.
Once a homeless person, Greg now knits these bears
as his means of making a living
 and uses them
to touch the lives of people all over the world.

You can find Greg at his blog
Mad Man Knitting.
He will be happy to make a precious little bear for you-
but --as with all things that are specially 
created and made
one at a time~~~
you will need to patiently wait your turn.
~
Just like me when I make my little nests,
Greg only has two busy little hands and
they are constantly
knitting!

Miss Maddy girl
~
I've been promising photos of our Maddy girl
(actually my sister's grand daughter,
but - we count her as our own!)

Here she is posing with her
favorite Uncle on Thanksgiving day.
~ 
Maddy girl will turn 5 years old next month!

A few weeks ago,
I delivered the last of the scarves
from the Pink Scarf Project to my 
friend Donna.

(Kay, me, Donna)

Donna and her friend Kathy 
met me and some friends in Columbus for lunch
and the scarf exchange.
~
For me -- this was the final great moment
of the Pink Scarf Project.
 The true completion of what had been
such an incredible project.
~
Meeting both Kay and Donna was the greatest
experience.  Before this day,
we had only communicated through our blogs
and emails. 
Can I just say ---
they are the
NICEST. PEOPLE. EVER!
(I just can't put into words what this day meant to me.
I could get all gushy here!)
~
You can find more photos of our meeting 
on Donna's blog here
and on Kathy's blog here

Sometimes people do things that
are so heartfelt and special
that it truly is hard to find the words
to express your gratitude.
~
My dear friend Deb
has created these beautiful little smocked gowns
for our most special babies
in my NICU.

Deb told me that the making of the little gowns
had been in her heart for such a long time.
~
This is really Deb's story to tell
and I want you to read it as she
has written and shared it on her blog.
You can find more photos and Deb's special story
here 
and here
and here

And finally~

Merry Christmas to you all
from the Gardener
and me.
~
Treasure every day you spend
 with those you love.

Love,

Vicki

ps -- thank you to everyone who has sent me best wishes for my recent cataract surgery --- all is well -- and round 2 will be coming up soon! More prayers please!

And--

You just have a little over 2 weeks to sign up for the big party!  You can find all the info here-- be sure to bring your friends along too!  It's going to be a wonderful opportunity to make new blogging friends and increase your followers!!