Friends

It's been great catching up with friends in recent weeks.  A girl can never get enough girl talk... and I love hanging out and making new memories.


  Rachel, Megan, Jamie and I with Santa. ...celebrating my and JP's bdays. But the highlight of the day was definitely Megan's baby news!!  So excited for her and Zach and their families.
 


Amy, Mary and I have gotten to enjoy some quality time together. Mary's daughter is so precious too! She has big, dark eyes that are adorable.  It's been great to pick up right were we left last time Mary was in town. ...dear friends.

Stephanie strutting her stuff.

Mary showing her delightful cupcake.

Aunt Amy clapping with Stephanie.




Sadly, I didn't get a picture of the girls, but this is a stained glass I especially liked at Midland Arts and Antiques.  The Mayes girl cousins get together occassionally and always have a good time together.  This time, we visited a huge warehouse full of junk and treasures.  We spent three hours going through booths full of any and everything.  It was a great time out, and I hope to visit the other antique shops Janna told us about soon too!



  I made Paula's Dean's recipe for peanut butter chocolate swirl cookies for the bake sale at a fundraiser for the Brockman's family.  At this event, we saw new friends and old. It was so good to catch up with people who I had known from church years ago.  I even saw girls that I had babysat when they were younger. 

The event was a huge success and so well organized.  There was a chili cook off, bake sale, corn hole contest, silent auction and raffle.... all raising over $6,000 for the Brockman family. 

Amanda Brockman is a few years younger than I, and we went to church together (and went on a movie date to see Monster's Inc. together!).  She and her husband are expecting their second child any day now.  And the fundraiser was for their two-year-old named Elias who is fighting cancer.  Such a brave boy and we're all praying for his recovery and God's strength for all of them during this time.

Yuletide

My family got together this year to enjoy the Yuletide Celebration at the ISO downtown.  I was especially excited because Sandi Patty was back this year as part of the entertainment.  If you've never seen her live, you've missed out.  She's such a great emcee, but when she sings, it's heavenly. 

It was especially fun too because we were all together.  Afterwards, we walked over to the South Bend Chocolate Company.  This is a tradition that goes back to when I worked Downtown.  Anytime someone would visit, we would have to walk down South Bend for a cup of hot chocolate in the colder months.  It's like drinking pure melted chocolate.  (but make sure you get it with the works! which includes whipped cream, chocolate drizzled on top and sprinkles.)

Spencer and Chase petting the reindeer outside ISO.  Chase pet the animal with his sleeve so he wouldn't get germs. :)

Mom and Cary before the show. Two lovely ladies!


Dad and Mom ...aren't they cute?


The tap dancing Santas. ...pretty much in the show every year.  I love this part of the show.


  This was near the end of the show. Sandi Patty standing in center.  At the end of the show, they reminded us that in a time when most shows have recorded music to save costs, this show was completely live... including every sound, bell and ring.  All of it was amazing... the orchestra, singing, dancing, magic act, organ playing and more.


  the fam!


  Josh and I in front of the "Christmas Tree" on the Circle.


  We actually got to sit in the Indiana Room at South Bend Chocolate Company. I was pretty excited that we all got a seat since the place was so crowded after the show.


  Cary, Shane and the boys.  Not sure if the thumbs up was for the show or the hot chocolate, but I say it was a two thumbs up night!

Ronald McDonald House

This year, our family (Mayes) decided to give back as part of our Christmas.  We finally settled on bringing a dinner for the Ronald McDonald House... a home away from home for people with loved ones in the hospital.  We were expecting to feed 60 people and wanted to make a comfort food for them... nothing says comfort like chicken and noodles, mashed potatoes, veggies and Christmas sugar cookies!

  Grandpa Dan with the grandkids.  They had a play room right by the kitchen, which was great.

  Joel and Jeri who made awesome mashed potatoes.  and Joel was the man when it came to clean up! He stayed in there washing dishes til the end even though the heat for the kitchen water was out!

  Kevin and Connor looking at the trains.  Connor LOVES the trains.


  Grandma Libby with Riley


  Dan stirring the pot... er, I mean food! :)


  Getting the food ready for serving.


  David played some Christmas music on the piano while people came to eat.


  Jodi showing the flyer for the Mayes family dinner.


  Jeanie with one of the girls staying at RMH. Her sibling was at Riley. They were decorating sugar cookies. yum.


  Danny and Josh

Neighbors

I love baking (if you haven't noticed).  And Christmas time is the perfect excuse for getting out the sugar and flour.  Some friends came over this year to make a whole selection of yummy treats. We had such fun dipping and baking and decorating. 

But once it was finished, I had to decide who to share my spoils with. I wanted to give them to several neighbors, but I wasn't sure how they'd recieve it.  I was afraid they might think it was just more sugar at a time that we're all trying to avoid the treats.  And we have one couple who lives across the street that on first impression, I thought was a sort of odd couple. 

Well, after telling my hubby my worries, he kind of chuckled saying that no one's going to be upset about receiving treats. ...still, it took me over a week to share them. It wasn't until I realized that they won't know I thought of them if I don't give them away that I finally got the courage to go walking...

Not everyone was home as I delivered their goodies.  But one who was home was the couple across the street.  And amazingly, the lady came out of her house, smiling and gave me a big hug. It was so sweet.  She totally made my day and helped me realize my worries were a waste. 

Since then, she's talked to me a couple of times making me all the more glad that I shared.