Eli is One Month Old! (how did that happen?)

Sweet Dreams Little One!!

Eat, Sleep, P@#p, repeat!!

....that's how we describe our time with Eli!! And we don't mind. It seems we can see him grow right before our eyes and we don't want to miss a moment. Hopefully we'll continue to see him every few weeks this first year. Plans are they will come to our home in two weeks and we'll have a Sip n' See for family and friends.

It's been a long time since we have taken a girls self picture.We had a wonderful, quiet Christmas!!

And finally a Gma and Gpa picture!!

Last night we had some family over to celebrate the Holidays and Tim's Birthday! Tim's brother Denny came over with his kids Claire(and her two Hailey and Jacob) and Ian. (Claire's DH, Kyle was working.) Randi and Megan are more like sisters to Claire and Ian than cousins. I was using the timer on my camera not knowing the 'fun' the big kids were having until I would check the pictures!! LOL It took three tries to get a normal or nice picture!! I thought 'what the heck' put the first one in my blog!! In the second one they are sticking their tongues out! It looks like Hailey(2yo) is holding a doll, it's Eli(4 weeks)! Denny is holding Jacob who is almost 6 months. We use to spend most Christmas Eves together when the kids were growing up so to be able to celebrate for a few hours was wonderful!

Just a quick post as we wait for our prime rib dinner. Seems my family was going different ways for Christmas this year. My dad spent Christmas eve with Tim, Megan and I. And Randi and Nick spent Christmas Eve and Day with Nick's families. So Christmas morning Tim went to his parents to surprise them(they only live an hour away.) My dad, Megan and I went to one of my sisters who lives only about 4 miles for us. And as traditions go we posed for family pictures in front of a tree(my sister has 3 I think)! There is usually 4 or 5 of us but just Megan and me this year. After all the excitement there we met Tim at home and loaded up and headed to the Cities to Randi and Nick's to see Eli on his first Christmas! Happy First Christmas, Eli!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

My DD just sent this picture of Eli!! I haven't seen him for 2 and 1/2 weeks!! Except on Webcam! I can see by this picture that he has changed a lot! We're looking forward to spending tomorrow thru Sunday with Eli and his mom and dad! It will be a Merry Christmas!!

Monday Challenge!

Another Monday Challenge with Amber, Brooke, AJ, Maren, Jennifer and Jeanne! This week was to make a Santa card! Since I don't have a Unity Santa I went with an old stamp(Anita's) I've had for years and had never inked it up til tonight. But I did use the Unity Ho, Ho, Ho stamp! The bg paper is Cosmo Cricket and the Holly is Making Memories. Other wise no embellishments, just a simple card for the paperboy!!

Inside the card....I made a pocket for a gift card! It's ready to stick in the door! Funny story, last year my friend stuck a package in our door late after we had gone to bed. The next day she asked about it and I said I didn't get a package! Later that night we found it in the door, the paperboy thought it was for him and took it home that morning, when he opened it he realized it wasn't for him! (I gave him a hand knit stocking cap!) Any way, it was funny! Also, the large bottle brush tree in the background was the tree my mom bought for 89cents from Woolworth's in the early 60's. It was our Christmas tree that year, it was all they could afford. I love it! Now to make more cards!

ELI'S FIRST CHRISTMAS!

The weather kept us from going to see Eli this weekend.

But, we have been doing the webcam and phone calls!

Randi just called! They had gone to Rosedale today

so Eli could see Santa! And he fell asleep!!

Is this the sweetest 'Santa' picture you have eva' seen?

MONDAY GIRLS CHALLENGE!

.....and Ambers Sketch Challenge!

I needed a thank you card and that's what

the Monday Girls Challenge was today!

How perfect!! And it also worked for

Ambers sketch challenge!!

And it's already in the mail!!

ElfYourself GREETINGS!

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Holiday Joy!!

Have you been shopping lately?? We have cut way back on our gift giving! And we have been enjoying the season so much more. I had to stop at the 'mall' to pick up a contact yesterday and I don't think I could have done any more than that! The halls were packed and I didn't want to see what the stores were like! And I haven't gotten any of the 4-6 gifts I need to buy yet!

I've gotten through 3 nights of 'Santa Semi' and my body is feeling it! (Too much dancing for this gma!!) But bring joy to the communities we go to gets me in the 'Holiday spirit! It's to bad we couldn't incorporate the real 'reason for the season' into the 'Holiday Express'! But it's the commercial stuff that gets the people out!

Sponge Bob and the 'new' Snowman were quite the hits this year!

All the old characters did good too!Not sure if we'll be going out today for our last night! Sounds like

we have a lot of white stuff coming along with 35 mph winds! Not

good for riding on the back of a semi even in a bear suit!

SANTA SEMI !!!!

This is my third year doing the Santa Semi! The little town of Kandiyohi has a Men's Club the does community projects and they started the Santa Semi about 11-13 years ago(no one can remember exactly how long)! We go to 4-5 towns a night for four nights. When we get to each town they have a Santa that rides into town with us. Then we dance to rockin' Christmas music and get pictures taken with the kids(young and old). It's a blast. Such a great way to get into the Christmas spirit. It takes lots of volunteers to pull it off.

This is my friend Mary and me!!

I mean Minnie and the 'Bear'!

Mary and me on the school bus!!

Merry Christmas from the 'Bear'!!

CARD CHALLENGE!

AJ, Amber, Brooke, Jennifer, Jeanne, and Maren,

designers extrodinare for Unity Stamp Company,

have a card 'challenge' every Monday!!

My plan was to join in each week, and I did a couple of weeks

ago. Then last week didn't work out for me!

I was busy doing this...

This week I decided to find time to make a card!! Their challenge was to make a Snowman card with red and cream only! Last week was to do a 'Vintage' Christmas card so to make up for not getting a card made I added some vintage lace to this card. The card does look a lot better in real life. Evening light and a flash can loose some details.

Now to get busy with our Christmas cards!

ELI-ONE WEEK OLD!

Pictures taken Sunday, 12.7.2008

As I think about what lies ahead of me this week I feel over whelmed!Decorating for Christmas, work, laundry, etc, etc.




Then I noticed my "Easter" cactus! I have called this Christmas cactus that for years because it always bloomed at Easter.






(My aunt gave it to me about 20 years ago....she has the original plant which came from my great-grandmother. Note the 'bark' in the center of the plant.)


















Any way..... it has blossoms on it now!! It really will be a Christmas cactus this year!!



And this is all it took to make me feel calm about this week! Simple pleasures!!

(I'll post a picture when it is in full bloom!! )

We went to Randi and Nick's for the weekend. Just to hang out with Eli and help where we could. Those little one's grow and change so fast. Living two hours away is a little hard but we'll just make great memories with the time we do spend together.

The pictures of Eli just don't seem to show how little he is. But if you notice the size of his pacifier( which is the small size) you can see how small his face is. He has big hands though!! (gets 'em from his dad)

(Eli is bundled in his Gpa Tim's blanket!)

Sweet dreams, Eli!

Precious baby feet!

YEP, MORE PICTURES.......

I'm on the 'tired side' but I just wanted to post a few more pictures!!



Randi, Nick and Eli got to go home today! I haven't talked to them yet, wanted to give them a quiet night. Just their little family!!

Before they went home my sister and I were able to bring my dad by the hospital. He had an appt. in the cities so we were able to bring him to see his first great grandchild. He said he had forgotten how small a newborn can be. Dad didn't say much but I could tell he was over joyed.

We never know when we will all be together so I grabbed the chance

to get a four-generation picture.....

THE NEW FAMILY!!

Thanksgiving Day 2008!Minutes after being born!! 11.29.08

December. 1. 2008

Eli! 42 hrs. old! (already taking to the Nuk)

The Sundsmo Family

Lucky me! I got to spend the day with
Randi, Nick and Eli. They are amazing
parents already. They have made sure
that the grandparents get lots of bonding
time with Eli!! (Thanks you 2!)
I'll be going home tomorrow but first Eli will
meet his Great-Grandpa Donnie! My sister
Ruth will bring dad up to the cities (it's for
a doctors appt), we'll swing by United Hospital
in St.Paul, to see Eli before going to dad's appt.
Who can get too much of babies???
Then tomorrow afternoon Randi and Eli will
get to go home!! We hope they get caught up
on their rest(hospitals aren't necessarily the best
place to get sleep, esp. with a new baby!).

First time, precious time!!

Hello baby Eli!!

A grandpa's pride!

The new Auntie!!

We spent the day at the hospital, each taking our turn to hold Eli!!
Randi, Eli and Nick are all doing well! Mommy and Daddy are a little tired.
(Grandma and Grandpa too!! {smiles})
Randi and Nick didn't really get to bed till 5:00 this morning.

They plan to take advantage of the nursery tonight. Hopefully lights out at 9PM they said!!??

They will only bring Eli when he needs to nurse. Which is also going very well.

Nick has changed all Eli's diapers, the big guy is getting good at it!

One of the nurses joked that they could use him in the nursery!!

Sounds like Randi will be in the hospital till Tuesday evening/Wednesday morn.

They are awesome parents. They were so ready for the roles!!

The memories have just begun!!

A GRANDMOTHERS JOY!!!

The card above pretty much says it all!! It's been a long 32 hours

for Randi and Nick. They started 'medical intervention' Friday

afternoon. Some things moved along and some didn't. Last night

it was decided it was necessary to take Eli by C-section. Little guy

was turned the wrong way with no signs of turning. Funny thing,

Randi was facing the wrong way when I was in labor with her but

ended up turning shortly before she was born. Tim and I got to

bed at 3:20 this morning. We are anxious to get back to the

hospital today and share the joy!!! Eli and Randi are doing

wonderful. His first apgar scores were 9!!!

While Nick took Eli to the nursery for a bath and tests I was

able to be with Randi. I was so glad she didn't have to be alone.

So here he is!! My little grandson!!!! Eli Timothy!!

ELI'S CHRISTMAS STOCKING!

Well, I'm still knitting away for the baby!

Just finished Eli's Christmas stocking yesterday!

(used some 'vintage' yarn I inherited from some

relative or friend). And I also finished

a little cadet cap today. (picture later)

I'm really pleased how the stocking turned out!

Randi picked out the color and wanted it done

in cables. So I looked at dimensions of stockings

and came up with the pattern myself. Good

thing I wrote down the pattern, Randi wants

three more just the same.

And since Eli is taking his time getting here

plans were made to have some medical intervention.

Randi went in this afternoon,

we just left her and Nick. Things are going well.

Actual labor is expected to start in the morning.

Soooooooooo.....

we wait some more!!

Refurbished!!

I finally got hold of Angela's slippers! I have been wanting to 'fix' them up

ever since I saw this picture of her wearing them at a bonfire!! (tisk-tisk)

I gave them to her last January(check out her post here!) after she

shared a few of the NEW Unity stamps to try out!

The bottoms were intact but they need 'restamping'!

I've learned to put lots of paint on the stamp and lot

of pressure when stamping on the felted slipper.

And to make them outdoor friendly I added leather to the bottoms!

The leather will keep the bottoms from wearing out

and they are still soft and flexible on the foot.

And the 'restamping'!!

Now to get them back to Angela and get her feet warmed up!

MAKING CARDS!

Some of the Unity Designers do a challenge every

Monday! This week was to make a Christmas card

with non-traditional Christmas colors.