The Eve Of Christmas

the last car in the parking lot
Target.  Bend, Oregon
Christmas Eve

My Mother had a last minute gift inspiration, so we headed to Target at 7pm on Christmas Eve to print TWO HUNDRED and EIGHTY-EIGHT pictures. It took just over Two Hours.  Lordie Lord.  But Mother had her wish, and got to give each of us a photo album of our 2011 Summer Fam Reunion for Christmas.

Late afternoon, my brother Shane called with a Christmas surprise ~ he and his family were in town!  Shane and my sister-in-law Jani had their second baby boy 10 days ago, and I'd yet to meet him, so I was over the moon ecstatic to head over to Jani's parent's home to see the family and meet my newest nephew, Drew Matthew.

Shane. Jani. Ryan. & baby Drew.
isn't he a doll.
and doesn't Jani look FAB!

As a surprise, Jani's family converted the old cistern under their house into a Dream Wine Cellar for Jani's dad as his gift.  They cut a door into the concrete, dried it completely out, and the day after Thanksgiving, they sent dear ol dad down to man their family store while the rest of the family converged for the cellar transformation.  In 8 hours they used their creative juices to create an Amazing Wine Cellar.  It is Rustic, and so warm.  We all hung out, caught up, and shared some Christmas Cheer together in the Cellar.  It was beyond fabulous.

The wine racks are made from wood pallets.  

Jani's brother took canvas, an old phone book, and some black paint and made these two pieces.  Jani's parents' name and number from the phone book is on one of the pieces.

The lounge under the art is the slab of concrete they cut out to create the door into the cistern. 

They took old tree stumps to create side tables and spray painted the top silver.

The bark on one of the tables came off in a big piece, with a hole where a knot in the wood had been. They sprayed it with silver paint and hung it on the wall.

Rhett rocking my new hat I found while shopping the boutiques earlier in the day.

my Mother and her newest grand baby

The electric fireplace isn't just for looks ~ it actually gives off heat!

how precious is that baby

Jani's brother and his wife had a little girl, just a few weeks older than baby Drew.  Two Christmas babies!  

I spent most of Christmas Eve afternoon with Rhett, downtown Bend, shopping Bend's Fantastic Boutiques.  There is one shop in particular that I l.ov.e.  They sell things made by local Etsy Artists, local merchants, and Vintage items.  I found a vintage looking, handmade crocheted hat made by a 78 year old local woman that I just fell in love with. The most fabulous thing were the sales women that told me all about her, how involved she is in the community, and what a wonderful lady she is. It made it so personal to know a little about the creator.

"What Lola Wants"
how flippin cute is that for a shop name!?

Christmas Shopping Success!

come come come Christmas
we are ready!


-m-