Archie got his first haircut Monday. He did pretty well. He didn't like his head messed with much, so the groomer couldn't do much with his ears, which look super floppy and furry. I kind of like it. He was a good boy during the experience, so that's a plus. The groomer tells us we need to brush him more regularly so he doesn't have so many knots and snaggles. Oh my gosh, that is one cute dog.
Every Christmas Eva likes to make a homemade gift for her loved ones. Last year we made soap, which was an experience I hope not to repeat. This year we found a YouTube video (several actually) showing how to make these ornaments using tiny embroidery hoops, five-inch fabric squares, festive ribbons, and various adornments. They are turning out super cute. We are experimenting. You can use a glue gun or tacky glue to affix the decorations. The trickiest aspect turned out to be attaching some kind of backing to hide the raw edges of the fabric. We opted to use black felt, and it is going ok. Trimming the raw edges with super good sharp scissors after the glue dries is the secret to having it look good I think.
Speaking of holiday traditions, my sister Kate makes everyone in the family a tin of cookies each and every year. Receiving this selection of cookies is truly a magical experience. There are macadamia bars, melt-in-your-mouth chocolate-dipped bites, chocolate Krinkles, Mexican wedding cookies, some kind of coffee-flavored chocolate drizzle cookies, and more. She has been doing this every year for more than a decade and we are all so blessed to be the recipient of such amazing cookies. I swear she must go through 100 pounds of butter. There are a LOT of us. My personal favorites are the macadamia bars, but honestly, there isn't a bad bite in the bunch. Now that is a commitment she is never going to be able to get out of.
As you can tell, we are in the midst of our Christmas preparations. Lots of house cleaning going on, and menu planning for all the meals we want to cook when Ahren is here. I am counting down the hours until I can wrap my arms around him in a great big hug.
I did get an update on my nephew's condition. He is recovering from his cardiac arrest very well. He has a new pacemaker with a defibrillator and is now well enough to return to work on a reduced schedule/capacity. This is an outcome that is so much better than what we all feared in the early stages of his situation. We have much to be grateful for this year for sure. Thank you all again for your prayers and good thoughts.
39 responses to “Archie’s First Haircut, Eva’s Ornaments, and the Best Cookies Ever”
So happy to hear of your nephew’s progress. Such wonderful news.
I’ll have some of the Mexican Wedding cookies. 😀
So happy to hear of your nephew’s progress. Such wonderful news.
I’ll have some of the Mexican Wedding cookies. 😀
So happy to hear of your nephew’s progress. Such wonderful news.
I’ll have some of the Mexican Wedding cookies. 😀
So happy to hear your nephew is doing well. That’s a wonderful early Christmas present!! Archie is pawdorable! And as for those cookies…can I be part of your family?!?!😉
So happy to hear your nephew is doing well. That’s a wonderful early Christmas present!! Archie is pawdorable! And as for those cookies…can I be part of your family?!?!😉
So happy to hear your nephew is doing well. That’s a wonderful early Christmas present!! Archie is pawdorable! And as for those cookies…can I be part of your family?!?!😉
That’s such good news about your nephew! And Eva’s ornaments are marvelous – what a wonderful tradition to have! You have inspired me to do the same with my grandkids. I hope you have a wonderful Christmas season with all your family – the memories can sustain you for a long time. Merry Christmas, Nicole!
That’s such good news about your nephew! And Eva’s ornaments are marvelous – what a wonderful tradition to have! You have inspired me to do the same with my grandkids. I hope you have a wonderful Christmas season with all your family – the memories can sustain you for a long time. Merry Christmas, Nicole!
That’s such good news about your nephew! And Eva’s ornaments are marvelous – what a wonderful tradition to have! You have inspired me to do the same with my grandkids. I hope you have a wonderful Christmas season with all your family – the memories can sustain you for a long time. Merry Christmas, Nicole!
Such good news about your nephew. A very scary situation in one so young. I am very thankful for all that medical professionals are able to do, (and appreciate when they are honest enough to admit they don’t know!) True miracles.
Mr Archie is handsome!! I struggled as a wirefox owner with the dilemma of cutting or stripping. Neither of mine tolerated the stripping well and did not have skin issues as a consequence. Yes their colors weren’t as vibrant as they got older. Mr Bentley, the last one was bought from a breeder in Mpls when the breeder here referred me as she didn’t have enough in the litter. But she agreed to start the stripping when we got him home. Nope – he was so naughty and biting the first time, she refused further help. He was almost bald in one spot. I’d bite too! LOL It is what it is!! Archie is too cute!
Such good news about your nephew. A very scary situation in one so young. I am very thankful for all that medical professionals are able to do, (and appreciate when they are honest enough to admit they don’t know!) True miracles.
Mr Archie is handsome!! I struggled as a wirefox owner with the dilemma of cutting or stripping. Neither of mine tolerated the stripping well and did not have skin issues as a consequence. Yes their colors weren’t as vibrant as they got older. Mr Bentley, the last one was bought from a breeder in Mpls when the breeder here referred me as she didn’t have enough in the litter. But she agreed to start the stripping when we got him home. Nope – he was so naughty and biting the first time, she refused further help. He was almost bald in one spot. I’d bite too! LOL It is what it is!! Archie is too cute!
Such good news about your nephew. A very scary situation in one so young. I am very thankful for all that medical professionals are able to do, (and appreciate when they are honest enough to admit they don’t know!) True miracles.
Mr Archie is handsome!! I struggled as a wirefox owner with the dilemma of cutting or stripping. Neither of mine tolerated the stripping well and did not have skin issues as a consequence. Yes their colors weren’t as vibrant as they got older. Mr Bentley, the last one was bought from a breeder in Mpls when the breeder here referred me as she didn’t have enough in the litter. But she agreed to start the stripping when we got him home. Nope – he was so naughty and biting the first time, she refused further help. He was almost bald in one spot. I’d bite too! LOL It is what it is!! Archie is too cute!
Wow Archie really looks adorable! Your ornament project is cute; amazing what a glue gun can do. I would love to have a cookie tin of yummies each year. Easier than having to bake them all myself!
Wow Archie really looks adorable! Your ornament project is cute; amazing what a glue gun can do. I would love to have a cookie tin of yummies each year. Easier than having to bake them all myself!
Wow Archie really looks adorable! Your ornament project is cute; amazing what a glue gun can do. I would love to have a cookie tin of yummies each year. Easier than having to bake them all myself!
Archie is a cute guy! And I love reading about your projects with Eva. I have a 7 year old grandson and he’s very intrigued by the sewing machine…maybe another year before I show him the foot pedal! Also…Kate’s COOKIES!!! Our crew at Crate always looked forward to the day that Kate’s cookies showed up in the lunchroom!! Merry Christmas!
Archie is a cute guy! And I love reading about your projects with Eva. I have a 7 year old grandson and he’s very intrigued by the sewing machine…maybe another year before I show him the foot pedal! Also…Kate’s COOKIES!!! Our crew at Crate always looked forward to the day that Kate’s cookies showed up in the lunchroom!! Merry Christmas!
Archie is a cute guy! And I love reading about your projects with Eva. I have a 7 year old grandson and he’s very intrigued by the sewing machine…maybe another year before I show him the foot pedal! Also…Kate’s COOKIES!!! Our crew at Crate always looked forward to the day that Kate’s cookies showed up in the lunchroom!! Merry Christmas!
What wonderful news about your nephew for the family! That makes the Christmas season even more special. I’m sure Ahren is as excited to be there as you are! Eva’s ornaments are beautiful keepsakes! Archie looks so cute after his grooming appointment! I bake six kinds of cookies to share with family & friends. I try not to eat the ones I bake, but when my sister’s arrive I’m all about those! 🍪🍪
What wonderful news about your nephew for the family! That makes the Christmas season even more special. I’m sure Ahren is as excited to be there as you are! Eva’s ornaments are beautiful keepsakes! Archie looks so cute after his grooming appointment! I bake six kinds of cookies to share with family & friends. I try not to eat the ones I bake, but when my sister’s arrive I’m all about those! 🍪🍪
What wonderful news about your nephew for the family! That makes the Christmas season even more special. I’m sure Ahren is as excited to be there as you are! Eva’s ornaments are beautiful keepsakes! Archie looks so cute after his grooming appointment! I bake six kinds of cookies to share with family & friends. I try not to eat the ones I bake, but when my sister’s arrive I’m all about those! 🍪🍪
I love everything about this post – Archie’s adorable haircut, those wonderful ornaments that E. is making and most especially the news about your nephew. Thank goodness he has made the progress he has made from what could have been a tragedy. Continued good health to him and the rest of your family!
I love everything about this post – Archie’s adorable haircut, those wonderful ornaments that E. is making and most especially the news about your nephew. Thank goodness he has made the progress he has made from what could have been a tragedy. Continued good health to him and the rest of your family!
I love everything about this post – Archie’s adorable haircut, those wonderful ornaments that E. is making and most especially the news about your nephew. Thank goodness he has made the progress he has made from what could have been a tragedy. Continued good health to him and the rest of your family!
Archie is adorable! Eva’s ornaments are perfect, what a fun project for you both. Exciting that your son will be home soon and that your nephew has made such an amazing recovery. Blessing to all!
Archie is adorable! Eva’s ornaments are perfect, what a fun project for you both. Exciting that your son will be home soon and that your nephew has made such an amazing recovery. Blessing to all!
Archie is adorable! Eva’s ornaments are perfect, what a fun project for you both. Exciting that your son will be home soon and that your nephew has made such an amazing recovery. Blessing to all!
So pleased to hear your nephew is recovering really well. And Archie’s white floof is glowing! I’m on a no carb day and those cookies look so delicious! I’d better go and make myself an omelette to stop my drooling!
So pleased to hear your nephew is recovering really well. And Archie’s white floof is glowing! I’m on a no carb day and those cookies look so delicious! I’d better go and make myself an omelette to stop my drooling!
So pleased to hear your nephew is recovering really well. And Archie’s white floof is glowing! I’m on a no carb day and those cookies look so delicious! I’d better go and make myself an omelette to stop my drooling!
amazing news about your nephew. your entire family can celebrate that this xmas. I think Archie looks pretty adorable. I gave River a bath yesterday so now he is molting fur everywhere. oy!
a friend of mine and her adult daughters make xmas cookies every year. she said they spend $500 on just butter, sugar, and flour. it’s an entire weekend cooking event. ;p
amazing news about your nephew. your entire family can celebrate that this xmas. I think Archie looks pretty adorable. I gave River a bath yesterday so now he is molting fur everywhere. oy!
a friend of mine and her adult daughters make xmas cookies every year. she said they spend $500 on just butter, sugar, and flour. it’s an entire weekend cooking event. ;p
amazing news about your nephew. your entire family can celebrate that this xmas. I think Archie looks pretty adorable. I gave River a bath yesterday so now he is molting fur everywhere. oy!
a friend of mine and her adult daughters make xmas cookies every year. she said they spend $500 on just butter, sugar, and flour. it’s an entire weekend cooking event. ;p
So glad to hear of the progress of your nephew. And Eva’s ornaments are darling. Of course, Archie takes the prize for cuteness!
So glad to hear of the progress of your nephew. And Eva’s ornaments are darling. Of course, Archie takes the prize for cuteness!
So glad to hear of the progress of your nephew. And Eva’s ornaments are darling. Of course, Archie takes the prize for cuteness!
Love Archie and great news about your nephew! Nothing better than a tray of different homemade Christmas cookies.
Love Archie and great news about your nephew! Nothing better than a tray of different homemade Christmas cookies.
Love Archie and great news about your nephew! Nothing better than a tray of different homemade Christmas cookies.