Hello all!

Brogan gets to visit with Santa.

Hi, sorry that I've been away for a while but with Christmas and all of the holiday events I've been busy. As most of you, right? Any way, time to try and get everyone caught up on the happening of the McGee family and my studio. The studio is sort of auto pilot for a while, especially after Christmas. I didn't leave the studio until after 4:00 on Christmas Eve, and I didn't go back in until today. I finally got all of the orders done and was able to do some personal things too.


Christmas Eve was at my house, which is also Hunter's birthday. Everything came off great, especially with the help of my Demon Elf, Kathy, and Phil's sister Janet getting their early. Hunter had a great birthday, and it was nice having the family together for the evening. Philip dressed up as Santa and we all got to sit on his lap and tell him what we wanted for Christmas. When Mom sat on his lap we all lost it cause of the way that she sat on him. Philip's face turned 5 shades of red.

Christmas was a little different this year, Philip wasn't here for Christmas morning, and then Samantha was the only one with us all day long. Hunter left in the evening for a trip to Orlando with his buddies, and Philip and Kim had to go to her aunt's family. We went to my sister's house for dinner and to exchange gifts, which was really nice.. Mom gave me a special gift, she gave me Miles. He hasn't come home with me yet,he is still with his mommy and my heart is still healing from giving Missy and Fiddy away.

Phil's and my hearts are hurting just a bit this season. Phil found out a few weeks ago that he has skin cancer, and it isn't good. We are in the middle of waiting and seeing. He has it on his lip, and that is a bad place to have it because of all the blood cells in the lips. The cancer can go anywhere now, anywhere! Also, one of my very dear friends has been told that she has a lump in her limp node and is going to see the surgeon next week. As I've shared with many of you in t

he past, I Hate Cancer..

You are never too old to believe!

Samantha made this shirt for
Philip, it is a personal joke
between the two of them.
Don't forget to dream the impossible and aim for it. God bless.

I love Thursday night classes!!!

This whole day had been so much fun. I have laughed and laughed all day long. That is one of the things that I love about my studio and the women that are in there with me. When I got there today, Joanie was there having her crochet class. Kathy, my Demon Elf, got there right behind me, and so the laughter began. The three of us got to talking, and no painting was being done at all. After Joanie left Ms. Pat came up, and the laughter and foolish talking started all over. So funny!!! At times we were talking and laughing so hard I couldn't catch my breath. But in the middle of all of this, we were painting and getting things done. Ms Pat keeps on telling me how much these classes mean to her, and I believe it. She is laughing, has a goal in her mind, is able to sell her paintings and make extra money, and is able to share her memories of her late husband. I feel like I know Ed, even though he has been gone for over 4 years.

I love my studio, I love having women in there to talk and share life experiences. We just never know when or how we may help someone. My life has been blessed by all of these women and men that come into my studio. My heart is lighten each and every time.

Well, once again I am ready to go to sleep and dream. I think Ill dream about the impossible and then I think Ill aim for it. Join me.

Now, Now girls, let's play nice. lol.

Pat, which is now called satan, is getting an evil look from Kathy.

see, we did get some painting done tonight for class. they all looked great.

Santa is busy.

Ho! Ho! Ho! Well, I have now been able to shop for two days, and I have most of my shopping done. I still have some things to get, but I'll get it by the end of weekend. Dud, I've got to get it done, don't I. LOL. But in the middle of all of this hustle and bustle, I want to still take time t remember why we are celebrating this season. To remember that tiny baby, laying in the manger, only to grow up to give His life for us. Amazing.

I am done with Christmas orders, and I now get to paint some of the things that I want to do. Kathy, my Demon Elf, is also at the studio painting some things that she wants to do. You should see the jeans that she is painting! They are going to look so good.

The puppies came up again today, and Drake got to play with them. He even has a little buddy now. So cute together.

Have a wonderful evening and I'll be in touch again soon. Remember to dream the impossible and aim for it.

Life is short.

Last night I got a call from a dear friend that I call Sis, and she told me that her mother-in-law had died. She and her husband are really close friends, and my heart really hurts for them. They leave tomorrow morning for High Point, that is where they will have the funeral. They will be there without any of their friends from here, but they will have their family with them. So, I am asking any of you that might read this to please lift them and their families up in prayer. Thanks.

And let the holly leaves fly.

What a night in class, holly leaves are the undoing of many a fine woman. LOL. Tonight there were two new students, Judy and Maureen, and they had to tackle holly leaves on their first night. But they hung in there and started getting it, but at the same time we are thankful for pine needles and berries.

The puppies came to visit again today, and trust me, I get no work done while they are there. I love to watch them play and sleep. They are just way too cute.

Tomorrow is going to be a sad day. Due to Fiddy, one of our beagles, getting out of the back yard and making some of our neighbors upset we are giving him and Missy away. They are brother and sister, and we are giving them both away to the same person, that way they won't be alone. Philip and Kim had taken Missy, but brought her back. My heart hurts just thinking about them going away, but I know that it is for the best. While I was in Myrtle beach for the show, someone called animal control on us because the dogs were barking too much. So now we have to keep them in during the day, they can't stay out side and play. And if we do let them out Fiddy digs out and off they go. This is really for the best. But I am going to miss my babies. I will still have Jewels, just not the other two.

Okay, here are the pictures of class and the puppies.
Remember, Dream the impossible and aim for it.

This is Maureen, she just loves doing holly leaves. LOL.

It was her first class, and I hope it won't be her last.

And this is Ms.. Pat. She is such and encourager, always ready to help others and to encourage them to keep trying.

This is Judy, and she is a hoot. Really enjoyed getting to know her, and hope to see her again.

Maureen and Judy really did good tonight!!!!

Look at the beautiful babies. So sweet.

Visited by the puppies today.

Hi, just wanted to pop in and share some pictures of the puppies. I can't believe howw much they have grown, and their eyes are opened, they are walking, and giving little kisses. Yes, I have my favorite, but I'm not telling which one.

enjoy the photos.

The Weekend comes to an end.

Today is Sunday, and I am now in my bed, getting ready to call it a day. The weekend went by way too fast, as always. I spent the biggest part of my weekend at the studio, yesterday and today, working on orders and trying to get organized.. As most of my friends know, I am not organized at all, but even with the mess I know where things are and I can put my hands on whatever it is that I might need. Phil got to play golf this weekend, and he even got to play with Philip today. Phil loves to play golf, he would do it all the time if he could. Here is a picture of Phil and the boys playing in the Blueberry Festival.

Tonight we had dinner with Samantha, the boys couldn't make it. Usually on Sunday nights we have "Family Night" and all the kids are supposed to be there for dinner so that we can all get caught up on all the goings on in their lives. We started this habit a few years ago after being invited to the Priolos family night. It is a great thing and Phil and I look forward to it every week.. We sure do love our kids and love spending time with them whenever we can.

Well,, it is time to say good night. Dream the impossible and aim for it.

Ho! Ho! Ho!

I have got to dedicate this entry to my class tonight. We were painting our Santa's and all of sudden we all lost it as our conversation took on a life of its own. At one point some of us were bent over in laughter, the rest of us were just red in our faces. I love this group, we are having such a good time, and getting to know each other a little bit at a time. Like "Have you ever stayed there?" and "Just get away!" and "Ho! Ho! Ho!". If you want to know what all of this means, well, come join us on Thursday nights.

Judy is really studying her Santa, trying to decide where too put her "Ho!, Ho!'s."

Looks like she got them in the right place. Judy, you were so much fun tonight. Thanks for the laughter.

Lady "Di" was on a roll tonight, and she was painting really well too. She didn't want to do the holly leaves to begin with, but by the night's end she had them. I found out tonight that she isn't as quiet as I thought, boy, do I have a lot to learn. Thanks for sense of humor.

Last, but definitely not least, is my Demon Elf, as my husband calls her. Kathy blesses me every time she comes to my studio. She just kicks in and helps whenever and however she can. She takes a lot of pressure off of me, and I am so thankful for her friendship.

And I just want to share a picture of my

friend, JoAnne and my son Hunter. We went out to dinner last night and we took this picture so that she can take it back to Florida to show her son, Brandon, whom has been one of Hunter's closest friends for almost 16 years.

Tuesday morning, and it's cold.

Woke up this morning and I thought that I was living up north, it is so cold outside. I double layered my clothes and headed off to the studio to get ready for class. Doing Santa's today and Thursday.

One of my old and dear friends, JoAnne Campbell is in town for the week and is up here helping me get my storage area organized. I am letting her do that while I paint and fill Christmas Orders.

This past Sunday we went to a Panthers football game, it was the first home game that they have won over a year. We joked and said that it is because the McGee Clan was in the house.

This is a picture of us tailgating. Samantha is in the white panther's jersey, then her friend Dana, Phil is cooking, Hunter has his thumbs up, and his friend Gage.

This is Larry and Gary, they are the friends that got us the tickets for the game.

This is the kids at the game. It was really cold that day, we kept expecting it to snow.