I'm shaking the snow globe

... and out comes more Christmas cards.

Hopefully, by now they've all been sent

and received

and loved.

Mr. Bus Driver

The Runner, aka Mr. Bus Driver,

gifts a bird tag to each one of the students he transports

to and from school, as well as his monitor.

Each bird takes about an hour from start to finish.

Finding ways to make each one just a little bit different

can be challenging,

but I enjoy creating them.

But not as much as he enjoys giving them.

Some of these littles were on his bus last year
so now they have a collection.

One evening I spent two hours and 10 minutes
gift-wrapping the lot.
Fortunately, that was a couple of weeks ago.
I say fortunately because there was still time.
Time for me to UN-wrap each one
because I forgot to take pictures.
It's a good thing I don't use tape!

The day after he handed these out,

one little three-year old girl got on the bus.

Instead of her usual "Good morning"

she said (all in one big breath, of course)
"Thank you for the ornament.

It's on my Christmas tree and I love it."

Now you know her mommy and daddy

practiced this with her.

I'm sure that she thought if she said "Good morning"

she'd forget the rest.

Then she turned around to look at her mamma,
all proud like.
Then the mamma wrapped her arms around herself
as if to say "give him a hug"
and so she did.

This is what Christmas is all about!

Gift Exchange

Every year The Runner

participates in the gift exchange at work.

And every year I make a card

and the gift.

This year was no exception.

I absolutely LOVE making trees.

Every year I have made several.

Many are displayed in our home

and I call it "the forest."

This one is made with a nine-inch Styrofoam cone.

Adhered are 56 satin roses
that I rolled and hot glued all by myself.

I've made wreaths before.

But never one like this.

A total of 275 unbleached coffee filters

are attached to a 14-inch Styrofoam wreath.

Can you just say "hot glue gun burns?"

The Runner was hoping one particular man

would receive this.

And he did.

You see, Bernie has shared pictures of his home

all decked out for Christmas

and The Runner thought these

would be appreciated.
(They were!)

After he opened the box,
he patted the lid and said,
"My Christmas shopping is finished."

The next day, he told The Runner this:
"I got home before my wife.
Took the tree out of the box.
Took the wreath out of the box.
Took the card out of the box.
Scratched out your name
and replaced it with mine.
Set everything up on the table for the wife."
Funny man!

I'm earlier this year

That means I don't have to wait until Christmas Day

to post the cards from us.
By now, all have received theirs.
Merry Christmas, friends and family!

Tell me, please ...

which one speaks the loudest to you?