Before...and after...

when we got up there, we found 3 boxes full of these TY foxes...

6 in each box...

looked them up and they are $26.99 each...

the first 18 kids got one...

each kid got candy...

blankets and toys ready to go...

we had to hurry and put out more when we got up there...

we found more in the donation box...

stuffed animals, teen things and the tubs in the back are the stocking stuffers, coloring books and crayons, games, movies and books...

baby items...

girls things...

boys things...

close up of the teen girls...

close up of the teen boys...

from the other end of the table...

we open back up again tomorrow night...

the next group of photos are the after ones...

we did 35 kids Saturday night...

I know we have at least 5 to do tomorrow night...

we filled up those bags pretty fast...

parents were thrilled!

kids are going to be hopping up and down Christmas morning!

we have money left over, too...

so if we are short on a certain age, we make notes and go shopping...

come home, call the parents and have them meet us back up there...

each child received:

candy, TY fox, stuffed animal, 3 stocking stuffers, coloring book and crayons, book, blanket, 4 toys

each teen received:

candy, TY fox, stuffed animal, personal hygiene gift bag and 4 items or more, and a blanket...

then each family got a movie, a game and wrapping paper...

those bags were full when they went out of there...

so many stories...

one dad laid off at Thanksgiving, but since they gave him holiday pay for that day...

he has to put in a 6 week waiting list on unemployment!

one mom just started a new job and not many hours...

they tried to get a loan for Christmas and was turned down...

one mom, working 2 part time jobs, 3 teens, dad walked out and no child support payments from him at all...

so many struggles...

but Christmas won't be one of them!

ready...

got some tweaking to do...

but we are ready...

snow this morning...

it spit and sputtered a bit here this morning...

the sun is trying to come out now, but oh so slowly...

a new guy...

love this artist...

used her books when I crafted for a living...

DH had his colonoscopy yesterday and they found nothing...

no pre cancerous anything...

big relief...

he did very well and had no problems whatsoever...

it was awesome...

:)

on thing down and out of the way...

doesn't need to do that again for 10 years...

I probably won't get the chance to get back in here until after Saturday night and the first toy distribution....

we are getting there and are ready to go...

its going to be a another good year for these kids...

:) 

have a good week!

elifng it...

trying to get the last minute things done around here...

the old man is home through Wednesday...

colonoscopy on Wed...

should be fine and back to normal by Saturday night...

elfing the toy drive...

still have some holes to fill...

but its coming along...

got a million and one things to do...

have a great week!

oh, what a life...

got some exciting news...

first, I got a new camera...

and as soon as the battery charged, I had to try it out...

its after midnight and the guys are asleep and I am walking around shooting things...

:)

its another Canon PowerShot, but we kind of upgraded this time...

its my Christmas from the guys...

my old camera was starting to go...

and it was getting so hard to get a good shot of anything...

the other news is that we have found the perfect replacements for running the toy drive...

they accepted...

so we will work with them this year and then help out in whatever they need us to do...

but they will be in charge...

and will do a wonderful job...

they are good, hard working people with huge giving hearts...

other news is that my debit card expired and had to get a new one...

went into the photo editor I always use and had to put the new card in to get it to work...

went to check out and discovered it was up to $7.99 a month...

I started at $4.99...

yeah, backed out of there quick and started searching for another...

the first one that popped up as a free online photo editor was iPiccy...

and I love it...

it does an awesome job...

so been spending some time in there learning to navigate their program...

I highly recommend it...

I have also been begging for toys and monetary donations for Christmas Is A Child....

and designed this to be shared on facebook...

so, I am a tired old lady...

we did all that ordering online...

and it has been coming in left and right...

enough to make an elf's toes curl...

:)

have good days...

I will be in here when I can find time...

an elf's work is never done!