Brandon, Jordan and I were at Wal*Mart in September. We had been looking in the toy department for Christmas list ideas. We were on our way to another section of the store and I happened to see the toilet seats. I told the boys I needed to look there, as my toilet seat was in need of replacing.
(Now, some of my regular readers will know that my daughter, Michelle, loves dolphins. She has her main floor bathroom painted blue and it is decorated with dolphins, lighthouses, seashells etc. )
Well, what did we find but a see-through acrylic toilet seat with dolphins on the lid. The boys agreed that their mother would love it, so I bought it. We placed it in a huge gift bag and added tissue paper to keep prying eyes away. The boys asked what they should tell their mother if she asked what we had bought her for Christmas. I told them, "Tell her a toilet seat. She won't believe you."
Here is Michelle when she first opened the toilet seat. She gave a squeal of delight and said, "My sons are banned from my bathroom."
Holding the toilet seat so everyone could see that it was transparent. You would have thought she had been given a million dollars.
Then she got a little silly and put it over her head. She's laughing so hard in this photos.
And being sassy in this one. She said,'This is the only time you'll ever see me wear a toilet seat around my neck." Everyone had a good laugh and it was a lot of fun seeing how much she enjoyed receiving a toilet seat. Just goes to show you that some people will be happy no matter what they receive.
This was the highlight of the Christmas gifts and I was glad that she enjoyed her gift so much. Giving just the right gift is indeed a blessing. Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas. ~Blessings, Mary~
Above is Grandma as I picture her. She is wearing a housedress, which was what she wore around home everyday...and the ever-present apron tied around her waist. I remember both the dress and the apron well. Since I don't have many photos of Grandma, I was ecstatic.
Today the boys and I went to the mall and had our photo taken with Santa. I don't have any recent photos of the boys and I together, so I thought this would be a golden opportunity. I purchased one photo and will have copies made for other members of the family. I was surprised at how well it turned out. 
The first photos shows our Christmas tree when we put it up on Saturday. All it has on it is the lights. Excuse the Christmas boxes sitting on the sewing machine cabinet in the left foreground and the vaccuum in the right corner. These will get put away.
Here is the tree all decorated after the boys left on Sunday. Ah, I need a better picture. I cut the angel's head off and this is an angel that my mother made for me. I will show a photo of it before we take down the tree. The Christmas boxes have now been changed to old telephone books that are going in the garbage. Yes, the vaccum is still there by the dusty china cabinet. I told you there were some things I hadn't got done yet.
Most of these cards on the dark door are hubby's, given to him by his clients. There are more Christmas cards strung on a piece of ribbon behind the couch. The picture of the animals was made for me by Mom about 15 years ago. I notice it has a little fray on the lace. I must repair that.
This angel was a gift from my dear blogging friend, Sammi at Bears in Exile. I participated in her Circle Journal last year and she just sent it for me to read all of the entries. It is fantastic. In the package was this little handmade angel. I love it. A special token of our friendship. Thanks again, Sammi. She will be carefully stored away with love after Christmas.
This is the main part of the entertainment unit. It holds some of my angel collection. Two were given to me by hubby and the purple one on the left was made for me by Mom. The nativity was a gift from a stranger. A story for another day.
This is my granny Christmas tree. Last year Hootin' Anni and Pea bought Santa Claus trees at Michael's. I went to find one and on the shelf was this granny Christmas tree. It was love at first sight and I couldn't pass it up, as it was on sale for 40% off.
This is the other side of my entertainment unit. I also love snowmen and women and on the bottom shelf you will see some of those. The middle shelf holds Santa's sleigh that the reindeer are pulling. It is acrylic and was a gift from Mom. The boy and girl with the musical instruments was something I won when I was a Princess House crystal representative. The top shelf holds the crystal angel that was a gift from Denise at Shorty Bear's Place in 2007. Beside her are kissing angels that I made in ceramic class in the 70s.
This star was made for me by Jordan when he was six. It is a piece of cardboard covered with tin foil. Some people might think it was junk, but it is a treasure to me, as it was made and given with love.
When Brandon was in kindergarten, he made this walnut decoration. He painted the walnut and then put very tiny green beads on it. Quite a feat for a child with Asperger's because their motor skills aren't the best. But make it he did and it is another ornament that is treasured simply because it was made and given with love from the heart.