Happy New Year!

Happy New Year to everyone!!!

Some Christmas Images

The kids with their Big Present..... Wii's


Brian so happy he connected the Wii...


Mom and Dad looked everywhere for these Pillow Pets, but could not
find them, but, Santa Claus came through and Lily and Forrest were happy.


Lily was happy about her Moxie doll!


And Ma in her kerchief...no, no, it is my new wool hat. I have been wanting one
for awhile....


Lily played Santa...


Lily and Julia....this is how she likes to smile....a little wide-eyed for Meme...


Max with his Legos



Kevin and Forrest looking at Forrest's Star Wars Pop-Up Book


Hanging the Stockings


Lily with her Jewelry from Granddad M


Forrest...Future Rock Star


Snugggle Bunnies


Meme Reading "The Night Before Christmas"


Amy's Dad with his present....a book about Marine's....

Shannon after making Santa Cookies....flour on the nose...


Forrest opening the Advent Calender for Dec 24


Shannon's dad, Bill checking his phone, or playing one

Santa Cookies

for other pictures....


When the boys were young I helped a friend make Santa cookies. In return she gave me a Santa cookie cutter. From then on, we made these cookies every Christmas. I always made the cookies and the boys decorated them later. It was quite a tedious process as the batter could be quite stiff, this was before the days of Cuisanart or Kitchenaide Mixers. Then, the raisin eyes had to be cut and placed just right or Santa would have a funny look in his eyes...really, you cannot imagine a Santa with the Evil Eye...Anyway, it was always fun and became Tradition....As the boys became adults it was hard to do the Santa cookies for awhile so we did them only when I could get them and Shannon together....After the grandkids arrived, it has once again become a tradition. Max was the first to bite into a Cookie and said it was as hard as a brickbat. I looked at him and said, I said they ere pretty, i never said they were good. Then he quickly replied they were good! Shannon's dad photographed all the fun the other night when we gathered for our Christmas celebration. I went to his blog and was so touched as he described our evening. I was overwhelmed though when I read what my son Kevin wrote in the comments..So much so I copied it for you to read....
"To clarify about the Santa cookies... at times they have been a bit hard. The dough is extremely tricky. And after a couple of days, you could build houses with them. But fresh Santa cookies done right are the best cookies I've ever had. And the taste is only an extra benefit from the joy of making them. I can't recall the first time we made these, as it was just something we always did around Christmas time when I was a child/teenager. They took a hiatus for a while, but I am so glad that these cookies are again a part of Christmas.
Go to Father of Click

For Kevin

My youngest son loves the Christmas Lights....

Ho, Ho Ho, Merry Christmas

I was at work, it had been a hectic, busy day. Announcements were being made over the intercom to come for Christmas dinner, for the umpteenth time, then, out of nowhere, the voice said these words. Ho, Ho, Ho Merry Christmas, followed by a hearty laugh.....Could it be, could be, Santa??? We all smiled even though we were weary....Then we decided to call security where we knew Santa must have been.....I heard a happy hello, and we all yelled Merry Christmas...HoHoHo..... It made our day!!!

A Fellow Blogger Seeks Our Help

A friend of Brian and Shannon, has a missing relative. Any help would be appreciated.....here

Half Marathon

My son Brian ran his First Half Marathon on Saturday for St. Jude Children's Hospital.....I am so proud of him.....

Shelby Girl

This little pup will be 12 years old the day after Christmas. You could not tell it by me. She is such a puppy. She is demanding with her whines...I know what each one means. I have, after 12 years, started to ignore some of her demands. If she had her way she would be attached to me at the hip. Now, don't get me wrong, I love her dearly. She has had four spinal surgeries, and I fretted, worried, cried over her. I cannot bear to see her in pain. The people at the vet had to throw me out once when I was practically crawling in the cage with her after one of her surgeries. I then felt so bad for all the times I had to tell parents visiting hours were over and they had to leave. Oh me, I am rambling. More on Shelby later....

Just Some Thoughts

Tomorrow is December 1, 2009. We do not have too many days left of this year. It will be filled with holiday preparations and expectations. We almost never have the Christmas of our youths. We always hope for the perfect holiday. We are almost always disappointed. I overheard a friend at work the other day talking about how as she gets older she has decided not to be let down.
I think that is a good way to be. I am going to try. I am already setting myself up to be disappointed.....I work part of Christmas eve, and work Christmas day too. Hopefully, I will only have one more Christmas after this year, and then I will be retired....
My Christmas wishes are all about family though, and that is what makes me happy....

Tooth Update

As you can see, Lily lost her other front tooth. So, all she wants for Christmas is her two front teeth (with the added lisp).
So she can wish you Merry Christmas!!!

Oh,yeah, this was their silly faces....they seem to turn out better than the posed ones.

Brian and Shannon in a photo session with the kids.












Fun in the
Old Forest.
The kids swinging
on the vines.

Kevin and I at Old Forest. See my t-shirt? Save the Old Forest.








Kevin and his wife Amy in the Old Forest. This is virgin forest in Overton Park that is beautiful. An effort is underway to keep the city from inching away at it. Hopefully, the effort will succeed. This is the Park where citizens prevented I-40 from building the expressway through the park....Lily in the background...

Shannon's Birthday Celebration

Shannon's birthday was November 5th, but due to everyone's busy schedule, we celebrated it on Sunday, November 15th. I thought and thought about what to do. Should I cook? I really do not cook anymore, so I really do not enjoy it and not really very good at it. Should we go out to eat? That is so confining. I worried and wondered. Then it popped into my brain. Why not have a picnic at Overton Park, then go for a walk in the Old Forest? Perfect. I bought cheese, hummus, shrimp, turkey, fruit, and cupcakes for dessert. I had so much fun and I think the kids enjoyed it too.

Halloween This n That

HAPPY HALLOWEEN TO YOU!!! BOO

Be
Careful
Of
Things
That Go
Bump In
The Night!

Historical Halloween 2009

Each year Max's school, The Maria Montessori School presents Historical Halloween. The students pick a historical person, dress up like them, and invite us all down to the beautiful harbor to see our children shine. Max was the explorer Alfred Wegener. it was a beautiful day, the sun shining down on us. Max stayed in costume the whole time with his coat and wool cap, ever the trooper. I love going to my grandkid's school pdrograms. It makes me very happy......

Summer To Fall