Happy New Year's Eve from Texas!!!

This is an annual picture that we have taken for many years, everyone in the same spot. We have been able to watch the kids grow and change (we certainly are not changing as we are getting older.......but the hairstyles have!!), we have shed tears the years of our losses, and been joyful over our additions.


Wishing everyone a safe and Happy New Year!!!

Christmas Eve

Morgan baked cookies til sometime into the early morning hours. Today, I made Chex Mix (thanks to Pioneer Woman) which I haven't done in a long, long time. This was the first time in many years that Morgan and I didn't attend evening candlelight service together. She was scheduled to work so I hitched a ride to church with Jeremy. We are back here at home, watching Walk The Line, waiting for Santa to get here.....

I think of our many friends and family who are far from us tonight, wishing them love and happiness. I think about our grandkids, Kaila and Bricen and Madison, and wish for them a wonderful Christmas filled with gifts and fun and family, but also the knowledge of the True meaning of Christmas. I think of how much we have to be thankful for, and how very blessed we are. Merry Christmas to all!!! Luv ya!!

Photo courtesy of Jeremy Dieterich.

Four calling birds, three French hens, two turtle doves.....

I think this is my Christmas present. Greg knows of my great love of babies, children, plants and animals, birds and fish (and the ponds that they live in - with waterfalls --hint, hint). When we were in Fredericksburg, we saw a large outside bird cage that I fell in love with. They had some pretty doves and other birds in it. A security guard at my office raises birds and has informed me that what I was wanting was a "flight", not an aviary as I thought it was called. Greg built this on Friday and was priming it today. The weather was sunny but turned much cooler and windier, but this bird sanctuary will be on the south end of the house which will block it from most of the nasty north wind during the wintertime. It will have a metal roof and we haven't decided on the type of wire mesh to use. Later, it will be painted the same beige color as the trim on the house and moved under a large tree. I am hoping that come springtime, I will have some birds to go in it (and maybe a pond for my goldfish, too). I am SO excited!!
Thanks, Greg!!

O Christmas Tree

This is my Paris Hilton tree, so named by one of Morgan's friends that thought he was SOOOO funny. It is a "slim line" tree since we really don't have much room for one anywhere in the living room. I think it looks fine. The kids think it is too skinny. I finally got the ornaments on it earlier in the week. I think it sat there for almost a week with only lights and garland on it. Then I took the day off on Thursday and wrapped gifts. So I am pretty much ready for Tuesday. Greg and I will probably just head to the mall late this afternoon just to go and watch people. It is much better being there when you are just killing time and not searching desperately for something.

The weather is sunny and warm now but it is supposed to change later today. We should be getting some much cooler weather which will be much more like Christmas. Greg is working outside on a project today. I think I know what it is that he is working on and I am about to go out and take pictures so I can post them.

What a face!!

This is the newest addition to my sister's family. As yet unnamed (I think Honey may be the choice because of her coloring), she is a rat terrier. She is a cute little thing.

Birthday

My sweet husband got these pretty roses and surprised me by bringing them to my work on Friday. We went out on a date Friday night, and had a double treat of going to dinner on Saturday night as well. He also got me a self contained water feature fountain to use on the patio until we can build a pond and fountain in the yard. I got some new jeans from my mom, two sweaters and a Pioneer Woman calendar (yahoo!) from Brandon and Samantha, a couple of Santoku knives and some "smelly" stuff from Marci and Jeremy, and a James Avery heart charm from Morgan.

Blowing out the candles on my peanut butter corn flake cake. Numbered candles should be outlawed when you reach adulthood. Pay no attention to the numbers on the candles. I don't know who did the math on those things......
Whew!! Made it another year!!

Robinson Christmas Parade

The Robinson Christmas Parade was tonight starting at the school, through beautiful downtown Robinson, and ending at the shopping center. It was a clear, cool night and I was quite impressed with the many homemade floats.

Morgan is on the outside with the saxophone in the middle of the picture.

My Pesky Brother-In-Law (only PW readers will get this) Tim's son Lucas is in the driver's seat........
This float was really cute....
So was this one. Cute idea to use the decorations to also keep the kids from falling out of the trailer......
And finally Santa Claus......

Happy Birthday Madison!!

Happy 3rd Birthday Madison!! Hope you had a fun day!! We love you!!

A New Grandbaby!!

.....first picture.....

I am so excited!! Marci and Jeremy are expecting a baby in July!! They told us a couple of weeks ago but I was waiting until Jeremy posted about it on his blog before I mentioned it. Marci is having morning sickness and fatigue, and Jeremy, a man of planning, structure and routine, is wondering where he can find an instruction manual on how to raise a child......

Salado Stroll

We finally made it to Salado late yesterday afternoon. The weather was NOT what you would consider holiday weather since it was in the 80's during the day and mild last night. But it was nice enough to ride the motorcycle the hour drive. We got there just about dark and it seemed that every building, tree, and bridge along main street was covered with white lights. There were a couple of carriage rides, music, funnel cakes and kettle corn. The shops stayed open later than usual but we only looked as they are a bit overpriced. It was fun even if we were just window shopping. I was upset that I forgot the camera since everything was so pretty. We had a really relaxing time.

The balmy weather from yesterday is over. We had a cold front come in this morning and all of a sudden, it is wintertime!! The skies are gray and the wind is quite brisk. It will make you hurry to get inside the house. But I like it. Today is more like Christmas than last night when no one was even interested in the hot chocolate that they were selling......

Bah Humbug!!

Most of you probably don't know that the holiday season is just not my favorite time of the year. My comment is usually "if I were to go to sleep and wake up on January 2nd, I would be so happy!!" It isn't that I don't like Christmas (although I say it a lot). I mainly don't like what Christmas has become. It seems that the season starts earlier and earlier every year and the goal is to see who can spend the most, eat the most, cook the most, and go to the most parties. By the time Christmas rolls around, everyone is exhausted and broke!! I long for the simple Christmases of my childhood but I fear that those days are gone. I also remember a Christmas season over 25 years ago when my dear, sweet grandmother was ill in the hospital and died shortly after the holiday. My Christmases after that were never quite the same, even though I was a mother myself. I fear that the gloomy feelings that I feel linger/are brought on from that time. That being said, I think you probably understand that I am the office "Scrooge". Imagine my surprise when I returned to work from our Thanksgiving trip to Pensacola to find my area of the office gaudily decorated by a co-worker that I could easily paddle because she is the age of my oldest son!!! She, and everyone else in the building, have gotten great joy out of me sitting in the midst of what I have termed "trailer trash Christmas".

The garland around the monitors was probably the tackiest of the decor.....

Then there is this little display that I must look at all day that is on the window into the reception area......
And last but not least is the 'Charlie Brown Christmas tree' that is on the counter that was wrapped with wrapping paper............it is kinda growin' on me......

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We talked to Madison on the phone tonight. She talked about seeing Santa Claus but I don't think she sat on his lap or talked to him, assume she just walked by him at the mall. She also knows that she has a birthday coming up and told me she was going to be "two and a half". I reminded her that she was going to be "three"!! It was nice to hear her sweet little voice.

Turkey Leftovers

I had to come home and beg leftover turkey from my sister to make this yummy soup. Greg says it is the best part of a holiday!! I have been making this recipe from the leftovers since I found it a few years back. It is so simple and very tasty!!

TURKEY SOUP FROM LEFTOVERS

½ cup chopped onion
1 stalk celery, sliced
1 medium carrot, sliced
1 tbsp. vegetable oil
2 cans chicken broth
2 cups water
1 envelope Good Seasons Italian Salad Dressing & Recipe Mix
2 cups cubed cooked turkey
½ cup bite sized pasta, uncooked

Cook onion, carrot and celery in hot oil in large saucepan 3 to 5 minutes or until tender crisp, stirring occasionally.

Stir in chicken broth, water and dressing mix. Bring to boil.

Add turkey and pasta, cover. Reduce heat to medium-low; simmer 10 – 12 minutes or until pasta is tender. (I usually tweak the recipe a bit by adding more veggies and pasta than it calls for.)

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Greg and I both talked to Madison on the phone last night. She was really chatty and wanted to know about Tipsy, and wanted us to know that she was eating a piece of candy. I sure do miss my little "mini me". She was my constant companion since July. But she sounds like she is doing well. She is in my prayers daily.......

Greg and I actually had a date last night. I can't remember the last time we went out. We went to dinner, ate Mexican food and had a couple of margaritas, and walked down the block to dance a bit. It was so early that the place was pretty deserted and only a handful of couples were dancing. We always laugh that we are now ready to head home at about the time (10:30 or 11:00) that we at one time would get there to dance!!!! Ah, to be young again......

I had such plans for today. Greg was going to help a friend tear out a bathroom this morning and then I had hoped we could ride the motorcycle and head about an hour away to the town of Salado. It is a quaint little town that decorates for Christmas and has lots of neat little shops. But it was not to be as it has been drizzly and cloudy all day long. Not cold, in fact I think it was in the low 70's. Certainly too nasty though to ride the motorcycle OR walk around the town. Maybe next weekend.......

Seafood Feast

We cooked the seafood tonight that we got when we were in Pensacola. It was really, really good. These oysters were grilled in the shell with olive oil, cajun seasoning, and parmesan cheese. These were the only ones left by the time I thought to take pictures.

Yum!!

These are just on the half shell. Yum, Yum!!

Boiled shrimp. Yum, Yum, Yum!!

We boiled new potatoes and corn. Yum, Yum, Yum, Yum!!!And finally, the swordfish steak. Yum, Yum, Yum, Yum, Yum!!!
It don't get much better than this.......

Heading Home to Texas

We got to visit with Greg's brother, Bruce, and his kids on our last night in Pensacola. They had just come back from a holiday visit to Disneyworld. It was fun to sit around the table and listen to the three brothers tell stories on themselves. Bruce's daughter, Larkin, who is 6, finally decided that I was ok and came to sit with me while we listened to the boys talk.

This picture of Sam was taken while we were at Millie's house. He is, as we would say in Texas, a "big ole boy". This picture makes me laugh......

This is what we drove home in today. We hit the rain in Louisiana and we had it most of the way back from there. The traffic was moving well for the Sunday of Thanksgiving though.

We took a different way back once we got into Texas so that we could swing by Brandon's house in Round Rock. Really, we just met them at a convenient point for us both to drop off an ice chest of fresh seafood. The traffic was bumper to bumper from about Temple (30 minutes from home). We stopped by Jeremy/Marci's and picked up the dog (thanks guys!) and headed home. We just finished a couple dozen or so fresh oysters on the half shell and about a dozen that were cooked in the shell on the grill. Later in the week, we will grill the swordfish and do something with the shrimp that we bought in Florida.

Just want to say a special thanks to Millie for putting us up at her house. You are always a terrific hostess and we always have such a good time. The food was wonderful and the company was even better. It is wonderful to have a "plant person" to visit with. Thanks for being there for me. I love you bunches!!! paula

Botanical Garden

If I could pick Millie's yard up and drop it in MY backyard in Texas, I would be so totally happy!!! The climate here is so great for growing plants and Millie's yard is a virtual jungle of plants. And I love it!!! She is sending me home with some great starts of some plants. Hopefully they will do OK back in our hot climate.

I really want one of these built in my back yard.......
This plant was COVERED in these beautiful yellow blooms.
A grouping of pot plants
An archway and gate that go into the backyard
These are growing OUTSIDE the yard area......
Only two oranges survived this year, and they aren't near ripe yet......
We will be up early in the morning to head out.

More Pics of the Kids

The weather took quite a turn while we were here. The first day it was pretty warm but since then, has been a bit on the cool side. The kids played outside yesterday but had to wear their jackets.

Pilgrim #1

Bricen
Kaila
Pilgrim #2
Kaila, Morgan, and Bricen

Grandkids

We got to visit with all the grandkids today.

This is Bricen with Morgan.

Kaila eating lunch.
Kaila and Madison eating a sandwich together.
I planned ahead and brought Christmas presents for them all. Morgan and I wrapped them last night to get them ready to drop off today so they will have gifts to open from us on Christmas Day.

More Thanksgiving Pictures

We had REAL pilgrims at our Thanksgiving feast. This is Greg's nephew and niece, Patrick and Kelly.

This is a shot of Greg's sister's whole family.
Greg and his brother Joe. Greg was peeling and cutting up potatoes for mashing for lunch. I didn't even know that he could do such chores......
After lunch at the table looking at old pictures. Greg's sister Nancy is in the blue, her son Stosh and daughter Katie in the hat (cute, cute), Millie, and Kristy.
Madison with Mimi's "sunglasses" on......
Thanksgiving lunch was really, really good. We were all stuffed.....