Favorite Holiday Pictures

I'm still here!  Have several blogs started, and as I was partially done, had to leave them.  So they're out there in "Edit" land waiting to be finished, and now will probably be deleted, as I'm going to show you some of my favorite pictures and leave it at that.  I just got to really look at all the 652 pictures I took, and can pick out a few!

"A Spotty Christmas Photo"

Renee with Jack and Spotty (Steph's Rat Terriers)

We took Jessica and Renee back to the airport Monday, and after getting home about 2 pm, I slept for 16 hours!  I wasn't feeling good, got the cold and ear ache back, and really needed some sleep!  Felt pretty good today, but still not back to normal.  Miss having the kids here, and now it is so quiet!  But I feel so blessed to have had everyone home this Christmas.  I'm sure there will be the day when we all can't get together.  We know with work schedules, that next Christmas will be a challange, and we may be celebrating our Christmas on the New Years weekend.  But that will be okey too.  Now with the two older grandkids out in the working world and their partners, we have more families to work around too.

Showing us some of her dance moves!

Renee passed out all the gifts, and then decided to wear some of them.

I made all the big girls scarves.  They were so nice and soft!

Leah got "Princess" sunglasses to wear when she's driving her

Mustang convertable next summer!  (we're now looking for

a pair of glasses like that for little Renee.  She wanted them

pretty bad!)

Jessica and Renee riding "Jack" later on Christmas day~

NO SNOW yet!

Our little princess got 3 princess outfits, and did she ever

love them.  Wore them over everything, every day since Christmas

I had to sew them several times before she left.  That

gift was sure a hit!  She loved to twirl and dance!

Dancing girl!

After Christmas Jess and I worked on a Tshirt quilt for her out of a few of

her Volleyball and Basketball teams that she's coached at Catholic

High.  Of course winning shirts from their state win last year.

I'm not done yet. So will show completed pictures later.  It was

great having help with the ironing on of the interfacing and then I cut out the

12.5 inch squares.  I have all the rows sewed together with black and

white polka dot strips, and now ready to sew the rows together.

Making a snow angel

Eating snow!!!   Heehee!  What kid doesn't like snow!

Renee and Amanda ~ Big hugs! or as they say "Tight-tight"

Throwing snowball at Mommy!

Working on old wooden puzzles that our girls had as kids.

Hope this isn't too many to post.  Will pick out some more for another time.  A new year started and I didn't make any resolutions.  Probably should have, but didn't want to break them!  Hope you all had a great Christmas too, and let's hope our New Year will be a great year. 

The Many Faces of Christmas!

Happy Renee playing with Nanni Leah (Leah is her Godmother, and in Louisiana she is called Nanni Leah).

Doesn't Renee look so grown up?  Cutting her bangs turns her from baby to little girl.  She is 17 months old now and weighs 22 lbs.

Sister Georgia and Vern came with their character hats!  So cute.  We all had to try them on and get our pictures taken~

Here Renee is trying out her new baby dolls little pacifier!!!

Then tries to get it back in baby dolls mouth!

March, march to my drumming - she actually did very well.  Fun to have a noisey drum!

All dressed up and ready to go to Christmas Eve church service.

Renee, Jessica and Floyd on a sled ride.  The day was nice with the temperature in the low 20's

Amanda and Renee!

Odda got in the picture!

Renee sitting on Stephani's lap.  Such a cutie!

 

Hooch, Spotty, Renee and Stephani looking out the window at the snow and the other big dogs playing.

Stepahni brought their 4 dogs, (2 terriers, Spotty and Jack, and 2 big dogs)

Both granddaughters.

A busy week we've had, and now soon over.  Most of the mess is picked up, but the tree and decorations will be coming down soon.  I'll probably start tomorrow after Leah and I get back from the airport.  If we get back in late afternoon, it'll probably wait until Thursday morning.  I'm ready to take a day off to just sit and relax!  We're suppose to be getting more company on Friday for New Years.  Steve's brother and wife Sue are suppose to come for the weekend, from Wisconsin; but maybe bad weather will change these plans.  We are suppose to get more snow and rain in two storm fronts coming through, starting tomorrow night.  Hooch is more than happy to be able to re-claim the sofa as his, and sit snuggled up to me at the end.  His nose really gets out of joint when there are four people sitting on the couch and he can't claim is favorite spot!   It's actually pretty funny to see - but I feel bad for him because you can see how upset he gets.  He is getting older, and just a little more grumpy.

House isQuiet!

Grandma and Grandpa picking up kids at the airport in MPLS.

Here is our Wonderful newest addition to our family - Baby Renee!  She will be 6 months old on January 2nd.  She was the best baby while she was here.  She slept all night, took many naps during the day.  IT  WAS  SO  FUN  to have a baby in the house again!

Christmas Day afternoon we were getting snow, snow, snow!  It was above freezing, and the snow was made for making a snowman   Our snowman is about 10' tall - had to use the skidsteer to get the top done!     It was alot of fun - snowballs flying by, dogs running all over catching snowballs!  I even rolled the head of the snowman, but the guys did the heavy work!   We got alot of pictures taken, and there will be more to show.

Steph, Cullen and Nick left on Saturday morning - drove to southern MN on more bad roads, but they needed to get home to plow out their own farm yard and get ready for work.  It took them 8 hours to get home (normally a 4.5 to 5 hr drive).   Floyd and Jessica went snowmobiling with Blake, Steven, Leah and Amanda.  Floyd rode alot, and was kind of sore today on the ride to the airport.  We couldn't have had a better Christmas.  The snow made it perfect for playing outside.  Some years it has been too cold to snowmobile; but the weatherman brought new snow to the area for us.   We were lucky - kids arrived before the snow came in and didn't have to leave until today, after most of the other holiday travelers.  They flew out of MPLS and into Houston, then to Lafayette, LA; arriving there about 8:30 pm this evening.  Glad they are also home safe and sound.

With the last of our company leaving today;  I'm now going to crash for a few days!  Didn't get any blogging done while everyone was here = just too busy.  I'm sure going to miss everyone, but already making plans for going south later this winter.

Merry Christmas Everyone!

 Hooch has a favorite spot to sit and watch what is going on outside.  His eyesight is so good that he can see the barn cat when it is out of the barn - he yips and runs to the door, and runs as fast as he can to give the cat chase.  Of course he doesn't catch the cat.  It's just the chase he loves!  He chases deer out of the barn yard from the spill over of ground feed, rabbits and birds!  Love that picture of him looking out!

Merry Christmas from our  house to you!  Took alot of pictures today trying to get dogs to sit  where we wanted them!  To wearing hats and head bands!   Wanted one in  front of the Christmas tree, looking toward the camera - didn't get that one!  Tried treats.  That was fun.  Hooch would sit up on his hind legs a long time waiting while Odda would get in the right position - don't think the RIGHT position ever happened, but we had fun trying.   After awhile Hooch would get mad at Odda, and get bossy!  As big as Odda is, she lets Hooch have his way!   All in all, we did get some good pictures anyway.  Will show you more another day.

I got some gift wrapping done today!  Need to get to town and make copies of some pictures.  Made some cookies yesterday, but they're almost gone.  Steve had help getting corn delivered, so fed extra guys today and for coffee breaks.    Have to get up early to play bells as a substitute bell ringer at another church in town.  Have to be there before 7 am.  That puts a crimp into sleeping in!   

Next week I play at our church and we have a bell concert in the afternoon on the 20th.  We will be having a concert with 3 different church bell choirs,  and  have done this annually for quite a few years now.  I'll be playing with our bell choir, and also subbing for another for the concert too!   I do like ringing bells.  It is alot easier than being in a band.  Was in our community band for several years also, but got tired of the practicing.  For me, the bells are a lot easier; and so is the sight reading of music. 

Santa Dog supervised decorating the tree!

Santa dog "Hooch" watched me ALL day, putting together the tree and decorating it.  I need to remember to get another string of lights, as I have lights two different sizes on the tree.  Never remember until I'm in work mode, and not wanting to drive 15 miles into town and then back again with more lights.  I'll have to remember now when the lights go on sale after Christmas to get more!

I know I have another plastic tub full of decorations, but didn't dig them out from under the basement staircase.  But the tree has plenty on it.  There are the ones from the grandkids Blake and Amanda that they have made during the years and from friends.  There are some very old (now antique) ornaments that were on our family tree when I was growing up.  They still have the old white string on to hang them up with.  I just don't want to cut that string off.  These are just plastic.  There are a few glass ones, but they must be in the other tub, along with alot of the ornaments our kids made.  Next year I'll have to rotate. 

Hooch was wonderful as Santa Dog,  sat so perfectly on command.  I want to have Odda in a picture by the tree also, but think that job of getting her and Hooch to sit quietly may be more than Odda can handle.  But think I'll try it with help either from Connie or Leah one of these days.  First I'll take Odda on a long walk -wear her out a little.  That will help.   

Maybe we'll even try a Christmas picture when Stephani gets home with her 5 dogs! Wow - 7 dogs by the tree. That's a stretch! Think I'll try for a picture of the DOGS all together outside! Will leave the indoor pictures for baby Renee and the rest of us. In our little house we will have Leah's family and possibly a girlfriend and boyfriend =4 or 6; Steph and Cullen and Nick is coming with them = 3; and then Jessica, Floyd and Renee = 3 and Steve and I=2; and then my sister and hubby=2; total of 16 to try to get a picture in front of the tree. Well, maybe we won't be in front of the tree, there probably isn't room enough for all of us, but we will get a picture of all of us together!


Then when I told Santa Dog "OK, done", he took care of removing his santa hat and beard!

Now that the tree is up I can get some more sewing done and baking!  Yesterday daughter Leah and I spent a day together shopping in a neighboring town.  She crossed alot of things off her list.  My list is in my head!  dah!  Need to wrap things to make sure all is well on the gift list!  We had a fun day together and had a wonderful salad lunch at Perkins.  Just our lunch was a day brightner, as it was so good! 

Christmas Past!

The countdown to Christmas is upon us!  I love this time of year.  Making gifts for family, trying new recipes, having to clean for over night company coming.  Putting up the tree - not a real one.  Decorating the house with Santa dolls, garland and lights.  Sometimes getting myself worked up over it by being too nit picky!  Don't know why that happens, it's just the kids and family coming home.  But like any mother knows - you do want everything to flow perfectly.

                                                         2005 Jess & Steph with Grandma & Grandpa

 It's can be a depressing time of year for many people.    I chose instead to remember past holiday seasons with alot of warm memories of a mother and father in law that lived on the farm, just across the drive way from us.  Grandpa passed away this past Memorial Day, and Grandma passed away a year ago in April.  When we got married (soon to be 40 years) we put a new mobile home across the drive way from the big farm house.  Our girls grew up having Grandma and Grandpa so close, and it was wonderful.  Not many kids have that experience.  This will be the first Christmas that now both are gone, and there will be times when sadness will creep into our thoughts and memories of a full house of relatives over at the farm house.  As grandkids got bigger, rather than everyone over at the farm house, the teenagers seemed to gravitate to our smaller house, to watch tv, play video games, or just hang out without so much adult noise!   At one holiday gathering one of the nephews broke his leg on the exercise nintendo mat!  That was something!

We always had a big Christmas Eve meal at Grandmas, and then HAD to clean up before we could open presents.  Boy, the little kids sure had a hard time waiting!  Then there would be Grandma and Grandpa in their special chairs, and all the rest of us spread around the living room and into the kitchen.  A couple of the older grandkids handed out packages, and parents had to try to keep their little ones from tearing into them right away, until all packages were passed out.  There were so many of us that we couldn't take turns opening up packages, because there were too many little kids that just couldn't wait - so each family sat together, so at least each mom and dad could control what was going on - making sure nothing would get thrown into the garbage bag that was put out for the paper that was to be thrown out.  As the evening got later, our family went to candlelight church service.  Jessica sang the song "Sweet Little Jesus Boy" every year for about 6 years.  People would start asking in October if Jessica would be home to sing on Christmas Eve.  One gentleman came up to me one year after Jessica sang the song and had tears in his eyes.  He said that his wife used to sing that same song in church on Christmas Eve every year also.  I love the candlelight late church service.  Visiting with friends, driving back home, with all of us singing Christmas carols.  Everyone can sing good, except me - so I mostly listen (or sing very quietly!).

As years went by, we eventually stopped buying presents for everyone, and just bought for Grandma and Grandpa, and then drew names.  Later the drawing of names for us adults even faded, and just the kids changed names.  Sometimes there would be a silly gift show up for one of the guys, that no one would be able to figure out which Santa had brought!  Bird poop, deer poop, silly hats and alot of other silly things showed up throughout the years.

After we didn't draw adult games  we started a dice exchange gift game.  Each woman brought a womans gift, man a mans gift, etc.  Then we used two pie tins and 2 dice in each plate.  We used two plates of dice to pass because we were so many.   You had to get a 7 or 11 before you could take a package to open up.  After all the packages were out to everyone in the circle, we put the timer on for 2 minutes, and still having to roll a 7 or 11,  you could then TAKE a package away from someone; giving them the package you had.   It would get pretty wild.  Throughout the years we'd have different monitary values set.  Sometimes it was around $20.00 that you could spend.  Well, some people, just wrapped up a twenty dollar bill in a box, and alot would want that twenty dollar bill.  There would be cases of pop; towel sets; tool sets; flashlite sets; drill bits; perfume; new kitchen gadgits, etc.  The kids always loved the stuffed animals.  A cute Santa doll for decoration, or fancy couch pillows, new slippers, etc.     One year we did white elephant gifts.  That was a FUN exchange.  We didn't have a value, so some gifts were or had been real expensive, but never used much.  Some antiques that year, some kitchen gadgets that had been the rage the year before, but never used, etc.    Of course, it got real wild when the exchange got going good, and alot of 7 and 11's were rolled, and everyone wanting the same gift.  You'd no soon roll your 7 or 11 and take what you wanted, and then loose it to the person next to you because they wanted it!    I remember we'd all take note of what Grandma liked, and when she'd get what she liked, we all kind of backed off, so she would end up with it.  This will be the second year now that we won't be playing that game, and I think I'll miss it more this year than last.   

But one of these years, that game will come back as we get more in our household!  We know many  families have gone through heartache during this past year and the holidays can be very hard for some.  Being a caring friend to someone hurting can help both the giver and receiver!  Try it, it works.  Remembering the real reason for celebrating Christmas.