Christmas, 2007

Kids and grand kids gathered for our traditional official Christmas morning photo. All of the presents had been opened from under the tree, then came the photo op and finally off to attack the stockings which were hung by the chiminey with hefty bolts because Santa always puts so much in them that they are straining at the hanger!!! This year Santa got a hold of a bad batch of oranges and poor Gwen got a soft, mushy, covered in fungus orange that was stuck in the toe of her stocking. AAAGGGGHHHHH!!!!! Everyone else was lucky enough to get good ones. So at about 12:00 noon, we had finished opening our presents and stockings. Whew!! We we were exhausted. Thank goodness the Christmas festivities were not to start until 3:30. They were at our house this year. We all had a wonderful visit and dinner. It turned out to be another great Christmas Day. We are so blessed with our sweet family and friends. It is always so much fun to watch each other open gifts and this year, Camaryn and Landon were especially fun to watch as they opened and played with their presents. We are looking forward to a new year of family and friends.

Sixty-One Stinking years!!

I guess it is better than the alternative. I have had a really good celebration ALL week long. Dinner out with Linell and Ralph on Sunday(her birthday was Monday), dinner out with them and Nana on Monday, and dinner out with kids on Tuesday--to the Rain Forest Cafe. It was so much fun. Landon really loved the vines and flowers hanging off the ceiling. Cam loved the animated animals from afar--they kind of freak her out if she's too close. Last night I had choir practice, came home and put on warm PJ's and got into bed. Tonight we plan a quiet evening at home. Kirk is grilling chicken and we are going to watch a new DVD he gave me. It has been a great birthday week.

I just love this picture of her decorating the tree. She is stretching to put the ornaments high so Landon can't reach them. He pulls them off if they are on the low branches. She was the most determined person to put them high for safe keeping.

This is a beautiful finished home for the elves and fairies to live in until Cam decides to eat the house. She left a lot of the candy sprinkles unstuck to the frosting so she could eat them. Smart girl!!!!

Notice Cam's handy work with the candy decorations!!!

Gingerbread House and Cam

Camaryn and I put together a gingerbread house on Monday. I glued the sides and roof together and when it dried she helped decorate with the candies. Before that, though, I told her she could lick the frosting whisk and that kid disappeared to her room with whisk in hand. She came back to the kitchen just in time to put the candy decorations on the house. Her mouth was circled with stuck-on frosting. I am going to post some of the pictures so you can see our handy work. It was so much fun. Then, she helped Mom finish putting ornaments on their Christmas tree. We got some sweet pictures of that, too.

Now Christmas can come!!

I have finished with all the decorating I am going to do this year. I did more than I had planned and more than I did last year. Having grand kids makes you do crazy stuff--like creating a Christmas winter land in 75 degree muggy weather. There will be no snow any time. What can I say, we live in south Texas. Next, on the agenda is Christmas Cookies and a Gingerbread House. I'll have to fit it in this week around my substitute jobs--three of them. I am subbing for my friend Patty who teaches music. Her principal does not like movies to be shown--the teaching must go on. So, I'll be teaching music stuff on Tuesday and Thursday. Then on Friday, I will be back in my element, English. Thank goodness!!!!!!! Don't know if I can blog any other day this week, but HEY keep the comments comin'. Later!

The Christmas Countdown

It is official! The Christmas countdown has begun. We have so much to be grateful for this Advent Season. Tracy and Devlon have a sweet new baby boy, Cass, in their little family. Their lives will never be the same. "Grandma Nell" and "Daddy Ralph" are still on cloud nine. Being great-grandmothers has not slowed Meemaw and Nana down one bit. We will also be celebrating Landon's First Christmas as well. All of our babies make the season really bright and wonderous!!!! Gwen and Rob were busy with their "Santa" shoot last weekend and they got some really fabulous pictures. Camaryn was very standoffish with Santa on Saturday, but my Sunday afternoon she was giving him high-fives and warmed up enough to sit on his lap and smile and not be afraid. That was a major thing!!!!!! I'm in the throes of decorating for Christmas, almost finished. Gotta go. Later!!