The jelly beans

This is a 1000 piece puzzle that Olivia bought in Dallas.
It was beastly but we defeated it in about a week.
We have documented in photos each puzzle we have completed.
I am well aware that we are nerds. I could care less.
I am also well aware that these posts are riveting.
Again don't care! muahahahahaha.........

Major accomplishments today

It rained almost all day today, December 30, 2009.
Movies watched in the order they were watched:
Seven Brides for Seven Brothers
You've Got Mail
The Proposal
State of Play
New in Town
When Harry Met Sally
Seventeen Again

5 Puzzles completed or started and completed while watching the 7 movies
1000 piece completed


1500 piece completed


500 piece started and completed


300 piece started and completed


300 piece started and completed

Participants:Caitlin, Emma (a little bit), Olivia and Lisa
Owen sadly put in about 8 pieces on the very last puzzle.
There was much done with no real meaningful
accomplishments at all. Kudos to us.

Where you stay?

Originated by Lisa
10-24-07
Where you stay?

Lisa
In John's frys (freshman seminar) class there is a girl from Michigan. Before the end of the semester, each of the students has to give a slide presentation of themselves. This Michigan girl was giving her presentation and a southern girl in the class asked, "Where you stay?" The Michigan girl looked confused and said, "I'm sorry I don't understand the question." Then someone in the class said she means where are you from? When telling the story to me and the kids John said something snooty like, "yeah that's how southerners talk." (As if to exclude himself) Excuse me Mr. I'm from Butler (podunk) Pennsylvania you have lived here for 28 years and in Pennsylfreakingvania only 18 years and you are kiddin yourself if you don't think you are just as country ho-down as the rest of us! PSH...the idea that he would think he is above the fray of being a hick......and......and......and......if ANYONE considers duct tape to be the answer to world peace, consider yourself a dagum redneck. Carlie appreciates this story cause now on a regular basis she and I have added.....Where you stay?.......to our regular conversation....because it's funny. And for those that may be curious, ask Caitlin what grade she has in her dad's class......I'm just saying........later

Caitlin
Ha ha ha ha It is totally hilarious

Olivia
Your grade?

Judy
Yes, Caitlin. Your grade?

Caitlin
A++

Lisa
Lie lie lie lie lie her grade is a C

Judy
I KNEW IT!

Carrie
hey Caitlin????????????????

Carrie
UUUHHHH LIAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! LOVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Dust Update

It's back.

Varying stages of the Gmaw pictures

In this photo Carlie, Caitlin, John, Bill and Maggie seem to be observing Austin's bunny ears expertise. And notice no one is warning Whitney who is ridiculously ready for another picture....as is Mollie. Emma is ill prepared for the snap of the camera doing her impression of the calf looking at the new gate scenario. Olivia just off from the action would seem to indicate impatience....due to the folded arms. This observation may be inaccurate BUT I live with her and therefore feel pretty confident in my analysis.


Everyone is ready here. All look as if they know the drill.
John however may be in another time zone.


Again pleased with the effort given. That's Dale off to the left.


In this photo, Jared's eyes are closed which is a classic Walker problem when photos are being taken. I have more closed eye pictures of those 5 than any other person in the family. Maybe that could be an ongoing post......hmmmm. Bill's eyes are also closed. I don't yet have enough pictures of him to know if historically this will be a problem or if he was just having a moment. Time will tell. Another observation, Carlie is staring at the imaginary person off camera. What were you looking at Carlie? And Mollie looks like she is about to say to me, "And one more thing." I cut her off by taking the picture. I like power. John somehow may have moved to Montana but still managed to stay in the picture. I'm interested in knowing what the red lights are in the background. Anyone know? They are not all exit signs. Or are they? I'm not the most observant person in the world. And I don't intend to get better at it. I don't care.

December 29, 2009

Today I did the tiniest amount of house cleaning. It was a half hearted effort at best. If you saw my house you might doubt that ANY amount....even the tiniest was actually completed. It doesn't look much different than before I started except for the fact that my shelves in the den have now all been dusted. The dusted shelves lasted all of 12 seconds before new dust settled in. There are exactly 18 shelves in the bookcase in my den. Before I completed number 18, number 1 shelf dust was laughing at me. I'm not kidding myself. It has won. Dust lives here. It eats and sleeps here.

And when I make a move to get the endust and a rag, kids start texting each other or jump out the nearest window. They don't care that we are constantly living in a huge dog hair/dust ball. So I'm facing it all alone. The dust I discovered had taken up residence and established it's own zip code. I think it's violent dust.....ready to fight for the right to stay exactly where it was. I have since come to my senses and decided I'm not gonna worry about it too much. Most of it resides up out of sight so to even be able to see it would require someone jumping really high or a really really super tall person. If I see potential jumpers I will handle it with a distraction like punching them in the bread basket. It could work. And I won't be inviting any basketball players to my house any time soon either. I'm nothing if not extremely logical.

Christmas photos 2009

I'm so glad I purposed to take pictures of our Christmas this year.
After realizing that I had taken so few in the last few years,
I determined to document this year's events.
And with the many pictures taken, came lots of wonderful new memories.
It truly was one of our greatest times together ever.
Thank you God for all the fun times we had.
There will be more to come over the next few days.

Carlie's study meltdown and worm burner...makes me laugh EVERY TIME

Originated by Carlie
5-8-08
good morning, vietnam!

it's 2:30 in the morning. and i'm up. i could go eat some waffle house 'bout now. YURM. but i don't think anyone is up and it would not be safe to go out right now. i don't want to become the next elizabeth smart. or natalie holloway. whatev. she was such a moron.
i've got two finals tomorrow. one's at 8 in the morning and the other is at 10. i'm so DOOMED.
am i crazy, you ask? no, just delirious. i've been studying since 12:30 this afternoon and the kicker is that i don't even think the info i studied even stuck.
i'm gonna come home and take the longest nap i've ever taken in my life, watch movies, lay in bed, read books, and/or cry about the serious bombage that were my two finals. sigh.
so i hope everyone has had a good morning so far!
caitlin - i hope your cell phone dilemma comes to an end soon. a.) because that would suck if you had to get a new one & b.) i don't want to hear you complain about it for weeks. that one phone call was enough.
carrie - i have not listened to the 'weather channel' music YET, but that is on my 'OMG, SCHOOL IS OUT. YAYZ.' list. will do it, soon. promise.
mollie - i hope your eye is ok. and i hope you do good on your finals. we missed you at our luncheon.
maggie - cameron & house, forever.
lindsey - i like bill. not, like like him. but i like him. he wears belts and everything!
lydia - some kids are turning around in their seats. go crack that whip! or not. it's cool. whatev.
lisa - sam is going to be on top chef next week!!! you know, HOT sam? from 2 seasons ago? that me and caitlin drooled over? yeah, him. i know you're excited. don't fight it!
whitney - get to work I know you are goofing off
becky - how'd your anniversary gift come along? did you get him some steel?
melz. or mom - don't ever hide in that cabinet again, ok? i got kinda scared cause i couldn't find you. so...let's just NOT play hide and seek, mmk?
mrs. judy - i saw you rocking out to 'hail, jesus you're my king' tuesday night. don't lie. you know you loved it. i know i did. we should do that every sunday.
olivia - lost tonight! woot! jack&kate, forever. also, north carolina is the bestest ever in the world. emma - i need some book recommendations for the summer! and nothing by lori wick!
mteph - i read some interesting spoilers for big love today. we'll have to get together and discuss. and this is where i say goodnight. or good morning? anywho, i'm going to sleep now.
g'night!
g'morning!

Judy
I'm up. Megan is up. She just walked in here saying she wished we had some munchies. Me too.
I did not rock out to Hail, Hail. I was being entertained by the Catholics.
I will pray for your finals not to be complete bombage.

Carlie
Also, Olivia! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!!

Lindsey
Wow. Intense. You were def in a stage of delirium. You will do amazing on both your tests. I know it. I want in on that convo with steph.
PS I like bill too

Whitney
uh couple a things.
a) why was mel hiding in a cabinet?
b) loved the choice of words in this email...yurm, yayz, and i really felt the 'dum da dum dum' with the way you capitalized the word doomed. nice touch.
c) elizabeth smart...pulled that out ya butt...maybe you really will retain some of what you've been studying.
d) i loved the specific shout outs. preciate it.

Lisa
THE ONLY, ONLY, ONLY THING I GLEENED FROM THIS WAS CAITLIN'S PHONE PROBLEMS?? WHAT PHONE PROBLEMS? THANK YOU CARLIE.......I HAVE ALREADY ASKED HER WHAT THE PROBLEMS WERE......I AM TYPING LARGE BECAUSE I AM PISSED......I'LL SEE IF CAITLIN CAN EMAIL FROM HER WET PHONE TO TELL YAL WHY IT IS WET......BRILLIANT EMAIL.....MOOD..........UNBEFREAKING
and yeah why was Melanie hiding in a cabinet
also Donkey Kong 1 has been defeated.....on to DK2...I am a beast and my children know it....

Caitlin
I am about to take a final i'll tell yall later

Carlie
I am truly sorry, Caitlin.

Olivia
Carolina sucks

Lisa
I am not sorry and let me preface her side of the story with the fact that I.....I.....I found her phone in the street on the way to Melanie's house 2 weeks ago.....in 3 pieces......the phone has been through alot and frankly so have I.......

Carlie
It's not what you think, Lisa. I promise. It was a freak accident.
And....I'M DONE! I think I did fairly well on my accounting. Not so sure about economics. But I don't care cause hello, summer!
Now, i'm going to go crash. I'm running on 3 hours sleep and a whopping 4 hours of testing. This little tigger if tuckered out.
Later, fools!

Whitney
i am not a fool.

Lisa
who called you a fool and it's exactly what I think car car

Whitney
carlie,
she said 'later fools'
that means she called you one too.
that is not nice.

Emma
toterly knew about the phone (and thats totally with an er) was in the room and got to experience her panic.. didn't really care and i mainly feel bad for the phone instead of Caitlin because it has lived a very eventful life. And Carlie!!!! i will toterly ; ) have to hook you up with some bizooks!! haha (thats books with an iz.....I don't know why.....)

Emma
ANNOUNCEMENT!!!
THE DUGGARS ARE PREGNANT WITH THEIR 18TH CHILD!!!!
Yes, she is sixteen weeks pregnant and they are going to do another show about it.
They said they are going to keep having children until they can't anymore.
Personally i think its great! Totally excited for them

Judy
Yes, I am excited that it's them and not me. Although it's my personal opinion that after five children, it doesn't really matter. You're totally outnumbered and you'll be raising kids forever anyway, so what's the difference.
I am, however, vaguely surprised that her uterus hasn't fallen out from sheer exhaustion.

Carrie
I have no words for that 18 OY!!!!!!!! is that how many pups Judy's house has???????????

Judy
Oooohhhhh, I gotta go lay down....

Lisa
geez oh man if I see that woman look longingly at her husband with that grin on her face.......puhleeze and he is so full of wisdom and sperm......when she sneezes she pees her pants......no doubt about it.....

Judy
Really - those people can't be for real, can they? And you know why they're having ANOTHER BABY? Because they've run out of money and they needed a reason to sell their story again. Are any of those older kids getting married and moving out? They're old enough to have kids of their own, aren't they? They'll probably all have elective sterilization.

Carrie
yes this whole thing cracked me up... Carlie that was too funny and the issue of why Melanie was in the cabinet has NEVER BEEN ADDRESSED????????????????

Lydia
we have to remember that every time one is born it gets handed of f to the next one in line ,so they can take care of it. kind of weird but totally necessary with 18.

Whitney
yes...melanie why were you in the cabinet?

Melanie
Okay I have been computerless for about 5 days so I finally got Maggie's computer since she is through with school so I could check my mail. I have been very entertained.

The cabinet. Our new tv cabinet has doors at the bottom for components. One side of the cabinet had nothing in it. The shelves were on the floor and I was about to put them in the cabinet and thought "That is really a big space I'll bet I could fit in there". Carlie was in her bedroom-STUDYING I'm sure so I called her to come here and got in the cabinet. She came through the living room and was going back and forth hollering, Where are you and of course I start snickering just like Joey on Friends and I am so scrunched over that my belly has not much room to snicker so I had to bust out and catch her completely off guard. She never guessed I would be in there it was really fun.

Lindsey
Man not living at home sure has its downsides

Carlie
Hah, yeah. Surely.
I really had no clue where she was. I walked through the entire house at least five times. Maya knew the whole time and I did not heed her warning - which was standing right in front of the cabinet and looking at me every time I walked through like, "She's right here, you moron!"
Never again, never again.

Judy
I LOVE THAT STORY!!!
Too Good!

Lisa
All I can think about regarding the cabinet story is how many 53 year old women look at a cabinet and think, "Hmmm I wonder if I could fit in it?" Another thought dogs see it all!! If they could only convey their seeing to us.....well it would just be awesome. Emma left for Houston today to babysit for a family.....she is not of my loins.....as nice as they are I would not be going and sleeping in the same room with someone I barely knew. It is truly amazing. Now the rest of us were in the backyard tonight and in case yal didn't know, Caitlin and Olivia have taken up backyard golfing. I hate golf truly I do. Anyway, I'm not sure if Cailtin knows the difference between golf and softball because she struck out like 5 times. But when she finally hit a ball, it stayed flat on the ground....like no air at all and as it wizzed by, John hollered, "Worm burner!!" I laughed pretty hard and am right now still laughing so hard I have tears rolling down my face.....no lie. I could barely type this cause I can't stop laughing......and now they are all like, "What the heck are you laughing about?" I will stay amused about that statement for some time......

Judy
Worm burner? I am going to figure out a way to use that phrase.
That is a good point about how many 53 year old women think that.....and then the next question is.....how many would actually DO it after thinking it?
Erma Bombeck said she always worried about what her dog REALLY thought when he saw her come out of the shower. So maybe we don't really want to know. They rule the world anyway - at least at my house.

Carrie
yes very true on the 53 year old kid/Mom/Joey.....and worm burner???? yes very funny but don't get it....and Emma....adventurer......

Carrie
yes the balloon over the dogs head with the thoughts in it would be very interesting....

Lisa
well she is burning the worms cause the ball didn't leave the ground........where the worms live.....get them worms some helmets

Caitlin
Mother that is a gross misrepresentation of the facts.
First.
I am learning how to hit the ball good and until I can hit the ball well I am not playing on a course which is the reason we are currently confined to the yard.
Second.
I hit ONE on the ground and she negates to tell you about the beautiful shots I fired out.
Goodbye.

Carrie
oooohhhhhhhh kkkkkkk now I got it.....

Judy
Why would anybody actually learn how to play golf?

Carrie
I'm sure you will soon be ready for the pros.....

Melanie
My dogs WON'T come in the bathroom with me when I shower. HMMM? Daisy did when she was here.

Carrie
BURBERY............................

Judy
What?

Carrie
cute young golfer from down under is the spokes person for Burberry.... which Caitlin is crazy for... anything Burberry.... fragrance, clothes, coats, handbags, you name it....

Judy
ooooooohhhhhh - all for love, be it fishing, motorcycling, golfing, whatever....

Judy
See....that's so sweet. Girls are great. Testosterone ruins everything.

Stephanie
oh god. amazing story about caitlin golfing.
i can only imagine.
your family always brings me joy. thanks

Lydia
one more story about going with the husband. I went golfing with my precious new husband, and he had the nerve to yell at me in front some total strangers, just because i parked a little too close to the dumb ball !!!!! Yes, I was furious and he had to catch them on the next hole and apologize for yelling!!!!!! and that was the last time i drove while he played golf

Caitlin
(sent a picture of Burberry in a store window)
What can I say.... they had me at hello....

Caitlin
Since I am at work with nothing to do really, I am going to tally up
everything I want from Burberry and then give yall the total.
P.S. I will have style numbers available if anyone would like to purchase me something.

Whitney
ooh yea...do it. good idea.

Whitney
kids,
they sell sprinkles cup cake mix at williams sonoma.
chocolate, lemon, red velvet, and vanilla.
ive been watching a cupcake decorating video on the site...and looking at their muffin pans...thats the same thing as a cup cake pan right?
i want it...i want it all.

Emma
Duh.

Whitney
hey everyone,
lets do dinner at grandmas this week.
emmas out of town so it should be REALLY fun.

Lydia
Poor Emma, i'm in

Caitlin
She got you there...
And I L-O-V-E Sprinkles!!!

Caitlin
Drum roll please.........
And the grand total is......
$50,131.00

Carrie
OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! is that just for a coat, hat and shoes????? WOW

Carrie
haha that was funny Em and a little confusing.....but funny....

Caitlin
That total is of about 90 things, from headbands to trenches.
I mean they sell everything I could ever want.... shoes, luggage, handbags, totes, swimwear, jewelry, watches, umbrellas, scarves, hats, dresses, shirts, skirts, pants, fragrances, key chains, and jackets of all sorts

Carrie
wow.......we will keep this in mind....

Carrie
boys can be so stupid.............

Lisa
I DO NOT like Sprinkles cupcakes....they are over rated and overpriced. Duncan Hines 100 times better....

Lydia
in the bucket in gods wallet

Emma
Even though that was a very hurtful thing you said Whitney, I forgive you.

Whitney
you said 'Duh' to me...it was equally as mean. probably meaner.

Lindsey
Ooo burn

Emma
I disagree. I was simply pointing out the obvious cuz I mean seriously isn't it ironic how a cupcake and a muffin have the same shape yet you have to have two separate pans to bake them. DUH!!

Judy
Welll I'm actually pretty confused about all this, but I'm thinking if it's a MUFFIN then they get to charge more than if it's a CUPCAKE.
It's all about marketing.

Whitney
no. that is just like the food industry...make us buy two different pans that do the same thing! very believable.

Emma
so i went to imdb.com to look at Frank Sinatra and all that he did. Did not know that the Oceans 11 with Brad Pitt and George Clooney was not the original! Frank Sinatra and the Rat Pack were in the first one and now i want to find it and watch it. For those who do not know, I love Frank Sinatra and I wish we could be friends but we can't because he is dead, but I still love his music and I want to see oceans 11 with him in it. AND i have a cold! the whole sore throat stuffed up nose and i do not like it. Totally positive that the baby I’m sitting gave it to me so what-freaking-ever!! I do not like being sick...

Lindsey
Well to quote you Emma... DUH. On the note of being sick, take it from me those kids are walking illnesses and are quite contagious. I had strep at the beginning of the week. No fun. It is an occupational hazard.

Lisa
I'm sorry you aren't feeling well....Saturday is almost here...love you

Lindsey
Aw thanks Lisa love you too.

ACT'S and things

So it's fricking freezing outside and walking is like being in a deep freezer. I am not cut out for cold weather and if it's not going to snow then go away cold weather go away.

Today has produced good news. Olivia made the ACT score she needed and took an enormous amount of pressure off of her and in turn.....me. I am so happy for her and now I have only one more child to have to suffer through the process of that test. Things I am checking off the parenting list are: braces....YAY, getting very close to Driver's Ed....YAY again. ACT test one more kid....some things are just a pain in the butt and the things listed above are some of them. Wisdom teeth are also on that list.

There are some emails I am trying to decide about posting....just trying to make sure they are ready. I also have a few stories I have been working on but they need more effort as well.

The house is very close to being de-decorated for Christmas and I'm ready for it to be finished for this year. 2009 is ticking away to the end. I am grateful to God for seeing us through times that were difficult. He is faithful and even when it feels like I was crawling on my belly to the finish line, at least I was still moving forward. And as God as my witness, I will prove to be faithful no matter what comes my way. I am determined to follow God all the days of my life. He is a good God.

Psalms 27:3 Though a mighty army surrounds me, my heart will not be afraid. Even if I am attacked, I will remain confident.

Christmas cookies, yum and adorable

Made by Caitlin, Emma and Olivia

What was in the box?

Only the people in the living room on
Christmas morning at Grandma's knows for sure.
A small box sometimes holds a lovely little treasure.
It might seem to Lindsey that Bill may be about to receive something timeless.
There was an anticipation in the room that could never be portrayed in a photo but ALL eyes were on the gift opener. I HAVE other photos of the gift but I have chosen to keep them for bribery.....uhhhh.......privacy reasons.
My lips are sealed......for now........

The after Christmas wrap up begins.....

Well it's over for another year and it's safe to say a fantastic time was had by all. I will be adding pictures over the next few days to document the fun. Some of this year's gifts.....at the top of the list....Randy's new gun, some Beretta something something......it kills things, ducks specifically, and he couldn't be happier. A new hunting dog and a new shotgun......Randy has had a good year. Much Fresh stuff was passed out and lots of new clothes for me YAY!! There were beautiful pictures gifted and Grandma's charms given to her by all of her grandchildren. She was thrilled to pieces and we all enjoyed watching her open each and every box. There were many puzzles passed out......10 shirts a given.....some ladies dancing I think....but no partridge in a pear tree for Rebecca....sigh. Gift cards and cook books and UT shirts and hoodies and overalls for Dale?
Oh yeah, it's true, just have a look.

His children have vowed to make fun of him.

And what was that one small gift Bill and Lindsey? But I won't mention it. And Carrie and her mini-BAT went home to Dallas.

We all adhered to the earlier schedule quite well if I do say so myself since Austin had to work at 1:00. Good job us. And as the year comes to a close, I have to thank God one more time for the choices He made when He decided to put each and every one of us together to make one big wonderful group of people that love each other no matter what and enjoy each other's company until it all has to end again.

Excellent job God. He is faithful. He is good. He has been good to me.

December 26, 2009

Christmas was too busy a day for posting but plenty of fun was had by all. Too tired to think now so off to bed. Sweet dreams.

My Christmas Eve posts are conlcuded

Time for communion.
Time for breakfast!
Bring on the bacon!

Stories from family Christmases

The pictures I've posted represent just a few of the wonderful Christmases we've all been blessed to have shared together. So many Christmas memories....so many great times. There was the pink flocked Christmas tree year that I'm so sad I couldn't find a picture of. There was the year we were flat broke and we made Big Frank a pill bottle with felt pills glued to an old medicine bottle, as well as a brick covered in felt that we gave him as a door stop. That same year we gave Becky a glass jar for cotton balls that she still has to this day.....also with felt on it....I think. We gave the boys glass jars full of candy with a pad lock on them; I loved playing with those things. And I do remember the Christmas when Carrie opened a box of house slippers with only one shoe in the box and the shocking dismay on her young face.

There was the year that Becky gave Frank a very large box and after studying it for hours, he concluded that it did in fact contain a globe.....and he was correct......and she was extremely pist....and vowed never to give him anything more than a shirt. Not sure if she held to her word. On another lean Christmas year, Becky gave Dale, when he was working at the YMCA, a whistle holder for around his neck.....but not the whistle.

When I was little, somehow I was branded a present opener when in fact I only ever opened one present on the sly and felt so guilty that I NEVER did it again. The gift I opened was a red and white stuffed animal that was a fox. But even at 50 years old I do still remember how anxious I was for Christmas morning to arrive when I was little. It was a feeling full of complete joy and unbridled excitement.

I remember sitting next to Becky during a midnight mass and I was playing with a big chunky bracelet that snapped in the middle. While we were standing I kept opening and closing the bracelet; but, one time I missed the snapper and it fell....of course during a VERY quiet part of the service and it LOUDLY hit the pew in front of us. She grabbed it in disgust and as she handed it back to me....again in disgust, it flopped back over and snapped shut VERY LOUDLY. I was horrified and delighted at the same time. I wonder where that bracelet is now......sigh.

I don't have one recollection of ever seeing a Christmas tree at Gran and Grandma's house. But I do remember how mad Frank got when we balled up tinsel like a softball and threw it on the tree instead of nerdily placing each individual piece on each individual needle. But for sure his way always looked so much better than ours so we just enjoyed the fruits of his labor, which consisted of him standing in the living room working for hours all the while whistling a lovely tune.

One of the best things I EVER got for Christmas, and still have, was a spirograph. It was the best present ever ever ever..

And of course there's the ever present pressure of getting Dale for Christmas and the "What in the cat hair am I gonna get him?" that lasts the whole year.

There have been and will continue to be the years of newly married into the family members and new babies and new houses and new beginnings and some endings..... And remember all of the Christmases the "blue eyed Santa" has helped us make with Kiel's and Ugg boots and fancy blue jeans and measuring spoons and measuring cups and iron skillets. There were stylish high heeled shoes for tiny little girls who were enchanted by the new addition to their young wardrobes and cameras and bullets and DVD players and combi riding cars put together at 1:00 in the morning by Frank and Randy. There were skiing trips for Christmas and emergency preparedness radios and dart boards and hula girls and play kitchens and football uniforms and clothes and purses and street walker outfits. No year was complete without Melanie's and my 11:00pm runs to Toys R Us and the Wii machines we fanned out the search for across 4 or 5 states and the sleepless night for Connie and Jim and Carrie and Melanie for the Furbies.... and....and....and I could keep going but we all know we've had the best of it all.

And Melanie just reminded me of the year that Maggie and Olivia hid under the round table in the living room with the extra TV flicker and they changed TV channels unbeknownst to Frank and Big Frank as they tried to watch TV. The 2 clueless men discussed the fact that they couldn't understand why the TV kept changing channels until all was revealed by the 2 young tricksters. Their deviousness started early.

And I know we will never forget the most heartbreaking Christmas of our lives, our first without Frank and Nina, and how devastated we all were that year. As well as our first year without Big Frank. But I'm grateful to God for hearts that still miss.....but don't long for.....hearts that are healed and whole, even if we still wish it wasn't this way. So let's never forget in spite of the pain, how blessed we have been throughout the years and thank God for his faithfulness to our family. He is a good God and He has been so very good to us.

I can't wait til we are all together tomorrow to do it one more time

Merry Christmas to a wonderful, crazy, fun, fun loving, hilarious, loud, eclectic, generous, spontaneous, happy and super cool family.
God bless us every one......

Excellent memories

This just makes me happy. Again look at the face.

Whitney is still to this day showing up in outfits that shock and awe.
I'm not sure what look she was going for....
but I know the one that comes to mind.

Caitlin Bess in her wedding dress Sarock made for her. That face is delightful.

Maggie and Olivia's year to start off the celebration

Last year's pup Christmas

The Corsicana t-shirt year....look at all those baby faces

Another Christmas morning before the ripping.

This was our 2007 Christmas, the first without Big Frank.
Austin played the guitar and Emma sang Mary Did You Know.
Sadly, this was not our first bittersweet Christmas Day but; somehow,
these kinds of days are more easily faced together.
We have had some wonderfully fun and funny times together.
And so many more ahead. I can't wait to see the "new"fun!

A Christmas Morning

Our last Christmas Eve Communion with Big Frank

More Christmas Eves

Carrie's Computer

Check it out....everyone is looking at something but Lindsey is voguing it.




Surprise!

Cookie baking

Well the girls have been busy little bees baking cookies for the last few days. There are no less than 2000 cookies in my house and I have successfully consumed about 2oo of them. The diet is officially off at least through Sunday. I really should video tape the entire process of cookie baking because it is quite the sight to behold. There are arguments, disagreements and LOTS of spontaneous singing. I'll give you a little taste of how this works.

A few moments ago, Caitlin showed me her undressed gingerbread man that she cooked earlier but expressed her concern about actually tasting it because of the unsureness of the flavor. I unselfishly volunteered to taste the gingerbread man and after I gave it a big thumbs up, Caitlin decided to give it a go and after the bite began singing, "It's raining men, hallelujah!" See what I mean?

And also it is official Caitlin knows no real words to any songs. She makes them all up. Earlier today she was singing Deck the Halls and her version was, Dawn we now our day apparel. Other songs sung tonight....lots of Umbrella.....ella....ella....but they made no umbrella cookies and "Do you remember the 21st night of September." But it was not sung like that. Also....Here comes Peter Cottontail.....don't ask me. Even Olivia was humming and singing some tunes.

As you can see, the cookies are adorable and I can attest to the fact that they are delicious! There are plenty for anyone that would like to have one or many. And I will be sure to save Carrie a gingerbread man since she loves them so.


Our movie of choice for tonight playing at this moment is Desk Set. Spencer Tracy and Katherine Hepburn are quite wonderful. It is another delightful favorite. It makes me want to eat fried chicken and floating island. And their lunch on the rooftop with all the questions he asks is the best. Also the Mexington Avenue bus.....

Emma just stated that tomorrow.....or now today is Christmas Adam and then comes Christmas Eve. All presents accounted for are wrapped and under the tree. There are still 4 yet to arrive. Yikes! Lord get them here please! Merry Christmas to all.

A buggy tree and wrapping paper

Originated by Whitney
11-6-07
Becky, remember when....

Whitney
you had bugs in your christmas tree last year?
that was TERRIBLE.
and how did that happen? out of all the trees in the
world...and we put them outside to freeze and brought
them back in and when they warmed up they came back to
life! EEEEEEEWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW.
makes me shiver a bit right now.
it will be better this year.
i believe. do you believe?
mary lisa, do you?

Lisa
I am still holding out my final opinion about Christmas 2007. I have discovered one of the reasons I don't enjoy the holiday is because I suck at choosing gifts. I am pretty terrible at it and because I want it to be from me, I don't really want someone else finding the gift for me and then I just pay them for the present and then I wrap it and give it as mine to them. I don't like that much at all. I did actually look at Christmas wrap paper at Target tonight and found some I wanted from last year I never got. It was red background with white ho ho ho all over it....very cute. We all know by now that I CANNOT buy red paper with white snowflakes on it Isn't that right Lindsey and Whitney? It has to be correct colors. I mean it doesn't snow on a red sky. It has to be on blue although now that I think about it, it doesn't snow on a blue sky either......oh no that has shaken my entire belief system as I know it. I am having a mini freak out right now......I have to go

Carrie
yeah you better start looking for white paper ... white snowflakes....but how could you see them???????

Lindsey
I am NOT going wrapping paper shopping with you. No. Way.

Judy
I love wrapping paper.

Chrstmas Eves past