Here are some pictures of the Biltmore estate, It was raining so some of the pictures did not come out that well.

Thanks all for the Birthday wishes! We had a wonderful time at Biltmore, such a place to see. I will get some pics posted. You can't take pictures inside but we took a few outside. It was so nice to get to do something I have wanted to do for over ten years and to top it off it was my birthday.
Love all the Christmas pictures Trish took. Really missing the family...

Birthday girl!

Hard to believe it's 14 years ago! She is a very sweet kid and we are very proud of her. Happy birthday! Also Happy Birthday to Carol, belated to Brian and Kayla. We are headed to Asheville NC tomorrow and will return on Sunday evening can't wait to see Biltmore!

Christmas!

Well the big day came and went and I am tired of cooking and cleaning. I sit here on the day after at 11:00am still in pj's, very nice! We really had a nice day but I was really missing Brad, Mary Catherine, Jen and Chris and sorry about this guys really really missing Avery and Matilda. I am feeling more and more jealous of the people that live close to their Grandchildren. I am missing our on so much, but I really do have to come to grips with it. I am ever so grateful for the technology we have I can get an image of the girls in an instant. Here are some pics of the day!

Couldn't resist

Here is a picture of Ted hanging out with old Pops! He just stayed in that position when Alex put him on the couch.

Here are the finished produts and the picture of them all together.

Alex and her friends!

Here are some pictures of Alex and her friends at the Mckeagues house making their frames. I think they had fun and they sure loved using the paper punches. Jeanne put on a nice party for the girls and then they had a nice dirty Santa exchange. It is truly amazing to see the girls who for the most part are the same girls we have known since moving here almost six years ago so grown up. Real live teens!
Of course for the most part I see a lot of eye rolling when the parents are in the room.

Still crafting

Sorry I have been so short on posts. I am almost down to the wire for Christmas creativity.
Gloria got here last night and all is well, she looks well and is fighting a little cold. Spirited as ever she is enjoying Ted and I am sure will undo all the training I have done thus far(not much)!
He actually took a piece of toast right off her plate this morning and she never noticed. Don't worry, he did get scolded. I don't really have a chance with Kev and his Mom here, both Reilly and now Ted will be spoiled with PB toast. Alex and I do not share our meals, because once we start we will have four eyes staring at us.
Anyway, I have been busy putting together a project for a little get together Alex is having tomorrow at the Mckeague's. The girls are going to make altered picture frames. I will get some pics of the event so you can see.
Here are some tags I have made for gifts. Hope you are all taking to time to enjoy, I am actually looking forward to the day after Christmas, when I have done all the cooking, baking, wrapping
and cleaning up. But after all, that is what the holiday's are all about.

{hugs}

This is a picture of Jen, probably 1997, a junior in High school sitting in front of Brad's lap top. I have gone through some old pics and I am loving all of these. I will have fun if Jen and Brad decide they want to share these with their spouses. Lots of pics with Brad and his pink clothes and Jen of course with her 80's look! Feel free to comment!

I am very excited that I will have visitors next month and I can be a Grandma to the most beautiful girls in our home!

Time for this Grandma to get to bed.

{hugs}

Help!

I need help locating these children! Last seen, many years ago and happy happy memories!
Seriously, when you think a day will never end or you just need a little sleep, looked what happened...all grown up!

I am oh so proud of our kids, great people with huge hearts. Sometimes I can not believe this many years has passed.

lots of
{hugs}

It's beginning to resemble Christmas!

This is sadly the only tree we have up right now. I have not decided if I will wait until Kevin gets home next week to put a real one up or do it myself this week. We have been very busy of late and the effort into decorating has been somewhat lame. I am not feeling the whole Christmas thing right now. It used to be a favorite time of year but but that has changed. I am trying to get excited and I will keep working on it.







I think it is time to retire the reindeer, I know two people that might like him, so I guess I might have to think of a number of one to ten and the one that gets the closest, you know how it's played. I am pretty sure I see Mary Catherine and Chris just shaking their heads in protest over wanting this thing in their homes. I will apologize in advance!
We might just want to take turns, sort of like the families that mail the fruit cake back and forth for years. Anyway, I put him up and this will be the last year in my home, I have a hard time remembering how long we have had him. I think I made this guy way back in Bayport! So early 80's, do you see a mullet!!
I will be better at posting, I am just glad I finally got my Christmas cards in the mail!

Brrr!

Our first snow, which looks a little like powdered sugar on the grass! I think Brad and Jen would say I was smoking some good dope, just ask them about trees that look like fruit loops! I must equate nature with food products... Issues!!! Anyway enjoy the frosty look!

I am finally posting the birthday card I made our sweet Matilda! I thought it was cute.

Too much bball already!

Gosh it has only been a couple of weeks and I am already tired of running around for bball.
Yesterday I was the designated parent to supply dinner for the team and coaches. I made baked ziti, salad and garlic toast. Pretty easy, but then there was transporting it all, setting up cleaning up and then transporting all back to the car in time to drive to Appomattox ,a 45 minute drive from here. Game at 6, of course watch a period of Varsity and drive home.
I seem to spend a lot of time waiting to pick up or take to the high school lately. I really am not complaining(I know what else would one call it). However, this is just the beginning of the season. I will have some pictures to post soon, I just have to remember to take the camera out the purse at the games.

I have had some interest in my coffee cake of late, Brad says he would like that as a Christmas gift!
Peter, Elise and their kids liked it also. I will post the recipe tomorrow.

I am so far behind on making my Christmas cards, I have quite a few made but just can't get the inspiration to make the rest. I will of course, I have never been one to do it all in the last minute. Oh well time for bed and yes more basketball tomorrow!

{hugs}

We are back to reality, almost! Alex went back to school today and Kev leaves Wed am for his trek back to Richland. He will only be gone for about two weeks, I guess I can cope with that. Basketball gets into full swing this week. Games on Tues, Thurs and Sat, on Sunday we continue with indoor soccer. I will get some pictures of that sport. The girls really seem to enjoy playing, maybe because it really is just playing and having fun!

I need to start some Christmas shopping and finally getting all my cards done. I am also thinking about baking some, although I think it will be a very quiet holiday season. Gloria will be here for Christmas, my bunco group seems to have disbanded and of course with Kev out of town no holiday parties to attend. I have asked to go to Biltmore estate in Asheville NC for my birthday. So I am hoping a certain someone can make that happen. That is a place I have wanted to go since our Knoxville days, I am excited at the thought that it might actually happen.

Oh well off to clean the car, it is just gross.

{hugs}

PS: Happy December!!