Christmas brunch

I had my pre-admission testing done yesterday at the hospital.  The surgery will be at the main unit even though it's outpatient.  As the doctor said, it's more money for the hospital!  I had to have blood drawn and they stuck me 5 times before they got what they needed.  Ouch!  They tried to take it out of my hand, which did not work, and this is what it looks like today.

It's swollen and it's black and blue.  Hope the surgery goes better than the blood draw did!

Finally posting pictures from Christmas today from the brunch.  It was a beautiful day and lots of fun for the kids to run around outside.

Our January and February have been terribly rainy and I will not be sorry to see them go.  The sun is shining today, though it's cold, but the sun look so encouraging!

Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve dance

The painting is finished but I'm still dealing with getting everything back in order.  Changing things out a little at a time so I don't want to put holes in the wall so it's a slow go!

I developed a spot in the center of my eye last week.  It just happened without injury or anything.  At first I thought I had something on my glasses that I couldn't get clean, but finally realized it was something in my eye.  The eye doctor immediately got me in and immediately sent me to a retina specialist who also saw me right away.  I have a small hole in my macula which affects the vision in the center of the eye.  There's no pain, it's just annoying because I can't see very well with that eye and things are a bit blurry.  I am scheduled for surgery next Wednesday, the 26th.  Prayers would be appreciated!

Moving on...

As usual, we had a quiet Christmas Eve with just Ben and Cam.  Ben cooked steaks for us again and it was a simple dinner.

Emma Taylor and some of her friends went to the New Year's formal dance.  Bowen had a date but Heather snapped this picture before he and Emma Taylor left.  They look quite fancy!

She and her friend Natalie had the same dress just in different colors.  Totally unplanned!  She and Natalie were in preschool together.

A beautiful group of friends.  Love the sparkly dresses!

It was a girls ask guys dance but Emma Taylor preferred to go with friends.

Baking with Cameron

Painters are still here and I'm hoping they finish up today.  Another rainy and dreary day.  Makes me want to do absolutely nothing!

Cameron still likes to bake with me too, especially when he hears I've baked with Emma Taylor.  A little competition there!  I enjoy baking with him too and he takes it very seriously.

He prefers not to wear an apron!

We made exactly the same kind of cookies that I made with Emma Taylor.  I actually sent most of the cookies home with the kids.

More baking was done.  I still make lots of batches of pecan brittle every year.

Baking with Emma Taylor

Another day with painters in the house so stuck upstairs again.  There's going to be some major cleaning to be done when they are finished.  The also repaired some drywall tape that was coming undone so there's going to be drywall dust from where they sanded that.  Oh well, the house needed a good cleaning anyway!

Emma Taylor and I baked together again this year.  I waited for her to ask to bake together for I never want her to feel she has to, but when she says, "Granna, when are we going to bake together?" I make the time.  I know one of these days she will be too busy for me.

She came over right after church, still dressed in her church clothes.  Good thing I had an apron!

Ben is always giving her a hard time!

The finished products.  We also baked ginger snaps.

I hope we are making memories that will last the rest of her life!

It's been a long time!

It's been a long time since I posted anything.  Painters are here today painting the guest bathroom and our bedroom/bathroom so I'm stuck upstairs so I can stay out of their way, so I thought it would be a good time for a little update.  I'm way behind and things won't be in order, but at least I'll feel like I'm working on catching up!

Where to start...

My sister Carolyn's husband Max has had serious health issues for quite some time and passed away on December 20th.  It's always hard to lose a loved one but especially hard at Christmas.  His funeral was the day after Christmas.

Karen and I had gone to Huntsville just a couple of weeks before he passed away.  We took bbq from Big Bob Gibson's and a coconut pie for lunch.  Max enjoyed our visit as we did.  He was having a good day, laughing and talking.  So glad we got to spend some time with him, not knowing it would be the last time.

Carolyn seems to be doing well.  Such a lot of paperwork and such when someone passes away.  I went over a couple of weeks ago and spent the night with her.  She's been having severe back problems and I was able to take her to physical therapy while I was there.  We had a really nice visit.

In December we also celebrated Kaydee receiving her Master's Degree with Ronald treating us to dinner at Ray's at the Bank.

We had a wonderful dinner and some delicious wine!  Karen gave a special toast.  We're all so proud of Kaydee!

Darby was in a dance program before Christmas.  She didn't actually do much dancing (like none!) but she looked adorable and she was so proud of herself because she didn't cry.  We considered that a win!

Another rainy day here.  I'm really tired of the rain...I need some sunshine!

School Pictures

I'm always amazed how these kids change from year to year.  All three are looking so grown up!

Bowen is 16 and in 10th grade.

Emma Taylor is 16 and in 11th grade.

Harrison is 13 and in 8th grade.

Time goes so fast!

Thanksgiving 2019

It's always a wonderful Thanksgiving when we get to spend it with family as we do every year.  Karen and Ronald always host Thanksgiving.

We took family pictures, as always!  Sam wasn't with us but otherwise my family is complete.  Doug and Ben drove the old Volare station wagon over to Red Bay.

Heather's family.

Ben and Cameron.

Matt, Allie Ruth, Duncan and Courtney.

Newlyweds Tyler and Morgan with Captain.

Karen's family...so big they cover the whole car!

Kaydee, Luke, Darby, Justin, Jake and Ty.

The food was delicious!  Look who's first in line!

Ben and Paige.

Courtney, Paige, Morgan, Ben and Kaydee.

The girls in the old wagon



And this cutie gave us a little gift...a stomach bug!

I came down with it on Saturday and have only begun to feel well today.  It has hit several other people who were at Thanksgiving, including Heather and Ben, and some who were at her first birthday party on Saturday, which I missed!  It's a gift that keeps on giving!

Hope you all had a happy Thanksgiving as well!