12-31-2009

OK...so all of the decorations are down...still need Charlie to help me put most of them in the attic! I took a few pictures of our trees this year...didn't take a picture of all of the Charlie Brown trees...we have them even in the bathrooms...I do love Christmas...so sad when it is over! My house looks so naked after I take it all down and put back out our regular photos...next year I want to add a peacock theme tree and I would love to add gingerbread ornaments to the Charlie Brown trees in the Kitchen area...not sure where to put the Peacock tree, but I am sure I can find it a spot! Ready to welcome in 2010...it is going to be a great YEAR and a WILD decade...by the time it is over I will have one in college and one graduating from High School...my grandmother was right (as usual), the older you get the clock seems to speed up!

Christmas Day 2009 with the Henson Klan

We had a late lunch today with the Henson's out at Aunt Ruth's house...great food and everyone seemed to have a good time....We missed Charlie, I hate it when he has to work on Holidays...and he often reminds me that he is not a school teacher and therefore does not keep school teacher hours and vacation! He thinks he is sooooo funny! Uncle John is the only one in the Henson Klan that is not a school teacher!!!! With the loss of Papa fresh on our minds...it made us all that much more aware of our truly blessed we are to have Granny and Dada...they will celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary in March - what a legacy! We took some pictures of them with the grandkids and great-grandkids...David's bunch was missing and Katie and Bobby were in Palmer...so 6 missing from the picture...I am the oldest of this good looking bunch!

In Memory of Loyd David Richmond

In Memory of Loyd David Richmond

Christmas Day 2009

My mom called me this morning early to wish me a Merry Christmas and let me know that my grandfather died early this morning...12-25-2009. It was a Christmas Blessing for a man tormented by Alzheimer's disease...but still it is painful to loose a grandparent...even when you have already lost him. My Papa has not truly known who I am for about 4 years...maybe longer than that ...he was good at hiding his confusion for a while. I am so blessed to have had him for a grandfather....He taught me to drive when no one else would even get in the vehicle with me! This picture of him with Santa was taken on Wednesday, 12-23-09 at the nursing home Christmas party...He was so lost after the death of my grandmother in 2001...and I believe that his soul made a Christmas wish ...He got his wish and now his soul is at peace.

12-24-2009...Supper with The Rodells

After we all survived Lunch with the Harter's...we had Ruth, John and boys over for supper! We had chips, dips, tamales and fajitas...something different. I so love being able to spend time with those that I truly WANT to be with at Christmas...After we ate we all decided to go to Granny Henson's house and take her and DaDa a plate...BUT we could not all fit in one car... forcing Charlie and I to take a separate vehicle. Aunt Ruth decided to take Jake, James, Chelsea, and Callie to look at Christmas lights around town while Uncle John, Charlie and I visited with Granny and DaDa...when they returned charlie and I took the girls home because Charlie had to work on Christmas day and needed to get some sleep! When we walked in the door it was apparent that Santa had already paid our house a visit...so much fun...the girls got everything they asked for and more! I guess Santa knew that Charlie had to work...so he came early! :)

12-24-2009 @ The harter's

Christmas Eve Lunch at Charlie's Parent's home...We let the girls open their gift from Granny and Papa before we left the house...a brand new kid saddle! Chelsea seemed to understand the value way more than Callie...you could see a little light shinning in Chelsea's eyes. I really did not want to go ...and had flat out refused, but Charlie insisted that I could go "for the kids"...so I went. I am sure that everyone knew how I felt and what I was thinking at all times...I have one of those faces that tells no lies! I just have a real hard time understanding why Wayne, Victoria, and Charlsie would be so against trying "novacure", which COULD be Walt's best option for treatment...his cancer is terminal, but 80% of those that participated in the phase II trials of "NovaCure" lived an average of three years...The MD Anderson treatment that Wayne, Victoria, and Charlise are soooooo sold on offers only an average of 9 months to a year. I just do not understand...and it hurt to know that with the current course of action, this could be Walt's last Christmas.

Christmas @ Keechi 2009

We had so much fun at Grandmommy and Big's House...Wes asked every five minutes if it "dinner" was ready yet...he is such a smart puppy and knew that we would open gifts AFTER we ate dinner. When Grandmommy told him that the beans and chicken & dumplings were ready...he replied that he was not hungry! Everyone ate...it was a fantastic meal - and then we did open gifts. As usual everyone did too much! We took a few family pictures on the couch...even Charlie, who HATES to have his picture taken!

"Polar Express" December 17th, 2009

We rushed home after the piano recital to meet up with my cousin Emily, Grant, Uncle Tommy, and a few of Emily's friends to ride the Polar Express in Palestine...Grandmommy, Big, Uncle "O", Aunt Jill, Wes, and Abby all had tickets as well! It was so much fun to go as a big group...Charlie did not go this year (He suffered through it a couple of years ago)! We had hot Chocolate, cookies, we sang, danced, saw the North pole, And had a short visit with Santa and a few of his Elves....SOOOOO much fun. Little Wes loves trains and he was mesmerized by the train...he looked awful because his daddy gave him a hair cut WITHOUT a guard on the clippers!!!! ( POOR Wes!) We had so much fun, maybe next year we can take even more relatives with us...it would be fun to fill up an entire car on the train!

"Piano Recital" December 17th, 2009

Recital Time Again...We went to the Buffalo Nursing Home today for our Christmas Recital at 2PM...Chelsea played "Hark the Harold Angels Sing", and Callie played "Jingle Bells". It was Callie's very first recital and I was so very proud of her...Chelsea is a pro and played her music very well...The Nursing home residents are a "captive" audience, but they truly did seem to enjoy listening to all of the kids play their music and sing Christmas carols!

"Silent Night" December 9th, 2009

Our church had it's very first Children's Christmas program on December 9th...Chelsea and Callie were both Angels, Asa was a shepherd, and James was a wise man. They really did a good job and we all walked away blessed!