Reminiscing 2011 (Catching Up Part 2)

This year we frosted cookies at our house. Mindy and Harvey had a doctor's appointment to check out his ears but could join in later and Tony and Jon stopped by after work so it ended up being the Christmas gathering at our house since there was no other day when most people could come. 

It was pretty intense at times.

And I don't only mean the artist's concentration. The decorations themselves were fairly intense also. Check out Natalie's cookie! 

I'm not sure if she adopted that style from Tricia or if it was the other way around.

When Harvey got there he seemed to like a lot of sprinkles too!

It was a colorful display of cookies when all was said and done.

Reminiscing 2011 (Also Known As "Catching Up!)

You may remember, Thanksgiving was three holidays ago already! We spent it out at Cher's with almost everyone present and accounted for. Before our meal there was some hijinks going on with Jon and Natalie.

And after we ate she and Harvey worked on decorating a little Norfolk Pine for Maya to have for her very own. (The reason for this will show up in a later post!)

The tree looks almost bigger than Maya!

Both she and her mom were in good spirits!

These glasses turned up and a lot of people wanted to try them on.

I think Grandma looks better in her regular ones!

We both wanted a picture with some of the Greats.

This is the best I could come up with with all of them!

It's quite a challenge getting four people to have their best faces on all at the same time.

2012!!!

A safe, healthy, Happy New Year to all!!

Guess Who Was In Town Today?!

Elmo!!

 I spent the morning with Elmo and K2's for a performance at the Civic Center. 

Very colorful and musical. The kids were most excellently behaved and I think we all had a good time!

Ding-Dong! Here We Come!

We old...

...and older gals...

...took a ride on the trolley last night.

 It was a 90 minute tour of some Christmas lights in Rochester. It wasn't exactly like the ice cream truck coming around but a few people would wave as we stopped in front of their houses. We had to keep opening and closing the windows for the air flow to dissipate the steam so it's a good thing it was relatively warm outside. There was piped in holiday music and I am of the strong opinion that Willie Nelson wasn't cut out for Christmas tunes!

 After the ride they suggested we check out the gingerbread house over in the lobby of the Kahler.

 Pretty much life-size!

A Merry Christmas To All!

If only we could have a compromise on the snow cover from this year and last! Wouldn't it be beautiful?

Our family can't all be in the same place at the same time so we're arranging brief gatherings with my nephews and their families at G and g's as they have time to stop in. Happy Holidays from this part of our family, so far, to yours!

Three Years Ago...

...I got a call in the middle of the night that Angela and Darrick were headed to the hospital. And a few hours later we learned that Claire had a baby sister. And Cate has had a fun birthday party each year. Last year the theme was owls. 

This year with her friends it's a tutu party. But yesterday morning the three of us had a little party of our own.

Happy birthday, Cater!

In The Spirit Of The Holidays

I'd like to share a recipe for

The Best Fruitcake Ever

1 cup butter

                                              1 cup sugar

                                              4 large eggs

                                              1 cup dried fruit

                                              1 tsp. baking powder

                                              1 tsp. baking soda

                                              1 tsp. salt

                                              lemon juice

                                              1 cup brown sugar

                                              nuts

                                              1 or 2 quarts whiskey

Before you start, sample the whiskey to check for quality. Good, isn't it? Now go ahead. Select a large mixing bowl, measuring cup etc. Check the whiskey again as it must be just right. To be sure the whiskey is of the highest quality, pour one level cup into a glass and drink it as fast as you can. Repeat. With an electric mixer, beat one cup of the butter in a large fluffy bowl. Add 1 tsp. thugar and beat again. Meanwhile, make sure that the whickey is of the finest quality. Try antoher tup. Open second quart if necessary. Add 2 arge leggs, 2 cups fried druit and beat 'til high. If druit gets stuck in beaters, just pry it loose with a drewscriver. Sample the whiskey again, checking for conscisticity. Then sift 3 cups of salt or anything, it really doesn't matter. Sample the whiskey. Sift 1/2 pint lemon juice. Fold in chopped butter and strained nuts. Add 1 babblespoon of brown thugar, or whatever color you can find, and wix mell. Grease oven and turn cake pan to 350 degrees. Now pour the whole mess into the coven and ake. Check the whiskey again and bo to ged. Enjoy!

Out To Lunch

My blogging lately has been poor at best! I've been reminded that I need to catch up all the way back to Thanksgiving. And I will! But it might be awhile before I have time to get it all organized. In the meantime, just a note that we're still alive around here! :)

The Spirit Continues

We went to the Christmas music concert at Tricia and Tony's church last night. There's a LOT of musical talent in that congregation! And, holy cow...you should see the pipes on the organ! In this picture, Tony's belting it out upper right and Tricia is directing the whole bunch.

Cookies For Santa

Last Friday we old and older folks got together to bake cutout sugar cookies. It was a bit of a process. Once Jill figured out rolling the dough wasn't her forte Cher took over that job. The three of us cut out the cookies. 

Mom oversaw the baking.

 And both Mom and Dad got them off the pans and stacked when they were cool.

 Next up, frosting and decorating on Thursday. And pizza for supper!

Getting The Old Folks Ready For The Holidays

We went out to help G and g decorate their tree today and when we were almost done Jill says to g "Where's your skirt?" and out comes Grandma wearing the tree skirt!

Sharing The Season

Lorie Line came to Rochester for her Holiday Extravaganza yesterday. Her costumes are always quite elegant. This year she wore dresses from past shows but not all of them looked familiar to me.

 Check out the seven inch heels!

 And of course her husband, Tim, better known as Mr. Lorie Line MC'd the event and played several parts of his own.

 One of his characters was Santa Claus himself. I didn't know Santa had such a good sense of humour!

Winter Wonderland

Here's what our street looks like tonight. It's finally put me in the Christmas spirit!

A Dazzling Evening

The sky was still clear as a bell...the moon and stars were out so bright...and we went to Zoo Dazzle at Oxbow Park. Mindy planned ahead and brought a ride for the kids.

There were tatoos...

 ...and crafts...

 ...and plenty of lights.

 But the only bear we found was this Christmas bear since all the others were "sleeping."

 It was just us girls and Harvey that trekked around the zoo. After supper with us at The Bear's Den, Jon and Tony were off to practice for YuleFest tomorrow evening.