Thankful Christmas

My family is a little complicated...

not so much for today's standards...

but when I was growing up it was...

you didn't discuss divorce...

My Mom and Dad got married when she was 14...

he was 18...I was born when she was 15...

being young things didn't work out...

they divorced when I was just a baby...

Mom and I moved in with my Nana...

visitations got complicated...

they both ended up marrying others...

Mom married my step dad...they had my brother

when I was 2...

My step dad was not a good man...

but that is a whole different story...

My Dad and Step Mom had a son the year after my brother was born...

I didn't see my Dad again until I was in my early 30's...

I got to know my Granddad Nolan my Dad's Dad...

and his wife Nancy...Nolan passed away...

I was raising my kiddos...and it wasn't until

after Nancy passed away that my Dad and I really connected...

I really like my Step Mom...

and her and my Mom get along great...

now our gatherings are combined with both families...

I have a Half brother...a niece...two nephews and a grand niece...

and a grand nephew...

I also have an Uncle that is younger than I am...

The past is in the past...no grudges or hard feelings are held...

the time wasn't right back then...

the time is right now...

My Mom and Step Mom now pick on my Dad...

for the past 3 or 4 years we all have been

getting together for Thanksgiving and Christmas

at my Dad and Step Mom's place...

she went to way too much work...

so this year we talked her into just one...

our "Thankful Christmas"

Stringbean got a new soccer ball from the Great Grandparents...

it was enjoyed by all...

This is my nephew and his little cutie pie...

he is a little over a year old...

This is my Uncle...he's only a few years younger...

This is my Great niece...she loves sports...

She is a year older than my Stringbean...

My son is on the left...

my nephew is on the right...

they have never met each other...

for one reason or another one could make it...

the other couldn't...

finally we got them together....

Do you see any resemblance?

My son says he doesn't see it...

but they have the same mannerisms...

same looks...

I took maternity photos of my nephew and his wife...

it was just so freaky to me...

I would see so many things that reminded me of my son...

It made me think of the Patty Duke show...

Identical Cousins..

well I guess you've probably learned more about my

family than you wanted to...

Wednesday already....

we had a good day...

I'm taking photos of 3 families on Saturday...

at Heritage park in Irving...

so I took Stringbean and Hatari....

for some practice shots...

one of the families is in town

visiting the other two families...

she has seen my photos from them...

and asked if I could please do hers...

I feel very honored...

they are coming from Michigan...

I'm thinking our warm weather may shock them...

we also went to the indoor pool again...

today it was warm enough to wear our suits there...

and we weren't freezing on the way out...

Hatari and Stringbean are having a great time together...

she's such a sweet little girl...

and a perfect model....

Saturday I'm also doing photos for my BFF from high school...

her son is being sent to Afghanistan for a 6 month tour...

this is her baby boy...even though he is in his mid twenties...

he got married in November...and now this...

she wants photos of him and the rest of the family

before he goes...please say a few prayers for his safety...

Her husband has done a few tours...also her son in law...

we are so thankful for what they do for our country...

the week between Christmas and New Years always feels odd...

kinda like you are in limbo...

I never know when I should pack up the Christmas...

some years I do it the day after Christmas...

some years I wait to New Year's day...

this year I'm thinking it will be New Year's day...

we don't make big plans...

feels safer to stay home to ring in the new year...

too many crazies out...

Stringbean showing off his moves...
looking forward to another fun day tomorrow....

 What do you do on a beautiful day?

when you see a nice sandy spot?

you work on your tricks....

 Stringbean and I had a great day....

we spent most of the day outside...

except when we went swimming...

at the indoor pool...

we both decided swimming in "Winter"

is a little more difficult than Summer swimming...

in the summer we go in our swim suits...

and go home in our wet suits...

in the winter...you go dressed for the weather...

change to your suits...then change out of your wet suits...

into your weather appropriate clothes...

it was definitely worth it...

 after lunch we took Hatari to the park....

she enjoyed the sand also...

 even though there is a playground at the park....

we spent more time on the hill...

the fences...the sand...

 enjoying the beautiful weather and scenery....

 Fall came late here in Texas...

and luckily it is still hanging out...

 I think Hatari checked every tree...

 I was impressed with the colors my little point and shoot

camera picked up....

it's a little handier on walks with a busy dog...and boy...

we stopped and watched the squirrel for awhile...

hoping it wasn't thinking of jumping in the water...

he/she decided to go back the way it came...

the squirrels have been really busy gathering their food...

sure hope this doesn't mean a long winter...

After Christmas I start counting down to Spring...

we found out my son's dog Ginger is not having seizures...

it's more like Vertigo...she actually has an ear infection...

it has been causing her to get really dizzy...

hopefully the meds will kick in quick...

My daughter is having fun on her Florida vacation...

they went hiking today...in the Glades...

she sent me a selfie of her and her guy...

with an Gator in the background...

enough to make a Mom's heart jump for sure...

In February Hubby and I will celebrate our

34th wedding anniversary...

In March I turn 55...what the heck is up with that...
seems like just yesterday I was turning 50...
well it is just a number after all...
we are planning a big weekend at our favorite
cabins...hopefully lots of family and friends 
will get to join us...

this place at Lake Whitney
and Galveston are my favorite spots to visit....

 my next favorite holiday is....

can you guess...

Valentine's Day...

not the commercial have to buy diamonds and roses

Valentine's...

I like the homemade cards....homemade gifts...

 So I decided to do a little playing...

I love PicMonkey... so many options...

Today was suppose to be a day off...

but the phone started ringing...

they guys had to run service calls...

one nice thing about having an office at home...

I worked in my jammies...

actually stayed in them most of the day...

I even managed to sneak in a little nap...

not long...because of course the phone started ringing...

 we had another warm day...

I set outside and enjoyed it...

thank goodness it wasn't as humid...

 2016 has gone by way too fast...

I hope 2017 moves a little slower...

I don't do New Year's resolutions...

but I do believe in trying to improve myself...

I think in 2017 my goal is to spend more time

just enjoying my family and friends...

and less time stressing about what needs to be done...

Hatari and I had a little photo session today....

she is such a good little model...

she listens so well...

she's a sweet little Grandogter...

Happy Monday....

 Merry Christmas....

it was a wonderful day...

last Sunday we were in the 30's...

this Sunday in the 70's...

you have to love Texas...

our weather is always changing...

Hubby cooked a wonderful Southern meal...

Beef Roast...mashed taters...beef gravy...carrots..

green beans...pinto beans...corn on the cob (string beans fave)...

homemade rolls...I made a fruit salad...

my Mom brought a spice cake and oatmeal cookies...

 Stringbean passed out the presents he bought and wrapped...

it was so fun watching him give the gifts...

and wait for the person to open them...

I think he got the true meaning of Christmas...

everyone was very happy with his choices...

he even took his time with each person...

not in a rush...or worrying about his gifts...

 when it was time to say the blessing before lunch...

I asked Stringbean if he would like to say it...

and he did...it just melted my heart...

makes a Oma proud to see her grandson thanking Jesus...

 Christmas Eve we went to a candlelight service at the Methodist Church...

Stringbean got to be an Angel in the story of Jesus...

it wasn't planned...but he was so excited...

he loves to be in front of an audience...

he also enjoyed the candle light part...

We sang Silent Night...

his Mommy sings this with him every night before bed...

he sings it to me when he spends the night...

 when I was growing up...Rock Em Sockem Robots

were the coolest toy to get...

I was so excited to find it for Stringbean...

he loves it....and so does all the males in the family...

Santa brought him Chip...

a Robot Dog...it is the cutest thing...

it can dance...do yoga poses...bark...cuddle...

last year we got him his first Robot MIP...he is Robot crazy...

I found a AM/FM transistor radio to put in his stocking...

it has an antenna also...he thinks it's the coolest thing ever...

(notice it is shorts weather today)

 we had a nice day...everyone was laid back and relaxed...

it went too fast...my Daughter and her fella left afterwards

to drive to Florida for a week to see his Grandparents...

we get to keep the Grandogter Hatari...

she is my pal....

I love the Dollar Tree...

I found so many unique items for everyone's Stocking...

the fans I found for the ladies were a big hit...

We had a craft...sand art...

Stringbean did a great job on his...

so did my Mom...

the sand was $1 a bag at the Family Dollar Store...

I had the jars and shells...

my daughters...

the lids are for traveling...

After the frigid cold weather last week...

we are getting a few warmer days this week...

Stringbean and I are taking full advantage...

He is officially on Christmas break....

I took him to The Dollar Tree to do his Christmas 

shopping....we made his list...

he made great choices...

then he picked out the wrapping paper and bows...

Today he wrapped the gifts himself...

he did a great job...

 Sweet Ginger has been having seizures...

my son took her in for blood work...

he is now feeding her twice a day not once...

she was doing good until today...

she had another one....

they don't last long but it is scarey...

it's so hard when something is wrong with your pet...

The Inn is quite full here...

we have one dog...Rooster...

two granddogs Ginger and Athena who come dailey...

One Rooster...Dawg...

7 hens...

the brat pack Lucky Fancy and Ace they were the second

group of chicks I got last year...

Dawg is the only one left from the first group..

I have 4 hens that we hatched from eggs...

Magic...Freya...Dixie and Pip ....

Three Rabbits...Buster...Duke and Collaso...

all boys...

One Guinea Pig Ella...

and 2 goldfish 1 minnow 

(Stringbean caught at the pond this summer)

Hatari our other granddog....

will be spending the week with us next week...

 while my daughter and her guy take 

a trip to Florida to see his grandparents...

they are in their mid 90's and this year they 

can't make the trip to Texas...

The last of the roses for the year...

I'm counting down to Spring...

I'm not a winter girl...

that is why Texas is the perfect place for me...

It has been a busy several months...

Thanksgiving was so nice...

the family gathered at my Son and DIL's house...

good food good company...

We had our Thankful Christmas at my Dad and Step Mom's...

celebrating Thanksgiving and Christmas all in one....

my Step Mom goes way out with food and gifts...

My niece and her daughter...my 2 nephews..one is married

with a one year old son...last year he was a newborn...

time flies...My Uncle who is younger than me was

there with his sweet wife and two teenage daughters...

my group was there as well as my Mom...

I'm so happy that both my families get along and enjoy

each others company....

 Last weekend one of my highschool friends was

having a baby shower for her youngest daughter...

she is due in February...with a boy...

I took photos of the shower for them...

then I ran home gathered my things...

changed into Christmas attire...

for our annual Fun Girls Christmas party...

we had such a great time...

good food...good friends...

we had a white elephant exchange...

and actually had 2 white elephants exchanged...

there weren't any fights this year...

only a few steals...

our first year...one friend bit another friend for a vase I brought...

my DIL ended up with the vase so it is still in the family...

when I got home I ran to grocery store...

Stringbean spent the night...

we watched Home Alone 2...

my kids both loved the Home Alones...

now Stringbean is a fan....

I got up at the crack of dawn to get my disaster of a house

ready for our Family Christmas with my brother...

his wife and my sweet niece...plus my group...

11 total...

Hubby and I worked hard together...

got the house clean top to bottom...

all the food prepared...

we had Beef Stew.... and sandwiches...

Our six year olds had a blast together...

Stringbean and my niece are both six...

Stringbean will be 6 1/2 on Christmas Eve...

this 1/2 has gone by too fast....

We will go to Christmas Eve service

 at First United Methodist Church...

Christmas day is at our house...

Hubby is cooking a Roast...

I am so Thankful for my Family...

Linda at Linda's Life Journal is not

only a blog pal...but a FB pal and

my friend in real life...

she wrote me a note on FB saying she misses my blog....

you know what...I miss it too...

I plan to write more in 2017....

it helps me keep track of what goes on day to day...

the months are passing too quickly...

It has been a while....

 It has been a while...

Merry Christmas everyone...

It's a hustle and bustle time of the year...

 On November 4th this beautiful lady...

my Mom...turned 70 years young...

we had such a fun day taking her photos...

what a nice way to spend her birthday...

 for her gift...the whole family...

went to the Cabins at Lake Whitney for the weekend...

we had such a great time....especially 

Stringbean and my niece...

the two 6 year olds...

 while I was taking her photos...

I started thinking about all the girls...ladies in my life...

and most including myself...

tend to shy away from the camera...

so I decided...I want to do a photo session...

with each girl/lady in my life....

one on one...just the two of us...

and my camera of course....

 my first friend to accept my invitation...

isn't she beautiful...I wish she saw herself the way we all do...

she was a nervous mess...she said she almost canceled

every other minute even when she got there....

 we has such a great time...

visiting... enjoying the day...

these are a secret though...

for her Hubby for Christmas...

so I haven't been able to post them on my FB page...

 I'm looking forward to time with each and every one...

Fall finally hit Texas....we've had very warm weather...

and if you know me...I'm not complaining...

 This is my daughter's good friend...

they were roommates for over a year...

this cute couple is engaged to be married next April...

my gift to them was a photo session for their engagement photos...

on Saturday it rained all day...nasty weather...

On Sunday it was perfect...

 This is where they will have their ceremony...

isn't it beautiful...

in the spring they have wild flowers...

Winter hit Texas today...

but it's not lasting long...

we are suppose to warm back up this weekend...

just in time for my Dad's family Thankful Christmas....

Ladies...don't forget to be in the photos...

cell phone with selfie stick works...