Merry Christmas!......(a little late in posting!)

Family

Lloyd and Becky

Goofy Picture for Christmas!
My girls! Ashley, Amanda, Haelee, Allison
Amanda, Andy, Allison, Ashley, and Josh
Haelee in the bag....full of wrapping paper.

Lloyd got me Roses
Haelee in the trash(bag full of wrapping paper!
Allison and Colton

Ashley and her new camera lens

Paw-Paw and Haelee

Lloyd and Dale
Haelee and Ashley
Ashley , Haelee, and JoshAllison and Haelee

Haelee

Come on Haelee you can crawl! Not...yet!

Paw-Paw, Dale, Josh, Lloyd, and Andy

Haelee and Allison

Amanda, Ashley, Haelee, and Allison

Grandma and Haelee

Well it has been an interesting week. Ashley and Josh came in Wednesday night. We cooked and talked that night. On Christmas we had a steady stream of people coming through this house. We ended up with Lloyd, me, Ashley, Josh, Allison, Colton, Amanda, Andy, Haelee, my mom and dad, Beverly, Dale, Tiffany, and Mark. It was a great day full of laughter and joy. I was so afraid it would not be that away. But it turned out great!

Allison had been alittle distracted lately and wanted to talk with Colton. She finally did talk to him a couple of days after Christmas. I know those kids really care for each other. I hope it worked out things for her. We went to Casa Ole prior to her talking with him. She was very quiet....I figured she was thinking on what to say to him. I was right I found out later on. I tried to stress that the most important thing in a relationship was communication. I hope she will learn that point soon. I tried telling her he was not a mind reader. All the guys in the family told her that "guys just do not get it" and sometimes you just have to spell it out for them. She had been frustrated, but the talk seem to help her. Afterwards she had a smile on her face.

We played cards and laughed alot! Learned a new game Phase 10. I lost bad both times. I can not get Phase 7.....2 sets of 4. It is really hard. I like having to get runs.....so much easier. I would come close on the 2 sets of 4, but someone would always go out before I could make it.

Merry Christmas!!

Well Ashley and Josh came in tonight and it was so good to see them. Allison immediately talked with Ashley and the talking seemed to help alittle. We are all getting together tomorrow afternoon. We are expecting Amanda, Andy, Haelee, Mom, Dad, B, Dale, Myself , Lloyd, Allison, Ashley, Josh, and Colton. Should be very nice. I cooked most of the evening. Finished up around 2:00 am. We invited Tiffany and Mark, but do not know if they will make it

I only have Banana Pudding to do as well as mashed potatoes. Enjoyed cooking.....glad it is done. I am not the best cook, but I do OK.

Allison has been having issues that have all emcomposed our family. I hope she can work through these. We really like her boyfriend Colton. He is such a sweetheart. A very compassionate, sensitive, and caring guy. She has legimate issues. I hope she is gentle on him. I would hate to see her run him off. I think she would regret it.

Heavy Heart

Well we are going through somethings right now with my youngest daughter. My heart is very heavy. I think it is making me sick with worry as I am not eating well or much and my stomach is killing me. On Sunday Lloyd and I went to dinner and all I ate was my side salad. I left the rest on my plate.....all 4 veggies and I gave my bread to Lloyd. Yesterday I ate a half of sandwich for lunch and then a small bowl of chili. I just have no appetite. I am loosing weight....a good thing, just wish I was trying....

Looking forward to Christmas I think.....should be interesting. I think Ashley and Josh will make it in on Wedneday night.. Be here for about 3 days and then leaving for Dallas. Wish Lloyd and I had time off with them. We both have to work some of the time they will be here. Amanda, Haelee, and Andy will be by Christmas day. I am expecting my mom, dad and sister. Lloyd's brother will also come. We invited Tiffany and Mark, but I think their plans are to go to his families for Christmas. Colton plans on coming by that afternoon after his family finishes celebrating their Christmas.

Happy 17th birthday party Allison!

Allison and Haelee
that Gang
Allison and Meagan

Colton and Allison

Colton and Allison

Paw-Paw and Haelee

Sweet Haelee

Cake

Allison and Colton

Al and Haelee

We got together on Saturday and celebrated her birthday. She invited a bunch of people. We ended up with around 20. I was thankful as I was afraid I would run out of food. We had sandwiches, veggies and dip, fruit, pizza bites, cheese, chips and dips, and of course cake. Everyone seemed to have a great time. We ate, then had cake, she opened her presents, and they played Guitar Hero. Overall a fun evening. Colton spent alittle extra time before and after with her.....she seemed to enjoy that. I took lots of pictures. My mom and dad have not seen the baby much and they were fascinated with her. Of course Haelee was an angel.

She got money, perfume, a Barney(gag gift), a cross necklace(Colton), a jacket, an ornament, a shirt and HSM3 Cd, jewerly and other misc. It was a nice evening......

Allison's birthday and SNOW!!

Allison
Allison
Allison and Becky

Lloyd, Allison, Becky

Snowman

Front Yard

Front Yard Bushes

Allison
Well if I have heard it once I heard it twice this week that it was suppose to snow on the 10th. Well it did!! Allison was thrilled as it was her 17th birthday!! She says it was just for her. She seemed to have a great day. We are having a big party on Saturday. She has invited everyone!

It is so cold tonight. Everything on the east side of town, got 3 to 4 inches of snow that stuck and approximately 5 to 6 inch total.. The weatheman was shocked that this side of town got so much snow. He stated it came down so fast and hard that it stuck! It is so beautiful. I actually went out last night at midnight and took pictures of our area. There were snowmen every where. In the baseball field across from our subdivision they build a snowman that was as tall as a person. The area is so beautiful, yet very dangerous. They have shut down 225, parts of the beltway, the Fred Hartman bridge, and parts of 146. Our area while beautiful is a mess in the traffic department.

Houston weather is cool one day and hot the next....it warms up to 50's today and it was 78 yesterday......we took pictures while the show was present. Today it will be gone.....

Family Portraits

This is our family portrait taken at JCPenney's the day after Thanksgiving. It looks so much better in person as this is a picture of a picture. I really had to work hard to get everyone together. I wasn't sure if Andy or Lloyd would make it. We were afraid they may have to work. We got lucky and everyone made it. Lloyd was still feeling sick, but he stuck it out. I think over all we got good pictures. Thanks to Miss Tracey who took them. She did a great job!

Left to Right..........

Ashley, Lloyd, Becky, Amanda, Josh, Allison, Andy, and Haelee.

Frustrated.....

Ok I am really not an early bird, but when it comes to work I am USUALLY on time. Lately the traffic has been horrible. Yesterday I found out at 5:30 pm 225 was backed up.....so I quickly got ready and left. I had 1 hour and 10 mins to get to work. On a normal day it takes 30-45 mins. Well I still got there late. I clocked in at 6:50pm. I am late after 6:45 pm. I just do not know what to do. I have been driving this path for 21 years and have never been this frustrated or late. I am usually only late from weather or a wreck. Well it doesn't seem to matter which way I go or how early I leave. I am just frustrated.....after 11 occurences we are written up and at 14 or 15 we can loose our job. I am now at 4. I had not been late all year until after Ike and now it is happening ever few weeks. Today I should not have been late. I left in more than enough time.

My hips are acting up again. I can not bear my weight on my right hip without much pain. I do not like osteoarthritis. Very painful....

Just a frustrating day.......Lloyd and I are recovery from our virus. took almost 1 week to get our appetites back. I am thankful we are both better.

Lloyd works on Saturday. Allison is planning a sleep over at a friends. Her and Colton do something sporadically, but I think he has choir stuff this week-end like area auditions and swing choir performances.

A Nice Holiday

Ashley Josh, Barbara, Fred, Haelee, Amanda, Lloyd, Becky, Dale, Allison, Andy, Tiffany
Ashley, Amanda, Allison, Haelee

Allison
Haelee

We celebrated Thanksgiving on Friday. It was a nice holiday. We had all the kids home. Ashley and Josh came in from Dallas and spent a few days with us. We had lots of good food and laughter. The girls reminisced alot and laughed several 100 calories off. They picked at Allison unmercifully. She was a good sport. We played cards, guitar hero, and just had fun. Andy's parents came over to eat with us. Dale and Tiffany came over. Colton (Allison's BF) had to work. He wasn't able to come over. He had a horrible sore throat the day before....here's hoping he is getting well. It was all in all a nice day.

Lloyd and I were unfortunately under the weather. He was alot sicker than I was. I was just sleepy with no appetite. He had the GI bug. He was still sick on Monday and missed work. Neither one of us overate, as we could have cared less about food.

On Saturday I managed to get the whole family together for family portraits. This is the first time in 18 years we have had them done. We had individual family's done as well as all of us. We did the last one with either Santa hats, elf hats, or reindeer ears on. Our trademark of always doing a goofy picture still carries own. They turned out really nice. We pick them up on Saturday. I am so looking forward to getting them. I will post once they are back.

Enjoyed the day...thankful for my wonderful little family......especially my beautiful girls....love ya'll.....Mom

Thanksgiving.....A time to be thankful

I always ponder what I am thankful every year. I am thankful for so many things. I am so blessed. I know I do not always appreciate the blessings in my life like I should. I think we all do that sometimes.

In no particular order(just as they come to mind) I am thankful for:

*my husband who really keeps me grounded.
*for my 3 girls..Amanda, Ashley, and Allison.
*for my grandbaby Haelee Bug.
*for Gods love and forgiveness.
*for my job at TCH.
*for my dad...who is such a great example of a loving Christian father.
*for my home, which I am blessed to now own.
*for my good friends....Kim, Ruthie, and Mary.
*for my choosen family Al and Donna...they are awesome.
*for Allison's sweet boyfriend...he is good to her.
*for the sound of singing as well as the quiet moments.
*for my love of creativity that sparks scrapbooking, quilting and other crafts.
*for SIL's who take care of my oldest daughters

Haelee Christmas Pics From JCPenney's

These are pictures of the pictures we had taken at JCPenney's. I bought several of them. These are some of my favorites. I didn't know how else to do this so I just took a pic of them so I could show them to everyone. So Sweet. Santa is actually my hands..... The horizontal one is actually my favorite. This copy of it does not give it justice at all. Her eyes are gorgeous in that one. The "catchlights" in the eyes make them so very pretty.

Enjoying my sweet little granddaughter little Haelee........

Struggling...Now Relieved....

I was struggling with when to do Thanksgiving. I have worked so many Thanksgivings that we ended up doing Thanksgiving on Friday every other year and then most years. This year Lloyd was going to have to work Friday after Thanksgiving. He asked his boss if he could have it off. Problem is he is the lowest man on the totem pole. He figured asking was probably useless, but what could it hurt. He finally found out today that his boss is letting him off on Thanksgiving and Friday! I was so relieved.

I didn't know how I was going to do the holidays. I was so afraid I was going to have to leave out someone. If I have on it on Thursday Josh and Ashley can't come, on Friday Lloyd and Andy possibly may of had to work......I have been struggling with that for the last several weeks. I found out last week Andy was for sure off on Thursday and Friday.....I was just waiting on Lloyd. Thankful that he found out today that he is off......Thursday through Sunday. Relief....I can include everyone.....well almost everyone.

So on Friday the Moons are having Thanksgiving. We invited Andy's parents over thinking that away Andy and Amanda would not have to choose families, but it looks as though they are going to Brazoria on Thursday....So Amanda, Andy, Haelee, Lloyd, Me, Allison, Ashley, Josh, Barbara, Fred and maybe Colton. We can't get Dale... Lloyd keeps on trying, but it seems hopeless. He never seems to answer his phone and returns phone calls. We are going to keep on trying. We know how busy he is.

Very Relieved....now to choose Turkey or Ham.....decisions, decisions.....Lloyd wants ham.... he will probably win. Just easier.

Possible menu:

Ham/Turkey
Dressing
Green Bean Casserole
Broccoli Rice Casserole
Corn Casserole
Mashed Potatoes
Strawberry Fluff
Cranberry Sauce
Deviled Eggs....yum.....
Gravy?
Rolls

Sugar Cookies
Chocolate Chip Cookies
Pies ??

Sounds good! On my waist line........lol.......

50 mm 1.4 lens....YEAH!!

Oh my gosh! This lens is fabulous!! I have been waiting on this lens for a week to arrive. It came today! Fabulous lens!! I am in heaven. I took pics last night of Allison. OK she is a pretty girl( I'm her mom, I think all my girls are beautiful), but this lens made her look even more beautiful!! Oh the indoor holiday pics I am going to get.....I am in love with this lens! Thanks Karen Russell for suggesting it!! I used AV mode 1.4 aperture, 800 ISO, and tungsten WB for these pics. I am sure someone else could shoot these better, but for me, these indoor pics are great! I have such a hard time shooting indoors, so anything that helps is so worth it!