Christmas Trip with My Bestie

Day One: Wednesday we left for our annual Christmas Shopping Trip. First stop was Gander Mountain, Kirklands and Best Buy! Then on to Ponte Vedre Beach, not that we care anything about the beach in December, but the area is nice and pretty much in the middle of  where  we    like to shop! We ate at Woody’s, WB did not care for his, but mine was good and I was hungry! Ran by the grocery and got breakfast item!

Back at the condo we unloaded what we had bought into the locked garage…yeah…did not have to take it up the stairs! Had to make room for the Toys-r-us stop tomorrow!

Nice condo, right on the beach!

Day  Two:  Thursday we were at the toy store by around 7:45! Easy shopping and not waiting in line! WB picked Isabella out a drum set….not an age appropriate one of course!!! I made  him put it back….he said, “that is just not fair”!!! Too funny!!! That is just one of the things that was to old for her and Cayden. The rest, we will put up for later or …I do not know!!! He has always done this!!!

Next we went to West Marine, then to Dicks. Now, made a drop off at the condo and on to St. Augustine! Lunch and outlets! Oh  yes, he is wanting to go deep sea fishing, but the weather is very windy and I need to get this shopping done and I do not like to shop on Saturdays!!! Saturday would be a fishing day….but weather is not looking favorable! On to the outlets! WB lasted until about 1:30 and them his knee began to hurt. He just waited around the truck for me! Took a nap!!! Found a few bargains! Off to eat seafood for supper!!! We have eaten really good on this trip, but we are tired and ready to relax at night….getting old!!! LOL!

Day Three:   The Avenues Mall, oh boy!!! We got there as they were opening and stayed until 5:30!!! WB was done way earlier than I, but waited patiently!!! The Toyota people were there and if you checked out a car they would give you a 10.00 gift card for the ball or you could donate it to ST. Jude’s! Well, he was drumming up business for them and yes we donated ours! Too funny, he is a kind soul!!! Supper tonight----Palm Valley Fish Camp! Yum!!!

Day Four:  A day to go to Sams, a few pawn and gun shops. Stein mart of course and then supper at the Bogie Grill. Back to the condo to pack up. We also watched some of our Navy vessels out off  our glassed patio. WB went and got his binoculars. It was the USS Gettysburg that had been deployed for 7 months! Very neat to watch them as they were coming by. We say helicopters landing and taking off of the carriers! Doesn’t take much to entertain us!!!

Day Five:   Home Sweet Home! A wonderful time we had together, lots of laughter and fun!!! So blessed to have such a kind, giving soul mate! Now….wrap, wrap, wrap!!!

Thanksgiving 2011

Well, I think for the second time in 27 years I hosted Thanksgiving. Once before, I did it for my Mother-in-law who was sick that year and we had all of her family. This time it was for my Mom’s side of the family.  Anyone who has done this knows how much  preparation it takes and if you have not hosted before….you do not know..lol! It is so good to do this because it makes you appreciate your Mom, Mother-in-law, Aunts and all those wonderful ladies who did this for your family when you were young! I really enjoyed hosting this year and so appreciate all the help that Cayla gave me!!! It would have taken longer and would not have been near as much fun with out her assistance. We had so many laughs!!!

It was a blessed day in many ways. Our Mom and all four of her girls and families were together at some time during that day. We also we so glad that Matthew brought his girlfriend, Morgan. She may never come back, but she was brave enough to come this time!!!

We also got to visit with two of my Aunts and cousins. This just topped off the day to make it fantastic!

First of all, WB decided to get a new smoker/grill last week. He cooked on it several times practicing and it is great!

He was going to cook the turkeys and ham for me, great!!! I ordered the dressing..check! We were going to try and eat around 11:30, it was more like 12:30 due to some turkeys not wanting to get eaten and several other things…lol!!! Like, dressings, peas and casseroles being a little bit shy of being done, plus some thought 12:00, which was just fine too. All of this gave for some great laughs and memories!

Finally, everything  was on the table, ice in the glasses, ready to eat. As I began taking foil and saran wrap off of the dishes, I got to the meat…….take off the foil to the turkey platter and this is what I saw……  gasp!!! LOLOL!!!

It was so funny and I was so glad that we had cooked a ham big enough to feed everyone with left over's!!! And let me tell you….this turkey was excellent!!! The flavor was delicious, they just would not get done. He had put them on at 5:00. They got done around three pm. We really think that they may have not thawed completely!!! And WB was not to happy about it, he did chuckle about it some, but does not like to be defeated and he will master it I am sure!

The food was all delicious and plenty left for supper!

 

I finally got to use my “Woodlands” china!!! Love it because it is dishwasher safe!!!

After our “feast”, it was time to relax. Some rode the golf cart, some climbed trees, groomed and played with the dogs, some shot guns, some watched football, someone prepared for shopping…lol, and some chilled on the porch. And then some had to clean up the dishes and such!!! It was all so worth it!!!

After some chill time, some went home and a few of us went to see our Aunt Tommie and Uncle C.L., and Aunt Ann, Sharon and Shawn who came from Mississippi. We also got to see Donna and her girls while we were there! Kelly and family were coming and her girl Jodi broke her leg so we were all so sorry for them and missed them, but we hope she heals quickly!!!

After a visit we came back home an heated up leftovers. Kevin, Buffy and the girls were able to join us for supper…..Kevin had some explaining to do about the chocolate cake he did not remind anyone to bring!!!

  

What a blessed day! Thanks to everyone who made the long journey home! We loved having all of you!!!

Cleaning Wedding Stuff

Yesterday, I decided I just had to get all the wedding items back in the storage unit. And I did, except for a few tablecloths!!!! It was a big job, but done!!!! whoop!!!

King Wedding

Another wedding in November, for yet another dear friends daughter. They helped so much at Cayla’s wedding, and we were thrilled to help them! It was at the Dasher House and they married at the gazebo! Now, the gazebo is pretty, buy when you sit….you see the ugly fan and you see the fluorescent lights, the silver pipe for wiring, and the back of a building! Not what you want to see in your pictures!

I decided that I would need to cover that up, with tulle maybe. Then my ma-in-law and I went and measured and I decided I did not have enough tulle. Fabric would be expensive too! I found some tablecloths and that is what we used for the ceiling!

I made another chandelier, but she did not want candles….so I used an iron piece off of my wall, draped flowers from it, added ribbon….and lights…pretty!!!

Cayla and I hung the iron piece and draped the ceiling on Friday….smart choice!!! Oh me, at one point I said….do we just need to ditch this idea??? No, it looks better, lets keep going!!! And it turned out so pretty!!! There are a few things added by another friend, Vicky! The green bows on the Sheppard's hooks and the flower balls, the pink scarf and the flower arrangements at the gazebo! And it all came together!!! 

Trick of Treat

I have not been trick or treating in a few years. I turned that job over to the kids, but it is so much fun watching them! This year I got to go with both of my girls and their kids. Bart was able to go and Josie came along also and they made it all the more fun! We went to Casey and Barts…they live in Hahira. This are  our first pictures of the kids!!! 

It was so cute. Cayden did not know what to think of these two! He got fine with it after a little bit!

Josie made a treat box for each of the kids, so creative and the brownie was good!!! So glad she came with us, we love our Josie!!!

Fun times!

Kylie

Isabella

Cayden

A fun family night!!!

Happy Halloween

Isabella and Caydens first Halloween!!! Kylie is an old pro!!!

Fiveash Wedding

A dear friend of mine is getting married, one of my girls ( ball players)! I told her and her Mom that I would help decorate and loan them my wedding stuff! A family member loaned my “stuff” to a friend of hers in September for her wedding. So, I had it sitting in a room at my house waiting for Sarah’s wedding. On the day her Mom was coming to get it, I decided I would open it and take a look. I knew it looked smaller than what I sent.

I am seeing red at this point!

First, they took apart two arrangements I had made and combined them into one, and it did not look better I might add! Second, the tulle was tied up in knots and just in a mess. Third, they smashed my bows!!! Now I had them in three containers, small-med-large. One would think you would return them as you found them….not. I had to fluff the bows up, put the tulle in the dryer and get the wrinkles out, re-make the flower arrangements. Diane and Marsha helped me and I was so thankful! But, my stuff will only be going to weddings that I attend and help take it down!!! And I will be the loaner!!! LOL!!!

Anyway, an outside wedding is a whole lot of work for sure! But Sarah and RJ had a gorgeous wedding and I felt so good to have helped! Cayla, Casey, Missy, Debra, Mickey and Jerry McMullen helped too! And my Mother-in-law….she is always at my side!!! Thanks to all of you!!!

I made a chandelier to hang at the pergola and some bows. I found some fern in the ditch that I wanted to use so I put my snake boots on, with my shorts and a hat, cut that on Friday and let it soak! I had planned on putting out the Sheppard's  hooks on Friday but they did not arrive on Friday!  When I arrived Friday afternoon, not one chair had been set up for rehearsal, so….check!!! That was a lot of chairs! Hung some hooks it the tree also!

Sat. morning comes. We arrive at my in-laws around 6:45 and begin cutting ivy from her tree, it is still dark…but we have a flashlight!!! On to Lake Park, arrival time 7:45! Still no truck with Sheppard's hooks! Cayla and I go ahead and set up the guest book table! Mickey and Debra arrive at 8:00. We begin hanging our greenery. Little Jerry comes and we think we are not going to have to attach the columns to keep them from blowing because it is not windy.

We get it decorated and I went to check out some other decor going on. At about 12:30 the wind picked up, began to blow over the columns, we had to call Jerry back. That meant we had to wrap the wood with tulle…..pull hair out!!!

Next, on to the reception hall. No plates were out of the bins, or glasses! Oh my, Thank goodness Brenda Hunter came by and Joyce was there!!! With the help of them and Cayla, we did get the items out of the bins and stacked. Then we had to go and get dressed and feed Cayla and Bentley!

We were back in about an hour and a half. It was a very sweet wedding for a very sweet couple. 

Strokes and Slides Class

 

So proud of you, Kylie!

And finally….she gets to go down the slide!!!

Isabella Walking

Sunday, Cayden, Cayla and I are in the den. He is trying his best to walk and is doing pretty good. We got so tickled!

He was tucking one of his arms….. about on his hip and walking stiff legged. Plus doing his excited nose noise!!! It was the cutest thing ever! He just keeps those toes curled up so tight it is hard to balance…it runs in the family!!!