Happy 2018!!

This new year has come in COLD!!!  The temps all over the United States have been way below normal for the past ten days and it's no different here in north Louisiana.  We've been as low as 17 degrees with the wind chill dipping into the single digits.  Thankfully it's not raining so there is no snow or ice.  Both Moms and Daniel were able to make it for our traditional New Year's Day lunch of pork loin, hot dogs and sauerkraut, macaroni and cheese ( I tried my hand at homemade this year and it was a huge success!), blackeyed peas, mashed potatoes, applesauce, cornbread muffins and mimosas using the leftover champagne from last nights toast.  Mum added her yummy green salad to the mix, too!  Love the comfort of starting every new year the same.  Here's hoping that this new year is full of blessings, laughter, love and LOTS of new adventures!

 

Farewell, 2017...you've been a memorable year!

2017 was a wonderful year for us - way too many blessings for me to count.  All I can say is "Thank You, LORD"!!!  Looking back at my posts for the year have been so much fun - I can't wait for the book to be printed!  We spent the day sleeping in, cooked breakfast, went out to eat at Walk On's, stopped by Milton and Jill's to see the awesome train set-up and for a nice visit, back to the house to snack for dinner, bake some cookies, watch some movies and toast with champagne at midnight.  Katie was home this year so she was able to take our picture this year - no selfies necessary!  Looking forward to a wonderful 2018!

Such an awesome setup!!

There were so many little displays within the larger display.

Lights out!

Loved this from every angle!

I have so much fun with this guy - he still makes me laugh every day...:)

Happy 2017 to us!  Looking forward to 2018 with him!

Christmas all weekend!

What a wonderful Christmas we had this year!  I took Friday off work to sleep in, get some baking done and Mum came over in the afternoon to spend the weekend.  On Saturday, December 23rd, we had 14 at the house for Katie's choice of a "Favorite Foods" Christmas theme dinner - crawfish etouffee, chicken and dumplings, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, brisket, ham, chocolate chip cookies, pumpkin crunch dessert and chocolate pie.  What a wonderful day visiting, eating, and the girls opening their gifts.  Sunday we watched church on the TV, I did my laundry and we relaxed until Christmas Eve service at NHUMC.  It was nice being back at our old church and the service was beautiful, as usual.  Daniel spent the night and we all had a few cocktails and watched a Christmas movie.  Christmas morning we opened presents, had breakfast and Rita came later in the day.  I had cooked enough food to last all weekend and be able to send some home with folks Monday!  What a wonderful weekend it was celebrating Christ's birth, family and love.  And I gave each of the girls a "coupon" for a day with Aunt Elaine next year...SO looking forward to 2018 and getting to spend time with each of them!

Katie ziptied her brother's present to make it quite difficult for him to unwrap!

Even the butter I melted for the pumpkin crunch knew we were going to have a HAPPY Christmas!

Mum licking the pot after I made the chocolate pies...still a kid at heart!

Katie helping in the kitchen as she has done since she was little!!

I added Bailey's to my coffee every morning.  Mum opted to have hers in a separate glass.

Three generations!  Amanda, Rita and Pam. So happy Pam and Norm came in from Colorado to celebrate with us!

Looks like Amanda and Mum were about to fight, but they really weren't!

Lilah, Kaylie, Natalee and Shelby opening their gifts.  LOVE what's going on in the background, too!

Brandon got to carry everything out. He's a champ for taking care of his five girls...:)

Nini doesn't get to see her babies often enough.

This mama and daughter are happy to be together again!

Haley loves Kenneth as long as they are at our house.

LOVE my little girl!!  So happy she'll be around for a while...:)

'Twas the night before Christmas...

This has been set up at Christmastime at NHUMC for as long as I can remember...so beautiful...

Getting her Christmas morning casserole ready for the oven.

Opening stockings.  Daniel is making a Gene Simmons tongue with his Silly Putty.

Katie in charge of handing out presents since she bought most of them!

Daniel realizing how difficult his gift is going to be to open!  Had to open his wire cutters first THEN the zip ties!

FINALLY got his ear buds opened!!

Santa STILL always brings them a toy to play with!

Karen and John got her new sunglasses for the beach in May!

Nana enjoying lunch before opening her gifts.

Daniel finishing the whipped cream after fixing his pie.

Beautiful sunset to end Christmas day...

The cats got their stocking after Haley went home!

Beautiful painting Amanda had the girls make for me for Christmas!  LOVE it!!  Handprints clockwise from top left: Shelby, Kaylie, Natalee and Lilah.  What a wonderful gift!