Settling in

It's December by golly, and there are packages, cookies, decorating, all waiting to be done, right after I do the laundry, dehair, pay the bills, etc. When we left for Texas two weeks ago it was still fall. We've walked in the door to Christmas season and a flurry of activity, that I'm trying to NOT do at break-neck speed. I'd considered letting this blog take a long winter's nap, but decided instead to tweak things a bit. I'll post now and then, as a tool to keep up with family and friends. What we're up to, a recipe here and there, but nothing that will make for deep thought. Mostly quick posts with fun photos. I think I can do that til we list this house and hopefully sell it sometime in the early spring.

Comments on my posts? Sometimes, sometimes not. Mostly not. I'll still be reading my favorite blogs, but hope nobody will feel neglected if they don't see me leaving comments. Life just doesn't have room right now for comments on either side. So without further ado - photos of our Texas Thanksgiving:

The finished product - a decorated gingerbread house, each grandkid got to do one side all on their own! Papa added doors, windows and icicles.

We think it'll be a fun tradition to carry on, and it was a heck of a lot of fun for $9.99.

The lakehouse has an island in the kitchen. When the grandkids walked in, we grabbed the griddle and got busy making pancakes. They ate them up!

Four little monkeys, sitting on the hearth, no matter that they aren't all looking in the same direction!

Landon found a drawer full of caps and hats and thought it best to wear them all at once.

Leslie, our cyberschool teacher, found the best internet reception on the upstairs deck, so she bundled up and settled in to grade 'papers'.

Papa makes a snuggly TV partner.

All together (except Jeremy who was in Pennsylvania deer-hunting), in one place. Hopefully Jeremy can make it to Texas in the spring, when we hope to have the First Annual Family Bass Fishing tournament!

We spotted these boys very near our home and pulled off the road to capture their photo. No Christmas cards this year, but if we were going to send them out, I'd put a 'Bev' under the brown one, and a 'Don' under the black one, and we'd send them out saying 'Merry Christmas from Texas'! Our hands-down favorite photo, sans grandchildren, of the whole trip!

A quick P.S. to Diane - we could not believe how beautiful Arkansas was - driving across, it took our breath away. Lucky you!