Becky's Birthday

The boys made momma a chocolate cake today.  They both broke one egg each and added the oil & water.  Matthew started the mixer to blend the batter then Austin mixed for two minutes.  Matthew is watching the timer closely!

Austin is writing a letter to mom for her birthday.  Matthew used the PC and I will add that photo below.  They both worked hard on the letter and added a clipart.

The pictures below will be from the Horse Park, Southern Lights. The weather was perfect for walking around and riding the ponies.

Cassie's son, Thomas...he will turn 6 this week.  He is a very sweet kid!

The very best thing we do is feed the animals.  The kids love this as well as the adults!

The adults get into feeding time at the zoo as well! 

Thomas was really loving the pony ride.

Another one of the things the kids love are the model trains.

To close the night, we went to eat at Cracker Barrel.  It was too late and everyone was tired and hungry!  Looking back, we should have eaten at home first, then go through the lights.  However, all in all, it was a very fun night.

Baker Christmas 2011

Before we ate, we held hands and Becky read the Christmas story. 

A photo with a wonderful niece, Erin!  She's awesome and we are so proud of her.

Steven (nephew), Clyde and brother Vernon.

Jason taking time out to talk to granny.

Daddy and his sweet girl.

This is the tree in the FR. 

This was the sweetest thing I have seen for some time.  Granny is 84 soon to be 85.  She made homemade rolls for each and every one of us.  She had to get up at 4:00 in the morning to get them made.  She lives alone, in a senior citizen home.  She called each name and had us come up to get them.  She gave each grandkid money.  Her kids adore her as well as her grandkids.  Thanks granny!

We play dirty santa and this was in one of the UK theme gifts. 

The party is over and as we picked up coats, this is how we found Austin.  He said earlier his neck was hurting...precious child! 

Last night was Baker Christmas at Becky & Jason's new house.  Each sibling of Clyde's take a year for Christmas and Thanksgiving.  My turn this year was Thanksgiving, next year is Christmas for me.  I prefer Christmas to Thanksgiving for sure!  We have a full blown meal at T and bring heavy appetizers for Christmas.  When Becky bought their house on Sunny Slope (before this one), she got in the rotation.  Her new house looks amazing and she had it decked out.  It has a great flow to it so many people can move around easily but yet all be close enough to visit.  The photos I will post will be at this party.  

Maggie's Christmas Program

 Tonight was Maggie's day care Christmas pageant.  Maggie represented Sweden.

 Austin & Matthew waiting for the program to begin.

 Ms. Judy likes having a candlelight service at Christmas. 

 Izzy on the left is a year younger than Maggie.

 Hard to get a picture of these three, standing straight and smiling at the camera...with six eyes opened!

 Cara, who played Mary, is Maggie's bestie:)

As we (Clyde and I) were leaving, the kids got to open presents and Maggie brought mom & dad

scarves.  We enjoyed a big meal after the program.  Becky brought homemade meatballs and a huge ceasar salad and I added monster cookies.  Lots of other food to share.  This is a wonderful group of people.  Ms. Judy & Mr. Bruce are Christians and share the story of Christ's birth with all.

Mom's 85th birthday and Christmas party weekend

 Michael & Hayleigh two of my sister Beverly's grandkids.

 Mom's first grandchild, Lisa and Becky (mom's namesake:). 

Miss Maggie Jane Keith....will turn four on Dec. 28th! 

 My sister's lasagna was a huge HIT.  Someone said they loved the ham (I did as well) and I made more green beans and hash brown casseroles (4 large ones) than we could eat!

 Mom's two youngest grand-girls, Dana & Becky.  Juliette & Maggie with baby boy on the way.

 Lisa Ann made the sheet cake.  One half chocolate and one yellow.  it was yummy!!

 Mom (birthday girll) and her friend Elsie.

 Don and Lillie Crutcher, long time Eastland friends.

 Austin Porter & Matthew both were very good at today's party!

 My sister's boy Michael, his beautiful wife, Rebecca and her daughter, Alexa.

 More friends from Eastland.  So happy they came!

The photos above are from today, Sunday Dec. 11th.  Mom turned 85 on the 9th with the party today at her church.  The sisters and I pitched in and cooked the food.  We planned for 50 to 60 and had way too much food.  We did a basic table setting with real pretty vases of flowers on each table.  Everyone said the food was good and they seem to enjoy the chatting.  I think mom enjoyed it as well!  She teared up once and patted the chair next to her, saying this was daddy's seat.

The photos below are from our class Christmas party at the Chop House.  It is always good to gather together and share a meal and a time for catching up. 

 Beautiful ladies...Teresa N. and Kathy B.

Bruce, Jack & Marcia! 

 Marcia, Kathy C., Michelle & me.

Herman, Ingrid, Janet & Cheryl.....

Our final weekend party was last night.  We call it our "friends progressive dinner".  For many years we have a time for casual dining and try to relax and go from appetizer to dessert.  It's not so relaxing for the hostess' but we do enjoy having everyone at our houses!

 Appetizers were at Vickie Meenachs beautiful house...I didn't stay long and didn't get a picture. I had the second part, soup & salads.  Then we went to Tricia's house for dessert.  I made two batches of toffee and handed out little jars of it to wish my besties a very Merry Christmas!

All our men.  I appreciate mine more than I can say.  I did the cooking, he cleaned all the dishes (photo below)!!    Thanks babe!



Oh Christmas Tree....

Smallest tree in the bathroom....

Table isn't entirely set but getting there. Ready for friend's party next Saturday.

Using last year's gold mesh on top of hutch added a little more "Christmas" to an usually undecorated hutch.

Don't you just love poinsettias?

I painted this Nativity when my grown children were small. They would carefully unwrap each piece while I read the Bible story of Jesus' birth.

Mantle in the family room.

Family room tree filled with small angels that are dressed the same as the large angel above it on the mantle. This tree has the White House ornaments and the ones we pick up on vacations.

I used the thinner mesh for this smaller tree and recycled last year's large mesh for the hutch top in the background.

Light shining through makes it hard to see the tree. We went with this skinnier tree last year,
pre-it and I really like it a lot. Leaves more room for walking around the living room.

The house is coming together, getting busier as December rolls in, but took the morning time to snap a few photos for my friend, Burton's Blog's, Christmas photos link. When the time was right for me to take pics, the sun was shining in on the tree so the shots weren't great.

Clyde

A good shot of the neutral color tile. Faucets are rubbed bronze along with the vanity lights & shower head.

On Face Book many friends have been journaling what they are thankful for each day in November. I didn't do this but have enjoyed reading every one's comments on thankfulness. I am thankful for the usual "biggies" like God (first and foremost), family, home (shelter, food, needs, etc.) However, I am most thankful for Clyde (not including the Big man upstairs).

We married when I was very young. When we talked of a family, it was decided to wait five years so that we could "grow up" together. We worked, saved, vacationed, and bought our first home before we started our family. Then we moved up to a bigger house, with a basement, and soon came Jason. A couple of years later, we were blessed with Becky Lou.

In October, on the 7th, we celebrated 39 years. Clyde had wanted to go on a train trip as it was something he hadn't done, sort of on his "bucket list". So, he started planning it for our anniversary. Since fall break was around this time, and the New River Train had an excursion for that time, that's what we did (earlier post had pictures).

The one thing I wanted to say (or journal) is this. I dreamed of marrying a man like my momma did. My daddy babied my mom, took care of her every need, made sure she was happy and thought of her above his self. She, in turn, loved him to no end. They had many stories of their married life and one that I loved when they were dating. My dad's family owned a little grocery store on Limestone, Stinnett's Market (or something similar). My mom lived out of town (not sure where or how far). This particular night he had been visiting mom at her house and had gone home. He got a bottle of soda and called her. As they were talking, she noticed he was drinking a soda and said she wished she had one. After hanging up, dad got a taxi (not cheap or easy) and showed up on her doorstep with a bottle of soda. How sweet was that???

My dad could do anything. Really we never had to hire a handy man that I know of, as dad could do it and do it well. You got it, so can Clyde. Really....he is the best. We have hired experienced men to lay tile and that's about it. Case in point, a few weeks ago I noticed that the wall above my shower needed to be replaced. He cut it out and put in new drywall (thanks Harley for the help with the finishing drywall). Then he took up the toilets (one at a time), put in new faucets, two new vanity lights, painted, replaced the trim against the floor, cut off the doors to fit and replaced everything. Whew, what a week. It wasn't a big renovation but doors off bathrooms, toilets up and working with the sink, drawers in the hallway...all this the week we hosted Thanksgiving. We had someone cut and lay the ceramic tile and love it. Makes a big difference. I have to say he is my hero. Love him so much. Very blessed. Thanks babe!