Tea For Two

I have to tell you about our tea parties we have been having around here the whole month of December. We have one almost everyday and all the family members have been included. Years ago my Mom in law gave me this cute little teaset for Christmas because it matched my Christmas dishes. I thought, oh..cool...one day if I have a Grandaughter, we will have tea parties with it. Well, last year I thought she was not quite old enough but, this year....wow, she's just the perfect age!
And todays tea party guest was Uncle U.Z. He's out of school and such a great Uncle to play with.

Most the time, we eat goldfish and marshmellows with our Chocolate Milk. But, the gold fish were M.I.A. for some reason. So, today some other Christmas treats. She sits so still and is so careful because it's "breakable" and we do talk a lot about how breakable it is. It just fascinates her.

She likes to pour a little "white" milk into the chocolate milk just so she can use the cute little spoon and stir.

Here she is drinking and as hard as she tries and talks about. Those pinky fingers will just not stick out. But, oh so cute to see her try and she was telling U.Z how to do it right this morning.

They were doing "cheers" with their little tea cups.

A mouthful of chocolate amd marshmellows!

Baby Jesus and the Angel get to particpate sometimes too.

And we wipe our mouths like little ladies when we are finished. I have been so blessed to be able to do this with her this Christmas Season. In just 3 more days, we will pack it away and get it out again next year.

And this year, she and I made a paper chain for the tree. I hope she'll remember the little traditions that I have started with her !

Merry Christmas to all and may God Bless you immensely!

It's Beginning to look a lot like Christmas

Downtown Tallahassee at Christmas time means one thing to me. Well, more than one thing but, the thing this post is about is that this is the last time in the year that I can buy and eat a funnel cake.

Look at all the happy opportunities to purchase and knosh a yummy delicious funnel cake.

Nothing says Merry Christmas quite like this sign. Wow! I am in funnel cake heaven.

And it keeps going. Who to buy from? This year we got one at every Downtown get down. But, one time there were no funnel cake booths and I was completely and utterly devastated. Okay, not completely but, it was a really sad Friday night.

Look at all that deliciousness on a plate. Yum. I can't explain my love for this food. The only thing better than this one funnel cake is......

Yes....two funnel cakes. But, don't think I am a pig. I was sharing with my family

It was my parents 51st Anniversary and we all were there together enjoying Tallahassee's lights and parade and Ray even ran in the Jingle Bell Run.

And to top off a wonderful night. Miss B got to meet Rudolph.

Written in the Stars

This is a book from Michael's childhood. Not just any book, his most read, most favorite book. Fireman Critter. If I only had a dollar for everytime we read it. It has been around for a long time. Rachel loved it and Zac too and even my nephew, Eli.
It was a Christmas gift when he was two years old. I have always written names and dates on everything for the kiddos.

Here is my Dad ( Poppa) reading it to the kids when they were four and two. We were on vacation in the mountains and I guess we even took that book with us on our trip.

Here is my Dad now reading the very same book to his great grandaughter. How fun is that? He should still have the book memorized, right? She loves this book and always says, "this was my Daddy's book when he was little."

This is a book that was mine back in the day and it is now, Kissy's very favorite story to read at naptime ( long with Fireman Critter).

So, inside I had written my ownership of this book and I was amazed at what I found. See how I spelled Jana? It makes perfect sense. My little grandprincess calls me "Nay" but, looks like I had already named myself that. See J "NAA". Oh my grandmother name was fortold way back in the 60's. I just love that.

See how worn it is. I am so glad my Mom had saved it.

Look at the publishing date. 1967. And it's still being read daily. How special to me to have things like this to pass down to the next generation. I love books!

Thank God I'm A Country Boy

I thought I would share what our Thanksgiving was like this
year. We had a wonderful time with family and friends and even
made new friends that celebrated with us.

Decorating for Thanksgiving is fun and easy. Pinecones are
free and in abundance. We glued these to syrofoam cones for
centerpieces and used bigger pine cones on the tables with
candles and everything was looking good.

I bought 30 of these glass plates way back in the last century.
They were one dollar each and everytime we have a big crowd,
out they come. So versatile and popular! I put a leaf under
every plate. For the first time in years and I mean years.....
We used my Great Aunt Hoties silverware. It looked very shiny
and seems like it got the job done in feeding everyone.

My Mom's Annlee dolls that were pilgrims were on a table
and they were grinning at everyone the whole time.

Another Annalee pilgrim bearing a pumpkin.


For the first time this year, I made a Book of Thanks.
Everyone signed their name and what they were
thankful for this year and we will get it out every year
and add to it. It will be fun to look back on it after we
have done it for a while.
My most sweetest Grandaughter helped with the decorations
a lot this year and she put these pinecones here on the lanterns.
( I totally forgot to light the candles...oops)
And every pinecone hanging here was picked up in the yard
by her.
And.....she helped me tape all the leaves to the windows.

So the feasting began at 6 because we were so

blessed to feed some of the FSU football players

and they had practice that day. They were preparing

for the FSU/UF game. It's kind of a big deal and we

were so excited they could come eat with us.

( This picture was soooo staged.....sorry Zac-o)

Some of the players enjoying their meal. By the way, we had 3

turkeys and 2 hams. Yep...that's a lot. There were 8 of them.

2 Creels. 3 Flemings. 7 Ganguzzas. 8 Hanselmans and 1 Roshad!
The guys enjoy talking smack and playing pool. Alot!

Some of the feast. Yum. More yum.

The desserts. Red velvet cake. Chocolate layer cake.

Sweet potato pie. Pumpkin crisp. Fudge and cookies.

Mother made matching FSU aprons for the cousins!

E J Manuel and Michael. Yep.

He'll be the starting quarterback next year

for the Noles.

Rodney Hudson and Rachel. Yep.

He'll be playing in the NFL next year.

The whole gang. What a blessing to share

this day with everyone!

Praise the Lord! Great things He has done!

Here goes....left to right. Zac, Debbie,Jason, Angelo, Terri, Stewart

Michael,Isabella, Kiera, Ashleigh, Justin, Juliette, Rachel, Ray,

Jana, Antwon Greenlee, AJ Ganguzza, David Spurlock, Alexa,

Joel, Dan Fuse, Rodney Hudson, EJ Manuel, Mister Alexander,

Roshad, Mother ( Catty), Daddy ( Lamar) and Buddy
AND BY THE WAY......2 DAYS AFTER THIS.....THE NOLES

PUT WHOOPING ON THE GATORS!

True Colors

I love, love, love the fall colors. They just might be
my favorite. Even though we live in Sunny Florida
and most trees are green, we do get some beautiful fall
trees to look at. I thought I would share a few.
This one I ride by everyday and it's changing
each day. It's just got a little of everything!
Did you know this beautiful color on leaves
actually comes because the leaves are dying?

There is beauty in death.

Well, you know me! I couldn't just put up photos of trees when

the cutest girl in the world is around! Here is some nice color.

See? Pop Pop's shirt is a nice orangey color, the walls are yellow,

and Baby Girls shirt is aqua. There's color in the house and nothing

is cuter to me than them playing together.

How about some green and purple??

And for veterans day some red, white and blue!

With some pink, of course.

Okay, back to the trees and leaves. Sorry.
Please forgive a Grannie like me!

I love the deep reds and burgundy.
This is very appropriate for a town that the

FSU Seminoles live in.

This tree is just gorge!

This is the end of my tree tour.

Should've Been A Cowboy

He turned 18 this year. It happened so quickly. The time flew because we were having fun. Every age he has been, we have enjoyed more than we can describe. When he was 3, his favorite song was SHOULD'VE BEEN A COWBOY and he would argue you in the ground about his ownership of that song. It was so funny. He came to us as a complete gift from God after a miscarriage and after losing a baby boy. He was meant to be here to be a part of our family.

We shared him with so many others and he was the little buddy to all of these little cuties parents when they were just teenagers. They all helped us give him a surprise party this year!

Last Monday, he called, he had been in a wreck. No Mom anywhere wants to get that phone call. But, we praise the Lord for protecting him and only having the car be broken. We know God has a special plan for his life. He's survived a wreck with his brother, his sister and now just him. THANK YOU, JESUS!

Happy Birthday to my 9 lb, 15 oz baby boy who is turning into a wonderful young man. I love you and look forward to spending many more birthdays with you!