a day of healing...i hope!

Today my mother-in-law, Marjorie, has an epidural to "fix" two slipped discs in her back that have been producing pain since May of this year.  Please pray that she will be in the 25% of those helped by an epidural when faced with a slipped disc.  Her surgery will be at 1:00...thanks!

college bound

Look who is going to Butler next fall! 

Congratulations Matt!

Christmas Day

Dad hugging his boys before we start opening up presents.

These t-shirts were designed by Theresa, my sister-in-law.  The boys got one in every color!  Great job Theresa!

Graham plays percussion in the HS Symphonic Band and plays the piano, but he recently picked up his brother's guitar and wanted one of his own...Merry Christmas!

Good thing that he got this hat.  Graham has been sick since break started. 

OH YEAH!!! Gotta have a Colt's jersey!

Some clothes for E.

Mammy unwrapping the robe and slippers from Troy, Theresa, and the girls.  Sure wish they could've been with us!

This is an oil painting that I had done for Todd and one for his mom.  I thought that it turned out great.  We miss dad sooo much!

Graham got a camera from Mammy.  Now you can start a blog G.!  Merry Christmas is was!!

christmas eve

Christmas was on Christmas Eve at Mom and Dad's this year and...

...look who joined us, the Birthday girl!  My two mom's enjoying a cup of good cheer!  I am so glad that you joined us mom.  I know that it was not easy.

We unwrapped our gifts with the oldest going first..which would be my dad.  We got him a belt that I wrapped in a Hallmark card box and Kiely said, "They sell belts at Hallmark?" 

The boys picked out this koozie last year after Christmas for Uncle Troy.  My brother has needed one for a LONG time.  The one he had I nicknamed the H1N1 Koozie.  It had to have sooo many germs on it...as you can see below.

It is a petrified crack leather mess!  Enjoy your new Colts one Troy!

Mom and Dad got this cute rock for Ellen.

Here I am opening my parents gift to me..."Cutco your finger off" knives for the Fripp house! I have these at home, thanks to my Grandma, and really needed them at Fripp.

My sweet girl!  Here is the necklace we got her. 

Since Graham is the youngest he was last to open so he was getting a little restless.

Here is Tyler Troy opening up his gift.  I love to see him laugh!

Becky, with that million dollar smile, and the necklace we got her.

Here is Chad opening up what he thought was a corn hole game...it wasn't!  I love that I was able to surprise him!

Evan's turn!  He is working hard to open some cologne that Troy and Ellen got him.

Finally, Graham's turn!

I love seeing all of the smiles!  It was such a good evening and I am so thankful for my family...and for Marjorie joining us!

Now, with presents all set up for the morning I am off to bed!  I just noticed that the wrapping paper I wrapped the gifts in this year matches the damask on my blog..things that make you go hmmmmm?

happy birthday T!

T is for all the hours we've spent talking

I is for your insight, intelligence, and inner strength
N is for how you live in the NOW
A is for "A" best friend that God has given me

I hope that you have a great day my sweet friend!

a christmas carol...another yearly tradition

Every year Todd and I take the boys out to dinner and to the IRT to see The Christmas Carol.  This year they took dates...YIKES!  We had such a good time.

Here is Evan and Caitlyn.  She is wearing a beautiful necklace that Evan got her for Christmas.

Graham and Desire' (her dress was adorable!) She is wearing the necklace  that Graham got her "just because" and the bracelet he got her for Christmas this year.

The whole gang!  Don't you just love the plug to the Christmas lights in the background.  Those who know me very well know that I cannot stand to see plugs!

After the play we couldn't find the car...so unlike Todd (he was really tired).  Here he is checking up the hill to see if it's up there.  We heard him yell, "I found it!"

Here he is backing up to us because Desire' and I were having trouble in our heels.

It was a great evening and it is always nice to see my boys dressed up with their girls:) 

PS

Thank you Todd for treating all of us to such a fun evening and for my gift...you're too good to me.   I love you!

let them eat cheesecake...white chocolate cheesecake!

Have you ever had heaven on a fork?  Well, if you haven't this is what it looks like and OHHHHHH, you should taste it!!  Thank you Tom for making us feel so special with your homemade cheesecake...you and Karen are THE BEST neighbor's/friends anyone could have.  Merry Christmas!

christmas cookie tradition!

Every year since the boys were very small they have gone to Grandma's to make Christmas cookies with their cousins.  Last year Tyler and Chad weren't there.  I'm not sure why Tyler wasn't there but Chad was in Iraq.  This year Becky wasn't there because she had to work...we missed you Becky! 

There's Kiely...in her cute little hat!

Evan is so glad to see her...but not half as glad that he has now passed her in height!

Yep, it's true Kiley!  Hard to believe that we were worried that this boy would never even catch you:)

Yay!  Heeeeeeerrr's Tyler!

Grandma had everything layed out in their "stations" and ready to go.  After all these years, everyone knows what cookies they like to make.  This station is mine...I make the yummy date balls!  They have lots of butter, sugar, dates, rice krispies and coconut.

Here is the finished product! SWEET!

With his minature coke (which grandma always has just for him) he is the first one to start working at his "station".  Graham, Evan, Tyler and Chad do all of the sugar cookies.

Here is a sample of the fine decorating job that the boys did.  They love the red hots and sugar! Although, I'm not sure about the placement of the red hots on the gingerbread man...? Boys!!

Look who emerged from his work in the Master Bathroom...Grandpa!  Grandma gave him permission to stay and play awhile! Ha!

I know that it looks like Kiely isn't working in any of the above photos but she is always in charge of the Noel Nut Balls.  These are NOT mexican wedding cakes!  They are bigger and much tastier and no one does them like Kiely Erin!

The natives have become restless!  Come on guys...Tyler still needs you!

Here are some of mom's Christmas trees.  The topiary tree looks like rosemary.  I saw it at Pottery Barn while shopping with mom and said, "Oh, you have to have this in your hallway.  It just makes a statement!"  So it is known as the "statement tree".  The glass tree is 59 yrs. old and used to be my grandma and grandpa Hites'.  I have always loved this tree!!  When I was little I used to just stare at all of the colored lights!  (I hope that someday it will be mine...hint, hint!)  And the last tree is mom and dad's Christmas tree all done up in gold!

I just love these carolers and how they stand in front of the light.  Mom has them in her kitchen on the counter.

Stocking's are hung by the chimney with care! (in hopes that Marjorie Kay soon will be there with us on Christmas Eve!)

Thanks mom for an awesome day and for keeping the Christmas cookie tradition alive!  One more thing I wanted to mention.  In the first picture of this long post, there is a candle cookie cutter near the top. This is one of my favorite one's because I love the size of cookie it makes...you don't have to break it to dunk it in your milk!  Well, half way through the sugar cookie making it came up missing.  We looked everywhere...trash, drawers, cookie tins you name it and we couldn't find it anywhere.  I just have to laugh and say that I am glad that Lori was able to join us today!  She knows that number one it was my favorite cutter and two that it is driving me crazy as to where it is at!  There are Angels among us...and I'm glad:)