snowy days and memories...

Don't you just LOVE snow days!!!!  I had to make chocolate chip cookies because it's not a snow day if you don't smell them baking and look forward to eating them:)  I used to make a dozen cookies every day at 12:30 (while Young and the Restless was coming on).  The boys would be taking their naps and this was what I looked forward to everyday...it was also my lunch! lol!  But, I was the best mom because the boys always knew that there were fresh cookies ready for them when they awoke from their naps:) It was a snack filled with lots of love...not the most nutritious, but love is better than carrots and celery any day!

Soooo, while the cookies were baking I went outside and took some pictures of all the snow that came through the night before.  It is so beautiful how it hangs on the trees.  The white woods behind us with the blue skies above is a picture only God could paint.

My beautiful arborvitaes are about a foot shorter with all of the snow on them.

This is a picture of the tree house that Todd made the boys 10 years ago when we first moved in.  It looks so cute snuggled by itself in the snowy woods.

Awww, how I wished that these were covered with sunshine and beach towels instead of snow!

Well, cookies are done!  I think that I'll eat the rest of the batter and save the cookies until the boys can share them with me.  Graham is at a tennis tournament and Evan is with his friend buying his clothes for an upcoming dance...hmmm, I miss nap time days:( Oh well, "batter up"! YUMM!!

happy birthday troy!

Happy Birthday to my dear brother!  Here he is at Christmas cleaning up my mom's kitchen.  He is a stickler for things to be clean!  I love you Troy and hope that the Colts can give you a victory for your day:)

a storm is brewing...

Here in Indiana we are to get 5-8 inches of snow today, but headed to Miami is a storm of Blue taking over...and I don't mean blue skies!  GO COLTS!!!!!!!!!1

happy birthday theresa!

Today is my sister-in-laws birthday!  I wish that we could celebrate with you:(  I hope that you had an awesome day, sweetie!

percussion competition and meeting with misty

Graham had an ISSMA percussion competition in Westfield this past Saturday and won gold!  They did an awesome job!

Graham and friends practicing out in the hallway

Here they are trying to get set up in a small classroom before the judging begins.  Graham played the snare drum for this competition.

Then it was off to Richmond to meet Misty!  This was half-way for both of us and worked out great.  We did a little shopping and ate dinner.  Afterward we tried to take some "facebook pix" and failed miserably!  In this one Misty said, "Here, give me the camera because I have longer arms and it won't make us look so UGGH, and show all of our wrinkles!"

We then took it outside in the freezing cold so we could shoot from up above and not straight at our wrinkles!

So, this one is the kicker...instead of looking sexy we look SIXTY!  Oh how I wish I could photo shop these but I don't know how!!  We were laughing so hard we couldn't breathe.  Teens we are not but we acted like it for a little while and it felt like old times!  See you in May Misty:)

happy birthday sophie kay!

Happy Birthday Sophie Kay (or peanut as Uncle Todd would say)!  This is Sophie in our backyard at Fripp Island.

Sophie (in green) with sister Sarah on their "float" (golf cart made to look like a diner for the theme 'music through the ages') last 4th of July Parade.

 Here we are making pizza's in the kitchen last summer!  I miss you both so much...have a happy day Sophie:)

happy birthday paps

Today would've been Paps birthday.  We miss him so much!  He was saved by God's grace and taken home to his heavenly father last fall.  Thinking of you and loving you always Dad...Todd, Holly, "Chucky", "Buddy" and Angel.

late wishes

This is a late happy birthday to my sweet niece Kiely!  We did go out for lunch on the 4th and had some wonderful dessert!  Kiely was born in 1984...my senior year in high school.  Yes, that was 26 yrs ago!  How time flies.  Love you my sweet girl!

(this picture was taken Christmas of this year at my sister's best friends house...Kiley is wearing the necklace and bracelet we got her for Christmas...so pretty!)

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!