Did I Say He is ALL BOY?

This is Jake. 

Remember Wet Oatmeal Kisses? 

Well, this is my son Jack's boy... 

My grandson Jake.  

My precious grandson came into this world by

 emergency c-section two months early.

That was 3 years ago...

Fighting for his life...

He made it home just in time to be our Santa...

I call him my lil' Pumpkin'.

He's come a long way.

And he's all boy.

I loved this picture of him and Rissie together...  

They are truly a gift from God.

Grandchildren keep life interesting and fun.  

Jake didn't talk for a long time.  

Then suddenly one day he started 

saying full sentences.  

I just knew that would happen!

Did I say he is ALL BOY???

Happy Birthday Punkin'  

Grammy and Pop Pop love you BUNCHES!!!!

Is Santa on Medication?

When I was growing up, 

I recall Santa as being three things.

1. Dressed in red.

2. White Beard and hair.

3. Jolly, with a Ho! Ho! Ho!

I'm the one on the far right.
Yes, I still believed! (still do)

But through the years Santa seems to have lost something along the way...

He still wears red.  

He still has that white hair and beard

 like he did back then...

But he doesn't seem to be all that jolly.  

I never hear him say, "Ho! Ho! Ho!" 

 Could it be that he's on medications to counter that excessive and extreme joy and happiness that he used to encounter every year around Christmas-time?  Really?  Is Santa taking medication?  

Whatever the case, he doesn't seem like himself.  But I guess todays kids don't know the difference.  

Oh well.  At least this year he wasn't female. 

 Last year my granddaughter wasn't buying it. 

 This year, she was in....

The innocence of children.  

There's nothing quite like it.

Thanksgiving Day

This Thanksgiving was quiet.  

Our usual full house was empty, with just a shivering pup under an electric blanket.  

"Ugh!  This hairdo is not cutting it.  I'm freeeezing."

We met a few family members at the Ponderosa; oh how I appreciate the Ponderosa for cooking a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner for us to enjoy!

We sat at a table in the back and it was nice.

pop pop and marissa

Me: Happy Thanksgiving, Marissa.

Marissa: (excited and even shaking)   Grammy,  tomorrow Santa is going to sneak into my house and hide presents for me under the Christmas tree.  

Me: Umm, I think Mommy meant next month...  after Thanksgiving Rissie.

 She told Santa over and over again,  "please bring me a Bouncing Baby Babbles..."  

And then the real Santa showed up... 

"Santa, can you bring me a bouncing baby babbles?"

Her conversation with Santa was priceless!  She gave him a big hug before he went to have his dinner at the back of the restaurant.  

me with my #2 son, Justin

It was a good day.  A quiet day.  

Jesus=The Reason for The Season!

I caught a glimpse of Ol' Saint Nick Saturday while strolling through the Hagerstown Mall.

And so starts another season of spending, shopping, stressing, fighting for parking places, decorating, eating too much, and wondering what happened to the real meaning of Christmas. 

Spend carefully, shop considerately, be anxious for nothing, gift your good parking spot to someone else, decorate with CHRISTmas in mind and honor God, not cookies. 

Jesus=The Reason for The Season!