Proud Grandma

We have a new grand-daughter, born Wed. Dec 31 at 4:07 am.
7lbs. 7ozs

New YEARS baby?

I am just so excited I have to share. Malinda called today and said the doctor is going to induce her at 5:00 pm today. She was due on Jan 6, 2009, but the doctor told her at her appointment the week before Christmas that he would induce her on Jan 2 if she went that long. She was quite excited about that. She had an appointment today and found out that her blood pressure is elevated, so the doctor wants to take it today to avoid any complications later on. She is SOOOOO EXCITED!!! We feel very fortunate to have a cousin of Dennis' living in the same area and she wants to watch Katrae while Malinda has this baby. That is such a relief when there is no mother or mother in law around to help. Now the sad part is that I don't have plane tickets until Jan 12 so I have to wait over 2 weeks to go help and see the new little one. This will be grandchild #10. (I am not that old am I? - No! Just a very young grandma!!!)4 grandsons and 6 granddaughters. I am so blessed.

Merry Christmas!

What a wonderful day we have had. It started out early, as Dennis and I both woke up at 5:30 (go figure, we had a day to sleep in and out of habit we just woke up - I guess 5:30 is sleeping in 45 minutes longer that usual). We decided to clean the 4" of snow we received overnight off of the walks. We just kept going and going (kind of like the Energizer Bunny) and did most of the block. It was so quiet and peaceful. We had so much fun doing it and it was great exercise. After showering and getting ready for the day, we had an unexpected phone call from some good friends we have known since we were first married. We used to call each other every Christmas. It was a tradition to see who could wake the other up at an ungodly hour. A few years ago, they moved and changed their phone numbers and we lost touch with them. So it was a wonderful surprise when they called this morning. After breakfast (thanks to Dennis who is our wonderful resident chef), we Skyped with Malinda and Brian and watched baby K open her Christmas presents. That was a neat treat to get to watch her, and to visit with them. Then we got to talk to Mark and Elain and hear they were having a good Christmas in CoLd North Dakota. At about 10:00 we were on our way to visit Alisha and her family and deliver presents to them, then on to see our good friends the Dunns, the Grandma C., then onto Amanda's family. We finally made it back home around 2:00 and finally had the chance to open our gifts from each other. We truly have been blessed! Merry Christmas and Love to All.

Alisha & Randy's house

Amanda & Steve's house

Christmas Eve Party

Every year we have a family Christmas party. Some years it is on Christmas night and others it is on Christmas Eve. We are flexible, so we go with our kids choose, since they also have plans with their inlaws. This year they wanted to do it on Christmas Eve. This year we decided to shake things up a bit and go bowling, then have dinner, then play our games and open the party prizes. I think it was the first time in years any of us had bowled and some did better than others. The best part of our parties, is just getting together and having fun, and watching the grandkids build relationships with each other. I hope you enjoy the slide show.

At the bowling Alley

Christmas Eve Dinner & party prizes

Nash Christmas party

Every year my parents, siblings and us get together for our Nash Adult Christmas party. We take turns having it at each others houses. This year it was my turn. While we were waiting for everyone to come we snacked on tortilla chips and dips (salsa, mango salsa, and Guacamole). For dinner we had Fajitas (it was something I could eat)on delicious home made tortillas that Lisa made and lettuce salad (also very good - Thanks Nancy). For dessert my mom brought a yummy looking pudding type dish with a crust (I didn't have any because of THE DIET). Many years we play Bingo, but I wanted to do something different this year. So we played what I call the animal game. Don't know the real name, even if there is one. Clap legs twice, clap hands twice, then thumbs go over the shoulder, keeping up a steady rhythm. When the thumbs go over the shoulder you say your animal name, then then next time your thumbs go other the shoulder you say someone else's animal name. It is pretty hilarious, and not as easy as it looks. When someone messes up, they have to move to the end and everyone shifts up one seat, up to the seat vacated by the "missee". The object is to get to the first chair and stay there. But watch out, because everyone else is trying to knock you out of the first chair. At one point several people just couldn't get "Moose" out of their head, even though we did not have a moose. I think it was a cross between "Mouse" and "Goose" which we did have. I was laughing so hard I could hardly take my turn when it came to me. Of course it didn't help that we sped up the tempo quite a bit. What a fun time we had. Thanks everyone for coming and sharing time with us.

Eating dinner








"The Animal Game"

Baby, It's Snowing Outside

What a beautiful day, I just love all this white stuff. BRING IT ON:)

Dennis measured the snow on the deck and iT was 9 1/2" at 4:00 PM. We haven't seen this much snow in years. I am loving it, but he is not so thrilled about it, probably because he has shoveled our walks twice today and it will not be the last. This is when I want to sit in front of a roaring fire, drink hot chocolate, look at the Christmas tree with it's glowing lights and singing along with the Christmas carols on the Radio.

The world is bathed in white glory.


Braving the cold to get a measurement


9 1/2" of pure snow


Lucky me - my car has a nice, warm, dry spot in the garage


Mary & Joseph are nearly buried in the snow.

December madness

This Christmas season is just going by too fast. Where are the days when I would have almost all my Christmas shopping done by now and just sit back, listen to Christmas music and watch the lights on the tree? I think that was when I had only one or two small children at home. Every year it seems that there is so much to do, see, buy, plan, wrap, and bake, until I am all Christmassed out before it even gets here. I haven't even been able to do Christmas cards for the past two years. Does anyone else feel this way? I hope this doesn't come across as complaining, because I am not. I just feel overwhelmed and Christmas is just over a week away.

We have 4 December birthdays, 3 wedding receptions, 2 parties I get to plan, numerous other parties/concerts/programs to attend and Christmas shopping, baking, wrapping, delivering. Whew - just makes me tired thinking of it. I better quit blogging and get busy. MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!!