Vacation Daze

One of the beautiful things about being on vacation is that there are no alarm clocks, no schedules to keep, nowhere to be, nothing that HAS to be done. I just L-O-V-E vacation!

Yesterday I slept until about 11am, and today I slept until about 10am...Have I mentioned that I just L-O-V-E vacation?!

So, today when I did get up, I had a protein shake for breakfast, then I promptly ate a piece of a waffle and an OREO BOMB. I was starving...and after all, I had slept until almost lunch time!

OREO Bombs are the BOMB.com!

The past two days have been filled with talking, laughing, games, games, games -- a movie for the girls, and the original Robert Downey, Jr. version of "Sherlock Holmes" on DVD for the guys, in preparation for going to see the sequel tomorrow.

NERF WAAAAARS!



Playing new "lasso golf" game in the back yard -- GREAT weather for Nebraska in December!

GREAT movie! Bring a Kleenex!

And tonight I made a big pot of homemade Turkey NOODLE soup with leftovers from Christmas Day!

Yawn! And now, it's off to bed. More strenuous vacationing to do tomorrow...!

Michelle's Big "Five-0"

My dear friend, Michelle Bennett, celebrated the Big "FIVE-O" on December 15th. In a carefully orchestrated plot, her daughter, Whitney and us girls carried out a big SuRprIseE party, that actually worked! Connie Thomas and I took Michelle to get pedicures, and then Connie and Michelle went to Hobby Lobby (to stall)...and by the time we got about 50 people at her house, then they decided to get stuck in construction traffic for about another 30 minutes -- but finally made it home to a successful surprise and lots of laughs, good food, and good wishes.

And for even MORE of a surprise, Whitney had requested that all Michelle's friends submit a letter and photos for a special scrapbook she was making. Michelle was very surprised, and touched by the gift. The next day at church she told me she stayed up 'til after 1:00am reading all the letters after the party.

We all had a great time, and it was very fitting for Michelle, who's a great friend to all who know her!

Happy, happy birthday, girlfriend!

Christmas Day!

We had 9am church, so we just opened stockings early, ate some quick breakfast, and headed off to church...

After Church on Christmas...

We changed back into JAMMIES and finished opening gifts...

Setting up new Nerf guns...can't wait for Nerf WARS!

Opening their new X-BOX Kinect...not excited or anything!

Our own LEGO-LAND...

Nathalie opening little HUSKERS outfit for Addie (made by Whitney Bennet Swift) - can't wait to see her in it!

Chris' shirt says "Based on My Calculations...I'm AWESOME!" A gift from Grayson & Sam...there's a
great story behind the shirt, but I won't tell it here. Chris was embarrased to be wearing it, as well as the "stylish"
jeans Nathalie got for him. He's so funny about his clothes!

Mr. & Mrs. Harris Jr.

Mike was nice enough to set up a TV in the living room downstairs, so the boys could play their new X-BOX -- and what a great time they had. ALL OF THEM!  One of the cool things about Kinnect is that YOU are the controller, you move your body around to play the games...so, exercise and fun all in ONE!

Watch the boys playing X-BOX HERE (sorry, the video is not well done, that darn videographer!):

Later, we had a delicious Christmas Dinner...!

The "FAM" -- plus a friend from church -- minus the photographer!

It was a wonderful night! And I stayed up waaaaaay too late blogging...went to bed about 1:45am...Hey, I'm on VACATION!

Nebraska Christmas Eve

On our way...We left on Friday, Dec. 23rd, about mid-day. It's about a 750 mile trip, so we broke it up into two days. Steve put lighted garland on the luggage rack of the van, and a lighted wreath on the front. Regardless of the fact that Grayson was 'embarrassed' to be driving around in this 'pimped out Christmas van,' I love the festivity of it, so too bad...!

Grayson would only pose by the van now, because we were hundreds of miles from home...

We made it to Nebraska on the afternoon of Christmas Eve...

Baby Love, Meeting ADDIE!  Soooooo sweet...

Colton loves his baby sister!

Christmas Eve...little SNOWMAN shirts Nathalie made...

And the wrestling began shortly after arrival...

Chris and Nathalie had invited the missionaries and a couple of families from their ward over for Christmas Eve...we made delicious homemade pizza (yes, Nathalie made the crust) and had oodles of treats and desserts. Then we all read some scriptures and sang some carols.

Chris, Nathalie, Colton, Rogan & Addie - HoHoHo!

Snuggles, reading scripture stories -- and Dianne & Mike Alexandre (Nathalie's parents)

Then we continued the tradition of opening one present -- new Christmas PJs (and a little toy)...

Table football...

All decked out in new Christmas Eve PJs!

My Three Sons -- handsome young men!

...Before reading "Night Before Christmas" and getting the little ones off to bed...

Tennessee Christmas

Because we were travelling to Nebraska for Christmas, we celebrated early with Randi's family. We had Randi and her boys come over for the weekend, took them for the boys' favorite -- hamburgers and french fries -- at Burger King, and then began the Christmas Eve festivities...

The boys in their "Happy Feet" Christmas Eve PJ's:

Bryson has a bit of growing to do before he can wear Sam's fedora:



ADORABLENESS in front of the tree on Christmas Eve!

The boys looked adorable all dressed up for church -- I can't believe I didn't remember to take a photo! We had a delicious Christmas dinner of pot roast (at Randi's request) with all the trimmings, and then took them home.

Later that evening, I made about 15 DOZEN cookies and got them all plated and wrapped up to share with co-workers and friends. They were my favorite oatmeal, chocolate chip, raisin, walnut recipe, and I must admit -- they were, of course, a little bit FABULOUS!

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!!

Band Man

Sam did a great job at this 6th grade Christmas Concert -- even though he is balking at playing the barritone now, and saying he wants to quit band, he's doing great. We were so proud of his progress in the band, and how good they all sounded with their parts and harmonies, even just since spring! Fa-la-la-la-la!

Fun With Friends

On December 15th, I was treated to a GREAT show by Jim Brickman at the Ryman Auditorium. My friend, Paula (Stokes) Richards had an extra ticket to the show, and invited me to go with her. We had such a fun time! We started with dinner at PeiWei, and lots of visiting and catching up. Then we headed to the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville. I haven't been to the Ryman in years, so that in itself was very cool!

I always enjoy Jim Brickman's piano music; I was introduced to him when Martina McBride sang his song "Valentine." He was great, very engaging and humorous, with fun chit-chat between songs, and his guests were very entertaining, too! I particularly enjoyed Tracy Silverman on the electric violin (6-string) that he invented. He's a professor at Belmont, but also a fabulous entertainer in his own right. The other guests Ann Cochran and Ben Utecht, were okay, too, but Jim & Tracy were terrific! And the company was so fun...!

Paula and I at the Ryman Auditorium

Then on December 19th, Steve and I went to lunch with our good friend, Rochelle Payne ("Rocky P"). She's salt of the earth 'good people,' and always a hoot; we had a great time at Longhorn in Brentwood. Wish she still worked at my office, so I could see her more often.

Rocky P with Steve and me

FUN, FUN, FUN!