Christmas Season

This is our Christmas card for 2011.  I sent out close to 90 cards this year.  It is a little sad to know that it won't be too many years before I won't be able to send out Christmas cards with the a picture of the kids on it.  Anna is in the 10th grade now and I know she won't agree to this once she graduates from highschool...I will miss that.  I SO enjoy getting Christmas cards from families and friends that we only hear from during this special time of the year.  It is amazing how families grow and change.  I have another picture to share.......

I am a "Mimi" to the cuties!!  Alexis is the oldest (on the left), then there is Katelynn, then, in the back, are Nick and Klayton.  They will be coming to visit on New Year's Day!  The house will be buzzing with laughter and noise and I can't wait.  


We are slowly, but surely, getting ready for Christmas around here. Joe is on call for the entire weekend, but usually holidays are pretty quiet in the hospital.  No one wants to be sick during Christmas, so most people tough it out until after the holiday.  I am thankful that we don't have to travel and we can enjoy Christmas at home.  Joe's mom will come and visit the day after Christmas and stay for a few days.  This year, she is bringing Joe's sister, Mary Ann, so hopefully we will get to go shopping for some after-Christmas sales!!


Mama and I are splitting up the cooking for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.  We are going to open presents on Christmas Eve and eat "finger foods".  Right now I am planning on making Hot Ham and Cheese Sliders, Sausage Balls, Divinity and Wassail.  Mama is making Deviled Eggs, Homemade Pimento Cheese Sandwiches, Little Pecan Pies, and probably 30 or so other things.  It is such a blessing to still have both of my parents healthy and close to me to celebrate this special time of the year.  Christmas Day we will have a bigger supper at our house.  We are going to soak a turkey (in hot sauce!!) and fry it up!!  This is my favorite part of the entire meal.  You would think that the hot sauce would be really overwhelming, but it isn't.  Love, love, love fried turkey.  The other things on my list are Shoe Peg Corn Casserole, and Sweet Potato Casserole.  Mama is making Chicken and Dressing, Pumpkin Pie and, of course, 30 other of her specialty dishes that I can't remember right now.

We have several trips planned for the next few months.  We are going to watch the Razorbacks in the Cotton Bowl on January 6.  So glad that we are playing INSIDE this year!  The Liberty Bowl almost did us in!!  The 15 degree temperature, not to mention the horrible wind, just about froze us to death!!  In February, Joe is going on another medical mission trip, but this time it is to Ecuador.  Then, in March, Anna and I are going to New York City!!  Her choir is performing at Ground Zero and I couldn't be more excited.  I know that it will be emotional, yet exciting.  She and I have always wanted to go to NYC, so we're really looking forward to it!!  


Well, folks, I'd better finish wrapping a few gifts.  Thanks for stopping by for a visit.  Hopefully, I will get some pictures of Gran and Papa opening gifts and share them with our Mississippi friends and family!!  


Bye for now,