Grandma leaves TX for NC

Daddy loving his littlest boy early in the morning.


Grandma left today to spend New Year's in NC with Kevin and family.
Cathi told me, after I left, Kien asked, "Why did Grandma have to leave?"
Daddy told him, "Because she is going to see your cousin for New Year's and then go back to her home."
Kien replied, "Well, that's too bad."
Cathi wrote, "LOL! You should have seen the look on his face! It was priceless!"

Awwww. . . he loves Grandma, and Grandma loves him!!!

Kevin wanted to play "Hide the Thimble" using a Christmas angel bear as the thimble. We had a lot of fun with it, but the funniest was when I took this picture! He posed in front of the Christmas tree hugging Santa and wearing the Santa hat, so I grabbed my camera to catch the cute shot.

Little did I know where the angel bear was. Can you guess????
[inside the Santa hat!!!!] He tricked me!!!!

Later he lay on the floor at my feet and drew a portrait of me! :-0


This boy has talent!

Grandma's Birthday

Daddy make Gabe a flying angel this morning! :)

Grandma became an official senior today. At lunchtime, everyone got ready for a road trip. I was told it was a surprise of several stops all afternoon. Sounds fun! We piled into the van with Grandma, Jeremy, and Brandy in the back.

Our first stop was a 50's hot dog and Philly cheese steak joint about an hour away. But worth every minute of the drive!

GREAT food!!!


The next stop was Vandergriff Honda -- Greg's new place of employment beginning next week!

We met some of his co-workers and toured the place. He will be a Service Advisor and sit in a spot like this.

The next stop was a fun one for all of us!!! ToysRUs!!!! We had to check out what might be on sale and what the kids still may "need." :) What fun! We shopped a long time.


Grandma bought Gabe this pull case for his Matchbox cars. He LOVES cars and has to carry them everywhere. But he can't hold them all. Now he can! :)

Jeremy and Kien shopping.

Grandma tried to find tool bin. The boys received a new tool bench with LOTS of tools which are floating all over the house. They need a bin as their home! ToysRUs had nothing appropriate. We went to Walmart and found the perfect "real" tool bin!!!!

Kien is filling it up once we were back home.
The Cheesecake Factory was the next stop!!! Not for dinner, but for birthday cake!!! :) I couldn't choose just one. With the help of Brandy and Jeremy, we chose SEVEN PIECES of cheesecake!!! Something for everyone! Waiting for our purchases to be wrapped.


The final surprise stop was -- Saltgrass Steak House!!!! Where we had a wonderful dinner.

So good that none of us was very hungry for the birthday cheesecakes! Some of us had a bite, and saved for another day.

Swords and Guitars

Why do boys like swords? ha! But they do! Brothers dueling it out with Christmas swords!

Jeremy plays guitar, and plays very well!

So, of course, little brother wants to emulate big brother! He received a guitar for Christmas along with microphone too. Kien has the moves! :)

The Day after Christmas

Cathi took the little boys and went to Oklahoma to pick up Brandy and Jeremy today. Greg enjoyed his first day of vacation between jobs and hung out with an old friend. I sorted eleven loads of laundry and made a dent in accomplishing them. I also spent much of the day trying to catch up on my blogging from October with Kevin, November with Greg's kids, and Christmas.

When Cathi returned with the big kids, Gabe was glad to be in Daddy's arms again! He is very much Daddy's boy!

Brandy and Jeremy are growing up and are delightful kids!!! So nice to have them back home. I was shocked to notice that Jeremy is taller than I am -- probably a good two inches taller!!!! I did not notice it when they were at my house last month!

We had dinner at a favorite Mexican restaurant along with the friend of Greg's who "played" with him all day.

After dinner, we took Brandy and Jeremy to see the awesome light display we saw on Saturday night! They loved it too!

Christmas!!!!

Kien asked for drums but parents were wiser and gave him a guitar which plays songs, and has an attached microphone which works!

Kien opened a BibleMan outfit -- the armor from Ephesians 6: The Belt of Truth, the Breastplate of Righteousness, feet fitted with the Gospel of Peace, the Shield of Faith, the Helmet of Salvation, and the Sword of the Spirit (which is the Word of God). Certainly a BIG hit along with another sword that makes noises and extends.



Plus he got a guitar with microphone that works!

Gabe is a ball player! He throws and catches very well for a 2 year old! He now has a basketball and hoop, and makes most shots!!!! :-0

Gabe is also a car-man -- like his Daddy!!! He LOVES cars!!!! So he got a car wash and car ramp with firehouse.

After plenty of sword activity, Kien was wiped out!

For breakfast, we had a Birthday Cake for Baby Jesus -- angel food cake frosted with whipped cream and strawberries. YUM!

Blowing out the candles!

Then, it was time for church. The children were called forward for a Children's Sermon.

The sermon brought on a nap for Gabe.

Both boys were very well behaved in church!

I commented on being out of practice doing something, and Kien piped up, "Don't give up, Grandma!"

The day was spent playing with new toys, napping, and Grandma fixed a ham dinner for our Christmas feast. But we missed the two big kids.

Christmas Eve Day

Today was spent preparing for Christmas and playing with the boys.

I made Candy Cane Cookies with Kien. Kien was very good at rolling the dough into "worms." He made pink ones and I made white ones, then we twisted them together. Cathi took pictures, but I don't have them. :|

After dinner, Greg and Cathi had heard about a fabulous light display at a house not far away. We went to check it out. PHENOMENAL!!!! By Googling "Lake Country Christmas," you can see videos of various songs performed by the computerized display. Here is an example: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nch7nEL9gw8
We all loved it!!!

Greg's Birthday

Grandma flew to Texas yesterday to be with Greg and his family over birthdays and Christmas

Today is Greg's birthday. The big kids are with their Dad in OK over Christmas. So it is only the little boys, Cathi, and me to celebrate Greg's day. We met him at his work at lunchtime and went to an all-you-can-eat spaghetti restaurant nearby.
Fortunately, they sat us in a room by ourselves as Gabe cried and cried and cried. He was having a 2-year-old meltdown because he had to leave his M&M container in the car. Not only does he look like Karin, but the crying reminded me of her too! ;-) Another thing about him like Karin: when he awakens in the morning, he stays in his bed! He never tried to climb out of his crib and now he is in a toddler bed and does not get up until told he can!!!! Karin never got out of bed until told she could! Amazing! Greg was NOT that way! LOL We had to put the side of his crib down fairly early so that he would not kill himself climbing out.

Tomorrow is Greg's last day of working at MAACO after 4.5 years. He has many personal things there to bring home -- including 2 vehicles. So I drove his S10 truck home after lunch.

For his birthday dinner, Greg chose Joe's Crab Shack. Gabe had fun finding all the "wishes" (fishes) on the walls and ceiling!

Gabe definitely has a love affair with Daddy!

Greg and Cathi shared a crab dinner.

Christmas is coming, and there are still lots of preparations to do. We went shopping at Walmart for some gifts and groceries so that Grandma can make cookies tomorrow!