LOOKING BACK ON 2010 . . .

January and February

We saw more snow than I can ever remember falling in Texas. We experienced our first Christmas in years in December 2009 and then in February we had enough snow to practically close down the city. It was beautiful and even though we lost our electricity for 4 days and we were without any lights or heat we still enjoyed the beauty.



March

We celebrated Norman's 60th birthday with all his family and mine. And then a few days later we celebrated the little man's 1st birthday.

April

The grandchildren had an Easter Egg Hunt in our backyard.

May

Memorial Day found us honoring my father for his service to our country.

June

I helped celebrate the 40th birthday of my friend, Keira. She is second from the left in this photo.

Also in June Norman's car rolled out of our driveway, across the street narrowly missing crashing into our neighbor's house.

June and July

Our summer was so hot that we spent almost every day at either my son's house in his pool or at an Aquatic Park in Arlington. What fun we had playing in the water with the kids.

While my son flew to Lake Placid, NY to participate in the Ironman. He finished in 13 hours, 29 minutes and 8 seconds.

August

We welcomed our third grandchild, Wesley Megan, into the world.

September

With much excitement the big girlie and little man started school.

October

We celebrated the big girlie's 3rd birthday. Then a few weeks later we celebrated my mother's 84th birthday.

Not long after that Norman was diagnosed with congestive heart failure.

November

Most of this month was spent taking care of Norman and the day before Thanksgiving he passed away.

December

We celebrated Christmas with our family. This is our picture from last Christmas and little did we realize then that this would be our last Christmas together.

Along the way we enjoyed TCU games (by the way, they will be playing in the Rose Bowl on Saturday),

trip to the zoo and riding the little train,

and helping to beautify a school yard in need of some TLC.

All-in-all we had a good year. While I moan the loss of Norman and will miss him every day, I celebrate all that God has done for me and my family and look forward to seeing what He has in store for 2011.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!! GO FROGS!!

MY FAMILY CHRISTMAS . . .

Families love being together at Christmas and mine is no exception. We love the time we can spend with each other, the food, the friends, the season, celebrating the birth of Jesus. After Norman's family Christmas Eve get together I attended the Christmas Eve candlelight service at church along with my son and his girl friend and what a blessing we received. Then Christmas morning it was up early to stop by my friend David's house to pick up the fried turkey breast that he does for us every year and on to mother's for the day.

The tree was waiting patiently, with all the presents piled up under it, for the children to arrive.

I had gotten a doll bed from Ikea, painted it white and made a pillow, comforter and sheet so that big girlie's dolls would have a place to sleep.






The little man got a basketball set from Santa.

Don't you love the Fancy Nancy dolls? The big girlie sure did (notice that their hair matches). She even received a "Fancy Nancy" outfit for herself and immediately wanted to put it on.

She liked to play like she was nursing her "My Little Pony" and even tried to be a nurse to her little brother - who didn't want any part of that.

While the little girlie just wanted to get some sleep.

My son and his girl friend.

Here is my family (me, my daughter, Erin, and her husband, Doug, and the grandchildren, my son, Eric, and his girl friend, Amy). By this time it had been a long day so we decided it was time to have our picture made around the tree while the little ones were still in a semi-good mood (although the big girlie didn't want any part of having her picture made).

While it was hard for me to celebrate Christmas this year after losing Norman last month, I rejoiced in the other ones we were able to celebrate together and to know that one day soon we would all be together with our Savior in heaven where we could celebrate the birth of Jesus for eternity.

CHRISTMAS WITH THE FAMILY . . .

Christmas is a special time when families gather around the Christmas tree and our family is no exception. Christmas Day found us all at my mother's house anxiously waiting for everyone to arrive so that we could open presents and then sit down to a wonderful meal. Somehow Christmas is always better when there are little ones to watch tear into the gifts that Santa brings. While everyone loves the gifts they get I think my children enjoy their Christmas stockings the best. 

We have a small family compared to some of my friends - there is my sister, her children and grandchildren, my mother, my brother and my family. Fortunately, we all live within an hour or so of mother's house so it doesn't take long for everyone to arrive.

My sister and her son, Devon.

Her daughter-in-law and little baby Casey.

Her son, Ryan.

Ryan's fiancee, Grace. They have set a date for November.

Lynley and her boy friend, Blake (with baby Casey).

Her grandson, Austin.

Kathy with baby Casey.

My mother (wouldn't you know it she turned her head to look at one of the great grandchildren just as I snapped her picture).

The older cousins having a private talk.

Miss Casey and Miss Wesley (the youngest cousins) are only a few weeks apart in age and seem to be happy to spend time together. 

Tomorrow I will share some pictures of my family. 

'TIS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS . . .

It is a cold, gloomy, rainy day in Texas but that has given me time to get things done instead of waiting until the last minute.

• Cornbread dressing - done
• Gifts wrapped - done
• Stockings filled - done
• Gifts for neighbors - done
• Tamales for Combs family Christmas Eve party - done

Guess I am ready for Christmas. Now on to other things.

The saying in Texas is that if you don't like the weather wait a day and they are right. Monday and Tuesday we saw temperatures in the high 70s and low 80s and then on Wednesday the weather started cooling off. Anyway, while the weather was nice my daughter and I decided to take the children to see Santa on Tuesday. Notice the big girlie - she thinks she is smiling. She always seems to do this and it makes for some interesting faces.

After a couple of dead end errands it was back to our house for lunch and naps (not only for the children but for their mom). I had a few minutes to run a couple of errands close to the house and when I returned I decided I needed to water the flower beds since we haven't had rain in months. By this time the children were up from their naps and wanting to go outside. I will let the pictures speak for themselves.

Both children were soaking wet and couldn't wait to get undressed. Just glad it was the day the weather was so warm or they would have been frozen.













Did you get up to see the eclipse of the moon the other morning? I didn't (way too lazy) but some of my friends did and shared their photos with me. It must have been a spectacular sight.

What a blessing God provided for us. A beautiful display in the sky, family and friends and, best of all, Jesus. Give thanks for all we have as we celebrate the birth of His son this Christmas season. MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!