The Busiest of Decembers

This year I had planned to cut back on activities, do less shopping, and make the Christmas season, a quieter and more peaceful time for the family. I did all that, but I can't believe how the whole month flew by and how hectic each week was even though I passed on a great number of activities that I usually participate in. Oh well, must be part of getting older!!! Remember, I turned the big 60 this year.



My friend, Rosa and I made out annual journey downtown to the Adolphus Christmas Parade the first Saturday. The parade was so great---new floats and new balloons this year. We talked about how much better this is than a small parade. Afterwards, we went over to the market to smell the greens and eat Mexican at a favorite restaurant that we found one year long ago.










This jumprope group was unbelievable. I could have watched them for awhile.





Lots of cartoon characters riding in the parade.

Luncheon

Several of my girlfriends and I attended the Friends of the Library Christmas luncheon in Rockwall. Linda, Rosa, Janice, Jan, and Earlene. What a great meal and fun time looking at all the decorated tables.








Businesses or members volunteer to decorate a table with their own Christmas dishes and elaborate decorations. A great opportunity to get decorating ideas.






One of my favorites--these glasses were beautiful!!

Meredith's Party

Meredith, my best friend's daughter, had a cookie decorating party for kids at her house. Stacey and I went over to watch the kids. What a great party watching all the kids decorate, do their crafts, and getting to hold the babies. Meredith's house was decorated so beautifully--here is her tree with Stacey holding Kenslea.







We all wore Christmas aprons and Santa hats. Here Meredith is reading to the guests to quieten them after all the sugar!!!




This little girl was so cute. She decorated so neatly--the little artist--and then turned to Mom and asked did they have to dry so here she is waiting on them to dry. She is probably the only one who took any home as the others ate them as fast as they decorated.




A reindeer with 5 EYES!!!!

I gave the kids their Christmas gifts after the party. Kenslea (14 months) got a baby stroller. She was so excited to push her baby around. She kept pulling the sunshade back to look down and see if the baby was there.









Such a cute little mother!!!




Cade (3 years, 9 months) who is really into trucks got a garbage truck that is a front loader.


What fun to watch their eyes light up and watch them play!! This brings back lots of memories of the good old days when John was younger.

Ornament Party

My annual ornament party for my neighbors was the week before Christmas. We enjoyed visiting, eating goodies that everyone brought, and playing games before we exchanged the ornaments.







Hard at work playing games.




Jan eyes the good food. Everyone outdoes themselves with the Christmas treats.




The whole bunch in front of the tree. (Earlene, Norma, Priscilla, Jan, Nancy, Marilyn, Caryn, Louann, Debbie, Deb---front row, Casey, Kellie, and Janice

Thanksgiving Day Cowboy Game

Since John, my son, was the only one coming over for Thanksgiving this year, we decided to get tickets for the Cowboy game. We found a great deal, up high but on the 40 yard line. We were all so excited to see the new stadium so we left really early and spent a lot of time waiting in the parking lot for the place to open. We got a parking pass on Craig's list---we parked on the first row by the gate where we went in on the west end. That would have never happened at the old stadium.

The stadium is absolutely amazing!!! After the gates opened, 3 hours before the game, we went into the Plaza where they had entertainment and vendors. They opened the roof just before they opened the end zone doors to let us in about 2 hours before the game. Then we walked around on level 2 which is where you enter. The field is actually below ground level about 5 stories. Big screens are everywhere. The party zones are fun as the one on the west end has pole dancers, couches, bars, etc.
The Jumbotron was right in front of our seats. We could see everything so well on it.



John and Fred outside the stadium before the game.


John and I --there is a statue of Tom Landry on one side.



Jerry got the idea about the flag. There is one hanging from the roof at each end zone. This one was unrolled at the opening and there was still the official colorguard.

Cowboy Game

The stadium as we drove up.


John watches as the end zone doors open.


Enjoying the game as the Cowboys did well. No dressing up here---just cowboy shirts and jeans, even some blue hair or blue paint on your face.


The halftime show was breathtaking.

We really enjoyed the new stadium. Getting in and out of the stadium was so much easier than at the old stadium. How far you walk depends on how much you want to spend to park.

60th Birthday for Class of 68

This past weekend, the girls I graduated with from Carthage High School met at Roseville Bed and Breakfast in Marshall to celebrate our 60th birthdays all together. Some of us are already 6o and the rest will be in the coming months. What a great party we had!!!! Lots of planning went into this party----Susan K got the ball rolling by making the reservations. We had lots of games, Chinese gift exchange, musical and dramatic entertainment from some of our more talented classmates, lots of TALKING AND LAUGHING until our sides hurt! We were so keyed up that we really didn't sleep much. And the FOOD---how can I explain how fabulous it was. We had a lunch of green salad, tea sandwiches, fresh fruit, and birthday cake. Dinner was grilled chicken, fish, or pork loin, with salads and several vegetables and breads and a slice of pecan pie. Breakfast was quiche, sausage roll, fresh fruit, muffins, with juice and coffee. And we ate it all!!!

Jan,Kathy, Jean, Leisa, and Susan K at breakfast.

LeAnne, Susan K, Linda, and JoNell are wrapped in a chain that was 60 feet long. It went around us all 2 times. I guess this was supposed to make us feel old as 60 is a big number.

Linda, Susie, Kathy at lunch with Leisa, Janis, and Susan K in the background.

Wanda and I playing games on the front porch. A 60's trivia game---wow, we didn't remember much about those days!

The whole bunch!!! First row: Sharon, Wanda, Susie, Leisa, LeAnne, Jean, SusanK, and Janice

Second row: Kathy, Judy, JoNell, Jan, Linda, and Janis

End of the Trail

We have spent the last few days in Ruidoso, NM. These horses were at the Western Museum. This is really horse country. Everyone seems to have a few in their pasture.




We spent one day on the Billy the Kid National Byway, exploring Lincoln where the Lincoln County War occurred. Billy escaped here from the jail where he was on death row. In the process, he killed some lawmen. For lunch, we stopped at a place that is famous for their green chile cheeseburgers. Green and red chiles are grown all over NM and used in their cooking.

It took us over an hour to get that burger and fries since it was homecoming and parents had come to town to see the parade. Many were eating in this small cafe---it probably didn't have more than 15 tables. As we were leaving, the parade started. I watched some of it before we left. Reminded me of small town parades at home. Not much to it.


Here Fred is studying the lawmen exhibit at the Lincoln County Museum. This building is the one where Billy was being held upstairs when he escaped and shot 3 people.

Lincoln is the most preserved old west town in America. If the street running through it had been dirt, it would look just like it did back then. The saloon was closed, but we did tour the general store.


Today was an exciting day for us all. We crossed the border back into Texas and got some good food at El Chico's. (The best we have had in two months!!!) Only one more day and we will be home!!!!

The Catwalk

We are in Silver City, NM, where some of the largest silver mine deposits were mined. Two of them are now open pit copper mines. It is also the home of Billy the Kid and a ranch near here was the hideout of Butch Cassity. Today we drove Scenic Hwy 180 to the catwalk located in the Gila National Forest. It is a series of suspended walkways and steps that lead deep into the Whitewater Canyon where a mine was once located. Water lines were suspended along the canyon walls to pump water up to the mine. Later the railings were used to build a nature trail into the canyon. What a fabulous walk!!! We were on a walkway 20 feet above the water below.



The trail extended a mile into the canyon.


Large boulders were below in the water and we saw several waterfalls. We had heavy rain last night.


I am in this picture on the bridge if you look closely.

Pink Jeep Tour

Today we took a 4-wheel drive among the red rocks of Sedona---I mean ON the rocks out in the wilderness!!! Sometimes we were going down ---almost straight down!!!! We would climb a huge boulder, drive around on top and then go down the other side.




It was really a thrill of a lifetime---I would highly recommend this to anyone.


The scenery is so beautiful and you never get tired of driving around here.


This was the last scare---Road of No Return---it was just like stairs and the jeep driver (who was originally from TX--BA and MA in pottery from North Texas) had to inch the Jeep down each one.