IT'S FALL Y'ALL! and TEA PARTY GRAMPA

It seems that every year these decorations aren't up long enough before Christmas rolls around! So this year I decided to put our fall decorations up now. It IS after all Fall even though the afternoons scream otherwise! One can wish!

And it is always great for a Grampa to have a tea party with the little one! She is a cutie and picked out his tea party hat herself!

An Update

Life has been so busy!!!  We are all doing well and pray that you are too. :)

Erika is a JUNIOR in college, majoring in psychology.  Sarah is a sophomore in college and has a million things she'd like to major in, but I do believe she has settled on a degree in hospitality, which would include things like event planning.  Anna (Stevie) lives away from home and has a little baby boy who is adorable.  Her boyfriend was in a terrible accident, but is doing well, considering he was not expected to live.  Alli is expecting a baby in May.  She is very happy about  becoming a mother.
She too lives away from home.

All of our little girlies have grown up. 

Our grand children are growing too!!! 
Katie is now 22 and Lilly Bean is 14!  She plays the saxophone in band and can sing really well.

We have several grand sons who are 12, 11, 11, 11, 9,8,5 and 9 months.....
Littler grand girls are now 7,6 and 3.  Time to update our photo!!!

We are looking forward to Thanksgiving and fellowshipping with family and friends.

May the Lord bless you during this Holiday Season.... pictures to come!

A Wonderful Beginning to a New Year!

We have had a BUSY Christmas and beginning of the year.  Alli's sister Tatyana and Gib came over for several days to visit.  We had a blast.  We also had our Ukrainian/Russian Christmas Eve Dinner on Jan. 6th.
I am so proud of all of the girls who were just a delight the whole time.
We were so happy to have Uncle Bob visit. 

 Unfortunately, most of our grand kids and kids were all bombed with the FLU!
A couple of them were able to come for Jan. 6th dinner. :)

 Silly girls, silly Gib.

 My sweet daughter's in Law on a girls night out!

 Excited to find Russian Food in America!

Kicking back..... :) 

A Thankful Week!

The Siblings

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving week! I cannot believe it has come to an end.  Uncle Bob just left to go back to Oklahoma and we will miss him. He brightens our lives!

Erika and I spent a long time in the kitchen preparing for the Big Day when everybody would be here.
But before that, there were two big events that took place.

First Alli's sister Tatyana and her boyfriend Gibson came down from OU to see us on Tuesday. It was a huge surprise for Miss Alli. She was so excited when she found out they were coming that she did some cartwheels. :)
I am so thankful that Tatyana is in her life once again.

Tatyana and Gibson left for Oklahoma on Wednesday a.m. and then it was time to prepare for Anna's 15th birthday!  YES! Anna is FIFTEEN!

 Where has the time gone?
In 9 days, Anna will have been home for 10 years. Wow!
Birthdays and Holidays have always been events that Anna has struggled with over the years.
She was moved alot during holiday times and I have documented many holiday times in my blog where there were struggles. 
She got through her Birthday and Thanksgiving pretty well, and even smiled last night saying, "I made it through!" :)

 She had a friend over for the day, and picked a favorite movie.  She picked pancakes for breakfast with maple syrup and for Lunch we had Tacos.
Sarah created a gift finding hunt for her and she enjoyed her day.

 We finished off celebrating with Black Bean Chocolate cake; her favorite.

Thanksgiving came quickly!  We spent Thanksgiving Day with Uncle Bob, Joe, Becca and the Boys and Chuck, Jodie and the girls! They came all the way from New Mexico to be together. It was a very precious time seeing them!

 Tasting... that's all. Just tasting. :)

 Sweet Cousins

 Erika was in charge of potatoes

 Sarah took a picture from the silverware's perspective.

 A feast!

 Saying what we were thankful for

 These two just hit it off!

 Uncle Bob...

 Chuck having conversation

Jodie and Truman.

Then came Friday.... It was a convergence of all siblings, and grand children.  What fun!
Crazy, but fun!

 Somehow Anna managed to get her picture with each of her brothers. :)

And finally.... .Olivia got her hair cut from Auntie Becca. :)

The kids left for NM on Saturday A.M. and we will miss them as always. 
BUT.... Kate graduates from High School in May and I believe we will be making every effort to be there. :)
Hope You all had a wonderful Thanksgiving!