Christmas Day

Christmas morning. This is the living room before the kids show up. The tree is all lit up and the gifts are under the tree.

Susie, Kenny (her boyfriend), and Laurie Ann are up and ready to open their gifts.

Laurie Ann got a John Deere bank.

Dave got some thick, warm socks. Never enough of them.

Mickey got the DVD she wanted. "MAMA MIA"

Susie got the Coach purse she wanted.

The kids enjoyed opening their gifts.

Dachser must have been a good boy. He even got a couple of toys from Santa. It is hard to believe Santa brought him to me 3 years ago. My, how different my life became. It is good having him around with the girls all gone.

Dave built Mickey a flyrod for Christmas. It is beautiful. He did a great job. I can't wait to get it in the stream.

After all the gifts were opened Susie and Dave made breakfast for everyone. It was wonderful.

Merry Christmas!

Love,

Mickey

Christmas Eve 2008

We all got together over at Dad's house. The plans were for our house but I got
sick on Monday and still recovering. It's a good thing we are a "Go with the Flow" family.


There was roast beef, veggies,chips and several kinds of homemade Christmas Cookie. Xavier is getting ready for his supper.

We always enjoy food and visiting. Those are two things our family will never be short of. Xavier is bonding with Nicki and Jordan.


"Look at me walk Grandpa!" Xavier is showing off his new skills.

Mandy, Buddy and Xavier's first Christmas as a Family. I was so excited to be able to share it with them.

Xavier hands Grandpa the paper as he tears his Christmas present open. This is quite an improvement since Xavier was trying to eat all the paper he pulled off his gift earlier. More fiber in the diet. LOL!

Look at our "Little Farmer". Another John Deere Generation. Grandpa even shared his hat. He doesn't do that for just anyone.

Xavier meets Santa. "Santa, are you in there?"

All the kids love to see Santa. Laurie Ann takes her turn on his lap for her gift. I wonder if he asked her if she was a GOOD GIRL this year or does he know?

Santa doesn't have to ask Xavier. I am sure he was the best baby he had seen this year. Well I might be a bit prejudice.

Now it was Mandy's turn to go get her present. Was she good or not? We will never know. Santa doesn't tell.

After Santa left it was time for a good ol poker game. I don't know how that went. Dave brought me home before Santa made it. I needed to recharge for tomorrow.

Merry Christmas To All, Ant TO All A Good Night!

Love,

Mickey

Baking Christmas Cookies

Laurie and her friend, Jill, helped me tonight to try and get some Christmas cookies baked. I am so far behind in getting my baking, decorating, card writing and wrapping done.

We baked Sugar Cut Out Cookies shaped like bells, trees and stars. They iced and decorated them. We also make Oatmeal Raisin, Chocolate Chip, Peanut Butter, M & M, & Snowball Cookies. They had a couple of icing bags explode on them while decorating. That got them laughing at each other. It was great to hear them laughing and joking as they worked on the cookies. I really appreciated their help. Thanks girls.

Dave made a run to the post office to mail packages and get stamps while we got busy with the baking. I had gifts made to mail but I didn't have mailing envelopes. I finally got those and got them ready to mail. I can't believe I am this far behind. Thanks Dear for running to mail them for me.

Well now I have to get my cards finished.

TTFN!

Merry Christmas!

Love,

Mickey

Ha Ha Tanka During the Winter

Now I have been to Ha Ha Tanka State Park for 3 different seasons this year.

Summer-

Fall-

Winter-

Laurie Ann, Susie, Kenny (Susie's boyfriend), and Cheryl (Kenny's mom)and I went to the lake for shopping and a get away. We had great weather for shopping and touring. We found a lot of great bargains.

In the evening we played a game and enjoyed every ones company.

By the time we got home the temperature dropped and the freezing rain started. Another fun and safe trip.

Love,

Mickey

Wichita Trip

Dave went to Wichita with the Post Office and found a great steakhouse, Whiskey Creek. He got a hankering for one of those steaks so we were off on another road trip. On the way there we stopped at an antique mall by Kansas City. I found a few treasures I couldn't live without.

Then off to Wichita. We got a room at Days Inn. Then we were off to eat that steak. It was a 20 oz. Porterhouse that was so tender I could cut it with my fork.

We left there and went back to the hotel to make plans for the next day. We decided to go to Cow Town, a musuem, and then to get 1 more steak before we left to head for home.

Well you know what they say about best layed plans. When I woke up Dave said we better get breakfast ate and get on the road because the weather was getting bad. It was sleeting and snowing outside. We ate, checked out, and was on the road in about and hour. Driving was so bad due to the sleet, snow and wind that trucks and cars were in the ditches. It took us an extra hour to get home.

I can't wait for the next road trip. I wonder where it will take us. Where ever it is I am sure it will be fun.

Love,

Mickey

First Snow

We got out first snow storm. For those of you in the southern states, sorry you missed it.

Love,

Mickey

Thanksgiving

We were busy getting food ready for Turkey Day. Hannah came over yesterday and helped Laurie Ann cut up the bread for the stuffing. They set it on cookie sheets to dry. Hannah helped me make the apple pie too. It was nice to have the extra hands to help get things ready.

On Thanksgiving I got up at 4:30 am and was at Cookie's by 5 to get the turkey going. We then went to Boot Camp to work off the food we were about to eat. I went home and cleaned up and then went back over to help her get everything else ready. Dave came over but he wasn't feeling good enough to eat. (He must have been really sick) Ann, Cookie, Alex, Nick, Laurie Ann, and I enjoyed the feast. We got things cleaned up there in time for Laurie Ann and I to run to Mandy, Buddy and Xavier's house. Dave was to sick to go.

Quality time with Aunt Laurie.

Elaine and David were already there. Elaine was helping Mandy get things ready. She had a herb turkey, roasted veggies, potatoes, and stuffing. Elaine make the rolls and green bean casserole. I brought the dessert. Victoria, Buddy's sister, made a great pumpkin roll.

Xavier is waiting for that turkey leg. Well maybe next year. He needs a few more teeth.

We celebrated Mandy's 26th birthday with her choice of homemade, 3 layer, German Chocolate cake.

I couldn't make it much pass this since I had gotten up so early, the turkey was working on me, it was now 9:30 pm and I still had a good 45 minute drive home. It was a very busy day but I wouldn't have had it any other way. I enjoyed it to the fullest.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Love,

Mickey

Dickson Mounds

Dave and I went on a road trip to Dickson Mounds. We drove up to Quincy and over to it. It was north of Effingham IL. We had our very private tour because we were the only visitors in the place. It took us a couple of hours to tour it. They had a lot of artifacts, a movie, some hands on exhibits and a light projection show. I learned a few things. I found out that there are mounds from North Carolina to OK. and from IL To FL. I thought they were only in IL. We both said it wasn't a trip Susie would have liked. She likes the shopping trips. Then we came home through Alton. We enjoyed the sight seeing trip.

Love,

Mickey

Happy Halloween!!

We carried on the pumpkin carving traditon. Susie cut off the top and cleaned out the seeds and Kenny carved them. I soaked the seeds and then put them in the oven to roasted them.

Mandy, Buddy and Xavier came by too. I think Xavier was the cutest bee I have ever seen.

We went to the neighbors so he could get candy. I think his parents will be eating it this year.

Then we played "Scene It " and ate the hot roasted pumpkin seeds while we handed out pencils and Play Dough to the kids. Buddy, Susie and Kenny won the game.

It was a very enjoyable Family Halloween Party.

Happy Halloween!

Happy Fall!

Love,

Mickey

Finally Harvesting!!

We finally got a grain trailer today. It was after 3 PM by the time it got there so Dave didn't have to much time to get a lot done. He started to cut the beans until it started to get dark. He said they got tough then. He called me to come back down and help him unclog the fuel filter again. It was dark by the time I got there. The coyotes were yipping. I got a bit nervous. I turned my car around and shined the lights the other way to watch our backs. I need a pistol. No, Better give it to Dave. I might shoot the tires off the combine. LOL!!

Happy Harvest!

Happy Fall!

Love,

Mickey

Dachser Turns 3

Dachser turned 3 today. After I painted at De and Corrine's I went by Canine Cookies and Cream store. I got ice cream and dog treats to take to the dog park. We met Timmy and Tawny and a few other dogs there for a Birthday party. The dogs all had a good time.

Happy Birthday Dachser!

Love,

Mickey