The Christmas Cookie

It's seems as though every Christmas that comes and goes has an underlying theme to it. This year's theme was "cookies". I have never seen so many cookies, been given so many cookies and eaten so many cookies as I did during the month of December.



I was given a cookie that was "a blast from the past". My mother used to make these cookie wreaths.



And I was given some new and very creative cookies.



In addition to cookie gifts, I was invited to a Coffee House that served, of all things, cookies!



Mason's 4th grade class hosted a Coffee House to present the poetry that the students had written.



Mason presented his three poems (written on the index cards) to a room full of parents. He spoke slowly, clearly and left the parents laughing at a funny poem.







As usual, Mason couldn't resist being silly.



I have to end this post quickly. I have a little black dress waiting on me. After all, it is New Year's Eve and we have big plans. Hope everyone has fun ringing in 2012.

Happy New Year to All.

A Tropical Christmas

What actually makes a Christmas tropical? For starters, living in Florida where holiday light displays include alligators.



Where homemade gifts from a brother to a sister can be made out of palm fronds.



A place where gifts from Santa (new bikes) can actually be used that day.



It's a place where a surf and turf Christmas dinner can be grilled outdoors.



Where even a friendly game of Apples to Apples draws a special card.



A tropical Christmas usually ends with a quick trip to a crowded the beach for a sunset celebration.



It's a place where you can hop on a beach hayride with Rudolph.



And make a toast to another Christmas come and gone.



Bye Nana, we miss you!



Bye Grandpa, we miss you! Please join us again for another tropical Christmas in Florida.



Next post, the Christmas cookie.

Decking the Halls with...

things we are loving this week.

Finally a tree with ornaments, not just lights!


Finding reasonably priced airline tickets for a young lady's
first solo trip to Dallas for New Years




A young boy who still enjoys Cookies with Santa and making reindeer food .


Scoring a good gift at a Yankee Gift Exchange. Even better for taking the best gift to the exchange, it was passed around at least four times.






Making the best out of our weather, who says we can't have a White Christmas even though we live in Florida?


Discovering new holiday ales.

Finding the "silver lining" in the extra postage needed for this year's Christmas cards. Not many families get to have a dolphin on their stamp.

Stay tuned, more holiday loves to come.

Lighting Up Our Holidays

The house is beginning to look a little more festive.



Nothing tastes more like the holidays than gingerbread men. Thanks Aunt Deborah, you are so creative!



We have been busy stringing lights.





But we took a break last night and headed downtown for the annual 5th Ave Christmas parade. Looks like Santa is lighting up his holidays.



How are you going to light up yours?

A Special Service

Over 75 of us gathered in the late afternoon in small catholic church for a memorial mass honoring my late maternal grandmother, Therese Kratzer Griffin.



Darin made us very proud at his first public performance. He played an "On Eagles Wings" which has become our family song since being played at our wedding, Keaton's memorial service, Mackenzie's confirmation and Mason's baptism (in this exact church). He also accompanied my cousin Amanda as she performed her own song.

Other than the priest and the deacon, all participants in the mass were family members. My aunt and uncle were lectors, my parents carried the gifts and my nephew Tanner was the alter server.

Below, Darin and cousin Kayla (who played Amazing Grace on the flute) arrived early to rehearse.



The service was followed by a reception in the church hall. What a wonderful tribute to my grandmother!



We miss you, G.G.

Home of the Purple Hurricanes

The Friday after Thanksgiving the entire clan headed to Fitzgerald, Georgia. Fitzgerald with a population of less than 9,000 was created in 1895 as a community for Civil War veterans.



Fitzgerald is a small town where chickens run wild through the streets and parks. The Red Junglefowl has become the city's controversial mascot.



When I visit Fitzgerald I get to visit part of my childhood. Vacations that were spent at my grandparents house.



Meals that were consumed at my grandfather's restaurant, The Side Door (which is now an auto parts store).



Driving by the old Elks lodge which was the site of my parents' wedding reception over 48 years ago. The building is still used today for weekly bingo games.



No visit to Fitzgerald would be complete without visiting Keaton's grave at the old cemetery. Numerous headstones in the cemetery date back to the civil war.



Years ago when we took Mason to visit Keaton's headstone we showed him how to etch Keaton's name on a sheet of paper using a crayon. Mason had not forgotten and begged for a sheet of paper and a pencil while we were at the cemetery.



Next post, a special service in a small town church.

Gobbling it Up

This Thanksgiving was all about "gobbling it up" and I don't just mean the food. Although, there was unbelievable smoked turkey from cousin Dallas ...



... and delicious treats from a small town bakery.



But there were other things to "gobble up" like crisp air and fall colors ...



... cousins who enjoyed meals and long conversations



... babies that wanted to be held



... outdoor chores that turned into games



... lazy evenings



... and beautiful sunsets.



What would normally look like this ...



... became home to over 50 relatives who gathered for a day of thanks.



Next post, the entire clan heads to Fitzgerald, Georgia.