College Friend...Yesterday, one of my old college roommates came for lunch and a visit. Michelle and I even road tripped one spring break to Corpus Christi where my uncle had an apartment at the time. We had a lot of fun but the weather was horrible so we really didn't get to take advantage of the beaches. Michelle and I had lost touch after college but found each other again on Facebook. What fun! And it turns out she and her family live in South Ft. Worth so it will be very easy for us to stay in touch now. What a blessing to have such a good friend back in my life.

The Bass Family...On Saturday, my sister, Rebecca came by our house with her kids to visit for a few hours before going on to my mom and dad's house for a couple of days. She and mom were taking the boys to see the Nutcracker on Sunday. The cousins all had a great time hanging out and getting to know each other better. Jacob and Christopher even helped John fix a panel of our fence that was blowing down from all of the high winds. Good job, boys!

Christmas Day...Here are a few pictures my mom took on Christmas Day. We had a really wonderful Christmas.

Wild Life...Who says there is no wild life in the city? John was able to capture with his phone pic last night the possum who has been visiting our yard at night lately. Jacob loves to monitor his actions. John says it is the hugest possum he as ever seen. I'm sure it is a virtual smorgasboard going up and down everyone's yards looking for cat/dog food. Wow!

A Girl and Her Pretty Dress...Who says a beautiful dress can't make a girl happy? This was the Christmas dress John bought her for her Christmas program at school and Christmas Eve. Can you tell she LOVES it?!?!

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!...It has been a wonderful Christmas complete with Christmas eve service last night at church, Christmas surprises, a wonderful dinner with Ma Mere and Pa Pere, and a nice walk with John and the kids. Couldn't ask for more. Have a healthy, happy New Year with God as your guiding light.

Time with Friends...For the past couple of days, our friends, The Littlefields, have been here visiting. Jacob, Barrett, Patrick, and Julia have pretty much grown up together so it is always a rip-roaring time. The kids had a great time catching up and playing together while the grown ups had some down time to visit. Kristin and I met each other while we lived in Marietta. I had a nurse come to our house to draw blood for an insurance policy. We got to chatting and she thought Kristin and I would get along. We met and here we are 7 years later the closest of friends. What a blessing!

Other Christmas Festivities...On Friday night, the kids went and spent the night at my mom and dad's house while John and I went to a Wine Sampling Party at our friend's , Pam and Travis, house. It was really fun. Each couple brought one bottle of red wine and one bottle of white wine. Then we numbered them and put bag's over them so that no one knew what brand of wine we were trying. Everyone made notes on paper of what they liked and didn't like. A couple of the wines were described as having a "bandaid" overtaste and smelling like dirty socks. It was hilarious. At the end of the night, whichever red and white were voted the best, the people who brought them one the pot of money. Each couple had put $5 into the kitty. And the funny, ironic part is that at the end of the night, John won both pots! What a good wine-picker-outer! We had a really fun time and met some really nice people. They were 6 or 7 couples in all.

Saturday night, we took the kids to our friends, Lance and Amy's house to celebrate Lance's 40th birthday. Amy made a wonderful meal, the guys played guitar, and we had a great time visiting. I have a couple of pictures to post from this later. Busy but very fun weekend!

Julia's School Christmas Program...Last Wednesday, John, Jacob, my mom, John's parents, and I went to Julia's School Christmas Program. The program was for all of the 4-5 year olds. They did such a great job! They were all so excited and enthusiastic. And they all looked so darling dressed up in their pretty dresses and church clothes. Go to http://gallery.me.com/princessmama#gallery to see the program. One of the parent's in Julia's class set up a tripod and filmed the whole thing. When you go to that link, click on FBC Christmas Program. Anyway, it was a lot of fun.

A Few More Christmas Decorations...John and I decked the halls of the front door and entrance these last few days. It looks so pretty as you drive up at night and also as you are looking out the front door from inside. I just love Christmas and a beautiful twinkly light!

Christmas Decorations...The inside of the house is pretty much set for Christmas. So, here are a few shots to see our new house all decked out for CHRISTmas.

A New Ritual...On days that I am substitute teaching and Julia doesn't have school, she and John have established a new father/daughter ritual...PANCAKES! They whip 'em up and gobble them down together. This is Julia in her apron making pancakes with her Daddy.

The Sentry...Scrappy is the new front door sentry at the Elliott household. When I am gone, he spends a lot of time sitting in the front window waiting for me to return. He is fitting in so nicely with our family and is proving to be a great dog. So sweet and smart!