Blasting into 2011

Erika invited us all down to the fireworks on their cul-de-sac. Kevin, Erika and Terry's next door neighbor, enjoys putting on pyro-displays on the 4th of July and New Year's Eve. The entire neighborhood benefits and the majority of them turned out to "ooh and aah". Brett was super excited and we just had to stop so he could get some fireworks of his own to shoot off. As Annemarie put it, "Brett is as giddy as a school child right now."
The show started around 10pm when it was good and dark and lasted about 30 minutes. Afterward sparklers were lit and the young ones had fun swirling them around. We processed to the backyard and enjoyed marshmallows roasted over the firepit.

Enjoying marshmallows and s'mores

Annemarie and Brett ~ Erika and Terry ~ Sneed and Anne ~ Cheryl and Kevin

Aedin made sure we all had our flutes filled with sparkling grape juice and red and/or green grapes to toast the New Year. As we watched the ball drop on tv somewhere in the Central Time Zone, we lifted our glasses high and toasted to 2011. A very exciting start to the New Year.

Staying up with the Owls

Annemarie made an owl ornament with some of her friends in CA. While Taylor was here tonight, she asked Annemarie if we could make one. On the spur of the moment, she said yes. While Sneed and Brett went to Fuzzy's to pick up some pizza, we scurried over to Hobby Lobby to get the fixins to make a couple of birds. It's obvious that I can take some lessons from them. My owl doesn't look nearly as good as theirs.

Annemarie: "Taylor, do you even know how to use a sewing machine?"  Taylor: "ll just wing it"... and she did.

Us with our finished products

A Christmas Play

Aedin wrote, directed and narrated the play as a Christmas present for her Dad, Terry.

There was some last minute stage fright...the understudies had to step in and fill the bill

Watch for the ass that carried Mary. Excellent acting there. And if I do say so myself, Annemarie was the perfect Mary.

Christmas Part III

A quick journey back up the Grand Parkway and we are back in Katy. Annemarie and I set to preparing the Christmas feast. Sneed and Brett put the leaves in the table and help set it up. Annemarie carefully folds napkins into Christmas trees which adds a festive touch. Brett and Annemarie wile away some time playing Hand and Foot, the game Sneed and I play just about every night. We taught them last night and they are already aficionados.

Erika, Terry, and the children arrive with sweet potatoes topped with marshmallows to be browned. I put them under the broiler and went on to other things. Oops! Burnt to a crisp. A quick swipe with a spoon and we reloaded the top and watched them brown and they turned out perfect. Colin and Terry made an apple pie, and Gavin made a pumpkin pie. Adding them to the pecan pie I had made earlier gave us plenty of dessert choices.

When the Christmas repast had been eaten and the dishes cleared away, I suggested we take a walk around the block before starting dessert. Bundled up against the cold, we set forth. Aedin was on a ripstik board, Dylin was breaking in her new roller skates, and Olsin was on his Powerwing scooter. He just about scared us to death when Erika called out, "Car" as he darted from the safe side of the street to the other right in front of said car. Needless to say, he was grounded from the scooter for the rest of the walk and Colin got to enjoy riding it. The rest of us were on foot. I didn't realize that the temperature had plummeted to 39. By the time we made it back to the house, we were pretty well chilled through as evidenced by the progressive photos of Annemarie and Brett as they covered up more and more.

Dylin with her American Girl doll, Molly, that she got from Santa ~ Aedin and the ripstik board

Brett appears to be surprised at the cold ~ He pulls up the scarf over his ears ~ Annemarie soon pulls hers up as well

Christmas Part II

At 12pm straight up, we all gathered around the computer to watch the live feed from California of Brett and his co-workers lip-syncing the 'N SYNC version of "The Christmas Song". What a hoot that was! To watch it, click here.

No one noticed but Annemarie and Brett had slipped away to open their box and share the moment together. From here on in are Brett's own words...

"Annemarie and I sneak away for a quite moment alone and I’m struck with the realization that this is a pretty awesome moment in each of our lives. Either way, a baby will take our lives in a crazy, new, and exciting direction … but this moment is the first glimpse we get into what that direction might be.

We both tear off the paper and I give Annemarie the task of pulling off the box’s lid. She starts… and stops… and we both share another excited giggle with each other. Then I give her a poke and it’s cracked open… just enough to see…
“It’s a boy!”

A warm rush comes over my body and tears come to the eyes. I look up at Annemarie… and of course… she’s got tears already down her face. Ahh… what a moment! How incredible! I love my wife! I love my little baby boy who isn’t even here yet! MY baby boy!! OUR baby boy!! Whoa!!!"

See why it didn't take long to fall in love with this newest son-in-law of ours?

About 15 minutes later, right around 1230, Annemarie and Brett reappeared and handed me our box to unwrap and open. After fumbling with the wrapping paper, I couldn't get the box open either until Annemarie prompted me by saying "it's taped on the sides". Then, oh my goodness, we all found out as I whooped and hollered and finally said, "It's a Boy!"

A happy couple indeed

Christmas Part 1

Brett and Annemarie, Sneed and I went down to Erika and Terry's to celebrate Christmas with them and all the children. The children were so good as to accomodate waiting for us to get there seeing as how they had gotten up really early that morning. Some were up around 6am. Once we arrived around 915am, Terry whipped up individual omelets from the omelet station that had cheese, ham, tomatoes, peppers and more from which to select. The best omelet I've eaten in years! He had two frying pans going and made 11 omelets. Whatta guy!

Oh what fun finding out what Santa brought

And, yes, Santa brought Aedin a violin!

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve Service at River Pointe Church ~ Olsin kept himself busy ~ Candlelight singing

Beautiful singing ~ Talented granddaughters performing cartwheels

Sporting our Queen Theatre T-Shirts ~ Brett and Annemarie taking eponymous photo with Aedin