HOLIDAY ENDING LUNCHEON

On Dec. 30th my friends, Cindy, Marlys and Wendy went for lunch to celebrate the holiday season and ring in the New Year early. It was good to see my friends from Monmouth. I miss seeing them everyday in the Monmouth office. Cindy and I worked for Attorney Ron Stombaugh, Marlys worked for McGladrey, Pullen and Wendy worked for the Mellinger Foundation, however, we were all in the same building. We ate lunch together everyday and we were there for one another during stressful times. You guys are good friends. HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU ALL!!!

OH THE WONDER OF CHRISTMAS

Oh the excitement of Christmas. I got my wish to see the look of anticipation and excitement on the faces of my grandchildren as they opened up their presents from the family. Then they were off to Tennessee again on Christmas Eve to be home in time for Santa. It was so good to be with at least 2 of our own children and daughter-in-law and grandchildren. John and I really feel blessed.

John-Boy out did himself ~ I got my first R E A L Coach purse along with a lot of other fantastic presents. Need I say I am not complaining. I was as excited as Peija & Joah. We all got such great gifts. The Christmas elf was wayyyyyyyyyyy too kind!

Tonight we will have a quiet Christmas Eve with Great Grandma Shay, Henrik, Zach, John and myself. There are still a few more gifts under the tree to be opened tonight.

And then off to the Savory's on Christmas Day for a mouth-watering dinner and more gift opening. It seems our Christmas goes on for days as I am sure many of you feel the same way. When you have family all over the country you have to celebrate when it fits into everyone's schedule.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

Peija opening a gift...

Joah opening one of his gifts...

Grandpa and Joah playing with the remote control bulldozer

Great Grandma Betty with her great-grandchildren

Peija and Joah just being kids

Great-Grandma Shay and her pride and joys

Grandpa enjoying a moment

Great-Grandma Betty and Joah

SNOW, ICE, SNOW, ICE

Snow and ice I AM SO SICK OF IT!!! And it is only December. I am tired of slip, sliding my way to work, the store, my Mom's, etc. etc. Please tell me Mr. Weatherman we have some relief in sight. You all be careful!! I hope everyone's family gets here safe and sound for the holidays.

HO HO HO CHRISTMAS IS ALMOST HERE!

Shopping, wrapping, shopping, wrapping, making cookies, shopping, wrapping, telling family to be extremely careful coming home, shopping wrapping. Whew! I'm exhausted and the "Big Day" isn't even here yet.

Zach will hopefully be in on Friday 12/19 and Jason and his family on Sunday 12/21. We're going to miss Beau and Jen terribly but that is the life of a doctor. He is on call Christmas Day, that is ok we all have to pay our dues. We will celebrate Christmas on Dec. 23rd (our immediate family and Grandma Shay that is) and then off to Debbie and Jim's that night of the 23rd to be with them and Grandma Hudgel. We will be with the Savorys and Grandma Hudgel on Christmas day.

I can't wait to see my grandbabies faces when we open gifts. They are leaving Dec. 24th to go back to Knoxville for Christmas day at their house and I don't blame them. That is part of the fun of it, getting up Christmas morning to see what Santa brought.

Oh what a glorious time of year! Here is wishing you and yours a Very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!

A WONDERFUL TIME HAD BY ALL!!!

Florida was absolutely great!! The weather was wonderful, the VOLS played really well until their last game in the championship and the kids really enjoyed Disney World. The MOST fabulous part for John and myself was having everyone together, it has be a long time since that occurred! Our condo was great, with 2 1/2 baths, 2 bedrooms and a hide-a-bed in the living room. Of course Jason and his family stayed at one of the resorts on Disney grounds. Here are some pictures of our trip.

Oh the sights of Disney

A rare family picture.

Jay Shay Family

Beau & Jen around the Christmas tree

The Shay Boys


Family fun and time just spent together

Our good friends Jim & Rosemary Peterson and their daughter Jennifer were in Florida as well to root on their team Gonzaga, so we got to enjoy their company while in Florida.

Jennifer with Beau & Jen

FLORIDA HERE WE COME!!!!

Florida here we come, we leave a week from tomorrow (11/25) for the Tennessee VOL tournament at Disney World. Zach, Beau & Jen will be there of course along with Jason's whole family. John and I can hardly wait. Our good friends Jim and Rosemary Peterson will be there as well, along with their daughter Jennifer. Jennifer was a classmate of Jason & Jana's at Iowa and Jana and Jennifer were sorority sisters. See you soon kids!!!!

DAVIS WEDDING RECEPTION

Last weekend John and I went to Chicago to celebrate the marriage of Zach Davis and his lovely bride Katie. It was held a Maxim de Paris restaurant and it was so much fun. A lot of people from Galesburg were there and it was just fun to see everyone. Zach looked so handsome and Katie was stunning. A fun time was had by all. We wish the best in your many years together Zach & Katie.

Steve, Katie, Zach, Adam Peters and Lauri

Zach's grandparents

Us and the handsome groom

Dancing with the grandparents

THE BIG FOLKS GET INTO THE HALLOWEEN ACT

Beau and Jen went to a Halloween party too. Obviously they were pirates, but I love Spaz as a French maid. Rich, Beau's college roommate went as a whoopee cushion, too funny. Here are some pics.

DIVAS AND BUZZ LIGHTYEAR AND GHOULS OH MY

It is not fun not being able to see the grandchildren in person for events like Halloween. However, it is nice when you have a great daughter-in-law who immediately gets out pictures to you of the special event. As you can see Peija went as a "Diva" and Joah went as "Buzz Lightyear". How cute are they? Thanks Jana for sharing.

A VISIT TO MISSISSIPPI TO SEE OUR FOOTBALL COACH

Last Thursday we left for Mississippi to visit Zach and go to the Homecoming game at Alcorn State. Unfortunately the Braves lost 30-29. It was a good game but as we all know it is never fun to lose. But of course the best and most important part of the trip was seeing Zach. We got to spend some time with him on Friday night and then of course after the game on Saturday. But it was back to work for him on Sunday so we started home.

My good friend Cindy Gray went with us and it was fun having her along. She is the most positive person I know along with the biggest heart ever. She is so supportive of our entire family. There could never be any better friend than Cindy. You are the best girl, I love ya.

This was our crazy guy at walk-through on Friday - don't ever change son

Now that is a good looking guy

Father/son look-alikes

Having fun with my son


Zach and Cindy being Zach and Cindy

Having fun at the game