A HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE

Sunday, December 19th John and I hosted a Holiday Open House at our home.  It was a nice afternoon with friends.  I was so busy chit chatting though that I didn't get any people pix.  Darn it, I can't believe I didn't have my camera in hand.  But I did get some pictures of my tables and I am also throwing in some picture of our decorations.  So from the Shay household to yours we wish you all a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS AND THE HAPPIEST OF NEW YEARS!!!!



Table for the Open House





Another view of the table



Centerpiece Galesburg Flower Company made for me





Punch bowl table



Dining room/Family room tree





Living room tree



My little light up snowman



Just a little Christmas pretty



Just some decorations



The family room fireplace





Another view of the living room tree

Some more decorations

A NEW YORK CITY THANKSGIVING

The Shays and Youngbloods invaded New York City and Clifton, New Jersey for Thanksgiving.  Jen and Beau Shay were great hosts and showed everyone a great time.  And I must say my new daughter-in-law knocked herself out on food.  We all ate downtown NYC for Thanksgiving but Jen had lots of food at the apartment for whenever anyone was hungry.  And yes Beau you did a great job on roasting the turkey for sandwiches.

The Tennessee VOLS played in the pre-season NIT tournament at Madison Square Garden.  They played in the championship game against Villanova and beat them by 10.  Villanova was ranked 7th and we were ranked 24th.  It was a great game!!!!

And Wednesday night when we were at the first game of the tourney, Beau got a call from a doctor he had interviewed with and was offered the job in Indiana.  Hopefully they can get all the details worked out in the contract and Jen and him will be moving to Indiana.  4 hours away.  YAY!!!!

It is always so wonderful to be with all of your family and we were truly blessed this Thanksgiving to have that happen.  Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving as well! 


THANKSGIVING DAY:

At the restaurant Maria Pia

At Jason & Jana's hotel where we could visit

The siblings from the two families

The Youngbloods and a Shay (Jess, Mary Jo, Jen and Josh)

THE NIT TOURNAMENT

Peija and her friend Sally

ON THE TOWN IN NEW YORK CITY

BUSY WEEKEND!!!

Had a real nice weekend with friends whom we haven't seen in awhile.  On Saturday night we had Cindy and Tim Gray and Marlys and Warren Dobry to our house for dinner.  It was a nice relaxing evening with good friends.  And we had to celebrate our little Cin Cin's birthday that is fast approaching.

On Sunday evening we drove to Bettendorf to have dinner with our friends Rosemary and Jim Peterson.  It was nice to catch up, we hadn't seen them since Beau & Jen's wedding.  It is sad how we all get so caught up in our everyday lives that we sometimes we don't get together as often as we should because we do so enjoy each other's company.

Now getting ready for Thanksgiving.  It will be a good time!!!  HERE'S A HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO Y'ALL!!  ENJOY!!!

A TRIP TO THE "SIP"

Last weekend we took a trip to Mississippi to see Zach.  Jason met us there and sat in on some of Zach's meetings with the staff.  It is always wonderful to be with our boys.  I took this picture of them together much to their disgruntle ~ they told me they didn't look any different than they did at Beau's wedding.  Tough I am taking it anyway because I AM THE MOM and I call the shots.  LOL  Anyway here are some pictures from the weekend.

Two of my 3 charming sons (whatever)

This guy is a little on the slim side  :(

I don't think he can believe what he is hearing

He gets a little intense at times, unlike the rest of the family  :D

Looks like he is on a mission

Draw it up there Zach

You see they are doing WHAT?!?!

Let me think ~ to blitz or not to blitz???



Shay volunteers to share his hoops knowledge - Galesburg, IL - The Register-Mail

Jason was home this weekend to do a coaches clinic at Knox College. Below is a link to an article the local newspaper wrote about him. It was really nice having him home. I just wish we could see him more often. All three of them for that matter and that includes our daughters-in-law, Jana & Jen and of course our beautiful grandchildren. But they are all where they need to be and we support that 100%!!!



Shay volunteers to share his hoops knowledge - Galesburg, IL - The Register-Mail

JB & CARA'S WEDDING

Last weekend Justin Brown and Cara Rathman were married here in the "Burg." Beau was in the wedding so him and Jen were home. Their friends Teddy and Brooke Grothe and Adam Barnes and his fiancee Amy all stayed at our house along with Jen's sister Jess. It was so much fun having them all here. JB and Cara's wedding was so much fun. It had a western theme to it since Justin grew up on a farm and the reception was out at the farm. The only bad part was that is rained terribly but it certainly didn't put a damper on the fun time everyone had. Congrats to JB and Cara and may you have many, many years of wedded bliss. These pix are from both the wedding and the rehearsal dinner.

The happy bride and groom

The wedding party

Two lost groomsmen

I think we were feeling a little tipsy all ready

Bridal party being introduced ~ doin a little work with the pitchfork

Jen Shay, Brooke Grothe and Tanna ? (Spaz's girlfriend)

Most people changed into jeans and sweatshirts at the reception to keep the country flair

Marla smilin pretty

The girls

Mike McGinn, Doc Strauch and Shaybo

Galesburg Crew at rehearsal dinner

The whole wedding party

Beau & Kart

Galesburg Crew 2



Looks like a deep conversation



Of course Mary Schroeder and Beau had to talk their politics at the rehearsal dinner.  Some things never change



Happy couple at the rehearsal dinner

Brother-in-law & sister-in-law enjoying a moment at the rehearsal dinner

SCHROE-DARE and me peace-ing it out at the reception

Jen and Mary Schroeder enjoying the reception

All kinds of yummy pies instead of wedding cake ~ how cool and country is that?

Proud father-in-law



The party animal

The mamas!!!

Doc Strauch & Doc Shay