Just a Note

For those of you who look at my blog, I'm writing this to let you know I'm still here -
-just haven't been taking "blog time" since, well, since the last time.
This week we plan to travel down to SC to be with Jake and Rachael for a few days...
...warmer weather - YES!
So anyway, I'll probably get some pictures on sometime after we get back.
Till then - toodle-ooo.........and Merry Christmas!!!!!!!!

Puppies

Is there anything cuter than a row of puppies under the Christmas tree!

Christmas Spirit

Getting ready for Christmas is interesting when you have

a little dog and grandchildren around to "help".

Susanna "decorated" Jack with a jingle bells wreath,

but he was more interested in giving her kisses.

Our family Christmas time will be Thanksgiving this year

with fifteen of us all together here. I am looking forward

to the wonderful confusion of those days!

And probably I'll feel a little relief when they all leave.

But for now I am excited about everyone coming.

Our dear little Kelsey Dawn Schultz -

a true "gift" of love.

Leaf Storm Etc.

The leaves are quickly disappearing off the trees.

Today I walked outdoors and it really did look like a "leaf storm"

with leaves "raining" down from our big maple tree.

I wish I could have captured it with my camera.

Susanna and I went shopping at State College until we were

both ready to drop...we were so tired we began to get silly,

and that won't do when I'm around. But we had fun,

and got some Christmas shopping done. Yeah!

We are planning our family gathering at Thanksgiving this year

because that's what works best with our

growing number - fifteen now.

Then Richard and me and Susanna plan to go down and

spend Christmas with Jacob and Rachael in South Carolina

while the others go their separate ways with "the other side".

I consider my family to be one of my richest blessings in life

and I'm thankful we can be together this season of the year.

Sarah Palin Rally

God Bless America

Last night we...Richard, Yvonne, Susanna, Kent, Laura...

went to State College for a Sarah Palin Rally.

After standing in a long..............line and enduring a chilly

brisk wind, we got our seats and waited another hour...plus...

before she gave her speech. But it was fun and

she is a refreshing person to listen to.

This year's election is probably the scariest yet, and it is

good to know that our God is in control.

Please, God, once again, bless America!

My long distance shots were too dark, so I settled for a shot

of the screen...not very good, but...

The dude by Sarah is Hank Williams, Jr. who "sang" for the evening

entertainment, and I won't express my opinion of that...

Afterward we drove around looking for a place to eat

and since most places were either "unexceptable" or closed,

we settled for Chilies, and enjoyed some rather spicy hot food.

No, it didn't keep us up during the night...I think we were too tired...

...Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Playing in the Leaves

Something every child should have the chance of doing...

playing in the leaves...

and with a little dog to play with you...

that makes it even better...

Let It Snow - Oh No!?!

The first snow of the year greeted me this morning

as I looked out the window - brrrrr...

so I decided to celebrate by using one of my snowman mugs

for my morning cup of coffee.

Hopefully the snow will melt and we will still have some more

nice "warm" fall days. I'm not quite ready for winter to be here yet.

But the first snow of the year is always a little bit exciting,

at least I think so.