The Texas warm up to Christmas 2008

I was very honored to be asked by Nathan to attend his last day of school Winter party. The kids all had so much fun doing puzzles, playing games - such as "velcro the carrot on the snowman" and eating lots of good yummy Christmas treats. Nathan and Josh both got a chance to take a spin and get a chance to find the perfect spot for Frosty's nose...


While Chris and Gina were attending Chris' company party, we took care of the boys and met Linsey at the Frisco Fire Station's Safety Town.l What a blast. They had it all decorated and the kids really enjoyed playing in the real fire truck and walking around the town with buildings just their size :-)


Since Linsey and Dave had a Jackson family Christmas year, we decided to hold the Gage family Christmas a little early so that we could all be together for a meal and cup of good cheer before Christmas Day actually arrived. We did have a token fire in the fireplace, it was cold enough for one, but the only one we lit during our stay. We ate wonderful stew, homemade cornbread and then we are all too full for Linsey's amazing peach cobbler! Karen and Jordan joined us and we were happy to have the house so full of laughter and love!! It was a wonderful pre-Christmas festivity and I am really glad that we were all able to say that we spent "Christmas" together!!

Two Steps Forward One Step Back

Before adding all of my Christmas pix, I thought I would jump ahead to some family photos we had taken just after the holiday. We are at our Savannah Community Center and Amy Howe took great care in making us all look good :-) Thanks Amy!!! It was a bit windy outside, but we still managed to take advantage of the blue skies and beautiful December day for some of our shots. I am sure in years to come we will be able to look back at these and remember our first Christmas in our new house in Texas - 12/27/2008





I can't decide which one I like better!!
















Our grown up Alison - love the red shoes darling!

The twins - Jack and Kathryn - sweet and sassy

Love this one of Kitty - it looks antiqued!

How's this one of our little man Jackson?

Everyone has such great posture!!! My three greatest accomplishments :-)

The last few things to wrap up before heading to Texas....

Here is Kitty and Wren opening presents at our Weber Family Christmas. We went to Jason and Joanne's house to celebrate and as always really enjoyed our time visiting and laughing at the kids. Jason has perfected eggnog, by the way, and I am already anticipating next year's good cheer! Love you guys ;-)

Jack and his super cool new ant farm

Alison received a beautiful purple shirt from Grandma

The Festival of Carols at TCU Place was held the afternoon before we left - here is Michael and Jack ready to sing...

Kitty can always find the camera in the crowd and she was posing for this shot :-)

Grade 3/4 French in all their glory - the looked great and sounded wonderful - such a nice treat to kick off the holidays

Here is my brood ready for the first of two planes - destination Savannah, Texas

Even Dennis is ready for the journey...

Stay tuned for all of the frolic and fun we had in Texas over the course of two very quick weeks. Time definitely flies when you are having fun :-)

A New Year!

Welcome to 2009 - January 3rd, 2009 to be exact. We have just returned from a wonderful trip to Texas for Christmas and New Year's. We are so lucky to have a home there close by to family and all the conveniences one would ever need! I have lots of pix and stories and good things to share, but first I must take down our tree here in Saskatchewan and tidy up so that we may put another Christmas into boxes and usher in this bright new year; plus it is -34C outside and I am not even getting dressed today :-) Happy New Year Y'all!

Ali's Winter Band Concert

Alison and Teagan - the two flutists from St. George

Ali ready to play

Full of concentration and playing beautifully

Had to get the gorgeous footwear - my daughter's feet are officially bigger than mine :-)

Christmas Baking with Dad

Jack and Kitty are having a bake sale at school that is just for Father's and kids - soooo much fun! We poured over recipes and discussed techniques and finally settled on thumbprint cookies with a Hershey Kiss in the middle - yummy :-) Good luck with the sale y'all, if nothing else these cookies are full of love!!


Kitty is ready to get the baking started - she is doing her thumb exercises in preparation!

Jack is diligently looking for the 1/4 teaspoon and big sister Ali is offering her advice

Found it! Now let's measure the salt

The dough - gotta love the KitchenAid

Dad and Jack finding distractions in the kitchen

Kitty and Dad holding up the lovely tins that I bought last year after Christmas for .50!

Making the thumbprints was by far their favorite part

Looks great y'all. Job well done :-)

The finished product! Of course, Dad and I had to taste sample and let's just say, "Um Um Good"

Frosty December Day

The landscape is frosty, but not a lot of snow....


Here are my beautiful babes fresh in from the great outdoors!!!