Christmas Tree and Photos

I haven't shown my Christmas Tree yet!  Here it is....tiny but mighty!!

Paxton hated it being so small but that's the way it goes!

Christmas Eve morning Paxton, Briar, Ryan, Mom and Dad came for

brunch.  Here's mom making scrambled eggs!

Relaxing after stuffing ourselves

Paxton

Kyle

Briar

Christmas Day we had dinner with Eric, Bradley and Kaylee.

Steven didn't get to come this year, he had to work.

Here's Eric with his hat

And Kaylee opening her presents!

And HERE's our Brad....in his Blues!

We had a good holiday this year.  Took Brad back to the airport to

catch a plane back to Whiteman in Missouri.  He was ready to go.

Leave was a tad bit long.  He is ready to get back into his routine and

get back to the Base life.

Best Friend

One thing I would wish for ANYONE is a true BEST FRIEND. 

 It's the greatest thing there ever was! 

Here's mine with her beautiful family.

They mean the world to me.

Love you guys!!

Now Here's A Santa Photo!!

Now THIS is a Santa photo!  I'm sure it was taken in a place like

The Crescent in Spokane, back when there was a Crescent

in Spokane!  This is a black and white picture of my dad and

Aunt Janelle with Santa.  My dad looks thrilled doesn't he?  LOL.

I LOVE the look of the old-fashioned Christmas photos with Santa.

I stole this picture from my grandma's photo book the other night

(didn't really steal it, there were 3 copies of it in the book).

Just wanted to share it.....enjoy!

Sunday Afternoon

So, after lunch at mom and dad's Sunday afternoon, everyone loaded up

into vehicles and headed up the road to Jeff and Jenna's house.

The first thing was new this year.....mom and I got gift cards in $10 increments from

all over!  Target, Walmart, Ranch & Home, Home Depot, Lowe's,

Arby's, McDonalds, Burger King, Toys R Us, Red Robin,

Sears (Cash got this one and he was THRILLED!! Who knew??),

My Froyo, Starbucks, Hobby Lobby, Sports Authority, Wholesale Sports,

Big 5, the Dollar Store, and maybe I've missed a couple but that's the jist.

Everyone drew a number and then we went around and everyone got to

pick a wrapped card or get one from someone else.  It was fun!!

We wrapped each one exactly alike and everyone

played, no matter what age!

After the gift exchange we all went separate ways to play

games.  There was a poker tournament going on...

Dad showing off his pile!

And a Rumoli game at a different table.

I told Jenna to give me a good shot of her but she refused.

So here's what she gets!

And what afternoon wouldn't be complete without pictures with Santa!

Jenna has her mother's Santa that actually moves and says something or sings,

can't remember what exactly.  But anyway, his head moves and his arms

move and he was great!

Everyone loved him!

While gift card shopping the other day, mom found these cute

Santa socks for Miss Kennedy.  Aren't they so cute!

Kennedy entertained us at the end of the afternoon by "reading"

her little book.  She did a great job!

LOVE the family times we get to share.  Everyone is growing up,

and getting older, so quickly.  It's a nice treat when we can all

get together and spend the afternoon together. 

In Loving Memory

Mildred E Hailey was born on December 12, 1919 to Claude and Jessie Maxwell in Seattle, Washington.  Mildred passed away on December 14, 2011.  She graduated from Ephrata High School and continued her education at Eastern Washington State College, receiving a teaching degree.  On March 28, 1942, Mildred married the love of her life, Allen Hailey.  She was a kind and thoughtful person with a wonderful sense of humor.

Mildred was a dedicated teacher for many years, teaching at Westgate Elementary School in Kennewick, Washington.  Her hobbies were gold and playing bridge with her friends. 

She is survivved by her husband Allen, daughter Janelle Dupuis (Arne) and son, James (Jeanne); five grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren.

Grandma's service was really nice.  There were a lot of family and friends that attended, making the time an extra special one.  After the service we went had a get-together at the funeral home.  It was nice being able to visit with those family and friends that we don't get to see often enough.  I'm thinking that grandma was smiling down on us, glad to see everyone sharing special memories and enjoying the company.

There comes a time for all of us,

When we must say goodbye,

But faith and hope and love and trust,

Can never, never die.

Although the curtains fall at last,

Is that a cause to grieve?

The future's fairer than the past

If only we believe,

And trust in God's eternal care;

So when the master calls,

Let's say that life is still more fair,

Although the curtain falls.

An Early Christmas Get-Together

Since everyone was home for the funeral, we took advantage!

Sunday afternoon started at mom and dad's house with

pictures and lunch.  Dawson is the tallest of Jeremy and Jeff's kids....it

won't be long until he is taller than Jeremy!  Ashley is a freshman this year and

Dawson is in 6th grade.

Notice a pattern with smirky smiles in this family?  Lane gets his

height from his mom's side of the family.  Chance.....you

get the Hailey side!  Lane is in 6th grade, Chance in 4th,

Cash in 2nd and little missy...Kennedy is 4 years old!  A very OLD 4 year old!

Here's a picture of all the boys.   

And the 2 responsible for the rest of us!

The middle generation...

Jeff, Jenna, Jennifer, Vanessa, Mom, Kyle, Jeremy and Dad

The girls.

Growing up WAY too fast!

We throw this one in just because.....the oldest and the youngest.

What a pair!

After lunch we went up to Jeff and Jenna's for games.  There was a

gift exchange...well, a gift card exchange!  It was a lot of fun.  ALL the

kids were involved this year, instead of having a separate exchange.  I think

they enjoyed themselves.  A poker tournament took place in one room

and a Rumoli tournament in the other.  Go Fish was also played in the back room!

It was a very fun afternoon.  We haven't had all of us together since Cash was just a baby!

Merry Christmas everyone!

You Are Loved!!!!

Today we lost our beloved Grandma Tillie.  She had been fighting Alzheimer's and finally said enough was enough.  When she came to this decision her time was short and without much suffering.  I was lucky enough to be able to spend time with her last night and the night before, and was able to say goodbye.  While she will be greatly missed, we know she is now home, and at peace.  She will look down on us and watch over us.  WE LOVE YOU, GRANDMA!!

And the Tradition Continues....

After each State Trophy comes the parade on firetrucks!

The state champions get the ultimate ride through the town,

to the different schools, and even touring the elementary school

with the kids lining the hallways and/or sidewalks, high-fiving and

just being awestruck by the big kids....with a State Trophy!

Traditionally the seniors ride on the truck with the BIG trophy.

True to the tradition...here are the seniors!

The reader board rocks!

The BEST part of the trophy lies underneath......

The players sign the trophy in the open space at the bottom!

Yes, Briar, your signature is still there!

Pretty AWESOME sight in our office right now.....

not one but TWO State Trophies!!!

Marcie was so kind as to snap this shot....

When I was a senior WE won the STATE title too!!

You can bet my signature lies inside this trophy too!

(Thanks, Mr. Palmer!!)



Blogging......

Why is blogging SO HARD during December??????????  Could it be that there is not enough time in the day....or night???  Last night I woke up at 2:28 am and that was it; I was up for the day.  What is up with this??  All that extra time and this is all I can come up with for blogging.  Pathetic.

1A State Champions, Connell Eagles!!

Paxton, Whitney, Nick and I headed to Leslie's house Friday after work.

What a treat to stay at Les's!  She treats us like THE best ever!

The girls made signs for the team...and hung them proudly at the Dome!

The opening of the game.  Coach Kyle with his boys.

 Here's Ryan's sack!!  Yeah 81!!

This was the 3rd year in a row for the Eagles to play the Cougars.  Cascade Christian

hung in there for a couple of quarters and then found out just how GREAT a

football team Connell has.  They gave it their best shot but didn't come out on top. 

The final score:  Connell 28  Cascade Christian 7

(Same score as 2 years ago when we beat them to win the state title.)

Kyle working the crowd

Coach Riner isn't excited is he???!!

Here's the seniors, with the trophy, of course!



The photo session after being awarded the trophy.