GoodBye 2009

I have nothing exciting to report, no super words of wisdom to end 2009 with... except - It'll be alright, it all works out in the end. God is in control, and for that I am very grateful!

Wrap It Up - Part IV - Annual Gingerbread Party

Hunk #4 w/ his gingerbread creation!


Houses


Villages


Hunk #3



Hunk #1 reading his letter of Nomination to the United States Air Force Academy!

Here we are in our carriage! We took a tour around the 1 mile Independance Hall route, through Society Hill.



Chicklet & Cousin Trisha at the Liberty Bell


Kids and the bell. The crack occured in 2004, the last time the D's were in Phila. They let the kids touch the bell back then, and look what happened! Fortunately they didn't recognize us!


Kids w/ Benj Banneker at Independance Hall


Kids at the ClothesPin statue across from City Hall. Can't believe this statue is still here. Can't believe someone paid money for it.


We had a super time in Philadelphia, visiting cousins, uncles, aunts, Grandpa & Grandma. We missed the blizzard of 2009 by 2 days! DARN IT!

Wrap It Up Part DEUX - Philadelphia

Oldest brother w/ his daughter


Uncle Tim


Aunt Mimi


Family Christmas Dinner on Dec. 12th. Here is Chicklet w/ 2 girl cousins, Mer & Erin. They're so cute!


First stop was to say Merry Christmas to my brother and grandparents. Morbid? Nah, my oldest brother wanted to go so I took him & some of the kids out.

Let's Wrap it Up!

This month has been a blur so far! First we had Stuart's 16th Bday. He was the most precious, adorable newborn. The cutest baby. If he had been our first child, he would have been our only child. Between the colic, er visits, the nebulizer around the clock, and the allergies, he was a lot of work. Worth every minute, but a lot of work.

Chicklet's fashion show bday party

Too Much Fun!

Tonight I have been going through old photo albums on kodak.com. I began storing pix on there in 2001, shortly after we moved to Las Vegas. We have one of those photo frames for my parents for Christmas... where you put the card in and the pix go on a slideshow. Well, I have 8 1/2 yrs of pix I want to put on there, and have had so much fun going through the first 4 yrs. I found some absolute treasures I will post in the next few days. Here's a few to start!


Hunk #4 and chicklet, circa 2003?




Jelly bean lipsmackers! Christmas 2003?



Sweetheart!



One of my alltime fav's! Oct. 2001, 3 years old!



My 3 brothers, circa 1961 def. before my time!

It's Christmas time in the City

At the Cactus Garden, @ the Chocolate Factory!

Gobble Gobble

Thanksgiving has come and gone, I can't believe it! We had a beautiful day. Mom D. and Rick came over and joined us. Dan & Marguerite M. came too. They are dear friends of ours who live here in town. Our kids adore them.

Rick & hunk #3




The 'before' picture of the table


Mom D. found her spot & stayed there the rest of the night!


Tim & Dan waiting for the turkey to give it up & be done!


Margurite made Chicklet a beautiful necklace!

Hi - Tech Rednecks

My friend Miss Leslie has dubbed my hubby a hi-tech redneck. I am attaching pictures to prove her point.

Our bedroom faces north and we have little light in the room during the winter. It also gets very cold in there. BITTER COLD.

Mr. D is going to install sky lights in our bedroom and bathroom in order to bring more light in there. He is comtemplating how to use solar power to heat our house. So today, because I was complaining how cold my hands were, he came up w/ a solution. Temporary solution. Temporary because our neighbors won't like it. Neither will the FAA. But it works. It's called 'Hi - Tech Redneck-ticity.'

Our room is so much lighter now, and actually @ 14' warmer than an hour ago. Of course, that was 57' then.

You will also see, from the pictures, I have not exaggerated the patchwork of paint on our wall. That's only 1 wall you see. We have it on 3. And how much nicer it looks w/ the sun shining in on it!

One Fine Day

November 11, 2001, I took the kids to Mt.Charleston to enjoy some cooler weather. We had so much fun! We had a picnic and went on a hike. This is the day G-money discovered rock climbing!

I love going through old photos on Kodak.Com....

Today we have our first winter storm blowing through. It was in the low 60's, if that, windy and dark. Just beautiful! It's going down to the 40's tonight. Mr. D and the kids enjoyed a fire in the fireplace. Me, I enjoyed Crispydillas and wine at Coyote's w/ the girls. Too much fun. My belly hurts from laughing!

Flip! Flop!

This one I made in Oct. 2008 at the San Juan Quilt Camp. My mom bought the kit for me in Jan. 08. Very easy and simple, which I like.

Kristina quilted this free motion on her long arm! I absolutely love it! I feel like a real quilter when I see these.... of course, it's not me who quilted them, but... I can still feel like a real quilter! Just like the Velveteen Rabbit and Pinnochio, I AM REAL!

Swirly Swirls

This is called '31 Flavors'!



She actually got the quilt to lay flat! Not easy when it's one of mine!



She bought a swirly pantogram and used it on this batik!



Isn't this beautiful! I made the top over the course of 10 mos (June 08 - April 09) and my dearest friend, Kristina, quilted them for me on her long arm! She came into town, swooped this and another top up, and off she went into the 'Happy Ever After' of Ely, Nv.

I made this pretty quilt top at the retreat earlier this month. The pattern is slanted stars and it made w/ Christmas-y type fabric. Measures about 50 x 50. It's ok, I'm not nuts about it, BUT it's done. Just needs to be quilted!

I Love Flowers

How can anyone, after examining a flower close up, tell me we come from chaos instead of a Creator?

#1 below - Lynn.... she embroidered all the ladies and then attached vintage hankies as their skirts! Adorable!

#2 Leatha - hand painted the fabric herself and has worked on this top for a long time. She was working on it last Oct. at camp!

#3 Daisy - our little mascot!

#4 Barn through the trees

#5 On the Uncompaghre

Quilt Camp!

G-Money and the Doll