Christmas with the Grandkids

Christmas Eve at Shell-bell's was lovely. Maureen told me, "I love God...because...God is...in my parents."

All the grandgirls got matching rugby sweaters and hats. We're hoping for a group photo later today. After dinner and presents, the girls spread Reindeer Magic Food on the snow so Santa could find their house.

Katie loved her first dolly-every part of it was soaked with drool.

We left KC and went to Leavenworth where we found Santa and the Missus hard at work. That pesky white tissue paper! Christmas morning, Jack and Grace waited patiently for the go-ahead.

The dinosaur hot wheels toy took Grandpa an hour to put together--plenty of time to scare Jack with the big teeth. Jack, backing up: We don't want the dinosaur to eat me today.

Luci liked her new toy too!

Grandkids are the best gift of all! Thanks, kids!

Cranberry Tea

Here is the fabulous Cranberry Tea recipe from Luci. It's a tradition in our house at Christmas, with its beautiful red color and cinnamony taste! MMMM.
Equipment:
You need a stockpot, sieve, and another large pan or bowl, wooden spoon.
Ingredients:
Water
1 pkg. fresh cranberries
3 1/2 C. sugar
1 cup red hots
3 oranges
3 lemons
12 whole cloves
See, it's simple!
Put cranberries in 1 qt. water and simmer until they pop.
Pour into a sieve over a bowl. Use the wooden spoon to smash the cranberries through the sieve. Scrape all the goodness on the underside of the sieve into the water. Keep at it until all that is left is a spoonful of skins. Discard those.
Back in the stockpot, put 1 qt. water, sugar, cloves, red hots. Simmer and stir until red hots are melted. Add cranberry water, juice of lemons and oranges and 3 more quarts of water. Heat. Strain and serve warm.

Brother Stephen

Stephen came up from Dallas with some of his artwork in tow. There were a lot of buyers there! There's yours, Frank-on the right on the floor.

And here's my gorgeous painting!

Here's part of the gathering. We also had a couple of babies getting acquainted with each other.

Big eyes! That's Katie and Madeline.

Mom enjoyed a little book I had made of her 85th birthday.

Steve and MaShell put their heads together for a little chat.

Madeline wants you to know...

5 Days 'til Christmas!

She did it!

Angie graduated from Baker University on Sunday with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree. This girl is phenomenal. Full-time job, husband and three kids while taking night and summer classes. But she did it and we are so proud.

Here's to you, Ang!

FYI E8

I told you I was "published", but that was online. Yesterday I opened the Star and folks, I really am published! They did a whole page of ice storm photos, and my leaning poles picture was one of them. Four of the photos were from "Readers" and the rest taken by Star photographers. And, those four were chosen from a hundred submitted photos. Pretty cool.

I'm published!

Check out http://photos.kcstar.com. Click on Ice Storm Photos and you'll find three of mine- the flag, the calf and the power poles.