Piper Princess

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Came to visit Kamma.

Mommy settled me on a blankie on the floor,
and then ran away to the mall.

Ooooooo - - lookey here!

Are these for me????

This one looks interesting,

And tasty too!!!

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Mackinley Came Too!!

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Playin' with Kamma's Christmas Train

Concentrating.

Sometimes Kamma is funny!

Now let's try Papoo's Cracker Barrel Game

I think this is how you do it.
Next let's write at the kitchen island:

Ready,

Set,

GO!

Piper is bored with my cars - - -

So I'll parallel park them - - -

In a nice straight line.
Uncle Kelly will be soooooo proud!

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Christmas Cantata

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Our daughter, Keri, sang in her church's Christmas Cantata. We traveled over to enjoy the evening with them.


Daddy Jason had his hands full with two little angels. Well, at least they look like angels here.


Piper didn't really care about anything going on around her as long as daddy was holding her.

The choir looked and sounded good!

Close up of Keri (center) Too bad I caught her with her eyes closed!!!


Mackinley was quite enraptured (for a 2 and a half year old) with the music.


He even stood up to get a better view sometimes. Later we found out that he really was listening when at home he began to sing HIS rendition of parts of it back to us.

He knew just when to applaud.

And when it was over, the chairs became his tunnel.

Then Papoo made sure he got all the cookies he could hold.


Mostly because Papoo was eating JUST AS MANY as Mackinley.

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It Was a Two Party Day!

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When you BECOME the speed limit, you get to have TWO parties in one day.

First was brunch at Cracker Barrel with hubby and Kyle, our College Boy.

I LOVE Uncle Hershel's breakfast at CB - - - thus my BIG grin. (And do you see that SINFUL hot chocolate with whipped cream right in front of me??? YUM)

Kyle, attempting to keep the "too cool for your camera, mom" college man look going on.

And that was my FIRST party of the day.

Quiet.

Family.

Food.

Perfect.


Tonight, I had a BIGGER party at LaCharreada. Here I am with my darling little grandson, Mackinley and my favorite Out-Law Uncle Dave.

Mackinley, Piper Renae, and Keri

Going down the table: Keri, Haley, Sister Pam, Dad, Jim, wonderful waitress!!!

Aunt Lois and the two favorite Out-Laws - - - Uncle Ben and Uncle Dave.

Check out the salsa and chips. Best salsa EVA!!!

Sister Pam - - - slightly out of focus.

Now let the FUN begin :

The Cat in the Hat with a Cheshire Grin

Or maybe Speedy Gonzalez!!!

No, I'm not praying - - -
I'm clapping along with the Spanish "Happy Birthday"

Happy Birthday fried ice cream for me!!!
(Mackinley LOVED it)

Dad brought me some family "treasures"
for my birthday:

First, this little 4 inch diameter Wedgwood plate which I brought home to my parents from London in August of 1972. It found its way back to me. :-)

Then the true treasure, my maternal grandparents' Bavarian cheese dish. They received it as a wedding gift and it's nearly nearly 100 years old. I've loved it and coveted it for YEARS.

It looks pretty good in my china hutch, doesn't it?!?

Making friends with the antique tea sets
and Haviland china.

It was a wonderful day
And a very happy Birthday!!!

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Somebody's Getting REALLY Old - - -

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Happy Birthday to Me!!!

Country road speed limits

Have NOTHIN' on me now!

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Cute Little Deciduous!!

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I have been admiring this cute little tree for days now as I drive by. It "lives" just down the street from our neighborhood.

My photos don't do it justice - - - but it fairly SHOUTS a festive and Merry Christmas, in its own unique way, to all who pass by!
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Ice, Ice Baby!!!

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On the last Wednesday of school before Christmas break, we woke up to a generous coating of ice on everything.

Is this an ice covered conifer - - -

Or some monster
with arachnid tendencies???
I think I see fangs in there!

We still had school - - - after a two hour delay.
Silly me, I didn't wait for the delay
I had work to do in my room,
Just after I finished taking these photos!

By the way - - - it's 60 degrees now,
Bye-bye ice.
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Making DNA

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These are my 7th Grade Life Science Students

And they are making DNA.

While it is true that their cells are very busy
making the REAL thing - - -

That is NOT the DNA to which I am referring.

No, we cannot see their nucleic DNA
without taking tissue samples and
using an electron microscope - - -
mitochondrial DNA?
Let's not even go there!

Instead I am referring to the paper DNA models

Which they are making to learn the basics of
DNA structure.

Adenine-Thymine
Guanine-Cytosine
Deoxyribose
Phosphate
All in a double helix

Surely you remember that!!!
;-)

(Photos taken before Christmas break)
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