Happy New Year!

May 2011 bring everyone health, love, peace, prosperity, and happiness.

We Had Ourselves a Merry (and White) Little Christmas!

The girls ended Christmas Eve by enthusiastically putting out some reindeer food for Rudolf and his buddies.... Christmas Eve was a beautiful day full of sunshine with a high temp near 50 degrees....

Less than 10 hours later, this is what we woke up to:

In my 29 plus years... all my dreaming of a White Christmas... it finally happened! It was peaceful and beautiful!!!

Inside our house.... it was not so peaceful... with 5 kids and 4 adults tearing into gifts! The girls' big presents.... new big girl bikes!

We had a wonderful and white Christmas... a yummy dinner... and fun in the snow... see Donice in the snow in her PJs... : )

Hope everyone had a blessed Christmas also!

False Advertising!!!

This is what we thought we bought.... looks great doesn't it? We were so excited to dive into making this most beautiful - really perfect - holiday gingerbread house. We followed the directions to a "T"....

This is our final product.... not quite the same... But... it was just as fun making this gingerbread "puddle" ! And when it collapsed.... there were some great giggles!

Gingerbread House Kit - $8.00

Gingerbread Mess - $Priceless : )

Another Happy Birthday!

Joey turned 19 this week! We were most happy that he was home for the holidays and could celebrate with friends and family!

Unexpected "Birthday Present"

Abby has become a very good reader. She is happy to just grab a book now and simply read.

While reading, Joe and I noticed that Abby was unknowingly tilting her head in different directions as she read. We decided a trip to the eye doctor was in order.

The week before her birthday, we did just that... visited the eye doctor for a check up. And yes... Abby was having vision problems.

So... an unexpected "birthday present" for her 7th birthday was a shiny new pair of nike spectacles. She picked them out... and I have to say they are way cool - purple blue... and super bendy... and hopefully unbreakable!

But bottom line.... Abby can see clear now... YEAH! ... and she now thinks she looks super smart!... just like Holly! : )

SEVEN!

Retro Abby...

"Finally", Abby said this morning with a huge smile on her face. Yes! She is finally big enough (not really... but with sleeves rolled up) to wear "the" sweater. The sweater being the one that has been hanging in her closet for years... the one that Joey wore, Holly wore, Danny wore, and Lilli will wear when Abby passes it down! So cool!

Abby has also inherited the Harry Potter books from her siblings. She is now such a great reader - she is flying through these very cool chapter books!

I LOVE Decorating for Christmas....

Happy Holidays!

Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving! We sure did! With Joey away at Bama now, it makes it extra special when we are all seven around the same table!

As for Black Friday... we decided to forgo the shopping and instead, we all got busy decorating for CHRISTMAS!!! YEAH!!! Our home is warm and cozy and so festive! I love this time of year!

Joey was the only one not helping with the decorating, as he was up early and headed back to school for the 2010 Iron Bowl. It was a great game... well, except for the ending. Next Year!!!

And... we finally had a cold front come through and were able to pull out a few of our winter clothes! I was beginning to wonder if this was going to be an "Australian" Christmas... meaning summer weather for the holidays. : ) But nope... it was 28 degrees when I took the puppies out this morning... YEAH for that too! I am ready for sweaters and boots and coats!

Better Than Coffee...

Each and every morning, I fumble my way to the kitchen to get my coffee started.

Many mornings, Joe will get up a little early and have the coffee all ready for me. That is a welcome surprise... and always scores him a big hug.

I guess Lilli has learned that one sure way to my heart is coffee.... This is what I found this morning....

Sweet Sweet Lilli!

From the Old Photo Bag...

Holly decided to pull out the "old" photo bag... as in the bag that holds all of our photos that are not digital. "Bag" being the operative term here... I am not your scrap booking kind of 'gal as much as I have tried. All the old photos brought a chuckle...

My brother and I about 29 years ago... HA!

My mom... taken last month.... ok ok... last year! :)

Me and the "twins" taken in the late eighties...
Joe and I during our engagement...
The older kids when they weren't older... enjoying bunnies in Monterey, California.

Attempt at a family photo... this was for Joe'e DIA nomination package. We were in Honolulu at the time.
We love to fly and it shows ... or doesn't.... my first apartment... Blue and Mauve couch?????
Many generations of Judge men.
Grandma Sharp... or just "Vernie"... who wanted nothing more in life than red shoes and ear bobs.

My mom and I at my brother's wedding... South Carolina was beautiful in the spring.

Throw me something mister! Mardi Gras... always fun!!!
Papa celebrating a birthday a few years back in Washington DC.
Joe and I on a cruise. Why was I not scared of the water????
Baby Abby.
Me at work in Indonesia... can you tell which one I am? What was I thinking with that hat? : ) JK... it was traditional Indonesian clothing. The BEST job ever! I so loved working with the Indonesian folks!
Joe and I and the kids shortly after we moved to Jakarta.
Nothing but hair... seriously... how did I get that hair to defy gravity like that? I think I needed a straight iron ! : )
Beautiful Holly on Waikiki Beach.
Baby Joey - Christmas in Bangkok.

Joe and I last week... hahahaha!
Joe ready to take off...
Hawaii again... we much prefer the casual pictures!
Joe in Venice... where was I???? Home taking care of 8 day old Daniel! Joe had the trip of a lifetime... he had to deliver a C-12 airplane all the way from Georgia to Italy. He stopped in Iceland, England, Spain... and of course Italy! I was a "tad" bit jealous!

Joey... loved the magna dootle!
Look who is getting married... again... what was I thinking with that hair? And how did I accomplish that???

Me and baby H0lly in Bangkok... really, it seems like yesterday!
In DC... kids were young and Jake was at his prime!~
Me in college.... missing Joe!
4th of July a few years back.... about 14.5 to be exact. Daniel and Jake were both new additions to the family!
Can a dog get any more beautiful than Mr. Jake?
Joe playing volleyball in Hawaii... He would play volleyball anywhere!

... and last, another picture of Jake... posing as home decoration!