Happy 2010!

I can't say "Happy New Year" 'cause it's not really new any more. Ten days have just flown by. I finally put away the creche today, so now it's time to seriously think about setting some goals for the year. Since I've had a few days to think on it, and some push from the message board at Coordinates Collections, I did come up with a few: stay healthy, exercise more, keep in touch with family and friends, and scrap some of the bazillion photos lurking in shoeboxes in the closet.
There, I did it - I put it out there for all to see - now I have to at least try to reach them right?

I actually thought about following what Alicia and a few others are doing by adopting a "Word of the Year," something they got from Ali Edward's blog a couple of years ago. I don't think I'll do that, but if I did, I think my word would be TRAVEL. By that, I don't really mean actually taking trips - although we do plan on taking TWO cruises this year - one from Barcelona back to Galveston, and possibly a road trip as well, but TRAVEL can be interpreted a lot of ways. What I'd like to do is:

1) TRAVEL through Books - I love to read but seldom allow myself the luxury to just sit down and get lost in a book.

2)TRAVEL with Food - get brave and experiment with new recipes and maybe different types of food, taking me to different countries through my taste buds.

3)TRAVEL through Nature - spend more time outdoors and learn more about and appreciate more what God has created.

and finally
4)TRAVEL to the Past - by pulling out photos from years past and getting them into scrapbooks.
AND I've actually been doing just that - in fact, it's the reason I haven't posted to this blog before now - I've been busy 'traveling' back in time to 1980 when we took a family trip to Italy from our home at Sembach Air Base in Germany. It was an American Express bus tour we signed up for through the base. Everything was all pre-arranged - hotels, meals, everything. It was so nice to let someone else "do the driving!" Anyway, here are the layouts I've done so far this year!
(The first two are posted in the gallery at Coordinates Collections, here. I can't seem to get them to upload right side up here.)











So, I haven't been a slacker, after all. That's a lot of layouts for me, and I'm already planning the next batch. HINT: We'll be 'traveling' to Holland next. :)

Until then,
CHEERS!

Now THIS....

is what it’s all about!

Remember I told you how I like to linger after a dinner or a holiday? Well, this is exactly what I’m talking about! Outside it is gray and cold and wet; inside is a nice warm fire and cups of hot spiced (and spiked) cider with a bowl of homemade caramel corn and oatmeal raisin cookies. It just doesn’t get any better than this. And the best part…John set it all up himself (well, not the cold and wet outside.) He is so good about creating the scene for me to really enjoy all the special elements of this life we share together. Thank you, dear sweet hubby!

Okay, that was yesterday; today, he took me to a new outlet mall northwest of Houston to meet up with Alicia and the kids for a day of shopping and lunch. I got two new tops (on sale of course!) and Alicia got herself a new sweater and pair of shoes. Erin spent some of her gift cards, as well. It was a great day. What a wonderful husband I have!

CHEERS!

Sigh.....

Christmas is over. The kids are gone, most of the gifts have been put away, and the quiet is deafening. It kinda makes me sad. It's like a huge dinner that you've been planning, shopping, prepping and cooking for, and then it's all eaten in fifteen minutes. It's all over way too quickly. I like to linger and enjoy the flavor of both big dinners and big holidays, especially Christmas.

It was a very good Christmas! I got some scrappy stuff, some really big trays for serving on the deck, and a beautiful sweater, but the best gift of all was the shelving set that Alicia and Chuck gave us. Chuck even helped to hang them before they left for home. Isn't he a doll? I'm so glad to have them up, 'cause the wall was way too big and bare without them and the clocks looked funny up there by themselves. Now it looks 'decorated' and I have a place to display my favorite owls, and even some more clocks!

I hope everyone got what they wanted for Christmas. For me, it was so nice to spend time with family, and to hear from friends and family that we couldn't be with. We even got a Christmas card from son John all the way from Djibouti! It was indeed the most unique card we got!
Now it's time to sit down and write out my resolutions, and get busy on things I've signed up to do. I also hope to get some scrapping done this week.

CHEERS!

The Reason for...

...the Season! I hope everyone has a very Merry Christmas and that you get to spend a wonderful day with loved ones.
Alicia and her family will arrive sometime tomorrow afternoon, after they've had their Christmas morning at home. We will exchange gifts and then sit down to dinner of Prime Rib, roasted potatoes, green bean casserole, and orange and avocado salad. Fruit "Pizza" for dessert.

Blessings to everyone!

Happy Birthday, John II

Happy Birthday to our son, John II, who turns 37 today. Below is a picture of him at age 5.
He is now a helicopter pilot in the U.S. Marine Corps and is currently deployed to parts unknown on an aircraft carrier named the USS Bonhomme-Richard. Yesterday was his and Kerri's 10th wedding anniversary. I know she misses him and we all wish him well and safe flying.

Happy Birthday, Son. I love you.

Cheers!

The Tastes of Christmas

We spent the last two days in the kitchen making some of our traditional Christmas favorites.

Caramel Corn:
John's world-famous Peanut Brittle:
and of course, Chocolate Chip cookies!
Are you hungry, yet? We filled the little bags (top photo) and delivered some of the goodness to friends in the neighborhood. I just love this time of year!

Merry Christmas and CHEERS!

It's Beginning to Look....

...a lot like Christmas around the Charlton house! I FINALLY got the tree finished and just got the Santas up today. But the house is taking on a little Christmas spirit piece by piece as evidenced in these photos.




Merry Christmas and CHEERS!