A Tradition Continues...

We enjoyed the Schwencke women's brunch yesterday at my daughter's house, hosted by my neice Emily.  We had a wonderful time, enjoyed some great food contributed by everyone, and had a surprise craft of decorating onesy's for Colleen's upcoming baby girl, KT (arriving late February!)  Such a nice idea, Em!!   This year we added a new member, Ashley, who has joined our ranks as she is marrying my son, JR, in April.  We had a great time.

Free Labor!!

Today JR helped John add on to our barn to make a cover for John's new toy, his tractor!  Thanks, JR!

Christmas 2009

We're so blessed this Christmas to have all of our kids home for the holidays!  Colleen and Jeff, and JR and Ashley.  It's been so wonderful.  We all had a PILE of gifts and I'm enjoying my 500 gb external hard drive right now!  Actually, KT hauled in the most of all of us!  She's going to be one spoiled little girl when she arrives in February.  I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas day!

A Blessed and Merry Christmas to all!

My wishes for a wonderful Christmas to all!  Enjoy the Celtic Woman.  Lovely voices, all of them.

Movie Review --- Avatar

I'm sitting here in stunned amazement.  I left the theater tonight, and drove 35 miles home, and I'm still thinking that I was on an amazing trip to another country.  And I want to go back! 

The special effects and 3-D film process were totally amazing.  I can't get over how very different this was, how real these tall, blue creatures seemed to me, with their own personality and differences.  I totally enjoyed how they incorporated some animalistic behaviors to them, such as "hissing" like a cat.  Very cool. Very different.  I want more!!  Creative bunch of animals and creatures live on the planet of Pandora, too.

If you get the chance to see this in 3-D, don't pass it up.  The experience is amazing.

When life throws you a curve....

Just when Sue was getting ready to move, life had other ideas.  A thoroughly broken foot, complete with plates, pins and cast.  Sigh....

And, why do these things always happen during or right before a holiday, I ask you?  Double sigh....

The holidays are bitter-sweet....

I get to thinking about my dad at this time of year.  He died, as you know, two years ago now, the day after Christmas, 12/26/07.  We've been having some collective sadness this year as we begin to realize that Mom is starting to show the real signs of dementia, and having to deal with that. It's a sad but expected part of the aging process.  It is just stuptifying how fast changes happen to the aged, though, and it puts my world in a tailspin.  I'm glad I have my husband, brothers and sisters to help keep me sane.

I was passing by these two pictures on my way to work this morning - they hang in my hallway - and I just had to share with you these two beach babes! Sonny and Rebecca - most likely at Medina lake or up in New Braunsfels.

They belong on the My Parents Were Awesome website, don't they?

Halleluia!

I love this!  Enjoy the silent monks (a high school production) ....

Why do you continue to bring home that black dog....

My peaceful existance has again been disrupted by our grand-dog.  I missed my nap again -- Signed, a disgruntled Mouse

Baby Shower for KT!

Colleen's sisters-in-law, Lauren and Jenny, and an old friend from High School, Michelle, gave Colleen her first baby shower today in Houston.  It was so nice and she got some very nice things for KT!  Thank you all so much.  We had a great time! For all of the pictures, go to my Picasa page!

Grammy goes to the baby shower....

The mom of the new mom is going to her first baby shower this weekend.  I don't know why I'm so excited about this, but I am.  I'm looking forward to the trip to Houston, too!  I must need a break, or something.

I'm taking lots and lots of pictures and video, so watch this space in the next couple of days...you might catch a glimpse of the mamma-to-be!

Looking at Mike here, I'm seeing a bit of Noah....

Mike and Pat, 1952 (you can tell by the car license in the background!)
I think Noah resembles Mike, don't you?  Gee, family genetics is telling, isn't it!?