Merry Christmas

December 2012

Mom and Dad had planned for weeks to drive to Kentucky to surprise Shelby for Christmas. I had been at Shelby's house for two days already and knew they were coming. I kept busy making butter-sugar cookies in an attempt to refrain from looking out the front window every five minutes to see if they had arrived. When they pulled in the driveway, the dogs started barking and Shelby went to the door muttering, "Who would be showing up at this hour?" A nice surprise awaited her on the other side of the door! :)

One of the best things about Christmas is the scene in the kitchen when cookies are being baked: flour everywhere, sprinkles scattered across the floor, cookie cutters on the table, and bowls of colorful homemade icing, bright green, blue, yellow, and pink.

Homemade butter-sugar cookies

Shelby, Mary, & Holly--world class cookie decorators. :)

Mom and her festive Santa Claus scarf.

We were visiting in the living room and the conversation somehow turned to different forms of exercise. Dad had to try pilates. When I snapped the picture, Dad complained and said, "I bet that is going to end up on Facebook." Nope, Dad, not Facebook; my blog. :)

"I'm giving you three seconds to get off my bed."
Eleanor just does not understand why Dad doesn't like her or the rest of the canine species. I don't think she will ever give up trying to win him over with her sweet bulldog charms. :) 

On Christmas morning, we enjoyed delicious blueberry pancakes prepared by Shelby's roommate, Mary.

I gave Dad a hand-carved bison horn I had purchased when I lived in Montana. That bison horn survived a 3,000 mile roadtrip in a car that was so packed with luggage, I'm surprised the doors didn't fall off. Everytime Shelby or I had to get the tent and sleeping bags out of the backseat, one of us would yell, "Don't slam the door! Watch out for the bison!" If anyone heard us, I'm sure they wondered what on earth we had in the back of the car. :)

I love finding gifts that have sentimental value. Shortly before Christmas, I was at a local library book sale and found all of the old Black Stallion series by Walter Farley that Shelby loved to read when she was a kid. She received a huge box filled with her favorite books from childhood. :)

Mom & Dad

Brussel sprouts were on the Christmas menu---cooked in olive oil with a splash of lemon juice and a sprinkle of parmesan cheese.

Eleanor was worn out after all the celebrating.

We hadn't all been together for Christmas in a few years due to careers and travel. It was a very happy holiday! :)