Well, Christmas day has passed and the snow is almost melted. I have taken down the few decorations I put up this year and they are packed in the basement for another year. I went to church this morning for the service of Lessons and Carols. We Episcopalians don't begin to celebrate until Christmas Eve and then celebrate until the end of epiphany so the season hasn't really ended for us. I am looking forward to spending some time with my son and his family sometime in January to exchange gifts and of course enjoy their company.

I am also looking forward to a better year in '10 for my health. '09 began pretty badly in February with my back problems and went downhill from there with falling down the stairs at Andy's in July, fracturing a vertebrae, two herniated disks, a-fib and time in the hospital in Ft. Lauderdale, becoming resistant to my chemo, sinus problems, food poisoning and a lovely virus that zapped all my strength. And even with all those problems I realize that so many have so many more problems than I.

So.......onward and upward to a new year hoping that health issues of '09 are gone, looking forward to watching my granddaughter grow, walk, talk and so many more exciting things to come. I hope that the excitement and fun of Christmas carries on for everyone throughout the next year and years to come.

Olivia Grace - baptism/Halloween

What a wonderful weekend we all had in Charleston. Olivia Grace was baptized at Grace Episcopal Church on her father's 29th birthday.

I sure do love my daddy.

And my first Halloween was pretty cool, too!

Olivia's visit to Lenoir (with her mommy and daddy)

We had a wonderful visit

with Olivia and her mommy and daddy this weekend. She is such a smiley, sweet, and laid back baby girl.

Grandpa got to hold her. Grandma

had been sick so didn't get the wonderful

experience of holding her granddaughter

in her arms. So sad!

In this picture she was laughing

outloud at her grandpa - wish you

could hear the adorable giggle!

VEGAS

Vegas has been such a treat for us to have for the past couple of weeks. She has settled in quite well and since I've been on the road for the last 2 1/2 weeks, she and AG have become great friends. She talks to him and rubs against his legs several times a day. She has even become comfortable enough to sleep under our bed every once in a while. Tonight she sat in the den with me for almost 45 minutes and allowed me to get a few pictures. This one she allowed me to take after she preened for about 15 minutes and then relaxed.

Olivia's First Visit to Lenoir

Grandma didn't get very much time to spend with me, but she did get a few cute pictures. She won't get to see me again for over a month and she says I'm going to change so much in that time. She told me that she loves me and misses me (and Mommy and Daddy, too)

Grandpa and I were having a great conversation just before I had to leave for Montgomery with Mommy and Daddy.

What a sweetheart!

Another visit to Charleston

Unfortunately I didn't get to help Stephanie and Andy with laundry, meals, etc., but 3 1/2 days instead of the week I had planned. Thursday evening I was going up to bed and accidentally fell down the bottom 3 steps of their stairs and ended up in the emergency room with 4 stitches in my head, 2 stressed herniated discs and a compression fracture of my T-12 vertebrae. I spent all day Friday and Saturday in Andy's recliner and headed home on Sunday. I did get to kiss Olivia good-bye on her way out the door for her first plane trip to Indiana on Sunday morning.

I have been in Charleston with Andy, Stephanie and Olivia since Monday trying to help out a little, and of course, getting to hold my sweet granddaughter. What fun. I just love this little smile she gave me as I was holding her.

Father's Day weekend

We spent father's day weekend in Charleston with Andy, Stephanie, Cay and Olivia Grace. On Sunday we went with them to church for the service which included the blessings of the babies born this year. Olivia was the youngest by about 5 days. She behaved like a trooper. She barely made a peep from the time we left the house until we returned. The picture says it all about Andy's first father's day with his daughter.