Christmas Gifts...

The best Christmas gift of all is the presence of a

happy family all wrapped up with one another.

(author unknown)

Cookie Bakers 2008

Grandmas never run out of hugs...or cookies!

Great fun baking Christmas cookies, 2008!

An Unexpected Joy

May you have the gladness of Christmas which is hope...

The spirit of Christmas which is peace..

And the heart of Christmas which is love.

Merry Christmas, M, K and T...it was SO GOOD to see you all!

Welcome Guido....

Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole.

~Roger Caras

Sisters...and brothers!

You can kid the world. But not your sister.

~Charlotte Gray

Fathers and sons...

Good fathers make good sons!

Boys...

Boys will be.... boys!

Hugs....

A hug is the perfect gift...one size fits all..

and it's easy to exchange!

Our gifts.....

Life is a series of gifts. Remember to give thanks daily.

Debbie Gisonni

Meet five of the many gifts in our life for which we give thanks daily! This day finds us thankful for high spirited, life loving little boys and soft spoken giggling little girls..... a large, loving family.....a job we can count on ....a future to plan for...a warm bed to sleep in......and for the opportunity to get up tomorrow and do it all over again. Our blessings are many.

Rules...and fun!

If you obey all the rules, you miss all the fun.

Katharine Hepburn

Grandma's Chili

By Popular Request...

1 1/2# hamburger, browned and seasoned

2 cans Bush's chili beans (medium)

1 can red (kidney) beans

1 can Campbell's tomato juice (of course)

1 jar V8 juice

1 package Schillings Texas style chili seasoning

optional:

chopped onions to taste

Watkins chili seasoning to taste

(if you want a milder chili, omit the Texas seasoning and just go with the Watkins chili seasoning)

Brown hamburger (& onions if the grandkids and Bill aren't eating it!)

Mix all in crockpot and heat until bubbling.

Serve over fritos, top with grated cheddar cheese...

and don't forget to bake the cinnamon rolls to

serve hot with this!

On Veterans Day...

Heroes are people who rise to the occasion and slip quietly away.

--Tom Brokaw

We have a long list of veterans in this family.....ancestors that served in the Revolutionary war......Civil War (unfortunately, on both sides!).... Grandparents in WWI....parents and uncles in WWII.....parents in the Korean conflict....Joe in the Vietnam war...and Kevin in the Persian Gulf twice. To those that walked before us ...and to those that walk amongst us now, quietly protecting our freedoms....this family thanks you! You are indeed, our heroes.

Halloween.......

Boo....from the crew!

Happy Birthday Stacy!

It's the truth...she's not getting older...just better! She celebrated with a game of golf, feeding the ducks and lunch with her boys...it couldn't have been any better!

Happy Birthday Pastor Chad!

Better late....well, you know the rest! Looks like your birthday celebration was a good one....full of fun and food!

Happy Birthday!

Happy 5th

Birthday to our little Miss M!

Fall planting....

Six shrubs, 196 tulip bulbs and 36 mums later....we've finished the fall planting with a little help from Gus...and a little pink princess! Miss K spent the night (she was opting out of a Cub Scout camp out)..and patiently tucked the little mums into the earth and packed the dirt around them, reminding us that purple was her second favorite color!

Glitter

Thank you Martha Stewart! Kim read on her website about glittering pumpkins...so the Princess Preschool had a field trip to Grandpa's driveway for pumpkin glittering. We had glitter EVERYWHERE...and for days! It finally took 3 days of rain to wash away the shine from the driveway. We still find sparkles on Gus...and occasionally on Grandpa's beard ! But...sparkle they do...and I bet even Martha doesn't have a pink pumpkin!

Spending Time...

The best thing to spend on kids is time!

Three hours, one haunted house, two jumping castles, three mini pumpkins, ten tiny dancing Club Kicks cheerleaders, two white doves in a MagicMafia show, one rousing chorus of "whip it good" from Grandpa Devo and the pot head children........and one fun filled good time was had by all! Time well wasted on this October afternoon!

Fall Days....

While we try to teach our children all about life...Our children teach us what life is all about.

Angela Schwindt

October finds us filling our fall afternoons and evenings with soccer, football, cheer leading and visits to the pumpkin patch! Thanks kids...for reminding us what really matters......and for the powdered sugar funnel cakes we found at Roca!

More Branches On Our Family Tree....

Hold fast to your family wherever you roam

For life's sweetest words are still

Welcome Home.

Play

It is a happy talent to know how to play

Ralph Waldo Emerson

In moments found between football and soccer and dance and school...these very talented children find time for some laughter with Grandma and Grandpa! It's the music we love to listen to the most!

Go OU!

Are you ready for some football?

One afternoon digging a very deep hole, one afternoon pouring lots of concrete, one lift rented and hauled home...one frantic phone call to wife...and the OU flag now waves proudly , 28 feet in the air in the midst of Husker country! Go Sooners!

Life in Pictures....

Photos are the patches that make the quilt of our lives!

The Apple Doesn't Fall....

The apple doesn't fall too far from the tree!

Determined, strong, faithful, gentle, patient, funny...and very stubborn....times 2!

In September....

Grandparents are similar to a piece of string - handy to have around and easily wrapped around the fingers of their grandchildren.

~Author Unknown

Fun filled afternoons with Grandma and Grandpa....around here, we never run out of butterflies, rootbeer snow cones, hugs or candy! It's our job...to fill them up with sugar and send them home...and we try to do it well!