Steffinee's 1st Christmas

This was Steffinee's first Christmas.  She wasn't quite a year old in this picture since she was born in January that year.  She wasn't the least bit afraid of Santa and thoroughly enjoyed her first Christmas.

Christmas - Many Moons Ago!

Christmas many, many moons ago!  Didn't write the date on this but I know it was in the mid 1980s. I know one thing for sure, this young lady sure has aged! (The way I am sitting with my arms out to the sides, I am guessing it was the Christmas I had my bilateral mastectomy! 1985 - maybe?)

SAMANTHA WITH THANKSGIVING CUPCAKES

Samantha with the cupcakes she made for our Thanksgiving dinner.  She loves to bake!  She also made pumpkin pies.

11-25-1990

Hard to believe this was 23-years-ago this week!  Good friends David and Mary Sicking came down and brought my mom to stay in Texas for the winter.  We had such fun that week while David and Mary were here. This picture was taken down on the water canal in Las Colinas.  One of the fun things we did that day was to ride a water taxi with Santa.  Mary, I am still looking for that picture!  Sure do miss my mom, especially at the holidays.  But so thankful for all the good memories.

Linda Christmas 1966

This was my first Christmas as an Air Force wife.  The year was 1966 and I had always enjoyed lots of Christmas activities with family, friends, church, school, neighbors, etc.  For the first time in my life I faced Christmas with just the two of us, Steve and myself.  All our family and friends were in Indiana and we were in Clovis, New Mexico.  There was no money for all the usual festivities but we enjoyed Christmas anyway. I made a small Christmas tree from styrofoam balls and toothpicks to set on the mantle.  The "fake" fireplace in the house we rented at 1208 Walnut Street became the Christmas focal point.  There were presents and goodies sent via the mail that we enjoyed.  And the best part was looking forward.  Both my parents and Steve's would be arriving in a couple of days! It was a good Christmas.

More Christmas Memories with Cindy and Lindsay

Christmas memories - Cindy and Lindsay with Christmas gifts from Aunt Becky.  Would never have dreamed this shy little Lindsay would be a star volleyball player traveling all over the United States to play tournaments. It was almost impossible to get Lindsay to look at the camera when she was small.  Love our kids and grandkids!  Lots of happy memories over the years.

Christmas a Long Time Ago

Here is a picture of Steve and myself many years ago. Must have burned my arm on the oven.  I am bad about that.

Chad Christmas 1984

Chad was 8-years-old when this Christmas 1984 picture was taken.

Another Christmas Flashback

Another Christmas flashback to when there was only one grandchild.  This must have been at his house on Christmas Eve after church.  I remember him wearing this suit to the candlelight service on Christmas Eve.  I notice he shed the suit coat and tie when he got home!

Samantha at Skating Party

Samantha went to her friend Maggie's birthday skating party last Saturday.  I picked her up after the party and she was so excited about skating.  In this picture she is in the white tee shirt and is sitting next to Maggie in the blue shirt.

This is Samantha's friend Riley at the party.  Samantha is coming up behind her (in white shirt).  Why didn't they have these trainers when I was a kid?

5 of the 7

This picture was taken over the Thanksgiving Holidays a few years ago.  This is five of the seven grandchildren.  Carlos and Samantha were in a different school district than Dustin, Lauren, and Lindsay so they had to go to school.  Steffinee was visiting from Oklahoma for a couple of days.  It is hard to get all 7 together at the same time. This was taken at the Southlake Town Square in Santa's chair.

Dustin, Lindsay, Samantha, Steffinee, Lauren

2006

Carlos and Family Friend Kendall

Carlos and one of his buddies, Kendall Tweedy, from his youth group at church attend the same school. They both play football and run Cross Country.  Kendall's mom took this picture and sent it to me.  It is a great picture of both boys.  Thank you Stefanie.

The Nativity in ICE!

The last room you go through at ICE! has a large nativity scene.  It was hard to get pictures because there is no color added to the sculptures.  It is beautiful and I tried to capture a little of it.

End of Birthdays This Year

Now that Dustin's birthday has passed we are finished with birthdays for 2013.  We will get started early next year though with Steffinee and Steve having birthdays in January. For now the throwback pictures will feature past holidays.  My family is thrilled, I'm sure!

We will start with Dustin since he is the first grandchild and therefore there are more pictures of him. A typical little boy, he loved his matchbox cars.

More Pictures From Ice!

NYC is one of my favorite cities.  I used to live there and love visiting.  Had the opportunity to share some of it with Dustin on his birthday.  However, this NYC was an ICE! village in Grapevine, TX.  I always wanted to be in control of one of those awful yellow taxis - here I am! I am followed by Dustin in Central Park.

ICE! at Gaylord Texas

Cindy gave us tickets to ICE! at the Gaylord for Dustin's birthday.  He had a good day and ICE! was the frosting on the cake, so to speak.  He loves the Nutcracker and that was the theme for ICE! this year.  His gifts started early in the day with the cancellation of his algebra class (probably the best gift of all since he is not real fond of algebra!), lunch at Cane's (he's a Caniac!), and ending with ICE!  Here are a few pictures from ICE!.  Over two million pounds of ice make up the exhibit and the carving is done by 40 skilled Chinese artisans.  The coloring in the carvings is from food coloring.  It is amazing.

The ice is kept at 8 degrees.  You have to put on the parka they furnish before you are allowed inside. 

Happy 21st Birthday Dustin!

Twenty-one years ago very early this morning I became a grandma and oh my, what a journey it has been. Being a grandparent is one of the greatest joys in life and as I mentioned earlier this week, probably even saved my life. Dustin Wayne, from the first moment I held you in my arms you had me wrapped around your little finger.  The past 21 years have been a roller coaster but the ride has been worth it all.  I love you. Happy Birthday!

Dustin age 6

I don't like these kinds of pictures but Dustin really enjoyed this.  He was 6-years-old in this pictures.  Hard to believe he will be 21 about 2 o'clock in the morning!

Dustin and Lee

Had a nice birthday lunch today with Dustin, Christy, and Lee.  Dustin is taller than his dad, a proud achievement since he was so small for such a long time.

Birthday Cake

Made this Coca Cola cake this morning for Dustin's birthday lunch.  His mom works during lunch and dinner on Friday and his dad goes in at 2 today so we are having lunch today at Olive Garden.  Every year he wants me to make him a Coke Cake for his birthday.  Sure made the cool morning a little warmer working in the kitchen with the oven going.  And the smell sure did cause my little diabetic heart to pitter-patter.  Yes, I did lick the spatulas and yes, I will take some peanut butter with me and enjoy a piece of this after lunch!

Dustin on the Christmas Set at Southlake Town Square

Would you believe this is a high school boy?  Dustin started high school looking like an elementary student. He basically had no normal growth hormone and had to take a shot a night for years.  Looking back it is hard to remember how small he really was.  Hope you are having a good birthday week Dustin!

Did This Picture Save My Life?

Dustin, this month's birthday boy, as a newborn.

When Dustin was 6 weeks old I was sitting in the chair one evening giving him a bottle.  Suddenly I became very sick and ended up in the hospital.  I was hospitalized four times in the first three months of 1993 and at times they didn't know what else to do for me.  One day when the doctor came into my room my girls were there.  He looked at them and said, "Get a picture of that baby in here," and he pointed to my bedside table. He continued to say, "She needs a reason to live."  Later that day this picture of new baby Dustin was sitting in a frame on said bedside table.  I sometimes tell Dustin that not only was he the one who made me a grandma, in some ways he probably saved my life.  Hard to believe this picture was taken 21 years ago! Happy Birthday week Dustin.  We love you.

Dustin and Grandma

Dustin with Grandma last month in her tee shirt that says, "You can't scare me, I have Grandkids".

Heading into his last few days as a 20-year-old.  He will be 21 on Friday.  Mercy me, Grandma is getting old!

10th Birthday

Dustin on his birthday 11 years ago.  He loved science back then.  Actually, I guess he still does.  He won the Environmental Science award his Senior year in high school.  But in college his pursuits have turned to computer programming.

Dustin Loves Chess

This picture was taken Dustin's Freshman year in college.  This is at the large outdoor chessboard on the campus.  Can't believe he will be 21 a week from today!

Uncle Chad and Baby Dustin

Baby Dustin loved his Uncle Chad and still does.  Before he was two-years-old he would sneak into Chad's room, climb up in the chair, turn Chad's computer on and play games.  I guess if we had been a little smarter we would have realized we had a MENSA on our hands.  Twenty-one years ago kids didn't have everything electronic like they do today.

A Favorite Christmas Present

Dustin with a favorite Christmas present.  He loved his lego table and spent many hours playing at this table. He was one of the best babies/toddlers I have ever seen.

This Month's Birthday Boy Today

This is a picture of Dustin taken yesterday.  He loves the things Aunt Cindy gives him.  Here he is ready for school in his warm shirt and his hat she gave him.

Rock City 2001

Grandma, Lauren, and Dustin - Rock City 2001.  Grandma is old now and both Lauren and Dustin, this month's birthday boy, are in college.  Time flies when you're having fun!

Dustin in 2001 on Vacation

Dustin on family vacation in 2001.  He felt the spray from the falls hitting him in the back.  Can't believe this little guy is turning 21 in a few days!  Grandma is feeling old!

Dustin & Lauren on Vacation

This month's birthday boy with cousin Lauren watching a movie in the cabin in the Smoky Mountains.

Samantha Planting Flowers

We got the pansies at the Seniors Luncheon at church today and bought the mums.  Samantha is a pretty good gardner.  Let's hope grandma doesn't kill them!!

Baby Dustin

Oh my, how time flies when you're havin' fun!  It is almost impossible to believe it will soon be 21 years since this little guy came into our lives.  I don't think we had any idea how much we could love a grandchild, it is just something one has to experience.  Dustin opened our hearts to that love and it has been added to over the years with the other grandchildren that followed.  Have a good birthday month Dustin!  Grandma and Papaw love you!