"Life is lived forward, but understood backward. It is not until we are down the road and we stand on the mountain looking back through the valley that we can appreciate the terrain God has allowed us to scale.” Jill Savage

Monday, January 28, 2013

Things we did over Christmas Holidays -

My motto is I may be late - but I will eventually get the job done.

Let's see of I can remember what we did over Christmas.

The first thing that happened is that we all shared the flu.  We had had the flu shot - but got it anyway - not too bad though.

Grandson had Christmas day with his dad - so we celebrated Christmas Eve.

My grandson - when he got well - had a sleep over with his best friend.  They have been friends since kindergarten.   I just noticed they used my living room pillows to build their fort - I didn't even realize that!  That's okay they had fun.  Want a coke?

They wanted to watch a scary movie - A  Goosebumps DVD - but they got to scared and we put on the Avengers!  Of course there was Disco overseeing that everything went well. Notice his leash is on - he wanted to bark at poor Jake.



Okay one gift grandson wanted soooooooooooooooooo bad was this shark - you put helium in it - and then it had the remote control.  My advice - save your money - it didn't work and has been trashed. 


His school had a Christmas program that was really cute. The sixth grade class.



Here he is - believe it or not they were playing hand bells.



This was his Christmas party at school.



Grandson made a nativity scene at school.



Here is my big UGA boy.  His uncle went there and that is his dream.



Not a great picture but we went to Life University - a chiropractic college here - that always puts out beautiful light displays. 



Decorated our tree and ...


... and opened gifts.  Even Disco got a gift.  Remember how protective he was of it?




 Grandson got a big gingerbread cookie to decorate:




 We went to Buca de Beppo for  dinner one day. Now I hope y'all had a great Christmas - remember the joy we ALL felt Christmas day...Merry Belated Christmas from us!  We need to keep the joy all year round.




And of course something to think about...


Whether you are on time or not - lol.

What is one joy you've had today just today?



x_1af5533

73 comments:

Shelly said...

So glad you are all better- other than the flu, it sounds like some great times!

Love, love, love the quote- so true~

MadSnapper said...

love all the pics and it looks like in spite of the flu bug you all had a wonderful holiday... if it makes you feel better about being late, i just took my little tree down and put it in the plastic bag and stored in the closet. did that Saturday... like you said better late than never. i enjoyed your pics and story

Kathy ... aka Nana said...

I love that birthday cake for Jesus!

Glad to see that you all had a wonderful Christmas. Hope you all are able to stay healthy for the rest of the winter.

Remington said...

The flu bug is not a fun thing to catch.... Looks like a fun filled Christmas....great pics....and memories....

Parsley said...

Sweet holiday memories. Sorry about the flu though.

Disco and Melody are certainly kindred spirits. She barks at company. She'll eventually warm up to them but any sudden moves and the barks start again.

Jackie said...

I'm hoping that all of you are completely over the flu; it's been traveling the country, for sure. No fun.
Love the photos of your Grandson. He looks so happy; happy to see him with his best friend of years. Love the friendship shared.
Hugs to you and your family!
Jackie

Melanie said...

I enjoyed all your pictures, Sandie! Looks like everyone had a great time despite having the flu. :)
Katie is always having friends spend the night. I think just about all her friends call us Mom and Dad. :)

Beth said...

The pictures are wonderful. It looks like the kids are having a wonderful time. That is some gingerbread cookie!

Cranberry Morning said...

What great photos, Sandie! And my favorite is of Disco, the lap dog, watching TV with them. So darling!!

Jeanie said...

Fun pics of your Christmas activities. One of my grandsons also plays in a hand bell choir at his school. Their program was really fun to see.

Gail Dixon said...

That's a great quote and I really enjoyed the pics of your family. So sweet. Today is my errand day, so I a grateful that I have the means to shop and good health to get the house clean.

Anonymous said...

what a great time you all had, Disco is making sure no one touches his treat!!

Linda @ A La Carte said...

You were so busy during the holidays, I'm glad you took the time to share...as you say better late then never! Love all the photos! hugs, Linda

Lisa @ Two Bears Farm said...

I love these pics. Looks like such a fun holiday!

Sweet Posy Dreams said...

Fun times. Isn't it always the way that kids want some crazy gift and it turns out to be a letdown?

Optimistic Existentialist said...

Did anyone cue the "Jaws" music when that shark made its appearance? :)

jack69 said...

Awwwww, I like this one. Kids and forts, inside, outside anywhere is FUN. I am glad to know about the shark, it looked like so much fun I wanted one tooo!

Yeah, looking back is good, and looking back just a month is GREAT showing Christmas. Thanks

(Like the idea of Jesus a cake!)
Love and (((HUGS)))
Friend Evelyn came in to talk to Sherry, they are cmping here in the same park, She & Sherry were in HS together....

Bev said...

Thanks for the update.. Love it!

TexWisGirl said...

JUST a wee bit late! :)

i liked the christmas cake. :)

Nonnie said...

What a beautiful photo album of your Christmas together. Our boys love to build a fort with pillows, too. Your boy is a handsome one with a radiant smile! Sorry about the blimp!!

Starting Over, Accepting Changes - Maybe said...

We got the shark over the summer for a party and the kids loved it - for the day. It now lives a deflated existence in the back of a closet.

I'm lucky if I can remember yesterday, no less a month ago. It's good we take pictures. However, everybody getting the flu at the same time is quite a memory.

Unknown said...

My joy for the day is; I am outta work at 11 am! hehe. Loks like it was a busy but nice holiday!

Angela said...

That shark thing was huge! My kids used to build forts with the couch cushions until I got Lazy Boy couches where you can't take them off. I'm happy now! lol Drove me nuts when they would take them off. lol

Marsha Young said...

Well, bless your heart - this is MUCH better late than not at all.

Sorry about that flu - both the LOC and I had it in December, too; but not too terrible - and yes, we both had our flu shots too. Isn't that just the most irritating thing?
Blessings to you!

renae said...

oh Chatty! Such cute holiday pics to share. Your family is so nice. Your grandson is so cute. What a smile!!!!

Thanks for the compliments. I love hearing that stuff all day long. LOL

Marie said...

Enjoyed all the photos! Love the quote! It's never too late. :)

Unknown said...

What a delightful share Sandie ... love all the pics of gr-kid-ling. The best part of life is the enjoyment of seeing the joy on their faces .... those snuggles & loving hugs & laughter.

I have our kid-ling today ... ove her

Have a great day my precious friend
TTFN ~
Hugs & love,
Marydon

Journeyin' Lady... said...

Thanks for sharing your holiday - you had ups and downs and all in all, it sounds wonderful.

Karen Lange said...

Looks like you had a great time! Your grandson is one handsome young man. :)

Thanks for sharing your adventure with us.

Have a great week,
Karen

Theresa said...

Better late than never, works for me! I enjoyed seeing all about your Christmas:) Sweet Grandson, always smiling! Have a blessed week dear Sandie, HUGS!

Connie said...

Sorry you weren't able to escape the flu. Looks like you all had a great Christmas! Too bad the shark didn't work. It looks like it would have been fun. :-)

MunirGhiasuddin said...

Just now I finished reading Hilary's blog entry. That mad me happy.
Thanks for sharing those pictures. Aren't grand kids the best !

I'm mostly known as 'MA' said...

Except for the flu, it looks like you all did have a joyful Christmas. If we could all keep that Christmas feeling all year long it would be wonderful. The good news here today is that it is warmer and a lot of snow has melted. It'll be back sooner or later because winter is not over, but for just a few days we are above freezing.Hope your Monday is a wonderful one.

Farida said...

Great photos! I like the thought of buying a cake for Jesus and I will initiate this act this coming Christmas.

Ms. A said...

Well, you know what I'm going to say, don't you? I DID find joy on Christmas Day, since we celebrated on Christmas Eve... and I survived! Whew!

Sandy said...

Oh, such great photos and memories! Great Christmas! And this quote is one to copy into my journal for sure.

Andrea said...

What a wonderful post.... both about your lovely & joy-filled Christmas and about remembering to have joy each day!

A joy that comes to my mind from my day today is that I did a load of towels... and didn't have to wash them by hand at the river!! *ha-ha* Having an appliance that will do that for us... just put in soap, push a knob, put in the towels, close the lid... and go do something else. What a luxury!! I don't often acknowledge that luxury but I am today... thanks to you!! :)

--Andrea
XOXOXO

Susan said...

Hi Sandie....I'd say you guys all had a really lovely Christmas, minus the flu!

I loved that nighttime photo with the lights. I think you did a GREAT job.

And GS is so darling. What a delightful little boy but he's growing taller and taller.

Loved all the photos.

Take care and God bless you and your sweet family. Susan

Annie Jeffries said...

The flu at Christmas is no fun. Glad you have recovered. Fun to see the family celebration. There are glimpses of so many scenes that are played out across the nation. Such a happy time of universal good cheer. I'm hanging on to it with all my might.

Ginny Hartzler said...

I love this post about your Christmas!!! I don't know which is my favorite, I love GS and the big cookie, the boys and the pillow fort, all of you at that strange named restaurant.

Tweedles -- that's me said...

You had a lot of fun times- I can tell!
love
tweedles

Dee ⚜️⚜️⚜️⚜️⚜️ said...

Great pictures! I'm sorry you had the flu. I can't seem to shake a cold....we keep passing it around here.
Your grandson is a cutie Sandie :)

Nancy said...

I sure am glad that the flu didn't ruin your Christmas. Looks like you had a wonderful time with your family and that your grandson is a fun kid.....

Miss Debbie said...

sounds like a nice Christmas...except the flu part! :-)

Southhamsdarling said...

Great photos Sandie and it certainly looks as if you all had fun. Sorry about the flu though! Your grandson really is turning into a very handsome young man. That smile is going to break hearts one day!

Jackie said...

I am so so glad you feel better too. Oh my another one of your 'move you to tears post', which I happen to love.

I love everything about this post. Your family, the concert, Disco, your grandson and his friend, well, I didn't like the shark too much...but, everything else is just marvelous!

You do such a wonderful job Sandie with all of your posts!

My greatest joy today was a visit from my granddaughter!

I hope you have a very blessed week!

♥ Big Hugs hearts;

Jim said...

Too bad you guys all got the flu. I am glad it didn't last too awfully long. Sounds like your Christmas went well except for the electric shark. I didn't know there was such a thing, it would have been fun to fly around.

My joy was the hot dog I made me for lunch. It was soooo good that I made myself another. It had no-fat chees, saurkraut, and mustard beside the dog and bun. I was my first at home since November but I did have one on the ship.
..

Anonymous said...

Sandie I want to tell yall that I've surely enjoyed looking at the photo's of what yall did Christmas an I agree,let's keep joy in our hearts all year,every day,we are a blessed bunch of people.
~Jo @ LoblollyLane

Blondee said...

Looks like all in all a good holiday. My daughter saw those helium sharks and begged for one, too. Glad we saved our money! lol

Disco is so cute!

Elizabeth said...

My joy for the day is mundane, but it made me content and happy - I got my bathrooms cleaned and all floors mopped.
The secret is to find joy in even the small things.

Auntie sezzzzzz... said...

Awwwwwwwwww, precious memories. Captured in photos.

Gentle hugs,
"Auntie"

Dee said...

It is fun reminiscing....it keeps the warm fuzzies flowing. Your relationship with your grandson reminds me of mine with Max. He was almost a second son to us. Max is the 21 year old using our car for work LOL.

renae said...

hey Chatty, I got your money, honey. see email.

Gina said...

What fun! Glad you got to share some of your Christmas memories with us.

Belle said...

It was fun seeing your Christmas! I love the cake for Jesus - so pretty. Sorry you guys got the flu. That happened to all of us one year. A flying shark! Too bad it didn't work. I can see why he wanted it.

Debby@Just Breathe said...

Sandie, it looks like a perfect Merry, Merry Christmas! So glad you had a wonderful time. (except for the flu that is!) Like those bulbs on the cake...what were they made of?

Stacy said...

What great pictures and memories! Tim and I were both sick with the flu (or some nasty virus) so we didn't do a darn thing the whole 11 day break (Tim had taken vacation time to be home with me). Getting dinner on the table Christmas day was about the biggest thing we did. There's always next year.

Mevely317 said...

Delightful pix, Sandie! Andy is looking so grown up!
I'm envious of that sweet wall of books you've got going there ... looks so cozy!

betty said...

Love that quote; we should talk about our joys more indeed! Looks like wonderful celebrations of Christmas Sandie!! I'm sure the time spent together was the best of it all!

betty

Sally Wessely said...

I can relate to that better late than never! I am so far behind on blogging. I loved the photos. It looked like you had a great Christmas.

Sharon said...

Oh what fun! Thanks for sharing all of this - even belatedly, it was a wonderful post. GS is adorable - he just is. Disco, too.

In fact, the entire Chatty family is adorable!

A joy that I had just today? Waking up to an unexpected blanket of snow, and lunch out with my husband.

xo

Shug said...

Happy to be back visiting your blog..Makes my day!
Blessings,
shug

Lois Christensen said...

What great photos. Your grandson is really growing into such a handsome young man! Love the last photo of you and the family together!

~Lavender Dreamer~ said...

My oldest son hung a whale about that size from his ceiling when he was a teen! lol I haven't thought about that in years. I had fun at the thrift store this morning and posted about it! It was pure joy!

Cheryl @ TFD said...

Looks like you had a wonderful Christmas. Sorry you had the flu at the same time. We've all had the flu here and so hoping it is once and done. The birthday cake looks yummy! Sweet photos of your family!

Unknown said...

Seems like you had a great time over christmas in spite of the flu. I love all the pictures, your GS has such a lovely smile. And Disco is so cute protecting his gift. I like your motto :) Have a great week my friend. Big hugs x

Eva

Granny Annie said...

It is especially Christmas with a child in the house.

Unknown said...

Yes, you have been greatly blessed.

Annesphamily said...

Great review of the Christmas holidays! Love it!

My joy today was driving in the snow and not having too difficult of a time!

We always bake a birthday cake for Jesus and sing to Him too!

I have lots of great things we did for Easter too when the kids were younger! We still bake the egg shaped cake and write on it "He is Risen!"

That flu is awful this year! Two children under the age of three died here in Colorado and many have been hospitalized.

Stay healthy and enjoy the week!

Betty Manousos said...

wonderful, precious photos!
looks and sounds like a fabulous christmas, except for the flu! xo

Suzan said...

Lovely Belated Christmas Pictures!! Fantastic Gingerbread Man too!

Debbie said...

I love the whole idea of boys making a fort in the living room. It is exactly the kind of thing my husband and his best friend used to do. I know, because he has told me.

I love that quote at the end too.
I had never thought about it, but it is SO TRUE!! I can get caught up in that addiction so easily, too.

ocmist said...

Sounds like great Christmas memories were made! Lots of fun and pics to remember it by! I LOVE gingerbread!

Mike is going to buy us a reclining Love Seat... Two recliners put together with a console for drinks between. Now we will be able to hold hands while we watch TV instead of having to sit so far apart, and I will still be able to sleep in a recliner! That is a WONDERFUL thing for me. We went and looked at them today... :)