Merry Christmas to you!

I guess I should also say, 'or whatever you do' too.  Happy Festivus!

We've had a busy few days.  Jolea came in Tuesday night and Jeff brought her directly to the house they didn't go out as planned, as they were both tired and Jeff had to work the next morning.

Wednesday Jolea and I did some shopping gag, I'd rather take a beating and it wasn't too bad.  Then we both got our hair cut.  I've had the same hairdresser since 1990!!! OMG!  Her son and Jolea were in 1st grade together.  So DeeDee was quite happy to see Jolea and Jolea's hairs were quite happy to see DeeDee.  Jolea hadn't had a professional hair cut since the last time DeeDee cut her hair, something like 3 years ago!

Like always Jolea has been doing a lot of cooking since she's been home.  Here she's making Mini Deep Dish Pizzas with Gracie's help.  These were really good, and even though I'd had surgery the tooth thing I was able to eat a couple and they were really good.  We came to the decision that they needed a few more ingredients than just mini pepperonis and cheese, next time we'll throw in some ground beef, bell peppers, green or black olives, onions, etc. as much as you can in a muffin tin.  Maybe it's time to purchase one of those muffin tins for extra large muffins. Hey.... I could make little chicken pot-pies in those too!

Friday we ventured out to deliver a Tiramisu and some not so spicy salsa to Lourdes and then we attempted to shop again, MISTAKE!  Jolea was trying to find an outfit to wear later.  She and Jeff were going out in Dallas.  She ended up raiding my closet, good thing for her that I don't dress like a Mom.  We spent more time in the parking lots than we did in the stores, Jolea shops like me, we scan, we spot something then we touch it, look at it, maybe try it on.  We're in and out in minutes.

Jeff came up for tenderloin and baked potatoes like father like son and he and Jolea headed back down to Dallas to meet up with an old friend of Jolea's from 7th grade and Jeff's buddies.
 

Then yesterday morning as Jeff was bringing her back up from Dallas, she remembers that she's supposed to meet a friend for breakfast.  Long story short, Jessica meets her at the house.  We whip up some pancakes and bacon and have a lovely chat with Jess and her adorable baby boy Braxton over breakfast. 

Seems like just a few weeks ago these girls were headed off to Padre for Spring Break.

He's a cute kid.

Here he's 'putting it out there for the girls' as Jolea and Jess said.

Gracie just LOVED his visit... it really freaked her out that we had a tiny person brought in to chase after her under the table.  I'm sure if she'd run through her tube he may have tried to follow her.

Around noon another old friend drops by and Jolea is whisked off for lunch with Woody's family Jolea and Woody worked together when she was home for the 2005 hurricane season.  She was later met and brought home by a different friend.  Chris and Jolea went to High School together.  Chris came in and stayed for a bit and they played guitars and sang together until the football game was over and he had to get back to his family.

We had dinner and soon after Amanda and her husband Matt came by.  Amanda and Jolea have also been friends since Junior High school when they were in 4-H together but attended different schools until high school.  We'd never met Matt, he's usually deployed overseas somewhere but is now stationed in Washington state.

We put all the leaves in Great,great,great Grandma's table, thinking that surely more of the kid's friends would wander in today around meal time.  Seems that the one that Jolea had invited I guess she felt sorry for him, she always tried to bring in strays may not come after all.  So we'll just scooch it back in to a setting of four.  Fine with me,  because there isn't much tiramisu or chocolate pie left.  I'm supposed to be making a chocolate cake right now but the ham is in the oven.

Tomorrow Jolea and I will set out for New Braunfels to visit Grandma and Grandpa.  Then it's off to Houston Tuesday to see Nita.  Jolea and Nita haven't seen each other since 2008 when Jolea was living in St. Thomas and we all went to see her there.  Then it's back home Wednesday morning, maybe catch Michael and Di as they are in Dallas for doctor appointments. and Jolea will fly out for Key West on Thursday.

Merry Christmas to all and to all a great week.