Christmas memories

For those of you curious about the artwork in my previous post..find out all the information you need here.
Christmas..this year it was about the children. Which is a good thing and made it quite interesting. Kids get cool toys.
We left the 16 inches of snow and drove south of Charlotte, North Carolina..where they had no snow. The dogs were bewildered..
Henry and Dana enjoy a quiet moment by Jason's parents tree. This was a rare quiet moment when a 5 and 8 year old are involved.Christmas morning arrived with the expected screaming, chaos and paper shredding pandemonium. This ruckus was taken differently by all involved.
Cali..found solace by laying on Jason's foot as we opened presents.
Dana..not a fan of loud noises or small people. She had no where to be and eventually found a quiet rug in the dining room to snooze. But she needed some encouragement to do that..Henry..we decided we need to find out what drug this boy is on and get in on it. He is unshakable. This was his chosen place during the chaos.Then we packed up and headed north to my parents in Roanoke. they still had snow but it was sloppy and muddy in most places..so i didn't get any photos outside. Boone enjoyed his first Christmas. I only wish they made these type of toys when I was a kid!!Cali wants in on the action..
We got a Nintendo DS, new front speakers for our surround sound system, a new cherry cutting board, various clothes and random stuff. I think Jason's favorite may have been the gift from my sister..a Porsche hubcab clock..It is New year's Eve and we have very little planned for the evening. We are heading out to dinner with Beau and Belle's Mom and Dad and then trying to stay awake until midnight. We have some great trips and adventures planned for 2010, so we can bring it in sedately..right?
Happy New Year!

To all our friends in "blog land"

Happy Holidays from

Nor'easter story

I must start in the beginning of this story..a mere 48 hours ago. Jason had just gotten back from a 4 day trip..and every one was happy and content.
Bear with me..the story is a bit verbose..I promise you will be rewarded with lots of photos. The weathermen say..we are going to get snow. this is Richmond..we had a decent snow last winter. I have lived here 10 years. We have had 2 snows in that span of more than an inch. They forecast a weekend of lots of snow. So...I hit the store, refresh the netflix, cancel all plans and prepare for a nice slow relaxing weekend at home. Since the snow was supposed to start Friday night ..we figured it would take a few hours before it would stick to the roads. So we plan a dinner out with Rob and his daughter megan.
After dinner..there was 6 inches of snow on the road. The Beastie..NO problem. Plowed right through. Rob's car..not so much. He tried to get home..couldn't make it. Turned around..tried to get to our house..got stuck. So we got back in the car..and plowed a few miles down the road to pick him up. We bring them back to the house for the night hoping the morning would prove better. Saturday morning..blizzard. We had 15 inches of snow and it hadn't stopped. So we decided ..his car wouldn't make it home any better that morning. so they would stay until Sunday. No clothes, no toothbrush, no car..and no choice. So..we decide to make lemonade out of lemons and gather a party. Scott and Iva arrive for some good old D&D.it doesn't stop snowing! A few bottles of wine make the snow angel seem like a good idea..On Sunday..we awake to a winter wonderland...with 16 inches of snow.We all hop in the Beastie and literally forge a trail out of the neighborhood..I was proud of the girl. She proved her worth, and then some! We manage to get to Rob's car and get him dug out and on his way.After all of this..i am finally able to get home..get geared up..and take the photographs I had been waiting for! My weekend was not as relaxing as I had planned...but we had fun regardless.
now..your reward.
Only Henry has on a coat, b/c he is the only one that actually gets cold out there!
Shiloh bounds.
and shows how deep the snow actually is..
As well as how good it must be..
Henry for some reason thought the snow felt good..and insisted on rubbing his face in it at all times.

Dante..well..he is probably 6 inches tall. So the snow is 10 inches over his head. We did carry him under the deck to do his business..but for S's and G's we dropped him in the snow for a photo op. then picked him up again. he was NOT amused.
It took Dana a while to play in it..it was very deep. So she watched everyone else for a while
But figured it out in not time!

Cali..she loves the snow and played in it constantly. This photo..she literally did a four leg hop straight off the ground and I happened to catch it at its peak.
Henry is taunting Dana..
It worked.
this is called.. Cluster..

Just running..




one of my favs..
Looks like Dana is pooting snow...;-)




and our neighbors all made snowmen..we could not be outdone.
Oh and as for the flowers..I never figured out who sent them or who we were being thanked for saving. I supposed we will never know..
Happy Holidays! We are leaving for our holiday travels soon. I might get more photos of the snow before we leave..

Mystery..need help

Christmas is for giving and for miracles and Santa works in mysterious ways..all things I am aware of and appreciate.
I would really like to thank the person who sent me this beautiful bouquet of flowers and find out what the cryptic card message "...for saving me" means. I would love to know who I saved and how. Please reveal yourself..as it will drive me batty if you don't. ;-)I know it wasn't from my hounds..as I did this to them on Saturday. No way they are thanking me for anything....
But please..help me figure out who sent this. And yes..i called the flower delivery company..they called the sender. The sender declined being released...
any ideas or suggestions are welcome.
Thank you..if you are reading this. I am glad we saved you..now save my sanity and tell me who you are...;-)
Happy Holidays