Goodbye 2009......welcome 2010

Wow! 2009 literally flew by....so many things to be thankful for....I generally do not make resolutions.....not much point ot them in my book.....I generally do not stay up til midnight on New Year's Eve, either....usually we are at my grandmother's for my Aunt's bonfire....I like to take the 'just another day attitude'. But we decided to do things differnt this year....we decided to stay home and try to start some traditions.....let the girls have friends over and do things here at the house....we had planne don digging a fire pit and doing fireworks but it's a little too wet for either of those ideas...so we headed to blockbuster...it' shard to find a decent movie for 13 year olds! We settled on the oringinal Star Wars movies.....Grace saw one the other day and loved it as only she could! Games are out adn food is everywhere.....chips, dips.....coka cola, dr pepper...Girls are supposed to be here around 4. House is cleaned and floors are swept and mopped.....not sure why we did that with kids coming over, but we did. Expecting alot of fun memories to be made tonight...




Sidenote....happiness is hearing your almost 10 year old sing 'I'll Fly Away' while playing with her Hot Wheels....


Here's a copy of the annual letter......kind of gives you an idea of what's been going on this past year..

Last February saw both girls being baptized on the same day. It was such a precious and special day!


In January Grace played EASA basketball. Coy was the coach and she improved so much. She was humbled when she was selected as the female played of the year. A lot of her soccer friends were on the team, and it was a fun season. She was 5’7” at her last checkup and wants to keep growing. She has a short pixie haircut that looks great on her. She was at the tip top of her class last year and has been working even harder to make it to the very top. She has tried running cross country, playing volleyball and playing basketball so far. Cross country was ok; she enjoyed running alone. Her team won first in the District meet. In volleyball she was beginning to spike and block well as the season was winding down. She played soccer again for the Lady Destroyers in the rec. league Her team won third place at the state tournament in the Under 14 division. The girls were so excited. Her position was sweeper, which is the last person before the goalie. She’s figuring out that her daddy may (Let me emphasize may) know a thing or two about math.

JoGail is in the fourth grade and will be ten next month. She is getting to play EASA basketball this year for the first time. Coy says she isn’t bad. He’s her coach AGAIN. Poor girl has never had anybody but her daddy for a coach! Their soccer team, the Soccer Sisters, missed going to the state tournament by 1 point. Those girls have improved so much! She has made all A’s this year and is just growing up before our eyes. She still has a generous heart and loves being around people. She got glasses this summer and can see much better now!!! She has sports glasses and looks pretty cool in them! She still rides the bus over to Coy’s office every afternoon and gets help from him with her homework. Of course, she’s sneaking chocolate with Karen and Carol every chance she gets, too! JoGail is developing her passion for cooking…She loves reading cookbooks and trying our new recipes. I have even caught her on the internet reading recipes. We made Toad in the Hole (toast with an egg cooked in the middle) yesterday!

Laurie is still a diagnostician in Mabank. My job is always changing and it keeps me on my toes! I am on facebook…check it almost every day! That’s an easy way to keep up with us. I also have a blog that keeps me busy-www.lkch.blogpost.com

Coy is coaching two EASA basket ball teams-JoGail’s 3rd and 4th grade team and a 5th and 6th grade team. So that’s keeping him extra busy. Between that and going to things at the school, he never slows down. He’s still reading and playing with computers when he’s home. He’s also enjoyed playing the girls in the Wii games.

As a family we have discovered playing the game of 42. Usually it’s Grace and Coy against JoGail and I. She and I seem to think a little more untraditional when it comes to bidding. It’s fun. We were fortunate to be able to travel to the Grand Canyon for vacation. It was a long ride but well worth it. We enjoyed it.

May God Bless you and yours in the coming year!!!!

Choco cherry Pie-oh my!

Oh oh my! JoGail got me the herhsey kisses cookbook for Christmas......oh my!!! I let her pick a recipe out for us to try together.....thisis what she chose and oh my!!!

1 baked pie crust, cooled
1 3/4 C hershey mini kisses-divided  ( I used nestle milk choc pieces)
1 1/2 c mini marshmallows
1/3 c milk
1 cup cold whipping cream
1 can cherry pie filling

Place 1 cup mini cho pieces, marshmalloes and 1/3 c milk in  pam sprayed microwave safe bowl and microwave about 2 mins or until you can stir it and it is smooth. CHILL completely.

Beat whipping cream (thank goodness I had a hand blender and JoGail did this!) ; fold into chocolate mixture. Warning-if you eat the chocolate mixture it is awesome!
Spoon into crust and refrigerate at least 4 hours.
Garnish with cherry pie filling and leftover choc pieces and whipped cream.


recipe from Hershey Kisses  Brand Recipes cookbook


We are planning on serving this tomorrow night when Grammy and PawPaw are here...after homemade soup!

We are enjoying the break. I never really thought our gang would start enjoying watchign movies the way we have this break. I'm ok as long as I can search recipes on the laptop during the movie. I am just not good at doing nothing while watchign a movie!!! :)

No snow here.....just a cold rain. I think the weather man said it may snow a little tonight. We had turkey pot pie for supper tonight  and it was so good! It just tastes so much better with leftover turkey then chicken-or that's what my gang thinks.

Coy and the girls put together JoGail's hotwheels Cars racetrack. They have really enjoyed playing with it. I think both girls have enjoyed it.

 I have been reading.....books from the library. I have readd three Regan Riley mysteries and am trying a new author now. It's been nice not thinking about work for awhile. I know it'll be back on my mind soon enough.

I need to go check on the pie but my 13 year old has her head in my lap so I think I will wiat awhile.....love that girl !

Christmas with Coy's gang!

We made it to Rockwall this afternoon---about the same time Judy and Jerry made it! They were supposed to be there a couple of days ago but couldn't get out of Anson. As usual we had a great time and great food! JoGail showed Todd all about the Price is Right Nintendo game!!!  We got to visit with Jim and Jennifer from Kansas City, too! They have such precious boys....They are growing up soo fast, too !!

After visiting with them we had to hit Barnes and Noble--hey we were within 12 miles of one! I swear Grace has a builkt in radar for finding those things. Needless to say Coy and I were the only ones talking on the way home-the girls were reading.

Broke down and put up the Christmas decorations this evening. Either tomorrow or Monday we will tackle the outside stuff. Hwo come it always come sdown alot faster than putting it up??

I told Coy this evening that I have had enough sweets. I am ready to get back on the calorie counting band wagon. Who would have thought I would say  that???

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas everyone! May the trued spirit of Christmas be in ur hearts and on our minds this special day!

Christmas Day started at 6:30 around here. That's early for the girls. Just as well since I had to put hte 20 pound turkey on to cook. Yes, that's right, 5 pounds of turkey PER PERSON. I see turkey recipes all in my head! Tried calling Ragley to talk to Grammy and PawPaw but they weren't up yet.....

We had a little snow yesterday. Not really enough to even coat everything, but the girls did get to see it snow.

The Christmas Eve service at church was unbelievable. Just so touching. Each family goes up adn prays togehter, lights a candle and the has the Lord's Supper-as a family. Takes a little while but it is such a special tradition. Just seeing all the families is neat. Such a special time for the family.

Here's the menu for lunch:
Turkey
Dressing
Cranbery Sauce
Sweet potato casserole
Green bean casserole
Coy' s layered salad
Rolls
Tea
Pumpkin pie


This afternoon I get to cook some tings to take to Todd and Michelle's tomorrow.....yummy! I cana't wait to use my new food processor and make margherita balls!

Cookie Decorating 2009

Here is a sampling of the cookies we made and decorated yesterday. I am proud to say that the girls' decorating skills have dramatically improved. We had alot of fun doing this. The girls look forward to this every year. This afternoon we are taking on the gingerbread house! I also have promised the girls a trip to the thrift store. They love to take 5 dollars each and try to find a bargain. Grade heads to the music and books section and JoGail heads to the ladies' clothes. The best thing is they never know what they will find! I'll try to remember to post theid finds. Coy's new glasses came in. He said he could tell a difference immediately. I think he looks even mor elike Harry Potter in these glasses. He got the transition lenses this time-I hope he likes them. I had to get the extra table out to put all the sweets on. We just have too many. Makes it super easy to graze all day, too.

Cole Christmas

The Cole Christmas get together was nice. All five of mom and dad's kids and gradkids were there....we missed having Joey there, though....We made a flying trip out to Colorado C ity and back because it was on Sunday and we had eye doctor appointments this morning. We had plenty to eat and it was all good.

Today we tackled the girls rooms. They look so much better. A little left to finish them off but not much. The best thing is that I don't have to think about it any more over the break! Since they worked hard and were compliant we are taking them to see 'Blindside' tonight. Everyone tells me it is a good movie and at 3 dollars a ticket you can't beat the price. We are going to the early show after we go to the ortho at 3.

I got two new cookbooks as gifts! I have already finished reading them. I have post it notes marking things I want to try! JoGail scored an apron and a kids' cookbook by Gooseberry Patch. She was up at 7:15 ready to make Toad in the Hole for breakfst. We had a good time making them together. I wouldn't have a clue where she gets loving to cook from!

Tomorrow is basketball practice and grocery shopping....I've managed to out it this afternoon!!!

Almost there!!!

We're almost at Christmas break!!!!! One more morning!!!!!

Coy adn the girls had early release this afternoon....but I sitll beat them home! Coy dedided to go ahead adn practice his young basketball team. I had shake n bake chicken, black eyed peas, broccoli and roasted potatoes waiting when they finally came in. Must have been good-nothing's left! Tomorrow afternoon he's practicing the older team. I am planning baked fish and sides for tomorrow night when they come in.

We had awesome appetizers this morning at the office. Got me way off my eating schedule and blodd sugar dropped this eevening, but I htink I have it back up now. I ate too much this morning and not enough this afternoon. Gotta watch that this time of year! Tonight I have to finish cooking fo rthe dish exchange tomorrow. Creamy rotel dip and I htink I'm going ot try one called swiss cheese dip. Probably make them both tonight and just reheat them in the morning.

Right now we are all watching Winnie the Pooh's Christmas.....fun to watch again with the girls....they used to love Winnie the Pooh.....and Little Bear....

Made it by the library on my way home today.....I have books to read over the break!!!! Hope I don't decided to do nothing and read them all in one day!

Gotta go get busy again in the kitchen! I love it!!

3 more mornings!

WHOOP! WHOOP! We are working our way to Saturday......the first day of Christmas break!

One more trip to Wal-Mart tonight....Does anyone else get tired of going???? Last minutes thign sthe girls needed for school and groceries for what I am taking to work Thursday and Friday. By the way, I am taking regular rotel dip on Thursday and then swiss cheese dip (new recipe!) and creamy rotel dip on Friday. Creamy rotel dip is 2 blocks of cream cheese melted with cooked sausage and 1 can drained rotel.....it is good! My Aunt Toot taught me this recipe at her New Year's Eve bonfire a couple of years ago. Things are getting thrown together for the Cole Christmas as well. I am taking things for a relish tray and some baked cookies. I though tthe kids would like the cookies. My dad has a new cookie recipe he's bringing called bizcochito.....the recipe I found online calls for 1 POUND of LARD....Yes, LARD.....I'm thinking it's not too healthy but I bet it tastes good! You never know what we will eat at a Cole get together. I've wondered if we will have pink salad??? That was always a hit with everyone growing up.


3 more mornings...it was chilly this morning.....I really didn't want to get out of bed! But then agian I never do want to get up.....never really have now that I think about it!

4 more mornings...

Four more mornings up getting up early!!! I know, January will be hard.............but I am not dwelling on THAT. I don't even want to think about going back to school in January!

We had homeade vegetable soup when we came in from the game tonight. It was delicious! Didn't even mess with cornbread.....crackers were enough. Grace's basketball team is improving. Still not neceassily in the winning column we are noticing improvements.

I am startign to get a little excited about seeing everyone this coming weekend. Hope the weather holds and kids can stay healthy. I dont' want to be around sick people.......that would probably mean I would get sick over my break and I don't want that to happen! I don' t want to drive all the way out there and come back with a virus or the flu! But I am looking forward to seeing everyone. Not necessarily looking forward to the wind people keep talking about on facebook, though.

Well, th emopping fairy has managed to avoid my house yet again. Come home from church and floors still need mopping. Come home from school and the floors still need mopping...far as I can remember she has never found my house! Wish she would, though! I've got lots of tile!

Since Coy has board meeting tomorrow night, it'll be a relatively quiet night for the girls and I. We'll bake for the youth Christmas party and continue getting ready for those semester tests on Thursday and Friday.

Almost time for The Big Bang Theory......my Monday night laugh in .

Christmas on the Square

Christmas on the square was great! Teh band and choirs sounded awesome. Coy said the parade had 14 floats!!! WOW! Thee were lots of people there, sespite the wet weather and chill. Lots of people took advantage of the free lemons and peppermint sticks. I think Bro. Paul said they gave away about 400....that's lot of sticky people in Eustace! I did find out that he buys the peppermint sticks at the Cracker Barrel....by the case full. Afterwards, Coy took us to Pizza Hut. That's always good and fun!

What a busy day! Bakes alot of cookies this morning! There was one type I baked, cranberry oatmeal, that was awesome. They smelled and tasted so good! JoGail and I maade rolo turtles and oreo balls this afternoon. That girl loves to cook! I am debating about making some gumdrop fudge tonight or waiting til tomorrow. I think I will wait until tomorrow. I am pooped. I cooked down a hcicken today while I was baking to have during the week. It's going to be a busy week!

Monday-Grace basketball game
Tuesday-Coy board meeting
Wednesday-Grace youth party & church Grace-semester tests
Thursday--Early release for the girls -Grace semester tests
Friday-Coy basketball practice and early release for the girls-Grace semester tests
Sat-rest and pack to head to Colorado City
Sunday-Cole Christmas at Beki and David's, weather permitting

Still not sure what I am making to take to Beki's. Has to travel well and doesn't need to be refrigerated since we will probably spend Sat night somewhere. I'm thinking choc candy will not be good because it would probably melt in the car with the heater. :(

Any ideas or requests of what I can take???

AHHHH A quiet nite!

Oh it's quiet! Coy and Grace are at basketball practice. JoGail spent the night with Jana. Nice and quiet. I guess you could say it's the calm before the storm! Tomorrow's going to be a fun day....staying in pj's and baking most of the morning. The church tasting tea is Sunday after the choir concert. The Edward's brought me the cookie dough and all I have to is bake! (And try not to eat too many!!) I am also going to try out some other recipes I have been holding onto. Getting cards out in the mail is also another goal for tomorrow. JoGail gets home around 12 and then tomorrow night we have Eustace's Chrisstmas on the Square! The parade starts t 5:30. Coy is going to try adn not get hit with candy this year!! HAHA We'll see! Grace is on the Student Council float adn the Select choir JoGail is in is singing at the gazebo.

Next weekend is the Cole Christmas, if the weather holds. We are all planning on gathering at Beki and David's new house. It will be good ot see everyone. I'm not sure what I am going to take. It'll have to be thought out because I think we are leaving sometime around noon and spending the night somewhere before getting to their house on Sun. Any ideas? Some things I have thought about include sausage balls...I don't know though. Whatever it is will also have to travel well.
I have to take thing sto work on Thursday and Friday as well. I am taking easy cheesy rotel dip on thursday and I think I am making a new recipe for Friday. We do a dish exchange in our department. We draw names and bring a dish with food in it. Then whoever's name we had gets the dish plus any leftovers. Last year I got a trifle bowl that I had been wanting for awhile....it was fun. Plus I got a couple new recipes! Jane's dried beef dip has become a favorite of mine!

My secret sister at church was Sally Johnson! She did such an awesome job! I love the little cards she would mail me. She is such a sweet lady and such an encouragement. She always has a smile, regardless of how she feels. I love her!! One of her gifts to me was the Southern Living recipe Collection for 2009....Oh my goodness!!! I have been reading a litle bit of it every night since I got it. Thank you, Sally!

Just a few more minutes of quiet time before Coy and Grace get home......it's gonna be a great weekend!

JoGail's a winner!

JoGail placed third in the oral reading competition!!! WHOOP! WHOOP! The name of her selection was Twattletalk Tuck....it was about a kid who talked all the time......go figure! I am so proud of her...I will post a picture when she gets her award for it.

Had a simple supper tonight....pinto beans with cornbread. It's just hard to beat that. Made some homemade vegetable soup in the castiron dutch oven foor this weekend.....letting the flavors mend......it'll be so good!

I am excited for this weekend! I have a list of holiday things to do!!! Baking for the Tasting Tea at church, Christmas cards, and trying a new recipe.....holiday turtles.....I think this is somehting my brother in law Alex would like.....you take a pretzel and slightly melt a rolo on it then top with a pecan half.......maybe we'll make some more oreo balls too--just have to see how much energy I have!

Just got in from teh band concert and it was very nice. Not too long...just about right!!! Of course Grace was pretty much in the middle of the band so I didn't get very many good pictures of her. I was trying.....had to look through music stands to see her. But she was there!

Wed night----AWANAS night!!!!

WOW!!!! Pizza was a big hit at the church family supper tonight..Sure makes it easier on those of us serving!!!! The salad was one of our bes tonight, tooo.....

Grace had her lasat nursing home Christmas party tonight. I think she was mroe prepared this week. She and Mackenzie had a blast to hear her talk about it. Apparently a lady told them to take her to room 130.....so they wheeled her all over the nursing home looking for room 130! She said they got lost!

AWANAS was a little wild......we had seven little ones. I took the cloth nativity scene and told the Christmas story. It always amazes me how God calms them for the story time. And the things they remember! It's just really awesome. I enjoy those little ones! Then we had movie theatre popcorn and hot chocolate with marshmallows for a snack.

Foudn of who my secret sister was.... and I never would have guessed!!!!! Ms Sally!!!! She is such as awesome lady. She has so much joy and I truly appreciate her. She one of those people who come in your life and your life is never the same. She and I laugh alot and cry alot together.

Tomorrow night's the band concert. Doesn't start til seven, so it will be another late night. I think we have had soemthing every night this week. I am missing my family time. I know it will calm down soon and by the end of Christmas break I will be ready to send the girls back to school! Pinto beans are soaking.......pinto beans and cornbread for the best supper ever! I'm also going to start my vegetable soup for Sat. tomorrow night. Gonna break out the cast iron double dutch oven again! Love that thing! Thanks mom and Dad!

About to fall asleep so I better go get ready for bed. The cortizone shot last night kept me up til about 12, so I am extra tired right now. 2 more days till the weekend and we have plans!!!

Catching up

Well, I had a steroid shot this afternoon at the doctor, so I am full of energy tonight! I have been toying with the idea of trying to update this more frequently. I know ther are some out there that have requested that......a little update on everyone.

JoGail and Coy had their first baskteball practice tonight. Coy said this team will be fun to coach..There are several girls on it from his soccer team plus some new ones. He said the worked on layups without a ball this evening for awhile! JoGail has managed to make all A's so far this year in fourth grade! Tomorrow she has the academic competition. I believe she is participaing in oral reading and dictionary skills. She loves to cook and read recipes (gee, wonder who she got that from???) She loves to make orea balls for her and Coy to eat. She's still as cute as ever! Blond hair, blue eyes and glasses. Cute as a bug in a rug!

Grace is in 7th grade and is officially a teenager. Last weekend her team placed THIRD at the state soccer competition! We were so prpud of her. She even scored!!!! That's rare since she played sweeper on defense and never really had much of an opportunity to score-side note here--I almost hurt myself jumping up out of my chair . (Sweeper is the last person before the goalie.) She has tried running cross country, volleyball and is now into basketball at school. Her hair is still short and she still loves it. She is still on Student Council and enjoys that as well. She has also managed stragiht A's and is just growing up way too fast for her mama! She can cook one protein-baked tilapia. Other than that, well, it's cereal. We're working on learning how to cook spaghetti next. She sees no point in cooking when she can have cereal.....


I'll try to post a basketball schedule for Grace and JoGail when I get JoGail's. I'm certain her games will be a hoot. I think the half time score at Grace's game last night was 3-2.

Coy is staying busy at work. He still enojys going in so that's always a positive sign! He has such good people to work with. They keep him laughing and on his toes. Then after school he has homework duty...usually the girls and at least a acouple of friends go to his office for homework help. The girls say their friends think his office is "cool". He's healthy as a horse and still drinking the diet cokes and eatinfg pop tarts for breakfast!

I am hanging in there. Trying to keep up with everyone. I have really enojyed cooking for the family and trying to keep it halfway healthy. Work is still enjoyable. I, too, have an awesome group of people to work with. I am so thankful the girls have wonderful teachers at their schools. Their teachers seem to enjoy them which make sme a little bit proud!

I am planning on posting more to this blog, so check back frequently!!!