Burrr it is Cold Outside!

It has been a very festive Christmas week and was enjoyed with family and friends from across the country. I attended my grandsons' Christmas program at the Rushville-Gordon Middle School on Thursday night.

Jarret and Taylen

Jarret playing sax

Taylen the cimbals 

A week ago Friday Jessamyn and Paqui's families, along with James my brother in law all arrived and we enjoyed our early Christmas Eve traditional oyster stew. Saturday we par took in a prime rib early Christmas feast with close friends Dan and his daughter's family Jennee, Dennis, Conner and Trayden from Oklahoma.  On actual Christmas Eve I went with or'dourves and champagne in hand to Tom and Linda's for some holiday cheer and chili. Through all the weeks's festivities, laughter, love, and of course gifts were exchange in the spirit of Christmas. Christmas Day was my day to retrospect the past year by dog sitting Sunny (the bully) and curling up watching vintage Christmas movies  on TV.

Jay and Jessamyn

Gonzales family

Bedlam!

Even the Rico was exhausted!

Yesterday my friends Bruce and Mary from Lisle IL popped in for a visit on their way home from Colorado. It is so nice to see them and they took such good care of Brian and I when we traveled so much back and forth to the Cancer Treatment Center in Zion. We won't be venturing outside too much today because we awoke and it was a frigid -11 degrees with snow on the ground.

I am sending out love for my New Year's wish for 2013. Love our neighbors and do good unto men!

A White Christmas!

Lo and behold, it is snowing today and there is hope yet for a white christmas. There is 2 inches on the ground as I speak and I am waiting until it quits before venturing out to shovel. Imagine, shoveling snow what a novelty.

This past week I have gone to Denver to see a play, Irvin Berlin's White Christmas and attended Zeyda's preschool Christmas program. Both were great shows. The singing and dancing was exceptional, especially in the play.

Preparing for the show

Singing their hearts out

Zeyda asking Santa for a Furbie

After the program we cruised around town to see the Christmas lights. There is one particular house in Scottsbluff that always has a tremendous light show. Imagine their electric bill is sky high like the Christmas tree on top of their home.

On the way to Denver to the play, Linda graciously stopped at Greenwood Cemetery in Sidney so I could see Brian's headstone that was set. I hadn't had a chance to see it until now. I think he would have like it. 

Sitting Grandma

Is it Sitting Bull or a sitting grandma?  I have just returned from Gordon where I was watching my grandsons, the cat and dog while Jessamyn and Jay went to Las Vegas to the National Finals Rodeo. The boys where quite the gentlemen and I had to actually get a few meals on the table. It is good to keep in practice once in awhile. Congratulations goes out to Jessamyn and Jay for today is their first wedding anniversary, Love you both!

Tomorrow I head to Denver with Linda to see the play, Irving Berlin's White Christmas, at the Buell Theatre. We are staying overnight and doing one of my favorite things shopping! There has been no grass growing under my feet! Go. Go, GO and away I go.

I have dragged out ten or more Christmas boxes from the shed and rummaged through them deciding  what went up and not. It got me into the Christmas spirit even though no snow here, just cold. Next week the grandkids have their respective Christmas programs and I will be running up and down the country to attend if the weather is cooperative. What are grandmas for anyway. Our family will be celebrating Christmas on the weekend before so we can spend more time together and so the kids can visit their spouses families. 

These pictures are of the ornament in memory of Brian that I took to the Knight Museum's Christmas memorial tree that they put up every year. It symbolizes his talent and all time love of music.

Aloha and Mahalo

Sunrise on Nancy's lanai

Lanai

This Honolulu trip has been a wonderful experience of renewal! Mahalo goes out to my sister for keeping me entertained and immersed in the Hawaiian culture. Our connection was special and we communed with each other over good gourmet food and martinis, often on her lanai looking over the city.

 Arizona Memorial

Nancy and I visited Pearl Harbor and enjoyed the very historic audio tour and trip out to the Arizona Memorial. It was a very moving and somber visit, seeing the resting place of 1,177 sailors and marines.

Doris Duke's Estate Shangri la

We also enjoy the tour of Shangri la where millionaire Doris Duke devoted most of her life decorating it with the most spectacular Islamic architecture and art. There is a virtual tour on line if you want to see more of the inside decor. We weren't allowed to take pictures inside.

House Without a Key musicians and hula dancer

Nancy took me to the House Without A Key on the beach for pupus (appetizers in Hawaiian) and drinks to listen and watch the Hawaiian music and hula dance.

At Ala Moana Beach

I hung out on Ala Moana Beach  a couple of times trying to soak up some sun and Vitamin D.

 I am home again and trying to get into the Christmas spirit. It is certainly has been a culture shock for me. I was having a devil of a time trying to blog from my iPad so gave up until I returned home.

Aloha to Honolulu!