WHO IS POSING THE HARDEST IN THIS PICTURE? IS IT JAY, MERLE, OR ERIC?

HAPPY NEW YEAR'S EVE TO ALL !!!!! WHEN I WAS LITTLE WE WOULD GO INTO MY AUNT FRANCES AND UNCLE TED'S FOR THE BIG NIGHT AND THE ADULTS WOULD PLAY CARDS AND US KIDS WOULD EAT CANDY AND PLAY GAMES OF OUR OWN. IN THE PICTURE CLOCKWISE STARTING AT THE LEFT-MARILYN JOY, MARGE, MERLE, BILL, HIS FRIEND AT THE TIME, DANA, NOW HIS WIFE, AUNT FRANCES,UNCLE TED, JANE ON HIS LAP AND MARILYN'S HUSBAND RICH. IT MUST HAVE BEEN A SERIOUS GAME, NOBODY IS LOOKING AT THE CAMERA BUT JANE.

CONNIE, MAY YOU PARTY LIKE YOU DID ON THIS DAY. THERE WAS NO CASINO BUT LOTS OF FAMILY TO ENJOY. HAVE A GOOD ONE. HAPPY BIRTHDAY

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CONNIE, AND MAY THE CASINOS BE WITH YOU !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Chuck got a lesson on dino's (and he really did learn something) on Christmas Eve, and I got the pleasure of napping with Cocoa after a rough game of volleyball on Christmas Eve.

OK , here is an old one I found that has a little of Tate in the picture. But then Eric and I are in the background which gives it away.

DOES ANYONE REMEMBER PETEY? THIS IS A PICTURE OF HIM AS A YOUNGSTER, I WILL TRY TO FIND ONE OF HIM WHEN HE WAS VERY TALL.

CAN YOU TELL THAT I REALLY ENJOYED ALL OF MY CHRISTMAS GIFTS?

CHUCK HAD A GOOD TIME WITH HIS CHRISTMAS GIFTS. SARA WRAPPED HIS ITEMS IN A GIFT WRAP TUBE AND HE HAD QUITE THE TIME GETTING THEM OUT. I PUT HIS GIFT IN THE ATTIC BECAUSE IT WAS TOO BIG TO WRAP AND HE WAS SO HAPPY WHEN HE FOUND IT.

ERIC, I WAS WONDERING IF THESE CLASSIFIED AS SANTA HATS? GUESS I WILL LET YOU DECIDE IF YOU WANT THEM ON YOUR SANTA HAT SLIDE SHOW.

COUSINS.... THEY ARE JUST ADORABLE, WANT TO ADOPT ONE, OR BOTH?

SARA GOT HER TWO GRANDMA'S TOGETHER ON CHRISTMAS EVE - EVE, AND CHRISTMAS DAY TO PLAY SOME SERIOUS CARD GAMES. THAT WAS OUR INDOOR SPORT OF CHOICE.

WE HAD A GREAT TIME ON CHRISTMAS EVE. IT WAS SO NICE WE PLAYED VOLLEYBALL WITH THE NEW NET AND VERY BIG BALL THAT SARA GOT GRANDMA FOR CHRISTMAS. PICTURE ONE....KIM IS SHOWING THAT THE BALL IS "OUT" SO SHE DIDN'T HAVE TO DIVE FOR IT. PICTURE TWO...REGAN IS GETTING READY TO SERVE THE BALL. PICTURE THREE... KIM JUST SERVED THE BALL, KAILEE IS BEING A DORK, AND CJ IS GETTING READY TO RETURN... PICTURE FOUR... PAT JUST SERVED AND KAILEE, KIM, REGAN, AND SARA ARE IN GOOD FORM READY TO RETURN IT. THE BALL WAS MUCH SOFTER TO PLAY WITH BUT TOOK SOME GETTING USE TO IN HITTING AND SERVING IT. GEARING UP FOR A GOOD TIME COME THE 4TH OF JULY. BUT WILL PROBABLY HAVE TO PRACTICE EACH HOLIDAY BEFORE THEN. HAVE A SAFE AND HAPPY NEW EVERYONE. PARTY SMART...DRINK REASONABLE...HOT COCOA, AND CAPPUCCINO

OK, IS THIS TATE OR ERIC ? SPIDERMAN WAS BIG THEN AND HE IS NOW. TAKE A VOTE

NOW YOU TELL ME THIS GUY DOESN'T LIKE HIS PICTURE TAKEN !!!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ONE AND ALL !!!!!

Grandma and Tate love the Bass Pro Shop. He likes petting all the animals and watching the fish. This deer was his favorite, but wait until I tell him I saw Santa there yesterday in front of that deer. He doesn't like that guy.

PLEASE AUNT SARA , MAY I PLAY WITH GRANDMA'S CAMERA TOO?

WE HAD A LOT OF FUN PLAYING HORSEY WITH TATE. GRANDPA'S HANDS STARTED TO GET TIRED AND TATE WAS TOO.

I finally got the blog to work for me Eric. I used Internet Explorer, but it kept freezing up on me so I went back to AOL and it worked, with toolbar and all. Thanks for the help though. Also, has everyone been reading Matt's news on Christine's blog? He has some really good stories to tell. We had been watching for news since Thanksgiving and he did write some for today. Grandma if you don't know how to get it, I will fix that for you or show you how from Christine's blog the next time I come to see visit.

Tate is trying to improve on his smile with a bat to help hold up the corners. Or was it because he was thirsty and wanted some bat juice? In any case, he still enjoyed posing for the camera, and had a great time playing with grandma and grandpa. We played chase Tate around the dining room table on our hands and knees many, many times, and daddy called to thank us for the new game on Sunday when he was hollering for daddy to chase him again and again. That is what grandparents are for Eric.

Tate loves wrestling with Grandpa, but still seems to have time to pose for the camera.

I just got the camera out of the case and boom, Tate is right up in front of it waiting for a flash. WHAT A HAM !!!!

Sorry, I have some pictures to put on my blog but the site is not working with me. I can't seem to get a picture put in the create area. But we had a nice weekend, of shopping, playing with Tate, putting a door in for Eric and Angi, and playing cards with mom. Have a great week everyone, and get the shopping done.

TATE LOOKS MUCH BIGGER ON HIS HORSE THIS CHRISTMAS SEASON. HE THOUGHT HE SHOULD RIDE IT RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE TREE. AND OF COURSE POSE FOR A PHOTO SHOT.

WE WERE PUTTING THE FINAL TOUCHES ON THE CHRISTMAS TREE AND TATE DECIDED TO CRAWL UNDER IT AND TAKE A REST. I JUST PUT THE SKIRT UNDER IT AND HE THOUGHT IT WAS COMFY. OF COURSE THAT DIDN'T LAST TOO LONG. HE WAS UP AND PLAYING WITH HIS HORSE LATER.

ANGI DECIDED WE SHOULD PUT UP OUR CHRISTMAS TREE AND SHE WOULD HELP DECORATE. SO ANGI, SARA (BEHIND THE TREE) AND I START THE BIG PROCESS. WE HAD A GREAT FAMILY TIME TOGETHER AND I DIDN'T HAVE TO DO IT BY MYSELF. OH YES, CHUCK DID GET THE TREE OUT OF THE ATTIC, THANKS CHUCK. ERIC WATCHED THE FOOTBALL GAME, AND TATE TRIED TO HELP ONCE IN AWHILE.

HAD A GREAT TIME ON THANKSGIVING DAY AT THE ESSER'S. WE WENT UP TOWN TO THE PARK AND ENJOYED THE WALK AND THE EXERCISE AFTER A BIG, BIG MEAL. TATE ENJOYED HIS COUSIN KAILEE VERY MUCH. THANKS A LOT FOR SPOILING HIM, KAILEE. HOPE EVERYONE GOT TO ENJOY THE GREAT WEATHER FOR THE DAY.

OH MOM, CAN'T YOU JUST SEE THE LOVE? DON'T ASK WHAT WE ARE DOING BUT I AM SURE IT IS "BILL" THAT STARTED IT.

Oh the many faces and talents of my nieces and nephew. But it must show we had a wonderful time at our pre- Thanksgiving Day party.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TATE !!!!!!!

HEY TINKER CAN'T WAIT UNTIL CHRISTMAS TO SEE YOU, FRAN

MATT WE APPRECIATE ALL YOU ARE DOING FOR US AND OUR COUNTRY. PLEASE KEEP IN TOUCH AND WE WILL BE PRAYING FOR YOUR SAFE TRIP HOME. LOVE FROM YOUR FAMILY

THE SOPHISTICATED PARENTS OF A SOON TO BE ONE YEAR OLD.

TATE WITH HIS BIRTHDAY CAKE. IT MADE REALLY NEAT NOISES WHEN YOU SQUISH IT IN YOUR FINGERS. AND OF COURSE TRYING TO SHARE SOME WITH GRANDPA.