A White Christmas In Texas - Home with Cass and Scott

 After my return from Ohio, we finally were able to decorate our own home for Christmas and get the tree up.  I so love this time and the tree is so beautiful with all the silver balls, icicles, and the pewter and ceramic ornaments.  All white lights finish the look and I love to spend many hours just sitting in the living room and enjoying it.  We finished up our shopping for each other, mostly by crossing our fingers each day that what we had ordered online would arrive -- kinda funny.  Next on the agenda was to get ready for Cass and Scott to arrive for a week of fun with us, culminating in our Christmas celebration before they would have to head back home.  They were driving and so ---- no airport run for the first time.  Strange.  

They arrived on the Saturday evening before Christmas and we enjoyed our time together -- much was spent talking, sleeping, cooking (yes, more than going out this time), and a few activities.  We made a trip to the mall -- of course -- which brought smiles all around at the pond.

If you are wondering just what we are laughing about, well there is a pond with turtles and ducks inside the mall.  There are rocks and a heat lamp in the center of the pond and today ALL the animals were just putting on a show.   One duck had decided that a turtle was a great place to hitch a ride and was firmly standing on its shell as it moved along.  Several other turtles had their legs extended fully out and were just basking in the heat of the lamp -- they just looked so funny.

 Mornings were laid back, full of steamers and quite enjoyable.  Making plans for each day was part of the fun and we tried not to make things too structured.  Working together in the kitchen was fun and the salmon pastries were scrumptious.

On an absolutely beautiful night, we took a carriage ride through Highland Park to see the homes all lit up for the holidays.  Romantic -- best word for it.

Cass and Scott had decided to make a quilt out of old jeans as their gift to each other while they were here and many hours were spent cutting out squares, laying out a pattern, sewing strips, ironing, and finally making a quilt top.  They worked really hard on it out in my sewing center surrounded by all of our plants since it was freezing outside now.

Free moments were spent wrapping gifts and making Christmas cookies -- traditional activities of course!  Dinner was Tomato Bisque per another tradition and enjoyed by all.

CHRISTMAS MORNING!!!  A WHITE CHRISTMAS IN TEXAS!!  What could be more magical?  It was the first one in over 80 years --- Everyone was pretty excited.

  

Naturally Christmas morning means stockings and so we made sure that Scott and Cass had filled ones and we exchanged ours as well --- no pic of Lady -- it was morning and she looked awful, lol.  Doesn't Mister look good in his new hat?  I love it. 

After getting showered and dressed, we made a trip up to Grapevine to see Mister's family for awhile and exchange gifts.  I was able to meet new people as well and that is always fun.

Christmas isn't complete without dinner now is it?  We all worked together and magic happened and we enjoyed a wonderful meal together before they had to pack up the next day and head back to Utah.  It was a great week and we look forward to another opportunity to get together.

On their way home, they fought snow storms (in TEXAS) and then Cass wound up with food poisoning and spent a night in the Denver hospital --- wow --- we felt so bad for them, but were thankful that we had had our time together.  Love ya both.