12-26-17  back to Ga. to meet our granddaughter!

Since we were all coming back to St. Louis for Christmas, so we thought, I also made a few Dr. appointments for myself.  Had labs drawn last Thurs., so today was the day to go back for the results.  Then we planned to jump in the car and drive back to Georgia.  Since my appointment was at 9:15, I had high hopes that we'd be on our way by 10.  No such luck.  The appointment ran late so we didn't get on the road until after 11.  But my appointment went really well for a change!  For the first time since I've been going for regular check ups (since about 50 years old), my A1C was in the normal range.  Until now it had always been in the pre-diabetes range, so I was quite happy with these results!  I guess all those salads are paying off!  Even lost a couple pounds which isn't bad considering all the food I ate at the Christmas parties and the 11 nights cruise!  Now if it would just get warm again so I can go out and continue trying to be good. 
This is why I don't care much for snow, either----it looks pretty initially, but it doesn't take long for it to look like this.

 This was the start of a particularly bad cold spell, too.  Highs in the single digits in St. Louis for the next week and only in the 20 in the Atlanta area!

 a really dreary day!

 no wonder the barns get so weathered.

 Missing the greenery of Florida and the Caribbean!

 a rather pretty barn

 back to the usual mid west barns

 so cold Rend Lake is freezing.

 I don't know why these bill boards are up, but I get a kick out of them

 On into Tennessee and icicles on the bluffs

 finally some blue skies

 so many barns we've seen trip after trip

 then there are some I don't remember seeing before!

 Some we've seen get more and more dilapidated. 

 another "new" one

 when the trees are with leaves, some of them are totally hidden.

 another familiar one.

 wonder why this one has a red stripe?

 Wondering if someone lives in here?!

More icicles on the bluffs in Tennessee

 warm afternoon light with pretty clouds.

 We hit Nashville right before sunset.  Usually we detour around the city, but this time we decided to listen to the car Navigator and go straight through. 

 There were no slow downs and it was nice having a different view for a change.

 Love the symbol for this radio station---the "batman" building with the traditional 3 stars of the Tennessee flag.

 looking East as we left the city

 Sunset lasted a good while and was really pretty tonight.

 Got back to the Suwanee area by about 9:30, so we called to see if the kids were still up.  They were, so we went to meet Layla!  Such a cutie and such a good little girl. 

Nice ending to a long day! 

12-25-17  Merry Christmas!!!!!

Not often do we get to spend Christmas with Tim and Faith anymore!  So when they invited us to Jerry and Brenda's for dinner and gift exchange, we accepted.   Brenda had her big family dinner last night while we were at the LaBeaume party.  Which meant we had another big spread of food to stuff ourselves with---leftovers, but still yummy!!!

 Then it was down stairs for presents.

 I think Jerry really liked his gift from Brenda!  Guess you still give each other presents when you've only been married a  little over a year.

 Then it was time for a celebratory drink

 and more Mexican dominos!

 It was a great Christmas.  Nice having family and friends to spend it with.  After the kids had grown and we still lived in St. Louis, Ken and I spent many a Christmas day doing nothing.  Amazing how much more time we spend with family and friends now!!! 

12-24-17   LaBeaume Christmas Eve party:

Back when all us Grandparents were young parents, the LaBeaume Christmas Eve party was always held at our house.  We had the biggest house back then---everyone else has since bought a few new houses and have bigger and nicer places then ours now.  So when Ken's mom was moved into the nursing home in Washington, Mo., the Washington LaBeaumes took over the Christmas Eve parties.  I was fine with that!!!  It really is a lot of work!  This year it was at Bill and Lena's. 
Ken practicing his Grandpa skills.

 When did we get so old!!??? 

 Just a few of the 3rd generation from us.

The food spread.  Another great dinner!  Even had the traditional Stef's pizza not shown here.

 the women's table.

 the "cousins" table (the 2nd generation)

 Grandpa playing with some of the kiddos

 some of the yummy desserts

 Lena face timed Angie so they could see baby Layla.

 Amazing what you can do with a phone now a days!

Great Aunt Sue talking to Layla

 Avery meeting Layla

 Nick and his pup

 some of the LaBeaume boys

 More LaBeaume boy's (and a couple Gossman's)

 These parties use to be pretty wild!  Boy how things have calmed down over the years!

 time for the white elephant exchange---we each brought a $10 goofy and some not so goofy gift.

 Even had a special tree that the White Elephant gifts went under.

 I guess we're doing desserts first.  More cookies---love the little huskeys!

 and an Italian cake!

 Now for the gift exchange.

 Sue being the official photographer

 pictures courtesy of Sue:
Sue and Sue

 even found out tonight that Christina is expecting their 2nd baby.

 Not to be outdone, Nick's pup decided to give his oppinion.

 Never a dull moment at a LaBeaume party! 
It was another great get together.