Monday Memories

(Jayce and his PaPa, 2007)

Christmas Is In The Air

Christmas Decoration Tour

I just wanted to share a few images of our “good times” as we decorated our home in spirit of the Christmas Season.

As you can see, the boys are putting the lights on the Christmas tree. We’ve had this tree for a very long time; it holds many special memories for us. In the past, we have had more than one tree displayed, but we just don’t have the space here. I'm looking forward to next year, when we are in our new home and able to put up more trees!

BJ and Jayce are placing the bulbs and other ornaments on the tree. During our travels abroad we have bought Christmas ornaments to reflect our memories. We also have many homemade decorations by Jayce! I can’t wait till Lana makes her decorations and they get added to the collection!

Our beautiful tree! Yes, I already wrapped the presents I bought (the boys still have to wrap some). I’m actually finished with my Christmas shopping. Well, let me rephrase that, I will probably continue shopping, but I’ve already purchased my favorite items for my family and friends!

These ginger bread dolls were given to us by the USO while traveling during a past holiday season. If you are ever interested in volunteering to honor the troops, or would like to send care packages to the families serving overseas or at war, contact your local USO. Those volunteers are so kind and do so much for the service members and their families. I am so thankful for their commitment to us.

Our stockings...

I just love these! They are so cute!

I have a more formal table cloth that I will use on Christmas dinner, but until then, I like to use this runner. Its fun and I love snowmen! In the past, I would use this runner on our kitchen table or breakfast bar. Love it!

My little project, it turned out nicely. Cute, huh?! I think so!

Fashion Friday-The Day After Thanksgiving

Black Friday

Thousands camp out in crowded lots
Hyped up sleep deprived all for the best spot
From Macey’s, Toys R Us, Kohl’s, and Wal-Mart
To Target, Best Buy, Sears, and Kmart
Arriving for store wide savings and discounts
They wrap around corners and tension mounts
Beginner’s are there expecting crowds and fun
While pro’s with know-how come to get things done
As the clock tolls the hour, the gun shot sounds
Doors open wide to the holiday battlegrounds
Mayhem erupts and the frenzy begins
For hot ticket holiday items to win
At out of hand stores the police regulate
For when someone is trampled no one hesitates
An employee is hit in the ravenous race
While a guy makes it through with a slash on his face
People are pushing, shoving, and slapping
Yanking or pulling, trampling and grabbing
Carts in arms are full of merchandise
Shelves and isles empty before your eyes
Hear screams and see fights, all wanting more
In every department, in every store
It’s an estrogen driven women’s domain
Where men remain silent and from fights abstain
They dubbed it black Friday not for all of the madness
But for red market stores who may have made less
And for families it’s all about the savings and gifts
All worth the chaos at the stores that they thrift

My friend’s daughter, Alicia, is the author of this poem. She is very talented!! I thought it would be fun to post it for Fashion Friday. Thank you Alicia, for allowing me to share with others!

Thanksgiving at The Keller's

Thanksgiving Dinner
Menu

Appetizers:
Fresh vegetable platter & dip * Broccoli florets, carrot sticks, English cucumbers, celery, and topping if off with cherry tomatoes.
Fresh fruit platter * Cantaloupe, kiwi, grapes, along with sliced apples.
French bread with fire and earth spread
Cheese log with salted crispies

Main course:
Oven roasted turkey
Savory cornbread stuffing & gravy
Sweet corn on the cob
Garlic herbed green beans
Homemade mashed potatoes
Deluxe twice baked potatoes
Dinner rolls

Desserts:
Supreme banana cream pie
Autumn spiced pumpkin pie
The Infamous Boston cream pie
Gourmet chocolate chip cookies

Beverages:
Refreshing ice water
Sherbet cream punch
Sparking soda * Cherry coke cola, coke cola, fanta, cherry limeade, and vanilla cream soda.
Gambino Alcante wine

Enjoy your meal!

The above menu was created by Jayce for our dinner. We wish everyone the most grateful holiday!

Monday Memories- Thanksgiving at Jackson's

A few years ago, while living in Pensacola, we had Thanksgiving at Jackson’s restaurant, and enjoyed a traditional southern turkey dinner away from home. I know it’s not the typical Thanksgiving, but occasionally we like to spice things up and do things differently! It was a very appetizing meal to say the least. The restaurant is superb in every way…. Be sure to check it out thru the link above..

The entrance.

My handsome chap's!

Going inside...

Now, we’ll start with me at the dinner table…

And Jayce...

Last, BJ enjoying his meal...

One of my favorite photo's of the three of us! BEAUTIFUL!


Here we are going home.. To indulge in desserts of all sorts!

Love And Hope Thursday

Praying Hands

This photo was taken in 2005 during my visit home for my mom’s surgery. It is the Praying Hands Monument that is located at the entrance into the Oral Roberts University. It’s simply beautiful.

Two Years Ago Today

Travel Tuesday- Pianogrillo

OLIO EXTRA VERGINE DI'OLIVA

Two years ago, during my mother’s visit to Italy, we went to an olive oil factory that is owned by a local Sicilian family. Their farm is absolutely incredible with over 9,000 olive groves. Their villa sits on the hill of Pianogrillo. The factory is very small, but well worth the visit. We paid a small fortune for over 100 bottles of olive oil… below are a few pictures from the factory of the olive oil being prepared for us.

These are the olives gathered from the groves.

Waiting....

First, the olives get cleaned and free of twigs, etc.


Next, they get dropped into this section to get grounded and smashed.


Looks yucky at this point...

The purist and finest olive oil in Italy, straight from the farm/factory to my home!

Monday Memories

The Love of Pumpkin Pie

Just look at that smile… need I say more?!

( Jayce, Thanksgiving 2003, Florida)

Quite Random....

Nothing majorly exciting has been happening around our house so I thought I would post some random images ranging from last week to quite a few weeks ago.

Lana checking out her new boots!

Lana's favorite movie, Kung Fu Panda.

She's just too cute!!

This is a picture of the Radiology Crew and their family members, it was taken during a farewell that we hosted for one of the guys at our house a few weeks ago.

Lana as a silly punk rocker....

Jayce studying...

BJ is installing some software on my laptop and Jayce’s mini laptop.

Lana as her adorable self!

Monday Memories

(November 2005, Pensacola Airport)

My Best Shot Monday

(Lana, November 2009)

Where's Your.....? (Lana Knows!)

Travel Tuesday- Vatican City, Italy

Vatican City is an independent sovereign state in Rome and is considered to be the smallest state. It has its own judicial system, bank, currency, post office, and radio station-even its own newspaper and shopping. Some sections are surrounded by high walls and are off limits, but there are some outstanding museums to tour. The city only has a population of about 200 people, which only 30 of them are women.

The Swiss Guard is designed to protect the papal person. The guards are recruited from Switzerland, must be between the ages of 19 and 25 and at least 5 foot 6 inches tall. They must also remain unmarried while on the their tours of duty. Most interesting, is the fact that their uniforms were designed by Michelangelo.

My Best Shot Monday

(Lana, The Vatican-2009)