December Highlights

Another busy month for us! You can probably tell since I haven't posted in about 2 weeks. Here's the lowdown on what we've been up to...

I had the privilege of visiting my sisters in Austin for a few days. We did all kinds of fun things like food truck-hopping (which I highly recommend), shopping in Wimberley, enjoying Texas barbecue a la Salt Lick, viewing Christmas light displays and a sisters-only slumber party (we ate junk food, enjoyed drinks and played board games and Mad Libs!). I could do a whole, very long post with all the awesome details but instead go ahead and click here to view a photo journal of my trip. Just click through the photos to the right of the first pic and read the descriptions.

 

Christmas baking! Justin made some lemon bars and I made chocolate mint cookies for my cookie exchange. I also made Terry's favorite Old World Raspberry Bars as well as toffee, rum cake, cut-outs and gingerbread men. My favorites this year were the cute cut-outs I made - I finally learned the proper technique! 

My annual Christmas cookie exchange was a blast - we had a great group of ladies and a few of them were "cookie exchange virgins". One of our newbies was a football-friend Tracy (whose son also plays lacrosse with Justin now) - she is super nice and has been recruited into our BUNCO group. I also enjoyed catching up with my friend Ann who I used to work with.After Mass on Christmas Eve we went to our good friends Jim & Kathy's house and celebrated with our neighbors Barb & Todd, as well as Suzy and a few other people. On Christmas Day, we exchanged presents in the morning - Justin got his iTouch (his very first iPod that wasn't a hand-me-down) and Eric got his wish of gift cards for his favorite clothing stores. Terry and I gave each other some beautiful Fossil watches...

   
We had our friends Barbara and Jake over for Christmas dinner which was a delicious Prime Rib. Overall Christmas was nice though very low key. It will always be tough of course because December 28th marked the first anniversary of Terry's Dad's death. We still miss Ray and think of him often. 

It's hard not to think about how much our lives have changed in just 12 months' time and how different it will be 12 months from now. Suzy's Alzheimer's is definitely worsening, though it is very gradual. Fortunately she seems to be well-adjusted at her care facility and the routine of it suits her well. It's comforting to her, I think, to know that's where she can feel safe and secure. 

Eric's decision to join the Navy after High School graduation also makes me think about how next year at this time he won't likely be around to celebrate with us. Despite the difficulties we have with him (he is a teenager, after all!) it will certainly be strange not having his wit and humor as part of our daily lives.

And Justin will be a freshman in High School. Not only will we be engaging in his sporting events, I'm sure his social life will also become more active. 

January promises to be yet another busy month with lacrosse games starting (be on the lookout for photos of both boys in action), work, school and more of the usual stuff!