Christmas Wing Ding Cook-Off

Every year we get together at Aunt Jeanne's for our annual Christmas gathering. It never fails to bring a ton of food and fun. This year we decided to try out something a little different. We had a wing cook-off. Everyone brought what they thought to be the best ever wings. We tried all the different kinds and then placed our votes. There were ten different kinds of wings...all delicious in their own ways. The winner this year though by majority vote was Mr. Tony Zuber. Congratulations Tony (watch out next year). Oh yeah...The apron looks wonderful on you!

The youngsters...although they are not so young anymore.

My present under the tree.

Gabe trying to teach Nick the ropes. Looks like hes really trying to squeeze his head off.

Check out all that food.

Just hanging out.

Mamaw and one of her boys.

The gangs all here.

For all the Mothers of Little Boys....

The Little Chap that Follows Me

A careful parent I want to be

A little man follows me.

I do not dare go astray

For fear he'll go the self-same way.

I cannot once escape his eyes

Whatever he sees me do, he tries.

Like me, he says he's going to be

The little chap that follows me.

He thinks that I am good and fine

Believes in every word of mine.

The bad in me, he must not see

My life to him must example be.

I must remember as I go

Through summer's sun and winter's snow.

I'm building for the years to be

For that little chap that follows me.

unknown

The Legend of the Candy Cane

A Candymaker in Indiana wanted to make a candy that would help us remember who Christmas is really about. So he made a Christmas Candy Cane. He incorporated several symbols for the birth, ministry, and death of Jesus Christ.

He began with a stick of pure white, hard candy. White to symbolize the virgin birth and sinless nature of Jesus. Hard candy to symbolize the solid rock, the foundation of the Church, and firmness of the promises of God.

The candymaker made the candy in the form of a "J" to represent the name of Jesus. It also represented the staff of the "Good Shepherd".

The candymaker then included red stripes. He used three small stripes and a large red stripe to represent the suffering Christ endured at the end of his life.

The candy became known as a Candy Cane - a decoration seen at Christmas time. The meaning has faded, but still gives joy to children young and old, whom Jesus loves and treasures.

For My Mom...Merry Christmas!!!

Farewell Jimmy!!

As most of you may know...I am a HUGE STL Cardinal fan. In particular though i heart me some Jimmy Edmonds. I stood in line for three hours last year to try to buy a ticket to meet him and get his autograph. They sold out as I was reaching the purchasing booth. Needless to say I met Chris Carpenter instead. (Not too shabby either) Anyway, When I woke up this morning my husband had text me and asked me to call him as soon as I woke up. For those of you who know my husband that is not anything out of the norm. He told me he had some sad news for me...Jimmy has been traded to the Padres. THE PADRES??????????? Yes Jimmy I know you live in southern California, but I haven't even had the chance to meet you yet. I sure wish he could have finished out his contract as a Cardinal and given me the opportunity to meet him, but I guess now I will have to move on and find me another favorite...Maybe that cute little Schumaker, or maybe Ankiel.....Audios Edmonds. You will always be my favorite.

My Finals are Done!!!!

I was trying to study for my finals and Nick decided he wanted me to read him a book. I am finally done with this semester. A break I am definitely ready for.

Dear Santa.....

If this doesn't bring a tear to your eye, then there is something wrong with you. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did each time I received it through my email. Very Sweet!!



Dear Santa,

Ive been a good mom all year I've fed, cleaned and cuddled my children on demand, visited the doctor's office more than my doctor and sold sixty-two cases of candy bars to raise money to plant a shade tree on the school playground.

I was hoping you could spread my list out over several Christmases, since I had to write this letter with my son's red crayon, on the back of a receipt in the laundry room between cycles, and who knows when I'll find anymore free time in the next 18 years.

Here are my Christmas wishes:I'd like a pair of legs that don't ache (in any color, except purple, which I already have) and arms that don't hurt or flap in the breeze, but are strong enough to pull my screaming child out of the candy aisle in the grocery store. I'd also like a waist, since I lost mine somewhere in the seventh month of my last pregnancy.

If you're hauling big ticket items this year I'd like fingerprint resistant windows and a radio that only plays adult music, a television that doesn't broadcast any programs containing talking animals, and a refrigerator with a secret compartment behind the crisper where I can hide to talk on the phone.

On the practical side, I could use a talking doll that says, 'Yes, Mommy' to boost my parental confidence, along with two kids who don't fight and three pairs of jeans that will zip all the way up without the use of power tools. I could also use a recording of Tibetan monks chanting 'Don't eat in the living room' and 'Take your hands off your brother,' because my voice seems to be just out of my children's hearing range and can only be heard by the dog.

If it's too late to find any of these products, I'd settle for enough time to brush my teeth and comb my hair in the same morning, or the luxury of eating food warmer than room temperature without it being served in a Styrofoam container.

If you don't mind, I could also use a few Christmas miracles to brighten the holiday season. Would it be too much trouble to declare ketchup a vegetable? It will clear my conscience immensely. It would be helpful if you could coerce my children to help around the house without demanding payment as if they were the bosses of an organized crime family.

Well, Santa, the buzzer on the dryer is calling and my son saw my feet under the laundry room door. I think he wants his crayon back. Have a safe trip and remember to leave your wet boots by the door and come in and dry off so you don't catch cold. Help yourself to cookies on the table but don't eat too many or leave crumbs on the carpet.

Yours Always,MOM...

P.S. One more thing...you can cancel all my requests if you can keep my children young enough to believe in Santa.