Christmas Eve

                                                

                                           Christmas Eve

On Christmas Eve, Mr. C. and I got up around 6:30 that morning to start our day. We did sleep in just a little since it was a holiday, but I was too excited to stay in bed very long. We were headed to Elizabeth and Charles’ house, and Christmas Eve together means the world to me. Being able to celebrate the grandkids—Lane, Landon, and Sophie—along with everyone else is truly one of my greatest joys.

Elizabeth and Charles were hosting, and everyone gathered to make the day special. Alicia and Jonathan, Brody and Savannah, Lane, Landon, Sophie, Mr. C., and I were all there. Kaylee, Kennedy, and Waylon also stopped by, and they are very much considered family. Kaylee and Alicia have been best friends since pre-K, which I think is so special. It’s amazing how strong their friendship still is after all these years.

                                

Mr. C. and I brought what I call my cherry salad—also known as the “pink stuff”—along with banana pudding. We also brought tea, Sprite, Diet Coke, and fruit beer for drinks, plus deviled eggs for an appetizer. Elizabeth outdid herself, as always, with chicken and dressing, ham, sweet potato casserole, green beans, corn, mashed potatoes, and mac and cheese. There was also a relish tray and chips with dip. Savannah brought no-bake cookies and both nut and no-nut fudge, which were all delicious.

                                       

Luther & Charles

Elizabeth’s Christmas tree

We arrived around 2:00 and spent time visiting before Brody and Savannah arrived. Once they did, we started opening gifts. We opened them almost one at a time, and I loved that because we really got to see what everyone received and enjoy the moment together. That was probably my favorite part of the day.

After gifts, Kaylee and the kids arrived, and then it was time to eat. Mr. C. and I definitely ate way too much—but it was worth it. Everything was so good. I will always say that Elizabeth does an amazing job hosting all of us.

                             

Alisha

Brody, Savannah and Sophie

Landon

Sophie and Nana Karen

Later on, we played Dirty Santa, which isn’t my favorite game, but it’s their tradition and always brings plenty of laughs. Mr. C. and I brought a $50 first aid kit as one of the gifts. I also brought an Aztec-style blanket with rich red tones, a red Stanley cup, and a box of Swiss Miss holiday treats. Mr. C. kept saying he was going home with that first aid kit—and somehow, it worked out that he did!

The gift I brought was stolen a couple of times, and I believe Charles ended up with it. The gift I received was a large, beautiful potting planter bowl, a food slicer, and a very sharp kitchen knife. I could have chosen any gift since I was number one to pick and also had the option of choosing last, but I really liked that knife, so I kept it. Mr. C. and I plan to put sand and artificial flowers in the planter and use it on our porch.

We ended up leaving around 7:00 pm. Mr. C. was ready to head home—it had been a long day for him. Everyone else stayed behind to keep playing games and visiting.

Overall, our Christmas Eve with the kids and grandkids was absolutely fantastic. I couldn’t have asked for better fellowship, wonderful food, and meaningful time together. Days like this are what make the holidays so  special. 

Lynyrd Skynyrd Concert

Busy Days, SweetMoments, and Birthday Celebrations

 

Today was one of those days that started early and didn’t stop until the evening — but I wouldn’t trade it for anything.

The morning began with some much-needed chores before we turned our attention to something much more festive: decorating our Christmas tree. There’s just something about seeing those twinkling lights and ornaments come together that fills my heart with joy. Once the tree was complete, I placed the wrapped gifts I had prepared for Michelle’s family underneath. It was the perfect chance to take inventory and see how many presents I already have for the four grandchildren. Spoiler alert — they’re pretty spoiled, and I’m not even sorry!

Just as I was finishing up, my stepdad called and asked me to come out to his place. He lives about thirty minutes away, so I planned to head that way around 2 p.m. But before that, I had one very special event on my calendar — little Hattie’s third birthday party.

Before the celebration, I stopped to pick up some Play-Doh to add to her gift from Trevor and his family. I had already put together a sweet bundle that included a doll and a pastel pop-it purse, but I knew she’d love some Play-Doh fun, too. Our personal gift to her was a Barbie doll set, a dress-up kit, a cute new dress, and of course, candy and chips — because what’s a birthday without a little treat?

Hattie turned three today, and she’s the perfect mix of sweet, sassy, and full of life. Lately, she’s been all about Spidey, and I love watching her excitement when she talks about it. At her party, she wanted to go outside and swing, so naturally, I followed her lead. She looked up at me with her big smile and said, “Not too fast!” That simple moment — pushing her on the swing while she laughed — was honestly the highlight of my day.

The birthday fun went from 3:00 to about 5:15 p.m., and after saying my goodbyes, it was time to head to the next family celebration — our son-in-law Jonathan’s birthday dinner at Cotton Patch in Chickasha, Oklahoma. I made a quick stop at home to pick up Mr. C, and we arrived at the restaurant right at 6 p.m.

Jonathan turned 31 this year, and his birthday is actually on October 28th, but tonight was the perfect evening to celebrate together. Joining us were Alisha and Jonathan, Savannah and Brody, Lane, Landon and Sophie, Elizabeth and Charles, and of course, Mr. C and me. We shared laughter, stories, and good conversation — exactly what a family gathering should be.

Our gifts to Jonathan were three golf shirts, some Dr. Squatch soap, and a bath wash set with mitts. He really seemed to like them — and he’s always so gracious when receiving gifts. I’m especially glad he enjoys Dr. Squatch products, since they’re easy to find at Walmart or Amazon.

For dinner, Luther went with his usual — the catfish basket — while I decided to try the Cajun pasta with blackened chicken and shrimp. I’ll be honest, it could’ve used a bit more Alfredo sauce because the pasta was on the dry side. But my margarita on the rocks more than made up for it — a nice little adult treat to end a long, busy day.

By the time we got home, I was tired but content. It was one of those days that reminded me what really matters — time with family, celebrating life’s little moments, and making memories with the ones we love.

#FamilyTime #BirthdayCelebration #GrandmaLife #BusyDays #MakingMemories #FamilyFirst #GratefulHeart #ChristmasPrep #LifeInOklahoma #SimpleJoys

Lake Lawtonka Outing

Beautiful Day to be at the Lawtonka Lake

Today I felt the lure of the outdoors, so we accepted an invitation to spend lunch at Lake Lawtonka with our family Elizabeth and Charles. Also joining us was Alisha — the daughter of Luther and Elizabeth — making the afternoon feel like one big family gathering by the water.

Sitting outside near the shoreline, the setting was peaceful and quiet. The lake water glowed a beautiful blue, and the weather cooperated beautifully: a perfect ~70-degree day, gentle breeze, sunshine just about right. As we relaxed, we watched butterflies flit by — especially the magnificent orange and black of the Monarch butterfly. Their wings stood out boldly: bright orange with a black border and black veins, and the border rimmed with a double row of white spots. It felt a little magical to see them up close as they migrate through Oklahoma on their way to Mexico. (Nature doesn’t often pause for lunch, but today it did.)

Lunch was simple, comforting, and satisfying: cheeseburgers and hot dogs, paired with sides of macaroni & cheddar cheese, potato salad, macaroni salad, baked beans and grilled peppers and onions. For dessert we were offered lemon cake and no-bake cookies — both favorites of mine — and I ended up going with the lemon cake. A sweet finish under the wide open sky.

While we talked and enjoyed the view, Alisha and Elizabeth played a little cornhole. Elizabeth ended up winning the game, which added a fun little competitive spark to the afternoon. Meanwhile, we continued to soak in the scene: sailboats, pontoons and a few fishing boats out on the lake, all basking in the sunshine. Mr. C told Charles we should have been out on their pontoon too, since the day was “perfect for it” — and I almost hated to leave for that reason. But the workweek looms, and we finally headed home around 2:30 p.m.

Once home, we tackled a little chore: filling up the gas tank. One less item on today’s list. Later this evening I’ll prepare clothes for the next five days, then settle into my “everything shower” routine (which is always a little longer than my ordinary shower). And of course we’ll figure out what I’m taking for lunch tomorrow — keeping the momentum of this pleasant weekend into the week ahead.

A few fun facts about Lake Lawtonka

• The lake covers approximately 2,398 surface acres and has about 21 miles of shoreline.  
• It has a maximum depth of around 58 feet.  
• Lake Lawtonka was constructed as a reservoir on Medicine Creek and today serves both recreational needs and water supply for the local communities.  
• The surrounding landscape features the nearby Wichita Mountains — making the view from the lake particularly scenic.  

A few additional details about Monarch butterflies

• Monarchs on the east side of the Rockies make a migration of up to 3,000 miles from Canada and the northern U.S. down to central Mexico.  
• They may fly as far as 50-100 miles in a single day during migration, and the entire journey may take up to two months.  
• During the fall migration, many monarchs enter a state called diapause (a kind of suspended reproduction) and live much longer than summer generations — sometimes up to nine months as adults.  
• They rely on milkweed plants for their early caterpillar stage (the only plant monarchs will lay eggs on), and they cluster in special overwintering habitats (for example, the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve in Mexico) where millions huddle together on fir trees.  

In short: a beautiful afternoon by the water, good food, good friends, and even some unexpected wildlife magic thanks to those bold orange wings fluttering nearby. Sometimes the perfect day is one where nothing dramatic happens — just nature, good company and simple pleasures.

The water is beautiful with Mt Scott in the background is breathtaking.  

When I am near water I feel calmer and relaxed. Connecting with nature makes me feel at ease. While there I did walk the shoreline by myself and do some self reflection. Am so greatful to have this time to spend with family and nature. Just remember that family doesn’t always have to be blood. Although Elizabeth is Luther’s ex wife she treats me as a family member. It hasn’t always been this way but am happy were we are in this season of our life. 

 

Making Waves & Memories in Watford City Nd

There’s nothing quite like starting the day with family — and a hearty breakfast! This morning in Watford City, North Dakota, I woke up to the best kind of love: sweet snuggles from my baby grandson, Liam. While Melissa whipped up breakfast burritos filled with potatoes, smoked sausage, red peppers, and plenty of gooey cheese, I soaked up every precious minute of family time.

After breakfast, we got ready to spend the afternoon at the Rupp Writer’s Center, home to an amazing Aquatic Center that’s perfect for all ages. I was honestly just as excited as the kids! The facility has six swimming lanes, a splash pad for toddlers, a large swim area, a lazy river, and — best of all — a big water slide.

And guess what? I actually went down the slide several times! I surprised myself, but it was so much fun. We floated around the lazy river more times than I could count, laughing and soaking in every moment together. Sharing that experience with Kendall made it even more special. It reminded me how wonderful it feels to just let go and have fun.

As we were leaving the center, we passed the hockey arenas — there are two of them — and I noticed a neat statue outside. I had to stop and take a look. It’s those little unexpected finds that make exploring new places even better.

Later, we took a scenic drive to pick up Trevor’s clothes from the doghouse, where he keeps them while working on the rig. North Dakota’s countryside stretched out in all directions — peaceful, wide open, and beautiful in its simplicity.

Back at home, we ended the day with homemade pizzas. Kendall and I loaded ours with extra cheese and pepperoni, while Trevor and Melissa made theirs just the way they like it. For dessert, we had old-fashioned Coke floats, which were the perfect sweet ending to a perfect day.

From swimming and laughter to family dinners and scenic drives, today was all about making memories — the kind you hold onto and smile about later.

 #