When genetics don't lie

 Marie always says that Sophie looks just like me, I think she might be right!!!!!

Christmas Day 2021

 Christmas Day was a low key affair.  We didn't buy much of anything (as usual).  Ben had brought some gifts back from Spain

Maggie was unimpressed with the magnetic Spanish word game until I pointed out that she could just do English words (that did NOT impress Ben!!!)

Ben brought us all ducks from the Madrid Duck Store

I made tamales for Christmas dinner.  We had dinner at Ben's since we have no family room furniture right now

It was a pretty good Christmas Day

Christmas Eve 2021

Ben got back from Madrid yesterday.  He got stuck in London for 24 hours as he missed his connection, due (mostly) to Covid precautions at the airport.  He came over first thing in the morning, It's like he's never been away

  

Ben had his phone stolen while he was in Madrid, so he got a replacement for Christmas

It was a nice afternoon, so we went for a walk in Forest Park

Great picture of Ben and Maggie

Sam and Maggie

Portrait mode on Ben's new phone!!!!

My phone takes pretty good photos too!!!!

Thanksgiving trip to Little Rock

Sam, Maggie and I drove down to Little Rock for Thanksgiving.  I hadn't seen Milly and Rich for 2 years-Covid again.  We had a nice relaxing time, didn't go anywhere just in case.  I made all of the Thanksgiving dinner (including turkey) and took it all with us.  It really did make it an easy trip

Sam's Thanksgiving dinner plate

We went for a walk down by the river, it was a beautiful day

Maggie posing on the hay bale

I love these trees

Getting ready for more upheaval

We are finally getting our kitchen and bathrooms done.  They are definitely in need of replacing and I cannot wait until they are done.  They are starting on March 1, so I have been clearing out kitchen cabinets and getting rid of a bunch of stuff.  I feel like I am constantly decluttering and still have way too much "stuff" that I just don't use.  So far, this is the pile that will be going to Goodwill very soon.....

Trying to sort out the shelves in the back so that I can fit all our food in there

Our laundry area will soon be a kitchen area

Totes full of kitchen things that we still need

Honestly, I'm just stuffing things wherever I can!!!!!

Christmas 2020

I think a lot of families would say they had more gifts than usual this year, we certainly did.  Not sure if it's a result of boredom and online ordering, overcompensation for lack of social interaction, or extra funds for not eating out etc.  Regardless, we seem to have a lot this year and I didn't get much for anyone else since we aren't seeing anyone this year.....

Ben wanted to open the bag from Arline first, she bought him these Harry Potter pajamas

Ben was in charge of distribution (as usual!)

Jan and Julie got Ben a bunch of "new house stuff" this year

I finally got Sam's Beatles magnets from Liverpool framed-after 2 years!!!!!

Maggie got her usual "things to keep Maggie occupied" gifts a.k.a. "what will keep Maggie off her phone" gifts.  So far, they are not working-mostly because we got her a new phone!!!!!

Gift of the day-Jan and Julie got a Ben a kitchen book, has recipes but also pointers for starting off on your own, was a great idea

We had beef tenderloin for dinner-still staying away from the turkey

Ben wanted apple pie

I even moved my office up into Ben's room so we could eat at the dining table

25 years ago today.....

 

Sam and I got married 25 years ago today!!!  We should have been in Barbados right now, but, you know, COVID........

I remember it like it was yesterday, and yet it seems so far away now.  So many things have happened since that day.

We arranged a whole wedding in 3 weeks, with 100 guests, including Mum who flew over at the last minute.

There is nothing I would change-apart from maybe the hangover I had from the night before!!!!  It really was a perfect day and the past 25 years have been quite the ride.  We may not make another 25, but we'll take each day as it comes, as we always have.....

Marie takes a trip to Loughborough

Marie went to Loughborough to get her hair done today.  She hasn't found anyone in Chester yet, and hasn't had it cut or coloured since January!!  I think it looks fine, but she has way more hair than I do and was getting too long for her.  She was probably also wanting to go and check on the house as she hasn't been there in a while.

She went to visit Mum and Dad's little plot and I love it that she sends me pictures of it

It's a good job Mum cannot see the garden she would not be happy, it's looking decidedly jungle-like!!!

The clematis is completely crazy, but I bet it was beautiful when it was flowering

This cat had adopted Mum and Dad, they used to keep food for her and she would come to the conservatory door several times a day to come in and eat.  They called her Tanny. She had at least two litters in their garage and Marie has one of her kittens now.  Dad even had one of his spectacular accidents (breaking his thumb in 4 places) when he went into town to get cat food for her.  Amazingly, she is still coming by and turned up when Marie was there.

It makes me pretty sad that she must still check to see if they are there.  There hasn't been anyone in the house for almost 18 months now.  She has probably happily taken over the garden.  Hope the new people like cats!!!!

Trip to the Zoo

It was such a beautiful day on Boxing Day that Ben, Maggie and I wanted to be outside and so we went to the zoo. I cannot remember the last time we went to the zoo together.  Why do we always go in the penguin house?  It's always cold and really busy (and smells dreadful!).  We must really like penguins!!!!

Actually, I like the puffins more and most people just walk by them and ignore them.  Is it because they all turn their backs on the public???!!!!

The gorillas were being quite animated (for a change!!)

The kids let me go in the butterfly house, it's my favourite place at the zoo (and maybe because of the flowers rather than the butterflies, but I'll never admit it)