Making Sausage

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Christmas Came to Our House

It's getting harder to all get together now that the grands are getting older, and have others in their lives who want to have time with them during the holidays.  We felt blessed to have 

the whole family together on the Sunday after Christmas to celebrate the birth of Jesus. 

We were delighted to have Laura's fiance - A.J. Huffman with us again this year, 

and to have Kaylee bring a special young man, Clint Cage, with her.  

While the dressing and other food finished cooking, we all went outside and did the dreaded family photo shoot.  These are this year's results:

The Annual Family Portrait

Pappy and Nanna, Dad & Mom, Daddy & Mother

All are names that make us proud!

The 5 who make us smile!

Pappy and 3 Granddaughters

The Grandsons and Pappy

                                                              Denise & Duane Kersten

                                                             AJ Huffman and Laura

                                          AJ, Laura, Hunter, Doug, Caitlin, Kaylee & Clint
                                                      5 Grands and 2 special guys

Larry's Family

Jackie, Hunter, Caitlin, & Larry Prince

The Scott Prince Family

standing Laura, Scott, Kim, Kaylee

front AJ Huffman, Doug, & Clint Cage

Clint Cage & Kaylee

                                                                             Doug

                                                                  Caitlin & Hunter

The Grandkids Are Growing Up

I've always heard time flies when you're having fun, 

and being a  grandparent... 

I am well aware of how quickly time can get away.

Laura, Doug, and Kaylee 

Caitlin and Hunter

Caitlin, our youngest grand, her growing up 

is the biggest surprise of all!

It seems only yesterday that she 

was the darling baby of the whole family!

Playing T-Ball softball,
coached by her dad and mom.

It's still hard to believe that
she's a freshman in high school,
pitching for the varsity softball team... 

and doing a good job, I might add!

She also runs cross-country, plays volleyball,

is on the track team with several events, 

AND keeps her grades up as well!

Did I mention, she's a beautiful young lady 

who is just as sweet as she is pretty? 

I don't need to say, "I'm one proud Nanna!"

 I missed them so much when they moved
and were far enough away that I had to make

big plans when I wanted to see her
and her brother... and their parents.

It goes without saying that I still miss them.

Next is grandson, Doug.

He discovered golf,  worked on his game, 

and proved that you can improve with practice!

He even got a HOLE IN ONE
with this very golfball!

You can see that he cleans up pretty well!  

I would say, "Isn't he handsome?"
but people could think I'm prejudiced.

I'm not, I'm just stating fact~~~

 Fishing and hunting are also sports he enjoys.

We have ponds on the place, and Pappy's study 

is well stocked with fishing line, hooks etc.  

So I'm lucky to get to see him pretty often!

 He's looking forward to his Sr. year, 

and getting to play for the Bulldogs one more season!

Our first grandson Hunter is 2 weeks short of 

a year older than his cousin Doug.

He's finished his senior season on the football field.  

You can see his Dad is very proud of him, and so am I!

 He's another one who cleans up nicely!

"A second handsome Prince in the family,"
 that's what I say!

Baseball has been Hunter's sport 

for as many seasons as he could play.

He started playing T-Ball as soon as he could, 

and he just finished his sr. season 

playing first base and pitching.

 He was OUT!

Him too!

Next fall Hunter's headed for Aggieland 

to pursue a degree in Engineering.

His Aunt Necey couldn't be happier!

Gig em, Aggies!

The second grand to arrive was Kaylee... 

a beauty from the start, 

and that hasn't changed, 

unless it was to become more beautiful!

This is her Sr. prom picture.

 Kaylee became the proud owner of a darling, 

sweet, smart, (did I say destructive?)
yellow lab puppy not too long ago.  

Mollie stole her heart very quickly!

After high school graduation, she enrolled
in Panola Community College,

and before long, was "keeping company"
with a special young man.

He plays baseball for the Panola Ponies,
 and that has provided hours of entertainment!

In addition she has had the opportunity 

to photograph the team on the field.

She has even been given credit both online 

and in the school newspaper.

Notice the green circled name below...

Besides being gorgeous and fun and funny, 

she's a busy girl 

going to college, photographing the baseball team,

and working with Mollie 

when she has a spare moment, 

so I don't get to see her as much as I use to, 

and I miss that!

Laura, LuLu, LEP... our first grand-baby 

A very special position in any family, 

and ours is no exception.

And now she's all grown-up!!!

Who would have known it would happen so fast?

She's even ENGAGED!

She'll go to dental hygiene school in the fall.

She's another busy girl, MOH in 2 weddings this spring.

Working full time as a certified pharmacy tech, 

waiting to start school in the fall.

Don't they look happy?  I'm happy for them, too!

 A handsome guy, a beautiful girl...

I am proud of their accomplishments, 

and wish them the very best in the years to come!

I miss these babies sometime, 

but I really am enjoying the young adults

they have become, and are becoming.  

It was such a treat at Christmastime 

to watch them interact with each other.

It made me wish that we could 

have them all together a little more often. 

 I would be remiss if I failed to include

our children and their spouses.

 Kim and Scott

Larry and Jackie

Denise and Duane

These are the people Pappy and I love the most!

God has blessed us more than we can say.

Christmas 2012 @ Nanna & Pappy's

 Christmas 2012

at Nanna & Pappy's

 The tree was trimmed, the dogs saw it well done, 

then spent time in front of it every day 

waiting for something to happen!

 The stockings took their place beside the chimney (with care)

and the table was prettied up for the occasion.

 Finally people began to arrive...

The tree was loaded down with gifts

and the horseshoe game was set up.

Duck hunters went in search of ducks...

 Accompanied by Beau... the NON-duck dog.

It's a good thing Pappy had saved ducks for the duck tornadoes!

Duck tornadoes were smoked, and many tall tales were told!

Jacks sang a song for us...

and Caitlin kept her daddy (and his ipad) company 

out in the cold--while he fried the turkey.

It was fried to perfection!

So we all adjourned to the table to enjoy Christmas Dinner.

Next...

Laura and AJ love having their picture made!

 And Kaylee upstaged them... how pretty!

AJ... How did you let that happen? AND... how were you smiling?

 Our Beautiful Girls!

Finally time to open presents! 

Molly came for a visit.

 AFTER opening gifts, the kids were cooperative 

and we took our annual Christmas pictures.

 Our big guys... Aggie DUDES!

 a great picture of the fabulous 5 + 1!

 The engaged couple.

Horsing around...inevitable with this age group!

 Scott & Kim's kids

 Some more horsing around did take place! 

 Larry & Jackie's kids

Being with family is what makes celebrating Jesus' Birthday
so much fun!

The Princes ~ Christmas 2012

We're already making plans for a bigger and better 2013!