Grateful for Christmas Traditions Part 1

At the very top of this tree is an ornament (1 of 7) that brought us all to tears 22 Christmas-es ago...

You see, my mother had a tradition of getting an ornament for each grandchild each year. She made these snowman ornaments before her death. After they were opened, the kids discovered that by pressing the belly, their ornament would play 'Frosty, the Snowman'. The kids loved it, and although the adults all loved it too, we all cried! My mother made Christmas wonderful! (and I think at least one of those ornaments still plays all of these years later!)

And my own adorable grands are wearing one of my favorite traditions- Christmas dresses! I love looking for these while 'black shopping' with my Ash!- yet another great traditon!

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I am so blessed!

So Much to be Thankful For...

This year my birthday was a bit bittersweet: this year I am as old as my mother was when she passed into the next life. I miss her so much at times, but I am so blessed to be her daughter! I am thankful for her goodness and love every day. She was such an example of seeing the good deeds in others and then sending them a short thank you note. She was so often smiling!

My mother also LOVED being a grandmother!

And this year, I now have FIVE beautiful and precious granddaughters of my own!

Rylee Sue is such a blessing in the lives of us all!

For my birthday, I had all of my littles come to see me- so much fun!!!

And "black shopping" with these two (and their wonderful mother) is ALWAYS an adventure!

I am also so very thankful for the love and kindness of this man:

so thankful for his love for me!

Even with all of his health challenges, Luke works hard to be the best husband, father and grandfather- and he will always keep trying! What a blessing in my life!

Celebrating Rylee!

A bit late... But we had so much fun gathering to celebrate this precious one!

So blessed to have Rylee Sue!!!

She's Four!

Ash is now 4!!! She is such a creative, loving girl! And loves to 'fix' people's hair- hair is always "even cuter, Grandma Dee" with more clips!

She really LOVED her party this year . It had streamers and balloons!

And she so loves to have fun with her sisters!

Love you, Ashtyn Dee!

A Great Woman!

Sue is a great woman!

Our family was so fortunate that my father chose to marry Sue- and that she was willing to join in our family!

Sue has always been there at all of the fun times, challenging times, and just every day kind of times- and I know she always will be there!

She is such a great example to me of what a mother, grandmother, sister and wife should be... I am so blessed to have this great woman as a part of my life!

Baking my Call family recipe...

Stuffed Zuc! (Luke's favorite)

Stuffed Zucchini Call Style!

serves 6-8 with *large* squash (half: see directions)

*try some chili powder in it.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Mix together:

 chunks of cheese

 small chunks of onion (or "instant" minced)

 crumbled raw hamburger

 chunks or small slices tomato

 seasoning, *especially salt*, garlic salt, seasoned salt, etc

Split zucchini lengthwise, scoop seeds and pulp out of cavity:  
use half for 1 meal, save half to stuff another day.

Spoon mix into squash cavity.  Bake, wrapped and sealed in foil,
at 375 degrees for 1 - 1 1/2 hours.

*Deanne’s alternative  stuffing (vegetarian)

1 cup of leftover quinoa (spiced to taste)  

1 cup cooked and seasoned black beans

3 eggs, whisked

1/2 cup whole wheat bread crumbs

Chunks of cheese

Chunks or small slices of tomato

And of course leftover zucchini means Chocolate Zucchini Muffins... and making them with oat flour is divine!

4, 3, 2, 1..... New Little!

So this happened yesterday!

Our 5th granddaughter! And she is so precious!!!

SO we have a 4 year old,

a 3 year old,

a 2 year old,

a 1 year old,

and our new Rylee Sue!!!

We are so very blessed!!!