White Christmas: Texarkana 2012

Arkansas hasn't had a snowfall on Christmas Day in 86 years, according to one report.  Not sure about the exacts of Texarkana's White Christmas history. But I know that if I ever have seen a White Christmas here, it's been a long, long time!  So we really loved the beautiful 1-2 inches we got on Christmas Day!  

The pond on Christmas Day at Shady Pines RV Park

Emily and Chloe's snowman head 

 Well, Texarkana hasn't seen a significant amt of snow since I gave my peeps those snowman kits last Christmas. Until now.  Emily and Chloe broke out the kit and did their best with the one or so inches on the ground AND the freezing temps!!  They got the head done!  I think they are troopers!!

Our family at Red Lobster

A Southern Delicacy
these treats sustained me thru a weeklong case of the crud

12-10-12:  We arrived T-Town today! It was 11 degrees w/a neg 2 wind chill this morning in Wichita when we pulled out.  brrrrrr.  And a dusting of snow on Indian Nations Turnpike.  Most of our travel was in below freezing temps.  The memory foam on our mattress was frozen when we got to town!  LOL

Edith and me at Cowhorn Creek

So happy to see that Edith is doing so much better now!!  Beautiful as always!

Surprise!!

me, Lisa, Debbie at the new El Chico

12-12-12:  (cool date, huh?)  Debbie let me know that she and Lisa were meeting for lunch today at the new El Chico.  So we decided I'd show up and surprise Lisa.  I wasn't scheduled to get into town til next week.  She was indeed surprised!  She is so funny.  After eating we went out to see her beautiful new home.  So happy for her.  She'll get to retire from teaching in Oct!

Cranford getting his big girl panties on

Kathey reviewing the rules

David's new visor for Panties

12-14-12:  Played Panties at Cranford's and Kathey's tonite.  The girls really whupped up on the guys.  Naturally.

Such a sad day for CT families and the history books.  The Newtown Sandy Hook school shooter killed 27 people this morning, including his own mom at home.  The kids were 6 and 7 years old.  The teachers who were killed acted very heroically in trying to protect their students. God be with them all.

Edith and me at their Christmas lunch

What are you looking at?

12-16-12:  After a wonderful worship at Antioch Christian Church, David and I were treated to a yummy Christmas lunch at Edith's apts.

Brad and Don opening their new bibs

Garry opening his

Laurie and Marshall -- he's still thinking that bib thing through

Brad and his bib --- Matthew happy that he didn't get one

Marlyse, Laurie, Diane, and Sherry at Amigo Juan's

Amigo Juan's with my peeps and their new scarves -- Sherry is great with scarves

Garry and Marshall just casually standing around with their bibs on

Matthew got a "real" gift

12-19-12:  Got together with my middle school peeps and their hubbies tonite at Amigo Juans.  Always fun to see them and catch up!!

proof that i have no loose screws!

12-20-12:  Went to the orthopedic doc today to see if I have any loose screws!  Just felt like I needed to have my knees and ankles checked.  Ended up getting a steroid shot in each knee, so I should be good to go now.

this "rv" is parked next to our rv park

12-21-12:  David and I had our yearly checkup with Dr. Kempson this afternon.  Had planned on getting our usual kenalog (steroid) shots for allergies before going to the hill country. He let David have his.  But evidently, the shots I got in my knees yesterday made my bloodwork go wacko, so I was unable to get one. :(

Theeeeere's James!  And Jakeb!

James and his fave Aunt B

telling Uncle David all about it

sitting in his new chair by the tree blockade

running to Aunt B

see mom? my tissue paper says Madison

Sweet Baby James

Lacey with her new scarf

take 5

12-22-12:  Went to visit Sweet Baby James (and Jakeb and Lacey) this morning.  Man, what a cutie pie!  This boy just turned 1.  He is loaded with personality and walking/running all over the place!  Adorable!

The crud makes crazy things happen

12-23-12:  Wish the knee shots woulda fought off the crud, cuz now I have it!  Along with David and everyone else in Texarkana!  This is one sick town.

thx Gus!

12-24-12:  Gus, David, and I had our gift swaps tonite.  Laura and Jake arrived Texarkana later tonite, but we will see them tomorrow. Can't wait!

Our snowy rv park on Christmas Day

Christmas Day snowfall

accumulation

gotta love a White Christmas!

the bluebirds loved the snow, too

posing for us just outside our camper --- this was taken through the window

12-25-12:  Christmas Day 2012!  I cannot believe it's snowing!! In Texarkana!  Beautiful and exciting. I cannot remember the last time we had a White Christmas!

Laura Lee and Jake

Gus opening his gift from Laura & Jake

his new laptop

David opening his gift from Laura and Jake

Edith with a lap full of Christmas gifts

Edith with a lap full of sacked out doggie - Spice

Gus, me, and Laura Lee

Jake and Laura Lee

We cooked and took Christmas Day lunch to Edith's apt.  Couldn't have asked for a happier day!

Justin and the boys discussing the nativity 

Lots of folks around the country lost power for awhile during this winter storm -- which was called Euclid, btw.  I loved how Justin and the boys spent a little of their time during their outage.

Teaching Laura to sew 

Who woulda thought it?

I think she's got it!

12-26-12:  Laura and Jake came out to the camper.  I am passing the sewing machine Edith gave me on to her, so I took a little time to teach her to use it.  Never in a million years did I ever think that someday I'd be sitting down teaching my baby girl to sew!  Of course, if she really wants to learn to sew well, she'll take classes. haha

playing some Panties

Jake reluctantly wearing a visor

We taught Jake to play Pennies from Heaven (Panties).  He picked it up pretty fast.  We only got 3 hands finished, so we'll have to pick it back up in a few months when we see them again.  Laura would sometimes give a little squeal when things went her way --- or didn't -- and Rocky would jump out of his sleep and run to her rescue.  So funny!

Sis and Bro

at Red Lobster

Edith and Laura

Laura and Jake

Becky and David

Gus and me

my sweet family

Gus escorting Edith out

puckering up

Afterwards, Edith treated us to Red Lobster.  What a blessing to get to all be together. This is Laura's and Jake's last night here.  They will be hitting the road first thing in the morning.  Went by way too fast!

my Christmas deco

12-27-12:  Whew!!  Just finished taking my Christmas "deco" down.  All are shown in this pic.  Guess I'm gonna have to catch a nap now. haha

Laura
by Jake

trying to look serious

just hard to do

or impossible

maybe another time

12-28-12:  David, Gus, and I went to On the Border (thx, J and B) today.  Gus and I tried to take some serious pix of ourselves.  So impossible!

David and Crystal, our "stepdaughter"

I think Audrey likes her pc

Audrey got to open Jarrett's, too

pretty girls!

Crystal and me

getting better at it

here we go

12-29-12:  David, Gus, and I met Crystal and pretty little Audrey today for lunch.  Crystal didn't get to join us at Amigo Juan's because her Jarrett was sick enough to have to go to the hospital with a virus/dehydration.  He's so much better now.  But it was a Roach girls' outing for them today. Great to see you 2!

Jeff and his western bib

Even tho Jeff didn't join us, he got a great Christmas gift! Crystal said he thought it was cute. haha

2 of my fave peeps!

kindred spirits

This afternoon, Lisa came to see Edith and me.  Not sure when I've laughed so hard.  Lisa is always entertaining. She makes me look mature. Edith really enjoyed your visit, Lisa!! She didn't even have to take a Tylenol after you left like Bekki's parents used to do!

Bill, me, Pam, and Edith

David, me, Bill Boy, and Pam

12-31-12:  Met Bill and Pam at Edith's this afternoon, New Year's Eve day.  Don't get to see them enough, but it's always nice when we do get together!

The Rock

David and me, Dec 26, 2012

We are wrapping up our Texarkana stay.  Will be leaving this week to winter in the tx hill country.  It's always so hard to leave.  Looking forward to a quick drive through in March on our way back to Branson.

May all of you have a happy and healthy 2013!!  Stay in touch!!

Much Love,

David, Becky, and Rocky