Quad Thursday and Friday in Fort Worth.....

We had company Thursday!

The Quads came to spend the day with us and we all had such a good time!

I served a late lunch that was a mini version of our Christmas Eve Dinner.

I made up fresh veggies and Logan picked what fresh flowers she could find in the gardens and placed tiny bouquets at every place......

 while Trystan wrote their names with decorations on the place cards.

This eliminates any quarrels about who is sitting where.

They take turns doing this and it works like a charm.

They even drank their lavender tea from small stemmed glasses.

We kept busy and played lots of games!

An I Spy puzzle, Upwords, Bingo, and Pick up Sticks.....

The kids requested a new Rules of the House - now up to #13 out of  21!

You can see how tall they're growing!

Harrison is reading as well as Louis Dean does!

Aunt Sherry and Uncle Dean bought the complete set of Little House books for them a few months ago. We gave them to the kids that afternoon. Harrison set right down and started with the first chapter of the first book. It was a moment I treasure and will long remember.

Amber came to pick them up and as they drove away, she paused the car and rolled down the windows. They all shouted out their goodbyes and ended with a big round of HO HO HO's!!!

The house seemed so quiet after they left.

We put our feet up and watched a Gunsmoke.

That's such an old program that many young people have never heard of it!

It ran for 20 years from 1955 to 1975.

We see lots of actors that went on to fame and stardom.

Last night it was Harrison Ford playing a smart mouthed villain!

This Friday morning I headed to Fort Worth like old times.

I used to visit Mother every single week.

On my way to the nursing home, I stopped in at Hobby Lobby and loaded up my basket with 80% off of Christmas debris! I chose some white tulle and lots of greenery with pine cones among other things. I have a plan for the gazebo and front porch next year and now I have the debris to do it!

Mother and I had a nice little visit along with Lillian, her room mate.

Mother goes through more make up than I do and let me know she needs some more. 

I promised to bring some on my next visit along with a couple of new writing pens.

My sister, Luann, and I met up for a late lunch at Abuelos.

While we are half sisters - same mother/different fathers - she was adopted when she was about 4 years old and her mom had a stroke this year. So....we were both in Fort Worth visiting our mothers before we met up! She is such a sweet sister and we do love each other!

We hope to meet every month in 2018!

I stopped by Nita's on my way home.......

This is their back 'play room.'

I was happy she hadn't undecorated yet!

I didn't get a chance to admire this on Christmas Day so I was back to take a look.

See all the gifts under the tree?

They are all past Christmas gifts of Mike's from his childhood.

He's kept them all. Box and everything.

Their home is a treasure of fascinating antiques and collections of dinosaurs, fossils and all manner of cool stuff!!

Mike keeps everything in pristine condition and it's all documented and cataloged.

This set was under his Christmas tree when he was about 3 years old.

You can see it here in this old photograph.

So many wonderful memories!

I enjoy every visit to their 'Playhouse!'

I came home with a full heart.

Families can be complicated. Most are.

Ours is. 

Still, we have all forged a good life for ourselves and we love and support one another.

I'm so very grateful that all six of us siblings are believers in our Lord Jesus Christ and each of us is strong in our faith and walk with him.

We are all so very blessed!