A WINDY Christmas Day!

The camper is being rocked by high winds as I write tonight!

This afternoon my son in law and I came back over to the RV park and took down our gazebo.

 The winds have blown in additional allergens for Louis Dean as well as some cooler temperatures.

The day started well. After a quick cup of coffee we headed to Quadville.

The babies had just been fed so it was a good photo op moment!

With pictures out of the way we enjoyed our breakfast while the babies napped.

Then we ALL watched the Christmas Parades on TV........the quads all lined up in their pack and plays!

The program was interrupted several times with weather reports.

High winds, tornado warnings and watches and falling temperatures!

We visited with our Fort Worth family via Skype.

So fun to see everyone!

It was this time LAST YEAR that Amber and Mike announced at the Christmas Morning Gathering the news - they were expecting quadruplets!

It was so appropriate for them to be a part of the festivities today in showing off these four babies!

Amber had the camera on the quads and Mike was keeping their attention so they would look up!

Next year we'll all be together in Fort Worth and the babies will be 18 months old and going everywhere!

No worries. There will be lots of aunts and uncles, cousins and kin to help corral them!!

This evening the quads had a little play time before opening some gifts!

They have been in close quarters from the womb and still are!

You can see them gravitate to one another and hold hands or touch faces.

They all got stuffed animals from Mom and Dad.

Logan's is a 'Loga Bear!'

The books from Aunt Deanie were a big hit!

Harrison is already 'into' this book with its textures!

It was a good day. 

Amber and Mike were able to get out and take in a movie this afternoon while we watched the babies.

Louis Dean still doesn't feel well but he napped off and on.

I can't believe it is Christmas night. Time seems to be flying by these days.

We are tucked in our camper with blankets around our shoulders and a heating pad at our feet.

I turned the electric blanket on HIGH and intend to nestle down for the night very soon!

Lucy is asleep at my feet right here under the kitchen table.

It is snowing and seriously cold - as in the teens - back home.

It will get down to 33 degrees here.

Here is the special ornament Amber gave us today.

This has been a Christmas to remember and I am, indeed, a 

HAPPY CAMPER!!!

Surprise Visit and a Crispy Critter!

Louis Dean and I were still sipping our morning coffee when he saw a big black vehicle pull up to the camper. He said, "There's Mike!"

Oh, my goodness! It really WAS! WITH Amber and all FOUR babies!!!

Can you see the delight on Louis Dean's face??

While they didn't get out of the car - they ARE still under Quarantine during this Flu/RSV season - it was so much fun to see them right HERE in the RV park!!

We're planning a big party when they are out of 'Lock Down' mode!

This cool party area is just across from our camping space!

We love this RV Resort! 

We visited with everyone for a few minutes then they were off to drive through Sonic before heading back home. I thought it was GREAT they could get out and about for a bit!

Louis Dean was feeling better so he went off on errands after putting the Christmas ham on to cook in the roaster.  I fluffed up the camper while he was gone.

He still has some of the asthma/allergy thing going on so after lunch I left him home to nap while I went over to help with the babies.

 

Kailey will be the first to TALK - because she has so much to SAY!!

AND she will be the first to CRAWL because she has so many places she wants to GO!!

She's already doing the little inch worm thing!!

I did some Christmas dinner prep while I was over there and then headed to the store on my way home for a few last minute things - like orange juice and biscuits for in the morning.

Louis Dean called me to say he had got up from his nap and THOUGHT he turned the ham OFF!

(I had turned it off before leaving!) Instead he had turned it all the way UP!!

Our Christmas Ham was now a Crispy Critter!!

So I bought another one and we're starting all over!!

Lucy didn't mind. A bone is a bone and she LOVED it!!

The 'new' ham is now cooking out in the gazebo in LD's nifty new roaster!

It should be done soon and then it will have to cool before Louis Dean can carve it up!

That means we'll be up LATE this Christmas Eve!

I hope they still play the Hallelujah Chorus on the radio at midnight as they used to do!

If not I have Josh Groban on a CD!!

Where ever YOU are and whatever YOU are doing this Christmas Eve of 2012......

Louis Dean and I wish you a blessed

CHRISTMAS!!!

Return to Quadville!

We woke VERY early yesterday morning - early as in 3:30!!

We were on the road by 4:20 and arrived in Quadville at 10:00 am!

Louis Dean drove the whole way - stopping for breakfast at Sam's Cafe in Fairfield - and I SLEPT!

I love to travel in this manner!

The night before Louis Dean had packed the truck full of 'things from home!'

This included Christmas things - decorations, books, and clothes - plus firewood, a blower, and the odd items leaving room for Lucy's kennel and the ice chest for the food!

He was adding more 'coolant' to the A/C when our daughter in law arrived.

Sherry and her sister came by to give me some baby blankets that were used by Cindy's baby girls - both of whom are practically grown now! We can't even SAY Sherry's name without SMILING!

She is THAT kind of person. She pitched right in and helped Louis Dean on the truck. It was good to see so much of our family on this trip home. Monday I had lunch with my good friend, Brenda, and the Tuesday Ruth Ann and I did what we USED to do every Tuesday! We went to the movies at Starplex where it is only fifty cents all day long long! We saw 'Looper' and we both agreed it didn't really have an 'ending.'

It simply STOPPED. But we still had so much fun it was ridiculous! We hit up the Goodwill on our way home. I made us a glass of tea and we picked some pecans for her to take with her completing a very GOOD day!!

I had an arm full of babies by 10:30 Wednesday morning!

So did Louis Dean! We couldn't get to them fast enough!

In the afternoon I went with Amber and Mike to take the quads in for their 6 month check up - can you BELIEVE they are SIX MONTHS old?? I have a hard time believing this myself!!

You can check out her blog post about it Here!

The quads got great check ups......and FOUR shots EACH!!!

Poor babies!

Logan was pretty serious about it all!!

Kailey was waiting her turn!

These doctor appointments take a LONG time since you're dealing with FOUR appointments all in one!

What was Granddad doing while WE were gone?

He's been awake since 3:30 that morning, remember?

This is Kailey after we returned home. Babies are SO expressive!

Last night we started unpacking some of the truck. I've never decorated a camper for Christmas before but  I figure - how hard can this be?

I am home now after our second day back in Quadville.

Dinner is cooking - scalloped potatoes, black eyed peas and baked fish.

Christmas music is playing on the radio.

This angel is on the table as I sit here writing .

I rescued her from a shelf at the Goodwill Tuesday.

I only paid $4.99! The price tag on the bottom says $115!

I added a small poinsettia wreathe and tiny electric candle I was already using here by the window.

The two look perfect together!!

I hope to finish all the decorating Sunday afternoon!

It's a GOOD thing to be back in Quadville! I just brought Christmas back WITH me!!

A Table FULL of Family!!

This Thanksgiving Day there were more adults than there were babies in the Bell house!

Amber thought this first Thanksgiving when the quads are too young to travel they would be spending the holiday alone. Not so! We decided to stay down here in Houston rather than fight the traffic to go back home. Especially since we already planned to go home for our visit at the end of the month.

Amber's dad called to see when would be a good time to visit the quads and THEY were free to come down HERE for Thanksgiving. Win! WIN!! Amber had BOTH sets of her parents - at the same time for the first time since her wedding day 6 years ago!

*update*
Louis Dean and I were just talking and we remember ALL the parents - including Mike's! - gathering at Texas Roadhouse in February 2010 when Amber and Mike returned for a visit mid point in the year they lived in Aberdeen, Scotland. Children - no matter the age - always seem to bring families together!

The two grandmothers! So many babies we could ALL hold one!

My beautiful daughter!

I love Trystan's little cheeks!

SHE sat at the dining room table with us and tried a tiny taste of my sweet potato casserole -

and she LOVED it!!

The quads Thanksgiving menu was pureed acorn squash.

Every baby got their own bowl, spoon AND feeder!!

Holiday or not - the babies get their daily Tummy Time!

Jesse and his wife hit the grocery store when they got into town and bought lots of goodies for this tray of appetizers!

There was PLENTY of food!

Louis Dean and I have been cooking all week!

Dessert was Pumpkin Cheesecake from The Cheesecake Factory!

Amber had heard about it and we found one - at Sam's!

(It WAS very good!!)

Louis Dean manned the camera for us!

He looks so innocent here!

He was really trying to talk me into giving him a SECOND piece of cheesecake!

(He didn't get it!)

By the end of the afternoon we were all just as tired as Trystan!!

Eating and football watching can be exhausting!!

We were excited over the Texans WIN and disappointed over the Cowboys LOSS!

We came back to the camper and after a little bitty nap - took ALL the fall decorations down!

This place looks EMPTY now!!

Tomorrow we'll string up the colored lights which are Louis Dean's favorite!

Before he and I married I NEVER used colored lights!

But he loves them so!

After a pretty warm day - it has turned into a chilly evening.

I put my robe on and we watched the movie 'Blind Side' on TV while we ate a supper of crackers and milk.

While I finish up this blog post......

Louis Dean is sitting on HIS side of the table listening to music.

I think it's about time to put this day to bed!

We're off tomorrow so we will be hanging around the camper doing little projects.

It's been a wonderful Thanksgiving Day!

Thanksgiving EVE!

I think I enjoy the EVE of a holiday as much - if not more - than the holiday itself!

The EVE is full of anticipation and preparation - the hustle and bustle of getting READY!

I LOVE it!

It was a beautiful day here in the Houston area!

WARM - high was in the 80's and when I cam in from caring for the quads today the camper was HOT!

Trystan was loving her 11:45 AM meal of sweet potatoes!

So did Logan Love!!

Now that the feeds are FOUR hours apart - I had time to whip up a batch of Popcorn Crunch for us to munch on during the Thanksgiving Day football games!

It was an interesting day in the RV park....

as I left this morning a retired couple from Washington were leaving.

They were headed to New Orleans to meet up with some cousins.

When I returned this afternoon another big rig was pulling in from out of state.

They are here to spend Thanksgiving weekend with family in Spring, Texas.

This was the closest RV park with an availability.

They stopped by to visit for a few minutes and admire my Santa paintings. 

She wanted to BUY one of them! I had to tell her they are still in progress ....and not for sale.

We told them about the HEATED pool and great hot tub.

Guess where they are now?

Louis Dean is outside now carving up the turkey he cooked today.

I have already mixed up the stuffing made from homemade cornbread and wheat bread.

The pan I used is a vintage metal wash basin - all dented and full of character!!

I bought it at an estate sale years ago!

Wonder where it's been and the stories it could tell!

All is done now!! We are just sitting by the fire and counting our blessings!

This Thanksgiving Day will be a memorable one.

Amber's dad - my husband for 41 years - arrived today to see the quads for the very first time.

We will all be spending the day together tomorrow.

This will be the first holiday Amber has had BOTH her parents with her at the same time since she was 17 years old! Jesse will be with his lovely wife, Cynthia, and I with my beloved Louis Dean.

Together we will all celebrate the wonder of four precious babies.

Isn't the grace of God absolutely amazing?

To speak gratitude is courteous and pleasant, to enact gratitude is generous and noble, but to live gratitude is to touch Heaven.  

~Johannes A. Gaertner

Quilt Top is DONE!

Today has been a good day! Louis Dean got the day off since Amber's nanny is back!!

We really missed her! That meant I got some extra 'Me' time today and I have to tell you - I loved every minute of it! Louis Dean had a leisurely morning drinking our coffee, reading and Bible study before I dressed and went over to the rec center where I walked on the treadmill and prayed. I have found that makes the time FLY by!!

On my way to Quadville I stopped at the local Goodwill where I found a few treasures.

My next stop was at Hobby Lobby where I picked up some Fall paper goods for NEXT year at 80% off!

I also bought the rest of the 'ingredients' for the denim Quilt/Play Mat for the Quads Christmas gift.

I love this denim thread......

....and this time I thought I would try the Fusible Batting.

The top is finished!!!

Tomorrow I will begin the process of putting it together.

Between the sewing and feedings at 2 and 5 pm - I held some pretty sweet babies!

Logan is the very FIRST one of the quads to get a phone call!!

This one was from Granddad!

He wanted her to know he will be back tomorrow and that he MISSES her!!

Trystan played with Sophie the giraffe......which is a treat since Harrison is usually chewing on  holding her!

Logan just could NOT believe Granddad wasn't there today!!

Kailey was in denial that her Granddad had NOT been there to hold her this day!

And little Harrison is wondering how the stock market did today since Granddad wasn't here to watch it!

Don't worry, babies!! He'll be BACK tomorrow!!

But tonight he has the fire pit burning and since it is COLD (MAY be dipping toward the freezing mark tonight!!) we are celebrating with a glass of wine as we gaze into the flames and count our many blessings!!