Aaahhh Christmas Memories!!!

I used to love this when I was little. Anyone else remember it??!

On December 18, 1956, WGN-TV's "Garfield Goose and Friends" introduced Chicago area children to Santa Claus' three favorite elves, Hardrock, Coco and Joe. At two-feet-high, Hardrock drove Santa's sleigh while Coco navigated and Joe tagged along for fun. To create the animated short or "song cartoonette", Hill & Range Songs hired Centaur Productions. The company was established in the early 1950s by Wah Ming Chang, a sculptor in Walt Disney's Effects and Model Department who created the model of Pinocchio; and George Pal, a producer and Academy Award nominee. The shorts were produced in black-and-white using stop-motion animation, a cinematic process that brings figures or puppets to life by minutely reposing and photographing them frame-by-frame, resulting as fluid movement on screen.

FEEL BETTER LAURA!!!

My friend that I have had almost forever, isn't feeling well. She was feeling tired & it turned out to be mono. AND AT OUR AGE YET!! Who knew you could get mono NOW?!! Anyway, it wouldnt go away & now it has turned into two OTHER VIRUSES She is on bedrest for 2 weeks. So if you could wish her well...I know she would appreciate it!!

FEEL BETTER LAURA!! GET SOME REST! LOVE YOU!






Maybe you should choose to have your 2 weeks of bedrest here! just a thought! ; )
I'll come too!
XOXO

ICE STORM!!

The weather outside is frightful....

BUT VERY BEAUTIFUL!! Well, as long as you dont have to drive in it!

When you walk on the snow it crunches & you break through the ice. I love that!
Wanna come over & play!?!?!

Oh...I don't know if you know this or not, but if you click on the picture it will enlarge it.

Just so you know!

THEY SAY ITS YOUR BIRTHDAY...WELL HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!!!

MADISON MARIE CARLSON TURNS 17 TODAY!!!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY MADI!!!

They didnt have digital cameras when she was born...so this is as good as I could do for her timeline of pictures!

CHRISTMAS TIME IN N'AWLINS

When in New Orleans, you have to eat like a local. We had Po'Boy's & Gumbo, Crawfish Etoufee & Jambalaya, shrimp, red fish & fried chicken. We drank Hurricans & Pimm's Cups. We listened to Jazz & walked, & walked & walked. (And I have the blisters to prove it! But so does Duane).
It was sunny & in the 60's. It was a great time. You should go!




Eating at NOLA's (an Emeril restaurant). VERY GOOD!!


Just before we ate at Pat O'Briens. And had a "hurricane" of course.



This is the shirt...we should...have gotten after eating all of that food!!



The streetcar that we rode (not named Desire) all decorated for Christmas.

I loved how they decorated their balconies.

Large Christmas tree in front of St. Louis Cathedral in Jackson Square.

Close up of the Cathedral.

Now for a little fun...they were singing...WHEN THE SAINTS COME MARCHING IN. Thats a huge deal in New Orleans, someone had to tip big to get them to play it.

It doesnt matter what time of year it is, they still want you to beg for beads!! I got some, I'm just not saying what I did to get them!!

After all of that...it was time to leave town! ; )

If you'd like to see more of the 216 pictures that we took...just let me know!

LEAVIN' ON A JET PLANE...

But I know I'll be back on Sunday night...

If you hear of a party on Saddlebrook Blvd, could you call the police for me?!!

More pictures to come...but they will be my own!

DINNER IN CINCINNATI

On our way home from Tennessee, we stopped off at my cousins house in Cincinnati. His wife Judy was nice enough to make us dinner...it was great. We wish we could have stayed longer.



Dale & Judy


The gang gathered around Dale & Judy's Christmas tree.

Judy's parents & two brothers had come in for Thanksgiving, so we got to see them as well. It was really nice!

Thank you Dale & Judy!!! XOXO

THANKSGIVING IN TENNESSEE

We went down to Tennessee on Wednesday & left on Saturday afternoon. We try to fit as much as we can into our trip.



Of course eating is our main priority! So we ate...


and ate again.... (a woman I work with made these cupcakes...they are AWESOME! There was lemon raspberry, Oreo, German Chocolate & Ho-Ho)



Then it was time for all of the dogs to eat. Craig & Karlas 3 standard poodles & Riley.

Then we went flying. This is either Morgan or Madi with Uncle Craig.

Karla & the dogs were going to be in a parade the next day, so we helped her to sew straps on the reindeer atlers.

They made it in the paper. There were 6 standard poodles playing the reindeers! Cute huh!?!

After all of that eating we needed some exercise, so we went for a walk.

And another one.

And then we did the Wii Fit. Here is mom, Karla & Morgan doing the step class. But I've got some really funny ones of Craig & Karla hoola hooping & skiing!!!

It was a short trip, but we had a great time!!

I hope everyone else did too this Thanksgiving!

HAVE A WONDERFUL THANKSGIVING!

We are leaving for Tennessee to spend Thanksgiving with my mother, brother & sister-in-law.

So I just wanted to wish you all a very Happy Thanksgiving.

I'll be thinking of you!




THIS IS SO TRUE!!!

THE LIGHTS BEFORE CHRISTMAS

We went to the Toledo Zoo on Sunday. They have it all lit up for the holidays. It was beautiful!






No trip to the zoo is complete without a stop in the gift shop!
So after playing with the stuffed animals for awhile, we decided it was time to see

the real ones...





"DON'T WORRY ABOUT WHAT THE BEAR IS DOING, JUST LOOK AT THE CARMERA & SMILE!!"
buncha wimps thought he was going to come through the glass after them! SSSHHHEEESH!







He was really pretty cool, just sitting next to the glass watching the show on the other side. Madi is looking a little nervous to me!

I think he's trying to pick up her scent! But isnt he CUTE?!?!

See the trees lit up behind us? Music played & the lights all changed. Keep looking at the trees in the next few photos.

Ok girls, pose for me & i'll take your picture & get the lights behind you.

OH...COMMON! Please just smile pretty!

OH JUST FORGET IT!! I'll just take a picture of the trees by themselves!

Taken from inside the greenhouse. The condensation on the glass distorted the lights, I couldnt quite pick it up in this shot, but it was awesome!

Nice picture of Dan & Morgan in front of that same tree. "Hey Morgan, would you take a picture of your dad & I in front of it now?"

YEAH...GREAT! THANKS!

HONEY...I BLEW UP THE KIDS!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS FROM THE CARLSONS...

or at least thats what it WOULD have said....if Duane hadn't closed his eyes & ruined our Christmas picture!!!! ; )



Ok....not really, we stopped to drink our hot chocolate & have Christmas Oreos (A tradition that was started when the girls were little) & Dan took our picture. Thanks Dan!