All Aboard the Candyville Express

Another of my favorite ornaments is from Hallmark, early 1980's.

It's called the Candyville Express.

Remembering back to those days, as a young child I always felt giddy with this ornament. It looked like candy, and the sparkles on it were somehow magical.

I even remember licking this ornament once just to see if it tasted good.... notice I said "just once."  Behind it in the picture is the famed candy garland... I LOVE the candy garland.

Here is the much deserved close-up.

How on earth mother allowed me to have the candy garland is beyond me. She should have kept it for their tree, but I'm not complaining! This has ALWAYS been on my Christmas tree, growing up until now. I can't fathom a tree without it.

And another favorite ornament!

Here is an ornament with a picture of Taylor as a baby. I love this ornament - he's so cute!  Taylor didn't come into my life until a little over 7 years ago, when he was 12.  I cherish this ornament because it's one of the only pieces I have of him as a baby.

Today, we celebrate Dad's birthday. Craig drove down from Dallas and we ate a delicious homemade meal. Uncle Lee even joined us! 

In searching for an appropriate picture of Dad to post, I found the one below. It is a picture of the Bess family from about 10 years ago... In it, we are re-creating the 1974 family portrait that mother holds in her hand. If you click on the picture, it will bring up a larger copy.

And here is the picture of our family today:

Ducks and wrestling?

Another favorite Christmas ornament, compliments of my talented husband! I love it that he cross-stiched this ornament (1991), proving once again that I married someone who can do ANYTHING!

And below is another picture in the continuing saga at the Brown household...For as long as I've been in their life (since 2002) the boys and their dad have arm wrestled, leg wrestled, body slammed, etc.  Rick has always, always been top dog.

I can't divulge who won this round, but maybe you can figure it out!

Rumor has it there is a youtube video out there of this event, but I'm sure I don't know where it is!

3 Wise Men and the Rockettes

The 3 Wise Men are a pretty close runner up for 1st place among my favorite ornaments. Granny needlepointed these in 1976. I love them so much... they remind me of my Granny.

Today we took my mother and Rick's mother to the Rockette's Christmas Spectacular. Lots of fun - I highly recommend it. "The Parade of the Wooden Soldiers" was by far my favorite - where they are dressed up as soldiers and march around in precision, ending it with their famous slow-motion fall back. Simply amazing! 

The last number of the show was called  "One Solitary Life" and involved a living Nativity. I read in the program that this presentaion has been a revered part of the Radio City Christmas Spectacular since 1933. We were all very impressed that the presentation of the true reason for Christmas has not been scrubbed out of the show over the years. It was a great way to end the program.

I'm off to finish some holiday baking now...

My favorite ornament, Cowboy Group, and tennis

Here is a picture of my favorite Christmas tree ornament. Mother hand-made this little gingerbread man in 1972, and it has always hung on our tree. A few years ago, she let me pick some of my favorite ornaments from the family tree and place them on the Brown family tree. This was the first one I chose.

I've got pictures of some of my other favorite ornaments and will share them over the next couple of weeks. Last year, a friend of mine posted a picture every day in December of a different ornament on their tree. I'm partially borrowing that idea here (thanks, Chris!) EXCEPT, I know I won't be posting every day. I'm just not that disciplined.

And speaking of friends, the Cowboy Group celebrated Christmas together last night. We enjoyed a savory steak dinner at the Club, and then a fun gift exchange. Here is our group picture for the year.

2009 Christmas picture. Love this group of friends! Love, love, love them!

And just for fun, below is the picture from last year's Christmas party. Tiffany was pregnant, very pregnant, in the picture and you can see the product of that in the picture (above) from this year. Funny thing... she's pregnant again this Christmas. Just not showing like she was last year. Congrats, Tiff!

2008 Christmas picture (with funny faces)

Ok... We are heading out to spend the night in Dallas tonight. Collin is playing at 8am in a tennis tournament, and thanks to mom's rewards points, we'll not have to drive from Athens EARLY in the morning. (Thanks mom...)  Really looking forward to watching Collin play tomorrow. He's really great!