Ahoy Everyone

Okay, just saying "ahoy" because, well, it sounds cool.

Lots to catch you up on these last few months...

1. Gabby got a solo this year in the 9th Annual Nutcracker on Ice.
2. Gabby got to sing in the school choir.
3. Gabby got to be a flower girl in Adam and Jasmine's wedding.
4. Got new wood on the stairs (ha,ha).

I guess the best way to summarize the past few months is just "go-go-go" as we raced through Halloween, through to Thanksgiving, and almost to Christmas. Bang, bang, bang - one after another. It doesn't help much that I've been traveling quite a bit for work. I've been to Orlando a bunch of times, driven to Cocoa Beach, Atlanta, and Boston. It's not usually too bad as I pop in for a few days and then zip back. I check to make sure that Gabby isn't missing me but I know she is. I can't wait to get home and give her a big-o hug. Joel also misses me I guess and we talk on the phone here and there. Sally and I exchange email and while it's not a LONG time gone, it does disrupt the family routine and that always causes problems.

So, Gabby was the Jack-in-the-Box at the ice show. She got to go down the ramp and had her time in the spotlight and skated just BEAUTIFULLY. I'm not saying because I am her dad or anything...she just was dead on perfect. Her landings were solid, her axels were perfect, her spirals were graceful. It was great. Sara Bloom, one of her best friends, had a duet with Taylor Wilson. They were fabulous. The best number, I thought, was dance of the flowers and they really, really, did a good job. Bought a tear to my eye. :)



Mom and Dad got their house leveled last week. I'm not sure why I mention that here other than...hey, mom and dad got their house leveled. That's something you didn't know. Kind of like Austin Powers saying, "I once open mouth kissed a horse." What??? Um, that's something you didn't know. Okay, you had to be there.

Thanksgiving came and went. We had it at mom and dad's and had wonderful food. Eric came in for dinner and then had to leave that same day. Something about getting ready for Black Friday - yes, the day for kicking off the shopping holidays for Christmas.

We all went to the hotel to watch the lighting of the Galleria trees. This year, Sally and I celebrated our 15th year. I got her a BIG diamond pendant. It ought to get me set for another 15 years. Ha, ha. We had some new visitors to our party. Lisa Halter, Tommy, and her son Jordan came for the first time. She bought her dad and step dad as well and they all had a blast. Andy and his wife and daughter, Chloe came in as well from Mississippi and also enjoyed it. Sammy, and Irma came as well. Alex and Charlene (and Diego) had an announcement - she is pregnant. Wow - what a great blessing - another baby in the family. Joel came to the party but he was not feeling well and ended up going home with Marth and Ashli who watched our house for us. Sally and I got to spend the night alone at a hotel in I don't know how long. The next day we did goofy things like sleep late, eat at Mama's cafe and go shopping for *stuff* at a hardware store. It was great to just get out and run around.

The Nutcracker had me doing some preparation. This year was easier than years past because we had a lot of good volunteers. We also put up curtains across all 3 sides of the arena and it made a real good impact. Gone was the feel of a stinky, cold, hockey arena...replaced by a different place... a stage and glimpse into something magical where a nutcracker really comes to life. We had a great team and a real stage that was put up in no time. The train has lasted another year! woohoo! Oh my gosh - DOROTHY skated a BEAUTIFUL program. It really took my breath away to watch her gliding (yes, gliding) around the ice and the expressions and the grace was just great. It made Michelle Kwan look like an ugly duckly. Everyone was clapping and on the last show...she skated over and gave her mom some flowers.



Okay, that was LAST weekend... now...hmm...this week...we've been trying to get caught up on getting the house ready for the party this weekend. Woohoo - people coming over to our house to celebrate Christ's birth. That is great. Family and Friends gathering together to just be together. I'm looking forward to that. Oh, oh... Sally's calling me... something about picking up my stuff so that the cleaning people can come.

Until next time...