It seems I continue to be lax in my blogging - somehow - Christmas has come and gone - WHOOSH!

The season was beautiful - and while I would say I cut down quite a bit on my decorating - -not yet quite enough. :)

We enjoyed individual visits with each of our great-grandchildren families - either at their homes or ours -- to give them their Gifts. It was fun-

And now a new year! 2009 !

We enjoyed our annual N.Y.'s eve get-to-gether with our friends , the Petrini's and the Willmons, at Petrini's home. (above right)

Now it's February - and our annual Superbowl gathering at Willmons has passed -

And today is the 10th -! My birthday! (How come I feel so young inside?)

I woke up , forgetting this was my day --and came out to a wonderful handwritten "greeting" on our pass through- after which Ralph instructed me to go further into the kitchen - where there on the island was waiting a waffle - with pecans! Strawberries! Whipped cream! my favorite breakfast when I veer from my usual "coffee with protein powder and Irish cream Splenda" breakfast. It was yummy! (why can't I insert a picture HERE? instead of at the top?) grrr

So - - a birthday is, I suppose a time for introspection -- which in my case isn't what I'm in to today -but rather my realizing all that I have to be thankful for -- The first being that I have lived this long - in good health - ! (74! years!) Next - that I have been blessed with a kind and loving husband who demonstrates his love and loyalty , daily! 56 years!

We have 4 healthy offspring! Three who have produced 10 wonderful grandchildren , and many of those, have produced 10 incredible Great-grandchildren for us to enjoy and watch grow.

I think I will add here - that I'm glad to be an Arizonan - after my first 41 years being in Buffalo, N.Y. - because my birthday month in Buffalo was often surrounded in slushy, brown/gray snow - gloomy skies and not much sunshine all month - sunshine that I NEED!

So thank you God and Western Electric -- for giving me wonderful sunshine and flowers in February! :)