Rainey Family Christmas

On Saturday my side of the family(the Rainey's) had our family Christmas get-together. I have 2 brothers and 2 sisters. Our parents are both deceased which makes for sad holidays but we have precious memories and we make new memories. We had brunch, visited, played football and then my older brother is a big cut up and always tries to come up with something to keep us entertained. This year he decided that we would have a Sugar Pie bake-off. My mother used to make them and we thought they were wonderful. My children love them and will not share. We all had a different way of making them. My oldest sister, Ann, actually made sopapilla cheese cake. :) She says she doesn't remember them and that Mother must have started the Sugar Pies after she got married and left home. My next oldest sister, Barbara, thinks that mother used pie crust dough. My older brother, Steve, and I remember that she used biscuit dough. My younger brother, Jim, left before the contest. Everyone had a little different variation.

We each had our own judge and my nephew- the engineer tabulated the score. Well, of course - his mother won 1st. I won second. After the contest we headed to Paris to eat at the Fish Fry. Yum Yum!! When my dad was still alive he gave each of us children a gift certificate to the Fish Fry then later we would all get together and go eat. Afterwards we normally go across the street to Braum's for coffee and to sit and visit. Since my parents passed away my older brother has continued the tradition of the Fish Fry gift certificates. That is always such a nice treat and brings back the special memory of my parents. After the Fish Fry trip we then went back to my brothers to play games. It was a great day with the family and I think everyone got to be there this year except for my younger brother's wife and daughter and another niece and her family.

Lace and white satin

On Wednesday Kylie, Britni, Chandler, Rainey and I headed to Dallas to shop for a wedding gown and Kylie found one at the first place we stopped, which is what she said she didn't want to do but- she found the perfect dress for her. Here are a few shots of other dresses she tried on and didn't like. You will have to wait until June 28th when the one she chose will be revealed. :) It was fun watching her try on dresses and yes I cried when she chose the perfect dress. I was okay until the lady put a wedding veil on her and then the tears came because without the veil it is just a fancy dress! With the veil it became my baby girl's wedding gown.








Kylie had lots of help deciding on which dress.

Christmas morning

Funner than fun

This summer my sister and I took our grandsons, Dylan and Chandler to the Science Place in Dallas and afterwards to Chuckie Cheese. This was Chandler's first trip to Chuckie Cheese. As we were leaving-after a fun afternoon of pizza and lots of games- Chandler said, "That was funner than fun." I think he felt the same way about Christmas Day. Right now he is into Cowboy attire so we gave him a new pair of boots, Western shirts, jeans, hat and a belt with his name on it. Austin had a name belt when he was little and Chandler thought that was pretty cool and has been wearing it for several months. After Chandler received his own belt- he took Austin's back to him. Chandler had also been asking for a guitar and of course Granna got one for him. He loves it even though it needs to be tuned. I told him that we would have to take it to Uncle Hugh and Aunt Ann and have them help us tune it and he can't wait to do that. We went to Dallas today and I found a carrying case and a strap for the guitar. Chandler is so funny playing that guitar and of course his songs are beautiful.

This was Rainey's first Christmas and she wasn't as excited as her big brother but she will be in a few years. She got her first Cabbage Patch doll from Santa.

After opening gifts Robert made sausage balls- which Austin says we only make when the girls are coming home. After breakfast the girls and Chandler went back to bed about 11:00 for a nap. We had a late lunch and Chuck had to leave to go back to College Station. He had to go back to work today stirring up that Blue Bell ice cream.

For unto us a Child is born! Happy Birthday, Jesus!!

What a blessing today has been because of a little baby who was born so many years ago! We were up early with Chandler and Rainey checking out what Santa had delivered in the wee hours of the morning!! Chandler's excitement was so cute and brought back memories of my children when they were young and my own childhood at Christmas time. One Christmas in Canton the kids came running into our bedroom about 2 a.m. scared to death. They had been in separate rooms but all had heard singing outside. We don't for sure what it was because no one was outside- but the kids still believe that it was angels singing!!

Have yourself a merry little Christmas

Merry Christmas to all. Enjoy time with family and friends while remembering the reason for the season. God bless you and your families!!

The gang's all here...

Kylie is home! Yea!! She got in about 11:40 p.m. Sunday night. Chuck, Britni, Chandler and Rainey are at the other grandparents today but they will be back tonight to spend the night and wait for Santa to arrive. When all of the kids are back home- all seems right with the world. I love it when I can hear Austin and his friends downstairs laughing and cutting up. I love it when Kylie is home and I hear her chatting on the phone with Steven late at night and I love it when Chuck, Britni and the kids are here and I hear Chandler's precious voice, Rainey's baby sounds and Britni humming Jesus Loves me to her child the way I used to hum to her. Besides salvation and knowing that Jesus was born and then died for me - I had a debt I couldn't pay and He paid my debt for me-the next best gift is having my children back home and enjoying each other's company. They grew up way too fast. It seems that we flew through each stage and it will bring a tear if I let it but I know that they have to grow up and move on-that's the way my mind says it is supposed to be but my heart doesn't like it. But anyway...let me get off of this downer.

Santa Claus is coming tonight!! Chandler is so excited. He is at just the right age for Christmas. The excitement is almost too much for him. He told Kylie that "Santa is happy with glee, because it is Christmas." He has wanted to open the presents ever since he got here. He thinks he knows what Granna got for him. He said it is cars and I asked him why he thought I got that for him. He said, "Because that's what I told you I wanted." He knows Granna way to well!!

The fun has begun...

Wow! School is out for Christmas break and some of my children are already here and we are having so much fun. Chuck, Britni, Chandler and Rainey came Friday night. Austin had Cari over last night and Kylie is coming this afternoon.

Chandler loves to help in the kitchen. He helped me make biscuits yesterday morning and helped make peanut butter cookies with the chocolate kiss on top. He really likes those cookies!!




We watched several Christmas movies including Home Alone and Santa Claus 3.

I live with the Grinch so we didn't watch that one. :) We always watch Christmas Vacation on Christmas Eve night. We have watched it for so many years that the kids can quote about every line!! The other night Austin and some of his friends-Hayden, Ryan and Neal-were at our house when I got home from a meeting. They were watching Home Alone and just laughing. It was pretty cute listening to those guys watch the movie and recite lines and just laugh!!

Time for church.
(Chandler wearing Grandad's tie. So cute!!)
Later...

Aggie Graduate- WHOOP!!

Congratulations, Kylie!! We are so proud of you!!


Kylie graduated from Texas A&M University on Saturday. She is actually class of '08 so she finished early and we are excited about that. She will enter nursing school in the fall.


Kylie was determined to wear polka dot shoes to graduation! I searched until I finally found some on eBay. :) The graduates decorate the tops of their caps so families can find them in the huge sea of graduates. Kylie had a pink sequined '08.


Yes-she did get a Cindy cake.

Britni, Kylie and Austin (and Rainey)


Other family members that came to graduation were Kylie's Aunt Ann and cousins Kristie and Dylan, grandmother-Mimi and Aunt Cheryl.




And her fiance Steven.

Princess Rainey

The Princess is 2 months old

Yesterday our little princess turned 2 months old. She has been such a blessing. She had to go for her 2 month check up yesterday and get 4 shots in her precious little legs. Her legs aren't very big and I think four shots is cruel and unusual punishment!!

Rainey is like having a little doll to play with. We dress her up and take all kinds of pictures. And I may get diabetes because I have to get so much sugar when she and her big brother are around!! :) Grandkids are just that - Grand!!

Snow Village

Several years ago I started collecting houses for a snow village and I try to get a new house or tree or something each year and display it with lots of snow. We have all enjoyed it every year, but not as much as Chandler. I take great pains to place each house, inn, church, tree, etc in the best position- you know - like not putting the school house by the hunter's lodge and such. But anyway...it takes me 2-3 days to put everything in it's place and make sure it looks right and then I sprinkle the snow all over.


Before Chandler...


As soon as Chandler arrived at my house this weekend, he got his cars and trucks and went straight to the village. I just let him play and rearrange all he wanted.





Watch for falling trees...





Sweet Angel...





I figure there will come a day when he will just want to watch TV or play vidoes games or whatever and I think Chritmas is all about the children so if Chandler wants to play in my snow village for a few years...that is fine with me!!

Preview...

We had lots of fun this weekend besides riding the train, but it is late and I am tired so here is a preview of what is to come. Precious angels!!!





Until tomorrow...

Treasures

We had some very special treasures at our house this weekend. Yes-Chandler and Rainey came to Granna and Grandad's house. Oh yeah-they brought their mommy and daddy too. I had talked to Chandler earlier in the week and asked him if he wanted to ride the train which he did. Every year since he has been born- we have gone to the Screws farm (North Pole of Texas) to ride the train. Chandler was so excited about going.



The Screws family is so nice and this is such a special treat for the little ones. We got hot chocolate while we waited in line. Once we got on the train we rode over the bridge and around the pond. We rode by the live Nativity scene and into the workshop. Santa was in his workshop so Chandler got to talk to him.



Britni, Chuck, Chandler, Rainey, Granna, Grandad, Austin, Aaron and Megan went to ride. As you can see Austin was thrilled to be there and thought he would put a call through to his girlfriend while he was waiting. :)

Noah

Grandmother Club continued...

I told you that I would come back to this subject. Our 2nd grandson, Noah, lives in Frisco and we don't get to see him as often as we would like. He is seventeen months and has the most precious smile and is very photogenic. :)