Brrrrrrrr.........and Happy Birthday

We've traveled to the upper Midwest for two family birthdays and to spend Christmas with the kids.  

When you're accustomed to having just the two of you around the house, and then there's a whole passel of folks around making all kinds of noise, it can set the nerves a jangling!  Today was the party for the stepdaughter's 50th birthday.  Nobody here but family, but that was nine adults, one pre-teen, and two preschoolers.  You'd think that it was the little ones who would make the noise, but you'd be wrong.  It was the pre-teen that was the loudest.  

Everybody braved the cold and the modicum of snow to celebrate. 

The son in law braved the cold to blow off the driveway, all bundled up like the Michelin man. 

While it was very pretty outside this morning, the sun came out this afternoon and the snow sparkled with sunlight diamonds.  

There was fabulous barbecued ribs, smoked brisket and pulled pork from Woody's along with fixin's, and the son in law actually made a birthday cake from scratch. 

This has always been a card playing family, so after we all stuffed our faces, we broke out the cards for a game of Screw Your Neighbor.  I know, sounds off somehow, but its a fun card game for a bunch of people and it doesn't require any card playing savvy.  Even the 5 year old helped out. 

Don't know if I'll be back before Christmas or not, but let me wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.  May you, my friends, be blessed beyond measure. 

Y'all take care.