For the past three years Glenn & I have spent some relaxing days at Panama City Beach, Florida after Christmas. Each year we have stayed at a different condo based on our VRBO search. From Sunrise to Sterling Breeze and this year Calypso, our picks have been super.

 

 

 

When we arrived, we lunched @ Five Guys before heading to the condo. We settled in at the condo and then went on our grocery shopping excursion to Publix. We always seem to get carried away a little as we shop because we just never know what might hit our "hunger points" during the evenings when we don't want to go out again. It was a "DiGiorno Supreme Night" tonight.

 

 

DAY 1:  GOSH...we slept late this morning...quite unusual for us! We decided to eat a late breakfast and go to the movies to see "Parental Guidance". I laughed & cried. After the movies we rode around some and then went back to the condo. Later in the afternoon we walked to Pier Park to find somewhere to eat. Sixty-cents boneless wings @ Buffalo Wild Wings was a hit for us...their Honey BBQ was so yummy! While we were there, we played trivia against each other (no clickers, just our voices to each other). I think Glenn won.

 

Walking back to the condo was so-o-o-o cold!!!

I'm so glad I decided to take a coat with me.

Just wish I had brought my gloves.

 

"Poesidon" (a remake of the 1972 movie) was on tv starring Kurt Russell. Now I like Kurt Russell movies, and "The Poesidon Adventure" was a good movie too. So the movie was on, our laptops were on (to keep up with the Downtown Dothan Hoops Classic), and we each had a couch....yep, totally relaxing tonight!

 

DAY 2: Again we took advantage and slept late...awwwwwwww...bliss!!! After getting up and eating a little breakfast, we decided to go see another movie after lunch. Today we saw "Lincoln"...another good movie.

 

An early dinner at Olive Garden, a quick trip to the waves for me, and tv movies for the evening. Just what we want to do.

 

DAY 3: Hahahahaha...sleeping late...again! After a quick breakfast, I took off to Dollar Tree for my annual "Birthday Cards Search.

 

Our first year @ PCB I decided to purchase ALL of my birthday cards for the year. Glenn went the first time with me and couldn't believe that I'd spend almost 1 1/2 hours looking at cards. Needless to say, he hasn't been back with me. I just can't walk in and purchase over 40 cards in...say 15 minutes. Could you? I look for the card with the exact words that I am looking for. To me, it is so much fun! Now my cards are signed, sealed & waiting to be delivered.

 



 

We took a short stroll on the beach late afternoon because it was so-o-o-o cold...winds blowing. We watched some surfers catch a few waves. We were wondering...with their wet suits & their being in the water almost all day long...did they ever get cold?



 

 

DAY 4: We were awaken this morning by band music coming from Pier Park to welcome the first...

 Half Marathon.

The run/walk also featured a 5K. It began @ 7AM. We just turned over in bed and resumed our sleeping.

 

Today the football games begin so the tube will be flipped back and forth during the day. My birthday cards are finished, and now I'm off to Office Deport to purhase my address sheets for the black book. I haven't changed these in over two years and they are getting a little messy with all the written inserts over time.

 

Another evening of relaxing. Got half of my address book done.

 

DAY 5: Last day of the year and our vacation. It has been such a wonderful time here @ PCB. We always love to get away by ourselves and do whatever we want to do. During this vacation after Christmas we love to just relax and not be on a schedule. We may just sleep a bit much or run from dawn to dusk. Just whatever!

 

Today was not as chilly on the beach.

 

 

 

Around mid-afternoon we walked over to Pier Park for an early dinner and then on to listen to some of the bands that were playing for their 5th Annual Beach Ball Drop party. Lots of people were there.

 

Beach  balls ready to drop for the children @ 8PM.

People gathered to catch the beach balls. 

 

Now I'm a "people watcher"! Enough said...I should be good until the end of 2013.

 

After watching the beach balls drop and people scrambling for a beach ball, it was midnight somewhere and a fireworks show for the children began off the pier across from Pier Park entrance. We watched this show as we walked back to the condo.

 

Back at the condo there were quite a number of people on the beach shooting their own fireworks. From our balcony we had several "mini-fireworks" shows. Some money was spent!

 

This year we had some of the best seats in the house...our balcony...for the midnight fireworks display. It was an awesome display. Enjoy...

 

 

and....................

 

As we celebrated Christmas this year, we were reminded of how blessed we are to have religious freedom to celebrate & worship the birth of Jesus Christ, to visit friends and family for food, fun & fellowship, and to have a voice for our life. Thank you Dear Heavenly Father for the birth of Your Son Jesus Christ. 

Our morning of family present opening began with the three of us. Garrett went to pick-up Hannah after she spent some time with her parents that morning. When they arrived back at the house, they opened their presents from us.

My Christmas gift from my sister & her hubby were 5 pairs of flip-flops. She knows I love 'em.

 Food and presents piled in the car for we were gathering today at Mike & Gloria's home for our family Christmas. Everyone was at the home except Brackin 2. Food was cooking, children were playing, and lots of talking was going on.

After a wonderful meal and the cleaning of the kitchen, we all settled in to open gifts. It is always so much fun to watch the children open their gifts.

Supper, and we said we weren't hungry, of a breakfast meal was delicious!

More talk, more food, more fun and.............a very Merry Christmas to You from Our Families.

Merry Christmas Santa!

Save me a seat...I'll be there tomorrow.

 

Trash to Treasure



Our grill became unusable some time ago, and we never got around to replacing it. For some reason it is just hard to "chunk" something that needs a little work. I am a tried and true "DD" or "Dumpster Diver". Guess I had the "Pa Skills" tapping on my shoulder on this?

 

Garrett asked the other day about our plan for this grill. I said that we'd probably "chunk" it (knowing that it had sat on the patio long enough)...just check with your dad. So he asked his dad about his plan for the grill, and then the grill became his.

 

Pa would be so proud of Garrett for his "engineering skills". Garrett is now the proud owner of a charcoal grill...made out of a gas grill.

 

Our burgers were awesome tonight!





A Nice Surprise

When Glenn and I woke up this morning, 

Garrett was found in the kitchen

 cooking breakfast...for all of us.

What a nice treat...

 

 ...and it was so good!

Family

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

She said...Yes.

Garrett & Hannah

DHA Christmas Party



Friday, December 14th,  was Dothan Housing Authority's Christmas Party. Each year Glenn and his employees gather together for lunch in their Section 8 Community Room. The office ladies decorated the tables with beautiful poinsettias to match the tablecoverings. A Christmas tree in the corner of the room was surrounded by lots and lots of wrapped packages.

A feast of turkey, ham, dressing/gravy, cranberry sauce, macaroni 'n cheese, potato romanoff, sweet potato casserole, hash brown caserole, broccoli casserole, butterbeans, peas, and much more than I can recall laid on the table. Desserts included 15-layer chocolate cake, Italian Creme cake, cheesecake, pecan pie, and chocolate candies. Employees provided most of the food while some of the food was catered.

Glenn welcomed everyone after all were seated. Lisa, one of his commissioners, spoke on behalf of all the commissioners welcoming and expressing appreciation to the employees for their dedication to their work. Prayer was offered for the meal by Commissioner Jamison.

Throughout the room during the meal conversations were taking place with laughter...great fellowship time.

After our meal, Glenn introduced the new commissioner and the three new employees to the work family. He also praised his employees for their work and dedication. Two employees were recognized for their work service (25 yrs). Special to all was an announcement of a COL raise.

After Glenn spoke, the focus turned to the wrapped gifts under the Christmas tree. During the year supplies are ordered for the authority from various vendors. For ordering, free gifts are sent by these vendors with the order. These gifts are stored all year long and wrapped right before the Christmas get-together. As gifts were unwrapped I saw a BBQ tool set, Rachel Ray items, purses, and lots of shoulder bags. All in all there were approximately 35 wrapped gifts.

Every employee's name (except Glenn's) is on a sheet of paper and placed in a cannister. Hubs draws names, and the employee whose name is drawn selects a wrapped gift from under the tree. It is so exciting to see everyone having fun unwrapping the gifts and especially seeing the faces of the men who receive "women's gifts".

This day was a good day. After a fun-filled hour and half, Glenn said "Now, back to work for everyone."

Papa and I left to go to our homes...it was our nap time.

A Little Peek.....

 

My "Big Mooser" and "Singing Pup" welcome you to our home. They sit and listen to the chatter of friends and family.

 

Our Christmas time will be spent in Dothan this year with Glenn's family. After we awake and have our family Christmas together, we will ready ourselves to spend the day with his family. It will be a fun-filled day.

 

Our hearth showcases a beautiful manger scene

with the mantel full of angels rejoicing.

I love my angels.



 

Christmas Wishes from our friends and families

displayed on the kitchen windows. 

 

Comfy pillows get a Christmas makeover.

 

A lot of good food will be enjoyed. 

 

Beautiful Poinsettia from Glenn's Office Christmas Party.

 

Christmas gift (2011) from David & Susan

 

Our Christmas Tree... 

 

...and of course, remembering "Monk-Monk".