I know what I did last year- I went to Hell

I have already posted about some of last year, but, surely we all realize, that was not my entire year. As I had said, it was a pretty good year.

Mac and I went on a cruise to Cozumel and Grand Cayman in February. This was a gift from Mike and Pam for Christmas. I booked online with Carnival out of the Port of Tampa on the Paradise. Despite some rough weather, we had a great time.

Personally, I do not care if we leave the ship or not, as long as I can do shows, and eat my way from one end of the ship to the other, it is all good. We did  go on a Best of the Cayman's Tour via bus, and I will say.. I was not impressed with the island. Hotels and condos block all of the beach views, and those Caymanians do not live a wealthy life.. enough said about that part. The tour did take us to the turtle farm, where they raise turtles for the meat, and that was interesting. I also enjoyed the Tortuga Rum Cake factory, offering samples of which I partook of like 20... yep, buzzed!

Dress up night

Yes, there is a Hell... Grand Cayman

Natural sulphur formations, hence Hell.

Not us

Cozumel

To show you that the weather was sometimes fierce. I present you with the dancing straws from our drinks on board.
Cozumel was cool, but, unfortunately we had to stay in port, due the the weather the catamaran to the beach would have been too dangerous... Next time.

In March 2015 we celebrated the birth of Amelia Grace, born to my son Brian and his now lovely wife Esther. Esther had 2 children by a previous marriage, great children. Chris is the teen, high school athlete, and Riley, the dance queen. Love those grands. Brian has a child from his previous marriage, Seth, who is grown and living in Oregon. Seth was my first grandchild of the now 21 between my husband of 9 years, and my former marriage. Love them babies!!

Amelia's arrival was fairly uneventful, and she was beautiful from the beginning, and the glow of love between that family is something you can see, as well as feel.

No, that is not all.. I am a Grandma, remember? Bwhahahahahah!!

Baby shower. Laura, Esther, Myself, Jennifer

Great baby shower hosted by a friend of Esther and Brian. Laura and Jennifer are my twin daughters, and Laura is just a few months pregnant.

They are over the moon with their new creation. Brian is beyond the moon, even a year later, lol.

Riley and baby sister 

Big brother CJ is awesome with his new sister

How quick, turn around, turn around!

Brian and Esther were engaged already, but it would seem this little gift from God gave them the kick start to planning the wedding I posted about a few days ago.  Look at that face, I just wanna grab those cheeks, and why is it that chubby thighs look so good on babies, and on me.. definitely not so much?

Brian turned 44 that March, and his brother Michael became 43. The are nearly exactly 1 year apart. I recall being in the postpartum unit at the hospital in NY, breathing a sigh of relief after my first pregnancy was culminated with the birth of a 10 pound 1 oz healthy baby boy. I was all of 18 yo. Whew!

A man was taking his wife and baby home, and as they waved bye to me, he said" See you next year!" I said" oh no you will not!" I was there a year later, and they were no where in sight. I delivered Mike, who weighed in at 10 pounds 11 ounces, and whew!

I brought Michael home on Brian's first birthday, and he did not like his present, at all. Over the years, these 2 were pretty inseparable!!! They are still best friends, I am so proud of them.

Well, bottom line is, when they turned 44 and 43, I was 62 and decided they needed to start lying about their ages. They were getting old and I wasn't, LOL to that.

Brian and Michael


 

September was Jacob Anthony's arrival, discussed in another blog. Another sweet miracle.

Thanksgiving was at Mike and Pam's home again. Love that meal.. There was, of course turkey, stuffing and dressing, as most of in the KNOW, KNOW, stuffing goes in the bird. Yes, I said it, that is why it is called stuffing.. you STUFF it up both ends of that bad boy. This is a symbiotic relationship, where both the stuffing benefits from the turkey juices, and the stuffing moistens and flavors the bird from within. There I said it.. Let it be written, Let it be done!
I " made" the mashed potatoes. Yeah, that's right. I do not peel potatoes any more, since the magic of fresh mashed potatoes available most everywhere in a bag. I went to the store ( GFS), and purchased this marvel of modern genius, and added a bit of butter, and a bit of salt and pepper, so, I can say I made the mashed potatoes... 5 pounds of them. So, there!

Laura made ( bought the ingredients, and I made it, LOL ) the green bean casserole. There were dinner rolls, gravy, cranberry sauce... oh yeah baby.


Halloween Annual Party at my son's home, and with grand design .. partied at Mike's new home with about 100 of his friends, and family. Always a blast!

Hosts Mike, Pam, and son Nick the Joker

Myself and Mike

Daughter Laura and I , Cat People

Son Brian and Esther.. before the wedding

Laura and her date hahahah

Leopards... oh my

They know how to party!!

Next we have the Ugly Sweater party , a week before Christmas.. Smaller crowd, still big fun.

Pam and Cindy Lou Who??

Mike and Nick

White Elephant Gift

Olaf, as himself

I made Pecan Cheese Ring with Strawberry Preserves 

 Recipe is on another day's blog. YUMMY!

Christmas at Brian's. Amelia   and Jacob's first Christmas .. Jacob 3 mos, slept through most of it. Amelia seemed a bit overwhelmed. We enjoyed the family, the blessings, gifts, and our specialty, too much food. We had a ham, a turkey, and a prime rib along with all the other suspects found at such a meal, followed by... too much desserts!

Christmas Day Amelia and a lot of legs

Austin, Jennifer's youngest son

My Tree

Our house.. more lights next year

 New Year's eve was hubby and I, in front of the new electric fireplace I bought him for Chrstmas... ahhh, peace and quiet... too much quiet!! Happy New Year~~~