Merry Christmas!

I hope you are having a wonderful Christmas! We sure are. I will post photos later, but currently we are in Houston visiting Joey's family. On the 28th we drive to Galveston and board our cruise ship for 7days :) The cruise will be a lot of fun - we are going with my parents and my dad's side of the family - big group! More to come later...

Christmas Lights

It's been several years since we've put lights "ON" the house....we've had some in the yard/bushes, etc...but Joey decided he needed to do the real thing this year. It helps people find our house since we live in the middle of nowhere! (Maybe next year we'll get the side & back of the house as they get seen from the road as well!)

Drago Passed :(

Jolie, Willie, and Drago

My mom's dog passed away yesterday peacefully. He's been a part of the family for 11-12 years (can't be exact). I had taken these photos of him in October, not long after his one and only "son" was born. Today, Bayleigh wrote the following letter about him.

On December Ninth 08 sweet old Drago died in his igloo. He was a loving friend, father, protector, and probably a brother. He died at the age 11-13, leaving his son Willie to share, Bobo an old border collie friend, and Roxi a 1-3 year old dauschund, mother to Willie and another runt that died his first few days of life (also Drago's son). He has gotten bit by a rattlesnake, broken a hind leg, scratched by cats, punished, had a heart attack, but most importantly, loved. - Bayleigh Rizzo 12-10-08

Letters to Santa

I have a full page of letters to Santa from kids in Florence in the next issue of the newspaper. It always makes me laugh to read what kids write. My kids wrote one as well. I thought I'd share:

(Typed in exactly as she wrote it)
Dear Santa,
I’d like big cats not to get hunted for thier beutiful fur and for forests to not be cut down and also I’d like a fish tank and a good cruize.
Bayleigh

(Is she worrying about the ship sinking like I am? We are going on a Reid family cruise for Christmas..lol)

(Jolie dictated this to me verbally)
I love you Santa! Please can you give me a Barbie for Christmas and thank you for all of the presents everyday. I want another thing from you...a play horse. Thank you elves. I love everybody. I want a new dolly and new shoes and new other pair of shoes, but not the same. I want a Spongebob movie. I want a Rudolph toy. Thank you reindeer for flying for Santa’s sleigh. I want a picture frame so I can put a picture of me and daddy and Bayleigh and momma. Santa bring daddy new clothes and mommy new glasses and Bayleigh new shoes.
Love,
Jolie

Growing up...

Bayleigh's 5th grade school picture