December 2012

Marshall checks out his new farm

 Tyler and Greerson have been banned from video games until they open presents!

 Bill, Woody and Tommy in deep discussion

Henry checks out his binoculars

 Marshall has his very own tractor

Woody watched Sheryl open her presents with Doyle

 

December was a busy month at the Worley household. We hosted a cookie exchange for our small group Bible Study the first weekend. Daryl tried his hand at making Pecan Tassies with disastrous results, so it was decided that Christa was the cook in the house for Pecan Tassies. She made a batch for the exchange and they were the hit of the party. The next weekend we worked with the Boy Scouts and helped host the pizza and caroling party. Greerson had a Christmas concert with his band. He really enjoys playing the trombone in the band. The following weekend we had Shultz family Christmas at the ranch. It was on Saturday this year instead of Sunday. Christa's dad, Woody and his brothers families all came together and we had a nice visit. Friday the 21st we had our annual progressive dinner party. This was our year for dessert. Daryl cooked all day Thursday and half the day Friday making cookies. We had cutout cookies, cinnamon roll cookies, Peanut Butter cup cookies and Magic middle cookies in addition to a cheesecake. The party was fun, but only lasted until about 2 am this year. We normally meet on a Saturday and everyone isn't quite as tired. Most years it can go until 4am. Saturday Daryl went to meet his sister Sheryl and her family for lunch in Temple, then we loaded up and headed to the ranch for Christmas. Christa's aunt Sheryl and uncle Doyle arrived about an hour before we did. Stephen and Shanda were already there. We played Mexican Train several times throughout the weekend. We opened gifts on Monday afternoon and Brenna was really cute. She looked at one of Marshall's presents and said, "impressive, very impressive"!  Christmas day was fun! Daryl was put in charge of the rolls, so he and Christa worked the dough and them ready just in time for lunch. Along with the family that was already there we were joined by Christa's Grandmother and her brother and his wife and their daughter. Several or Christa's cousins were present also. After lunch and opening gifts we played one more game of Mexican Train then loaded the car and headed into the dark cold night back to Waco.

Thanksgiving 2012

 Marshall and Grandpa Woody wait for lunch to be served

 Shanda and Brenna get a jump on Christmas shopping before lunch

 Greerson was first in line for lunch

 Darlene, Greg and Grandma joined us for Thanksgiving lunch

 Greerson sneaking another roll later in the day

 Grandpa Woody teaching Marshall to play Mexican Train

                                           Marshall likes the trains

We spent Thanksgiving at the ranch with Christa's family. It was a little unusal. It turned out to be Christa's parents and her brother's family along with Grandma and a cousin and his wife. This is unusual since we normally have a houseful of people for the meal. The meal was uneventful, but delicious. The dressing is always worth the trip. We played Mexican Train and Mimi beat all of us. Daryl was a close second followed by Shanda and Christa. Grandpa Woody and Marshall played in between games. He is so cute and so different from Brenna. He loves the tractor and is a rough and tumble boy. Christa and Daryl went home on Friday morning since she had to work, but Greerson stayed and worked with Grandpa Woody on the deer stand. He also nearly wrecked the truck, he was going down the hill and didn't hit the brakes soon enough (we suspect that was due to the Bad Boy Buggy, it stops if you let off of the accelorator), and he and Stephen headed into some brush. Grandpa Woody had him on the tractor and he managed to break the shredder in the first few minutes. He was mowing along and hit some rocks that were hidden by the brush and knocked the wheel off of the shredder. All in all he had a great time, but I am not sure the ranch equipment would agree!

Grandma Hodge's 90th Birthday

 Lois Hodges (Grandma Hodges) 90th birthday

 The table was set for the party using a red theme

 Gary, Doyle, Glynda and their mother Lois Hodges

 Grandma had to cut her own birthday cake!

 I am not sure who the lady on the left is, second from the left is a cousin we had never met (Evie) her Dad was Grandma's brother, next to her is Lois's brother Billy and his wife LaNora and standing behind them is Hubbard her other brother.

The Greers were there also Billie Lou, Ann and Mary

Billy, Lois and Hubbard

 Hubbard and Lois

 Sheryl got a rock from Gary, she was so excited!

 Christa and Stephen sample the food

The cake  was awesome!

 

 Brenna

 Marshall

 The Woody Shultz Family Protrait 2012

 The Hodges, Worley and Shultz families 2012

we all gathered on November 3 at the ranch to celebrate Grandma Hodge's 90th birthday. She was quick to point out that it really wasn't until November 6th. We got everything setup and everybody had a job. Daryl had to get lunch and put balloons out at the front gate. Greerson had to sweep the leaves off of the front porch and Christa had to work in the kitchen. We got everything ready for the 2 oclock start and about 1:30 it started to rain, not little sprinkles, but a downpour. We quickly gathered umbrellas and Grandpa Woody worked the valet service while the men helped everyone in under an umbrella. The party was fun and Grandma had a lot of friends show up. One asked her if she was going to do this again next year and she told him no in ten years she might! We took our family Christmas picture on the front porch it turned out pretty good considering Marshall didn't want to cooperate.